Patent attributes
An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modulation devices, a plurality of optical elements, and a prism having a plurality of luminous flux incidence surfaces positioned on a luminous flux irradiation-side of each optical element. The optical device includes a holding member which holds at least one of the plurality of optical modulation devices and a pair of light-transmissive substrates. In one implementation, an irradiation-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux irradiation-side of the optical element has a dimension larger than that of the optical element, and the irradiation-side substrate is secured to the luminous flux incidence surface of the prism, an aperture is formed in the holding member, and the holding member is attached to the irradiation-side substrate so as to cover the optical element.