JP3200335B2 - Optical modulation device and color image display device using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical modulator and a color image display using the optical modulator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a single-panel color optical modulator using a liquid crystal optical modulator, the area of a black matrix that shields the wiring of an optical modulation controlled part around the liquid crystal optical modulator occupies the liquid crystal optical modulator. The ratio is high, and this is a factor that lowers the light use efficiency of the entire device.

In order to solve this problem, a micro lens array 2 as shown in FIG.
There is known a method of improving the light use efficiency of the optical modulation device 200 by arranging the illumination light from the white light source on each pixel of the optical modulation element 201 by disposing the illumination light from the white light source on each pixel of the optical modulation element 201. Here, 3 in FIG. 23 is a transparent substrate, and 5 is a black matrix.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, a color filter is used as a member for extracting color light corresponding to each optical modulation element from white light. However, since the color filter transmits only light of a certain wavelength component among white light incident on each pixel, light of other wavelength components is wasted, and the light use efficiency is extremely low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to realize a single-plate color optical modulation device with a small loss of light quantity and to downsize the device at the same time.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical modulation apparatus comprising: a diffraction grating for decomposing a light beam in a wide wavelength band into a plurality of light beams having different wavelength bands; An optical modulation element that modulates each of the light beams and reflects the light by a reflection plate, wherein the principal ray of the light beam of each wavelength band from the diffraction grating is perpendicularly incident on the pixel. Means for guiding a light flux in a wavelength band to the pixel, and guiding the light flux in each wavelength band reflected and modulated by the optical modulation element to the diffraction grating, wherein the diffraction grating is modulated by the optical modulation element. And combining the reflected light fluxes of the respective wavelength bands.

The optical modulator according to the second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect.
Wherein the optical modulation element, the diffraction grating, and means for vertically incident a principal ray of a light beam in each wavelength band to a different pixel of the optical modulation element are integrally formed. It is characterized by: An optical modulator according to claim 3 is according to claim 1 or 2,
Means for vertically entering the principal ray of the light flux of each wavelength band decomposed by the diffraction grating to each pixel of the optical modulation element, and guiding the light flux emitted from the optical modulation element to the diffraction grating is a flat microlens. It is characterized by having. The optical modulation device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the first to third aspects.
A light condensing means for converging the light flux in the wide wavelength band or the light flux decomposed into the predetermined wavelength band and causing convergent light to enter each pixel of the optical modulation element. It is characterized by having. An optical modulator according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the optical modulator according to the fourth aspect, wherein the light condensing means is a microlens.

[0008] The optical modulator of the invention of claim 6 is claim 1.
6. A color filter according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter at a position where the light beam is decomposed into a predetermined wavelength band by the diffraction grating. Claim 7
The optical modulation device according to the present invention is according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical modulation element is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. An optical modulator according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the optical modulator according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a light-shielding wall is provided between pixels of the optical element. An ninth aspect of the present invention is an optical modulator according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the optical modulation element is a TN type liquid crystal.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a color image display apparatus displays a color image using the optical modulation device according to the first to ninth aspects.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (a cross section parallel to the optical axis of the optical modulator) of an optical modulator that best illustrates the features of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical modulation element group including an optical modulation control section (not shown) and an optical modulation control section. In the present embodiment, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal is used for the optical modulation controlled part. Reference numeral 2 denotes a light-collecting element group for condensing incident light, 3 denotes a transparent substrate that sandwiches the optical modulation element 1, and 4 denotes a light-shielding film that shields light unnecessary for image display. Numeral 6 is provided one-to-one with respect to the light-collecting element group 2, decomposes the light condensed by the light-collecting element group 2 into a plurality of color lights, and combines and emits the color lights reflected from the optical modulation element group 1. Color separation / synthesis element group. Reference numeral 7 denotes a reflection plate provided between the optical modulation element group 1 and the transparent substrate 3. Reference numeral 8 denotes a flat microlens for deflecting the color light separated by the color separation / synthesis element group 2 and causing the light to enter the optical modulation element.

In the figure, R (red) and G of the optical modulation element group 1 are shown.
The symbols of (green) and B (blue) represent the wavelength bands of light incident and reflected by the respective optical modulation elements.

