Disclosed is a compact, light, inexpensive reflection type liquid crystal
projector optical unit or reflection type liquid crystal projector which provides
high brightness without contrast deterioration caused by light leakage associated
with black image display. The unit or projector uses, as a polarizer/analyzer for
a reflection liquid crystal panel, a reflection polarizing plate which functions
as a polarizing plate by its grating function only in a specific direction. It
also uses an auxiliary polarizer and an absorption auxiliary analyzer. Their reflection
axis or absorption axis is adjusted according to the characteristic of the reflection
liquid crystal panel so as to minimize light leakage associated with black image display.
