Foveated mems scanning display

A method for use with a MEMS scanner that includes a biaxial MEMS mirror or a pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors that are used to raster scan an image, the method comprising:

• controlling rotation of the biaxial MEMS mirror or the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors of the MEMS scanner;
• producing at least two light beams that are directed toward and incident on the biaxial MEMS mirror, or one of the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors, when a first portion of the image is being raster scanned by the MEMS scanner;
• and
• producing only one light beam that is directed towards and incident on the biaxial MEMS mirror, or one of the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors, when a second portion of the image is being raster scanned by the MEMS scanner.

A near eye or heads up display system, comprising:

• a MEMS scanner including a biaxial MEMS mirror or a pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the MEMS scanner and configured to control rotation of the biaxial MEMS mirror or the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors of the MEMS scanner;
• a plurality of light sources each of which comprises one or more light emitting elements;
• a plurality of light source drivers, each of which is configured to selectively drive a respective one of the light sources to thereby produce a respective light beam that is directed towards and incident on the biaxial MEMS mirror or one of the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors;
• an image processor communicatively coupled to each of the light source drivers and configured to
• cause at least two of the light source drivers to drive at least two of the light sources to thereby produce at least two light beams when a first portion of an image is being raster scanned by the MEMS scanner;
• and
• cause only one of the light source drivers to drive only one of the light sources to thereby produce only one light beam when a second portion of the image is being raster scanned by the MEMS scanner;
• and
• one or more optical waveguides each of which includes an input-coupler and an output-coupler;
• wherein light corresponding to the first and second portions of the image that are raster scanned using the biaxial MEMS mirror or the pair of uniaxial MEMS mirrors, under the control of the controller, is coupled into the one or more optical waveguides via the input-coupler(s) of the one or more optical waveguide(s);
• wherein the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the image, that is coupled into the one or more optical waveguides via the input-coupler(s), travels at least in part by way of total internal reflection (TIR) from the input-coupler(s) to the output-coupler(s) of the one or more optical waveguides;
• and
• wherein the output-coupler(s) is/are configured to couple the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the image, that has traveled within the one or more optical waveguides from the input-coupler(s) to the output-coupler(s), out of the one or more optical waveguides.