A polarized light source for a display system includes an optical system to image
light from a light source onto a display along a first optical path, a reflective
polarizer to receive the light from the optical system along a first optical path,
direct light of a first polarization of the display, and reflect light of a second
polarization along a second optical path separate from the first optical path toward
the optical system, a mirror in the second optical path to receive light having
the second polarization from the reflective polarizer, and reflect it back to the
reflective polarizer, and a polarization conversion system in the second optical
path between the reflective polarizer and the mirror to convert the polarization
of the reflected light of the second polarization to the first polarization.
