VCSEL array scanning display

• US 10,852,532 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2018
• Issued: 12/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Sun, Ruipeng, Pu, Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Application Number:
  US16/198,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20200159007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0858 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/025 with scanning or deflecting the beams in two directions or dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0071 for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4093 Red, green and blue [RGB] generated directly by laser action or by a combination of laser action with nonlinear frequency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3164 using multiple light sources

Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to producing a viewable image using a plurality of individually-addressable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) arranged into an array. In one example, a display system comprises a light source comprising a plurality of VCSELs arranged into an array comprising one or more first color rows of VCSELs configured to produce a first color, one or more second color rows of VCSELs configured to produce a second color, and one or more third color rows of VCSELs configured to produce a third color. Each VCSEL in a given row has a coordinate that is staggered relative to a coordinate of each of the VCSELs in one or more rows adjacent to the given row. The display system also comprises a scanning system to direct light from at least a portion of the plurality of VCSELs to produce a viewable image.

Claims

1. A display system 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 VCSELs in 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 VCSELs in 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; and

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.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise one row.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise two or more rows.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein a pitch between the VCSELs in the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows is approximately 4-30 μ

m.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mirror is moveable about at least one axis parallel to the first axis.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mirror is configured to scan the portion of the plurality of VCSELs in a direction parallel to the second axis.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the plurality of VCSELs are individually driven by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) driving circuit.

8. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a waveguide configured to receive the light from the scanning system and output the viewable image.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the VCSELs are configured to emit light at a wavelength corresponding to a given color, emit light through a phosphor material to produce the given color, or emit light through a filter to produce the given color.

10. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first color is red, the second color is green, and the third color is blue.

11. 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.

12. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise one row.

13. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise two or more rows.

14. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein a pitch between the VCSELs in the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows is approximately 4-30 μ

m.

15. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein the at least one mirror is moveable about at least one axis parallel to the first axis.

16. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein the at least one mirror is configured to scan the portion of the VCSELs in a direction parallel to the second axis.

17. The HMD device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of VCSELs are individually driven by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) driving circuit.

18. 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.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise one row.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more first color rows, the one or more second color rows, and the one or more third color rows of VCSELs each comprise two or more rows.