In FIG. 1, arbitrary light-collecting elements are denoted by A0, A
The condensing elements adjacent to 0 are T + 1, T-1, and the optical modulating elements including the optical axes of A + 1, A-1, and A0 (the center lines of the condensed light flux) are T0 and T0.
The optical modulation element adjacent to is denoted by S + 1, the diffraction grating including the optical axis of T-1, A0 is denoted by S0, and the diffraction grating adjacent to S0 is denoted by S +
1, S-1. After passing through the diffraction grating S0, the white light beam condensed at A0 is color-separated into three color lights in the RGB band. The three color lights are deflected by the plate microlens 8 so that the principal ray of each color light becomes perpendicular to the optical modulation elements T0, T + 1, and T-1, respectively.
The light is incident on T + 1 and T−1 and is reflected by the reflector 7. The luminous flux of each wavelength band is divided into optical modulation elements T0, T + 1,
It undergoes optical modulation before emitting T-1. The light
The light beam modulated by the optical modulator is reflected by the reflection plate 7.
The light follows the optical path before being reflected in the opposite direction, and is converted into substantially parallel light by the light-collecting element A0 and emitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flat microlens 8 is based on a substrate having the same refractive index n0 as that of the transparent substrate 3,
1, the refractive index n1 of only the lens part that enters and exits T + 1 is n
It is formed higher than 0. Although a flat microlens is used in this embodiment, a trapezoidal lens as shown in FIG. 3 or a lenticular lens as shown in FIG. 4 may be used.

The principle of optical modulation by polymer-dispersed liquid crystal is generally known and will not be described.

Next, the color separation / synthesis element group 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to an enlarged sectional view of FIG.

In this embodiment, the color separation / synthesis element group 6
Is a one-dimensional binary diffraction grating formed of resin. The one-dimensional binary diffraction grating has a diffraction grating formed in a stepwise manner as shown in FIG. 5, and is formed so that the deflection angles of the diffracted light are all the same. In the present embodiment, the step widths L1, L
2 and L3. It should be noted that if the number of steps is three or more, the same effect can be obtained regardless of whether the number of steps is four or five. A transmission type diffraction grating as shown in this embodiment is disclosed in Applied Optics, Vol.
As disclosed in No. 5, No. 2273 to No. 2279 (No. 19788.1), an incident light beam incident on a diffraction grating is transmitted and diffracted and separated mainly into three directions. This diffraction grating
For example, when the blazed wavelength is λ0, the required grating thickness Dt for the blazed wavelength λ0 is Dt = m · λ0 / (nλ0-1). Here, nλ0 is the refractive index of the medium. m, λ
0 is m = 2, λ0 = 530 nm, and the refractive index nλ0 =
When calculated as about 1.5, the lattice thickness is Dt = 212.
It is about 0 nm.

The color separation has been described above, but the operation of combining three-color lights by considering the paths of light rays in reverse is also described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a reflection type color image display device using the optical modulation device 10. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 10 denotes an optical modulator according to the present invention;
1 is a white light source placed at the focal position of the parabolic mirror 12, 13 is a condenser lens, 14 is a projection lens, 15 is a projection lens aperture, 16 is a projection screen, 17 is a condenser lens, 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a mirror provided on the white light source 11 side of the projection lens stop 15.

The light emitted from the white light source 11 is applied to a parabolic mirror 12.
Is converted into substantially parallel light by the condenser lens 17, the mirror 18,
The light enters the optical modulation device 10 via the condenser lens 13. The light to which image information for each of the RGB color lights is given by the optical modulation device 10 displays an image on a projection screen 16 via a condenser lens 13 and a projection lens 14.

The image information of each color light of RGB is transmitted to the optical modulator 1.
0 depends on the degree of diffusion of the light beam. In the case of using a stop having an aperture on the optical axis as shown in FIG. 6, a light beam having a low degree of diffusion passes through the projection lens stop 15 and reaches the projection screen 16, while a light beam having a high degree of diffusion is projected on the projection lens stop. 15 does not reach the projection screen 16.
That is, in the image display device of FIG. 3, a light beam having a low degree of diffusion is used for image display. Contrary to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, when the aperture shape is such that the light beam near the optical axis is blocked, a light beam having a high degree of diffusion is used for image display.

With this configuration, the white light incident on the optical modulator 10 is decomposed into a plurality of color lights by the color separation / synthesis element group 6, and the light is condensed on the optical modulation elements corresponding to the respective color lights without waste. Therefore, the light use efficiency can be greatly improved. At the same time, by using the optical modulation device 10 of the present invention for a color image display device, a bright device can be provided without increasing the size of the device. In addition, since the periodic structure (RGB mosaic structure and black matrix) of the optical modulator becomes invisible on the screen and an image display in which RGB three colors are completely synthesized can be displayed, even when approaching the screen, a high-quality image can be displayed. It becomes possible to appreciate. Also,
Since an incident light beam is condensed for one pixel, a pixel having a low aperture ratio can be employed, so that there are many advantages such as an increase in manufacturing yield of the optical modulation element.

