Projection systems and components thereof are described that are well suited to miniaturization. These systems and components may use one or more of the following features: a folded optical path, as in a reflective cavity or a beamsplitter; an illumination beam that is converging at the place where it impinges upon the spatial light modulator; a beamsplitter that uses opposed prisms of substantially different sizes; a beamsplitter whose obliquely disposed partial reflector defines a first rectangular reference space, and where at least a portion of the light source or at least a portion of the projector lens is disposed within such first rectangular reference space; a system in which a ratio of areas of the first rectangular reference space and a second rectangular reference space is within a specified range, where the second rectangular reference space is just large enough to encompass the optical components of the projector; a system in which the projector lens is small compared to the spatial light modulator.

A light source device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first light source section that emits light in a first wavelength region; a wavelength conversion section that is disposed on an optical path of the light in the first wavelength region, and is excited by the light in the first wavelength region emitted from the first light source section to emit light in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region; a polarization separation element that is disposed between the first light source section and the wavelength conversion section, and separates incident light on the basis of polarization; and a color separation element that is disposed between the first light source section and the polarization separation element, and separates incident light on the basis of a wavelength region.

A wavelength conversion element according to the present disclosure includes a wavelength conversion layer having a first surface having a recessed part, and a plurality of air holes, and configured to be excited by light in a first wavelength band to thereby generate light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, a particle disposed in the recessed part, a light transmissive member disposed so as to cover the recessed part and the particle, a reflecting layer disposed so as to be opposed to the first surface of the wavelength conversion layer, and a base member disposed so as to be opposed to the reflecting layer.

A projector includes a monochromatic self-luminous display panel; a color filter disposed in front of the monochromatic self-luminous display panel; a filter driver configured to move the color filter in direction parallel to the monochromatic self-luminous display panel; a micro lens array disposed in front of or behind the color filter and configured to convert light emitted from the monochromatic self-luminous display panel into parallel light; a projection lens disposed in front of the micro lens array and the color filter and configured to project light that has passed through the micro lens array and the color filter onto a screen; and a processor configured to control the monochromatic self-luminous display panel and the filter driver.

Dual or multi-modulation display system are disclosed that comprise projector systems with at least one modulator that may employ non-mechanical beam steering modulation. Many embodiments disclosed herein employ a non-mechanical beam steering and/or polarizer to provide for a highlights modulator.

A laser light source (300), a wavelength conversion light source, a light combining light source, and a projection system. The laser light source comprises a laser element array, a focusing optical element (33), a collimation optical element (34), an integrator rod (36) for receiving and homogenizing a secondary laser beam array (382), an angular distribution control element (35) disposed on the light path between the laser element array and the integrator rod (36) for enlarging the divergence angle of the laser beam array (382) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution, such that the rate between the divergence angle of each of the secondary laser beam that enters the integrator rod (36) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution and the divergence angle in the direction of the long axis is greater than or equal to 0.7.

An optical device is provided including a light-imaging component configured to focus light fed to the light-imaging component in at least one focusing spot, wherein the light fed includes at least one predefinable wavelength; and a conversion apparatus including at least one phosphor which is designed to convert light having the at least one predefinable wavelength into conversion light, wherein the conversion apparatus is arranged in such a way that the at least one phosphor is arranged in the focusing spot of the light-imaging component. The light-imaging component is configured to generate at least two focusing spots, and the conversion apparatus is arranged in such a way that the at least two focusing spots are positioned on the at least one phosphor.

An optical device includes a first plate having a first transparent region defining an exit face of the device, and a second plate having a second transparent region defining an entrance face of the device. At least one lens is formed over at least one of the first and second transparent regions. First and second planar reflectors are spaced apart and fixed between the first and second plates in mutually-parallel orientations diagonal to the first and second plates, thereby defining an optical path through the device from the entrance face, reflecting from the first and second reflectors, through the exit face and passing through the at least one refractive surface.

An illumination unit capable of reducing luminance unevenness in illumination light, a projection display unit, and a direct-view display unit each of which uses such an illumination unit. An illumination optical system includes one or more light sources each including a solid-state light-emitting device; and an optical member configured to allow light incident from the solid-state light-emitting device to pass therethrough and exit therefrom, and at least one of the chips in the one or more light sources is configured of a laser diode. The optical member includes an integrator including a first fly-eye lens on which light from the solid-state light-emitting device is incident and a second fly-eye lens on which light from the first fly-eye lens is incident, and uniformizing a luminance distribution of light in a predetermined illumination region illuminated with light incident from the solid-state light-emitting device. A major-axis direction of a luminance distribution shape of light incident on an incident plane of the first fly-eye lens is different from arrangement directions of the cells in the first fly-eye lens.

A laser light source (300), a wavelength conversion light source, a light combining light source, and a projection system. The laser light source comprises a laser element array, a focusing optical element (33), a collimation optical element (34), an integrator rod (36) for receiving and homogenizing a secondary laser beam array (382), an angular distribution control element (35) disposed on the light path between the laser element array and the integrator rod (36) for enlarging the divergence angle of the laser beam array (382) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution, such that the rate between the divergence angle of each of the secondary laser beam that enters the integrator rod (36) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution and the divergence angle in the direction of the long axis is greater than or equal to 0.7.