Pulse history compensation for scanned laser displays

A method performed by a display system for compensating for pulse history effects on light emitted by a pulsed laser, comprising:

• outputting, by pulse circuitry of the display system, a first pulse of electrical current;
• emitting, by the pulsed laser, first light based upon the first pulse of electrical current, wherein luminance of the first light is based upon a first amplitude of the first pulse of electrical current, and further wherein luminance of a first pixel on a display surface is based upon the first light;
• generating an estimate of pulse history effects on second light that is to be emitted by the pulsed laser subsequent to the pulsed laser emitting the first light, wherein the estimate is generated based upon a parameter of the first pulse and a desired luminance of the second light;
• outputting, by the pulse circuitry, a second pulse of electrical current based upon the estimate of the pulse history effects, the second pulse having a second amplitude;
• and
• emitting, by the pulsed laser, second light based upon the second pulse of electrical current, the second light has the desired luminance, and further wherein luminance of a second pixel on the display surface is based upon the second light.

A head-mounted display system worn on a head of a user, comprising:

• a display surface;
• a current source that is configured to emit electrical current;
• pulse circuitry that is configured to:
• receive the electrical current emitted by the current source;
• and
• output pulses of electrical current based upon the electrical current emitted by the current source;
• a pulsed laser that is configured to:
• receive the pulses of electrical current output by the pulse circuitry;
• and
• emit light in connection with presenting video imagery on the display surface, wherein the light is based upon amplitudes of the pulses of electrical current;
• and
• control circuitry that is configured to:
• control the pulse circuitry to output a first pulse of electrical current that has a first amplitude, wherein the pulsed laser, when provided with the first pulse, outputs first light having a luminance, wherein the luminance of the first light is based upon the first amplitude;
• generate an estimate of pulse history effects on second light that is to be emitted by the pulsed laser subsequent to the pulsed laser emitting the first light, wherein the estimate is generated based upon a parameter of the first pulse and a desired luminance of the second light;
• and
• control the pulse circuitry based upon the estimate of the pulse history effects on the second light, wherein the control circuitry controls the pulse circuitry to output a second pulse of electrical current that has a second amplitude, and further wherein the pulsed laser, when provided with the second pulse, emits the second light with the desired luminance in connection with presenting the video imagery on the display surface.