In this embodiment, a transmission type diffraction grating is used as a color separation / synthesis element, but another color separation / synthesis element such as a hologram may be used. Further, the condensing element may be a flat microlens. Further, it is conceivable to reverse the arrangement order of the light-collecting element and the color separation / synthesis element. Further, the color separation / synthesis element group may be formed integrally with the light collection element group or the transparent substrate.

In this embodiment, the number of pitches in one element of the color separation / synthesis element is two as shown in FIG. 5, but it is necessary to change the number depending on the specifications of the optical modulator. Also, by slightly changing the grating thickness within one pitch of the diffraction grating for each step, and designing the diffraction grating shape such that the grating width within one pitch of the diffraction grating is unequal, the ± 1st-order diffracted light inner band is obtained. Since the components can be reduced, ideal color separation can be further achieved. Further, the reflection plate 7 may be formed simultaneously with a metal layer forming a wiring portion of the optical modulation element group 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a mode in which a color correction color filter 71 is provided at a place where each color light is separated can be considered. In this configuration, when the spectral characteristics of each color light separated by the color separation / synthesis element 6 are different from the spectral characteristics of the image signal, each color light is made incident on the color correction color filter 71 to obtain ideal color information. This enables faithful image color reproduction. In this case, the light is transmitted through the color filter 51 after being decomposed into each color light, so that the light use efficiency does not decrease so much.

As shown in FIG. 8, a mode in which a light shielding wall 81 is provided between the optical modulation elements to prevent the diffusion light of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal from being incident on the adjacent elements and causing crosstalk. Conceivable. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a color image display device with higher image quality.

The color filter 7 shown in FIG.
1. It is needless to say that the light shielding wall 81 shown in FIG.

Next, another embodiment of the optical modulation device is shown in FIG.
Shown in

In FIG. 9, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. . The most significant difference between the optical modulation device 20 of FIG. 9 and the optical modulation device of FIG.
This is the point used for Accordingly, the optical modulation device 20 of the present embodiment has the polarizing plate 22.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a reflection type color image display device using the optical modulation device 20.

In FIG. 10, components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 19 is a polarizing beam splitter. The optical modulator 20 includes a polarizing plate 22
And a reflector 7 whose light phase difference changes by π at the time of reflection serves as a shutter for controlling the transmittance of color light having image information. However, the polarization axis of the polarizing plate 22 and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules are uniquely determined, and thus the description is omitted here.

By configuring the optical modulation device in this manner, the same effect as when using the polymer dispersion type liquid crystal for the optical modulation controlled portion can be obtained, and at the same time, by using the TN type liquid crystal, a high contrast can be obtained. An image display device can be provided.

In addition to the TN type liquid crystal, other optical modulation controlled parts such as a guest host liquid crystal may be used. Further, in FIG. 10, when the polarization separation accuracy of the polarization beam splitter 19 is not sufficient, by adding one polarizing plate between the condenser lens 13 and the polarization beam splitter 19, the contrast can be further improved.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are plan views of the optical modulation device of the present invention as viewed from the incident side, and show the relationship between the arrangement of the light condensing element and the optical modulation element.

FIG. 11 shows the optical modulator of the present invention in which the light incident on the optical modulator including the optical axis of the light-collecting element (the letter with an underbar in FIG. 11) is colored G. At the same time, the adjacent optical modulation element in the direction perpendicular to the color separation direction of an arbitrary color separation / synthesis element is also set to G color. The light-collecting element has a shape in which the refractive power of the lens in the direction parallel to the two sides of the optical modulation element is different from each other, and the light beam incident on the light-collecting element A0 is condensed on the color separation element S0. By arranging the light condensing element and the optical modulation element in this manner, the binary diffraction grating has a continuous shape in a certain one-dimensional direction, so that the formation is easy and the cost can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the light-collecting element can be a lenticular lens. in this case,
Although the black matrix structure in the direction having no power of the lenticular lens cannot be removed and remains, the same effect as the example shown in FIG. 11 can be obtained by changing the configuration of the black matrix while keeping the aperture ratio constant. can get. Further, although one element shape of the optical modulation element is a square, it may be a rectangle.

FIG. 13 shows the optical modulator of the present invention in which the light incident on the optical modulator including the optical axis of the condenser (the alphabetic character with an underbar in FIG. 13) is colored G and the condenser 2 Are arranged in a staggered arrangement. By arranging the light condensing element and the optical modulation element in this way, FIG.
The same effect as that shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 13, the two-dimensional array of the optical modulation elements is arranged in a lattice, but the same effect can be obtained even in a staggered arrangement as shown in FIG.

