# US 11,994,678 B2 · Image generation unit comprising a reflecting mirror disposed between a first and a second illumination system and head-up display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,678 B2 - Document ID: US11994678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/939,902 - Filed: 2022-09-07 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-08 - Assignees: Coretronic Corporation - Applicants: Coretronic Corporation - Inventors: Shih-Yi Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994678B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - G02F 1/133504: {Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements (associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606)} - G02F 1/1336: {Illuminating devices} - G02B 2027/0123: {comprising devices increasing the field of view} - G02B 2027/0125: {Field-of-view increase by wavefront division} - G02B 2027/0127: {comprising devices increasing the depth of field} - G02B 2027/015: {involving arrangement aiming to get less bulky devices} - G02B 2027/0161: {characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An image generation unit includes a display panel, a first illumination system, and a second illumination system. The display panel has a first and a second imaging regions adjacently arranged and located on the same plane. The first illumination system provides a first light beam incident on the first imaging region at a first incident angle. The first imaging region converts the first light beam into a first image beam. The second illumination system provides a second light beam incident on the second imaging region at a second incident angle. The second imaging region converts the second light beam into a second image beam. The optical paths of the first light beam and the second light beam do not intersect with each other. The first image beam and the second image beam leave the display panel at different light exit angles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image generation unit, comprising: a display panel, a first illumination system, and a second illumination system, wherein the display panel has a first imaging region and a second imaging region which are adjacently arranged and located on a same plane thereof; the first illumination system provides a first light beam which is incident on the first imaging region of the display panel at a first incident angle, and the first imaging region converts the first light beam into a first image beam; and the second illumination system provides a second light beam which is incident on the second imaging region of the display panel at a second incident angle, and the second imaging region converts the second light beam into a second image beam, wherein the first image beam and the second image beam leave the display panel at different light exit angles; wherein a light transmission assembly of the first illumination system comprises a reflecting mirror, and the reflecting mirror is disposed between the first illumination system and the second illumination system, such that an optical path of the first light beam incident on the first imaging region does not intersect with an optical path of the second light beam incident on the second imaging region, wherein the reflecting mirror comprises a reflective surface to reflect the first light beam and a surface opposite to the reflective surface, wherein the opposite surface comprises a light absorbing element to absorb the second light beam incident on the reflecting mirror. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first incident angle and the second incident angle are different. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first illumination system comprises: a first light source, a collimator, and the light transmission assembly, wherein the first light beam is emitted from the first light source and is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and then the first light beam is incident on the first imaging region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image generation unit according to claim 3, wherein the first light beam emitted by the first light source is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and is transmitted to the reflecting mirror, and the first light beam is reflected to the first imaging region by the reflecting mirror. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The image generation unit according to claim 3, wherein the first light source is one or more light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting element is a light-emitting diodes or a laser diode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the second illumination system comprises: a second light source, a collimator, and a light transmission assembly, wherein the second light beam is emitted from the second light source and is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and then the second light beam is incident on the second imaging region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image generation unit according to claim 6, wherein the second light source is one or more light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode or a laser diode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a diffuser, disposed on the display panel and located on the optical path where the first light beam is incident on the first imaging region and the optical path where the second light beam is incident on the second imaging region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image generation unit according to claim 9, wherein the diffuser is disposed on a light entrance surface of the display panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image generation unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a first diffuser, disposed on the first imaging region of the display panel; and a second diffuser, disposed on the second imaging region of the display panel, wherein the first diffuser and the second diffuser have different diffusing abilities, the first light beam is transmitted to the first imaging region after passing through the first diffuser, and the second light beam is transmitted to the second imaging region after passing through the second diffuser. ### Claim 12 A head-up display, projecting a first image beam and a second image beam onto a target element, comprising: an image generation unit, the image generation unit comprising: a display panel, a first illumination system, and a second illumination system; wherein, the display panel has a first imaging region and a second imaging region which are adjacently arranged and located on a same plane; the first illumination system provides a first light beam which is incident on the first imaging region of the display panel at a first incident angle, and the first imaging region converts the first light beam into the first image beam; and the second illumination system provides a second light beam which is incident on the second imaging region of the display panel at a second incident angle, and the second imaging region converts the second light beam into the second image beam; wherein the first image beam and the second image beam leave the display panel at different light exit angles; wherein a light transmission assembly of the first illumination system comprises a reflecting mirror, the reflecting mirror is disposed between the first illumination system and the second illumination system, such that an optical path of the first light beam incident on the first imaging region does not intersect with an optical path of the second light beam incident on the second imaging region; wherein the reflecting mirror comprises a reflective surface to reflect the first light beam and a surface opposite to the reflective surface, wherein the opposite surface comprises a light absorbing element to absorb the second light beam incident on the reflecting mirror; and an image transmission module, transmitting the first image beam and the second image beam from the image generation unit to the target element so as to form a first virtual image and a second virtual image, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The head-up display according to claim 12, wherein the first virtual image and the second virtual image have different image information and are formed at different imaging distances relative to the target element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The head-up display according to claim 12, wherein the first image beam and the second image beam have different transmission distances in the image transmission module, and the image transmission module comprises a curved mirror. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The head-up display according to claim 12, wherein the first illumination system comprises: a first light source, a collimator, and the light transmission assembly, wherein the first light beam is emitted from the first light source and is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and then the first light beam is incident on the first imaging region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The head-up display according to claim 15, wherein the first light beam emitted by the first light source is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and is transmitted to the reflecting mirror, and the first light beam is reflected to the first imaging region by the reflecting mirror. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The head-up display according to claim 12, wherein the second illumination system comprises: a second light source, a collimator, and a light transmission assembly, wherein the second light source emits the second light beam and the second light beam is guided by the collimator and the light transmission assembly in sequence, and then is incident on the second imaging region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The head-up display according to claim 12, wherein the image generation unit further comprises: a first diffuser, disposed on the first imaging region of the display panel; and a second diffuser, disposed on the second imaging region of the display panel, wherein the first diffuser and the second diffuser have different diffusing abilities, the first light beam is transmitted to the first imaging region after passing through the first diffuser, and the second light beam is transmitted to the second imaging region after passing through the second diffuser.