VCSEL array scanning display

A head-mounted display (HMD) device comprising:

• a light source comprising a plurality of individually-addressable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) arranged into an array comprising,
• one or more first color rows of VCSELs extending along a first axis and configured to produce a first color,
• one or more second color rows of VCSELs parallel to the one or more first color rows and spatially separated from the one or more first color rows along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the one or more second color rows configured to produce a second color different from the first color, and
• one or more third color rows of VCSELs parallel to the one or more first color rows and spatially separated from the one or more first color rows and the one or more second color rows along the second axis, the one or more third color rows configured to produce a third color different from the first color and the second color,
• wherein each VCSEL in a given row has a coordinate on the first axis that is staggered relative to a coordinate on the first axis of each of the VCSELs in one or more rows adjacent to the given row, such that each VCSEL in the one or more second color rows is spatially separated along the first axis relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more first color rows and relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more third color rows, and such that each VCSEL in the one or more third color rows is spatially separated along the first axis relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more first color rows and relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more second color rows;
• a scanning system comprising at least one mirror moveable about at least one axis to direct light from at least a portion of the plurality of VCSELs in one or more directions to produce a viewable image;
• and
• a waveguide configured to receive the light from the scanning system and output the viewable image.

A method for producing a viewable image using a plurality of individually-addressable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) arranged into a VCSEL array, the method comprising:

• activating one or more VCSELs in one or more first color rows of the VCSEL array extending along a first axis to produce a first color;
• activating one or more VCSELs in one or more second color rows of the VCSEL array parallel to the one or more first color rows and spatially separated from the one or more first color rows along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to produce a second color different from the first color;
• activating one or more VCSELs in one or more third color rows of the VCSEL array parallel to the one or more first color rows and spatially separated from the one or more first color rows and the one or more second color rows along the second axis to produce a third color different from the first color and the second color;
• wherein each VCSEL in a given row has a coordinate on the first axis that is staggered relative to a coordinate on the first axis of each of the VCSELs in one or more rows adjacent to the given row, such that each VCSEL in the one or more second color rows is spatially separated along the first axis relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more first color rows and relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more third color rows, and such that each VCSEL in the one or more third color rows is spatially separated along the first axis relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more first color rows and relative to a first axis position of any VCSEL in the one or more second color rows;
• and
• producing the viewable image by controlling a scanning system comprising at least one mirror moveable about at least one axis to direct light from at least a portion of the plurality of VCSELs in one or more directions.