Next, although not an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 15 shows a transmission type optical modulator 30 as a reference example of the present invention.
Show. Components having the same reference numerals as those of the reflection-type optical modulation device 10 have the same functions, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The difference from the reflection type optical modulator 10 is that
The point is that the optical modulation element group 1 is sandwiched by the flat microlenses 8, and the light condensing element group 2 and the color separation / synthesis element group 6 are provided as a pair on the incident side and the emission side. Therefore, the light-collecting element group 2 on the emission side functions as a collimating element, and the color-separation / synthesis element group 6 on the incidence side performs only color separation, and the emission side performs only color synthesis.

Next, the image forming operation of the optical modulation device 30 will be described. As in the case of FIG. 1, an arbitrary light-collecting element is A0, and light-collecting elements adjacent to A0 are A0 + 1, A0-.
1, the optical modulation element including the optical axis of A0 (the center line of the condensed light beam) is T0, and the optical modulation elements adjacent to T0 are T + 1 and T-.
1, the diffraction grating on the incident side including the optical axis of A0 is S0, the diffraction grating adjacent to S0 is S + 1, S-1, the diffraction grating on the output side including the optical axis of A0 is M0, and the diffraction grating adjacent to M0 is M
The light-collecting elements on the emission side including the optical axes of +1, M-1, and A0 are denoted by C.
Light collecting elements adjacent to 0 and C0 are denoted by C + 1 and C-1.
After passing through the diffraction grating S0, the white light flux condensed at A0
The color is separated into three color lights in the GB band. The three color lights are deflected by the flat microlens 8, and the optical modulation element T
The light is incident on 0, T + 1, and T-1, and undergoes optical modulation. The light
The light beam modulated by the optical modulation element reversely follows the optical path before being reflected by the reflection plate 7, and is converted into substantially parallel light by the light-collecting element A0 and emitted.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a transmission type color image display device using the optical modulation device 30.

The light emitted from the white light source 11 is
The light is converted into substantially parallel light by 2 and enters the optical modulation device 30.
The light provided with the image information for each of the RGB color lights by the optical modulation device 30 includes the condenser lens 13 and the projection lens 1.
An image is displayed on the projection screen 16 via the display 4.

The image information of each color light of RGB is transmitted to the optical modulator 3.
0 depends on the degree of diffusion of the light beam. In the case where a stop having an opening on the optical axis is used as in the present embodiment, a light beam having a low degree of diffusion passes through the projection lens stop 15 and reaches the projection screen 16, while a light beam having a high degree of diffusion is projected. The light is blocked by the lens aperture 15 and does not reach the projection screen 16. That is, in the image display device of FIG. 16, a light beam having a low diffusion degree is used for image display. Contrary to this example ,
In the case where the aperture shape is such that the light beam near the optical axis is blocked, a light beam having a high degree of diffusion is used for image display.

FIG. 17 shows a configuration in which a color correction color filter 71 is provided at a place where each color light is separated in the optical modulator of FIG. 15, and FIG. 18 shows each optical modulator of the optical modulator of FIG. A light shielding wall 81 is provided between them. By configuring the optical modulation device in this manner, it is possible to provide an image display device with high image quality. Incidentally, the position of the color correction color filter 71 may be on the front surface of the optical modulation element group 1.

[0046]

In FIG. 16, a color image display apparatus using only one optical modulator 30 has been described. However, in order to display a brighter image, the light source 11, the parabolic mirror 12, the condenser lens 17, the optical modulator 30 There is also an example in which images are completely synthesized by using two sets of illumination / optical modulation units composed of. This example is shown in FIG.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a device for displaying a brighter image for business use with a simple device configuration.

For the optical modulation controlled portion, not only a polymer dispersed liquid crystal but also a TN liquid crystal can be used. The configuration is shown in FIG.
Shown in In FIG. 20, reference numeral 21 denotes an optical modulation element using a TN type liquid crystal as an optical modulation control portion, and reference numerals 22 and 23 denote polarizing plates having a polarization axis orthogonal to each other.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a color image display device using this optical modulation device. The optical system of the color image display device shown in FIG. 21 is generally called a Koehler illumination system, and is known as an optical system that forms an image of a light source on a pupil of a projection lens and has a small amount of light. The optical modulation device 40 functions as a shutter that controls the transmittance of color light having image information when used in combination with the polarizing plates 22 and 23.

By configuring the optical modulation device in this manner, the same effect as when using the polymer dispersion type liquid crystal for the optical modulation controlled portion can be obtained, and at the same time, the use of the TN type liquid crystal provides high contrast. An image display device can be provided.

