# US 12,181,120 B2 · Illumination module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,120 B2 - Document ID: US12181120B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/637,383 - Filed: 2024-04-16 - Published: 2024-11-21 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-05-19 - Assignees: Qisda Corporation - Applicants: Qisda Corporation - Inventors: Chao-Shun Yu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181120B2 ## CPC - F21S 41/675: by moving reflectors - F21S 41/125: Coloured light - F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805} - F21S 41/36: Combinations of two or more separate reflectors - F21V 9/20: Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An illumination module includes a light source, a reflective light valve, a lens, and a diffuser. The light source is configured to emit an illumination beam. The reflective light valve is disposed on a path of the illumination beam, and includes multiple pixels. A pixel in a first state among the pixels is configured to reflect the illumination beam into an effective beam. A pixel in a second state among the pixels is configured to reflect the illumination beam into an auxiliary beam. The lens is disposed on a path of the effective beam, and configured to project the effective beam to an area to be illuminated. The diffuser is configured to diffuse the auxiliary beam from the reflective light valve into a diffused light. The lens is configured to project the diffused light to the area to be illuminated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illumination module, comprising: a light source configured to emit an illumination beam; a reflective light valve disposed on a path of the illumination beam and comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels is adapted to switch between a first state and a second state, a pixel in the first state among the pixels is configured to reflect the illumination beam into an effective beam, and a pixel in the second state among the pixels is configured to reflect the illumination beam into an auxiliary beam; a lens disposed on a path of the effective beam and configured to project the effective beam to an area to be illuminated; and a diffuser disposed on a path of the auxiliary beam from the reflective light valve and configured to diffuse the auxiliary beam into a diffused light, wherein the lens is also disposed on a path of the diffused light, and is configured to project the diffused light to the area to be illuminated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser is a diffuse reflective plate to diffusely reflect the auxiliary beam into the diffused light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser comprises a specific color, so that the diffused light comprises the specific color. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector disposed on the path of the diffused light and configured to reflect at least part of the diffused light to the lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, further comprising a partially transmissive and partially reflective reflector disposed on the path of the effective beam, located between the reflective light valve and the lens, and configured to allow at least part of the effective beam from the reflective light valve to penetrate through to be transmitted to the lens, wherein the partially transmissive and partially reflective reflector is also disposed on the path of the diffused light, and is configured to reflect at least part of the diffused light to the lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, further comprising a dichroic mirror disposed on the path of the effective beam, located between the reflective light valve and the lens, and configured to allow at least part of the effective beam from the reflective light valve to penetrate through to be transmitted to the lens, wherein the dichroic mirror is also disposed on the path of the diffused light, and is configured to reflect part of the diffused light with a specific color to the lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The illumination module according to claim 6, wherein the specific color is red, orange, or yellow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, further comprising a light filter disposed on the path of the diffused light, located between the diffuser and the lens, and is configured to enable part of the diffused light with a specific color to penetrate through to be transmitted to the lens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The illumination module according to claim 8, wherein the light filter is a light filter film or a color wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The illumination module according to claim 8, wherein the specific color is red, orange, or yellow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, further a light filter disposed on the path of the auxiliary beam from the reflective light valve and located between the reflective light valve and the diffuser, so that part of the auxiliary beam with a specific color is transmitted to the diffuser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The illumination module according to claim 11, wherein the diffuser is a transmissive diffuser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The illumination module according to claim 11, wherein the diffuser is a fisheye lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The illumination module according to claim 11, wherein the diffuser is a transmissive diffuser with diopter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The illumination module according to claim 11, wherein the light filter is a light filter film, a color wheel, or a dichroic mirror. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The illumination module according to claim 11, wherein the specific color is red, orange, or yellow. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective light valve is a digital micro-mirror device, the pixels are respectively a plurality of micromirrors, one pixel in the first state indicates that the micromirror of the pixel is rotated to a first angle to reflect the illumination beam illuminated thereon to the lens, and another pixel in the second state indicates that the micromirror of the another pixel is rotated to a second angle to reflect the illumination beam illuminated thereon to the diffuser. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode, a laser diode, and a gas discharge lamp. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The illumination module according to claim 1, wherein the illumination module is a headlight of a vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The illumination module according to claim 19, wherein the lens is configured to project the effective beam to a bright area of the area to be illuminated, and configured to project the diffused light to a dark area of the area to be illuminated or to cover an entire area.