Apple Inc.
Image projector with high dynamic range

Abstract:

Optical scanning apparatus includes an emitter array, including a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of optical emitters, which are configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation and which are arranged on the semiconductor substrate in an array of rows and columns, the columns having mutually-parallel column axes. A scanner is configured to intercept and deflect the emitted beams at respective angles that vary about a scan axis that is parallel to the column axes. Control circuitry is configured to select the optical emitters that are to be actuated to emit the respective beams in each of a succession of time slots and to drive the scanner in synchronization with the time slots to deflect the emitted beams at an angular scan rate selected so as to cause the beams emitted from successive columns of the array to impinge on an image plane in succession along a common line.