In addition to the TN type liquid crystal, other optical modulation controlled parts such as a guest host liquid crystal may be used.

FIG. 22 shows the optical modulator of FIG. 20 from which the light-collecting element 2 on the emission side having a function as a collimating element is removed. With such a configuration, the light beam emitted from the optical modulator 50 exits with a certain spread.
In this case, as compared with the optical modulation device 40 shown in FIG. 20, when the F-number of the projection lens is constant, the screen illuminance slightly decreases. However, since the thickness L of the transparent substrate 3 is sufficiently large with respect to the size d of one pixel of the optical modulation element 21 and the spread angle of the emitted light beam is considerably small, it is considered that there is not much problem in practical use. With this configuration, the number of optical members can be reduced, so that the adjustment process and the cost of parts can be reduced.

The color image display device using the optical modulation device 50 is the same as that shown in FIG. 21 and will not be described.

Also in the transmission type optical modulator, the same arrangement of the condensing element and the optical modulation element as that shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 can be applied.

[0056]

Also in this embodiment , another color separation element such as a hologram may be used as the color separation / synthesis element.
Further, the light collecting element 2 may be a flat microlens. Further, the color separation element 6 may be formed integrally with the light condensing element 2 or the transparent substrate 3.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With good light use efficiency, a small optical modulator can be realized, and if the optical modulator of the present invention is used for a color image display device,
A device with good image quality can be realized without increasing the size of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a reflection type optical modulation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a flat microlens.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a flat microlens.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a flat microlens.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the color separation / synthesis element.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a color image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of a reflection type optical modulation device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a reflection type optical modulation device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of a reflection type optical modulation device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a color image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between arrangement of a light condensing element and an optical modulation element.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between arrangement of a light condensing element and an optical modulation element.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the arrangement of a light condensing element and an optical modulation element.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between the arrangement of a light-collecting element and an optical modulation element.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a main part of a transmission type optical modulation device of a reference example .

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a color image display device of a reference example .

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a transmission type optical modulation device of a reference example .

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a main part of a transmission type optical modulation device of a reference example .

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a color image display device of a reference example .

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a main part of a transmission type optical modulation device of a reference example .

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a color image display device of a reference example .

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a transmission type optical modulation device of a reference example .

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional optical modulation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical modulation element 2 Condensing element 3 Transparent substrate 4 Light shielding film 5 Optical modulation control unit 6 Color separation / synthesis element 7 Reflector 8 Flat plate micro lens 10 Optical modulator 11 White light source 12 Parabolic mirror 13 Condenser lens 14 Projection lens 15 Projection lens Aperture 16 Projection screen 17 Condensing lens 18 Mirror 71 Color filter 81 Shield wall

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A diffraction grating for decomposing a light beam in a wide wavelength band into a plurality of light beams having different wavelength bands, and an optical modulation element which modulates the light beam in each wavelength band for each pixel and reflects the light beam by a reflector. An optical modulator comprising: guiding the light flux of each wavelength band to the pixel such that the principal ray of the light flux of the wavelength band from the diffraction grating is perpendicularly incident on the pixel; and the optical modulation element Having a means for guiding the light flux of each wavelength band reflected by the light to the diffraction grating, wherein the diffraction grating modulates the light flux of each wavelength band and synthesizes the reflected light flux of each wavelength band. Characteristic optical modulation device. 2. The optical modulation element, the diffraction grating,
2. The optical modulation device according to claim 1, wherein the means for vertically entering the principal ray of the light beam in each wavelength band to a different pixel of the optical modulation element is formed integrally. 3. A means for causing a principal ray of a light beam of each wavelength band decomposed by the diffraction grating to be perpendicularly incident on each pixel of the optical modulation element, and guiding a light beam emitted from the optical modulation element to the diffraction grating. The optical modulator according to claim 1, wherein is a flat microlens. 4. A light condensing means for converging the light beam in the wide wavelength band or the light beam decomposed into the predetermined wavelength band to make convergent light incident on each pixel of the optical modulation element. The optical modulator according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The optical modulation device according to claim 4, wherein said condensing means is a micro lens. 6. The optical modulator according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter at a position where the light beam is decomposed into a predetermined wavelength band by the diffraction grating. 7. The optical modulation device according to claim 1, wherein the optical modulation element is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. 8. The optical modulation device according to claim 7, wherein a light shielding wall is provided between pixels of the optical element. 9. The optical modulation device according to claim 1, wherein the optical modulation element is a TN type liquid crystal. 10. A color image display device for displaying a color image using the optical modulation device according to claim 1. Description: