Light valve apparatus, and projection display system and view- finder system employing said light valve apparatus

摘要

A light valve apparatus in which a first lens array, a second lens array, and a light valve are arranged sequentially from an incident light side, and a focal length of each of microlens elements for the first lens array is set to be shorter than a focal length of each of microlens elements for the second lens array, and the respective microlens elements of the second lens array are adapted to form real image corresponding to an imaginary object on a focal point of the respective microlens elements of the first lens array, on corresponding pixels of the light valve. By the first lens array, a plurality of very small light source images corresponding to the light source are formed, and light emitted from the plurality of very small light source images are incident upon the respective microlens elements of the second lens array so as to be projected onto the pixels of the light valve. Therefore, since the light incident upon openings of the light valve can be increased without thinning an incident side glass substrate of the light valve, substantial aperture ratio of the light valve apparatus may be improved. When the above light valve apparatus is used for a projection display system, projected images can be more brightened, while, if the above light valve apparats is applied to a view-finder system, it becomes possible to reduce the power consumption and also to improve brightness of the display images.