Color liquid crystal projector having an improved optical system

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal projector, and in particular to a color liquid crystal projector having an improved optical system. A color liquid crystal projector has an optical system for color splitting. The optical system includes a mirror for reflecting a first primary-color light and transmitting second and third primary-color lights in light from a light source; a first phase plate for transmitting the second primary-color light from the mirror with its polarization degree rotated through 90°, and for transmitting the third primary-color light; a first prism for transmitting the second primary-color light from the first phase plate into a second liquid crystal display panel, and reflecting the third primary-color light from the first phase plate into a third liquid crystal display panel; a second prism for entering the first primary-color light from the mirror into a first liquid crystal display panel; and a dichroic prism for combining the first, second and third primary-color lights reflected from the liquid crystal display panels.