US Patent 7575328 Illumination optical system and image display apparatus making use thereof

An illumination optical system for illuminating a surface to be illuminated with a light beam from a light source, in a first plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of first light source images are formed in a first light source image zone with the use of the thus split light beams; light beams from the plurality of first light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, in a second plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system and which is perpendicular to the first plane, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of second light source images are formed in a second light source image zone, with the use of the thus split light beams, light beams from the plurality of second light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, where the width of the first light source image zone in the first plane is greater than that of the second light source image zone in the second plane.