Image projection method

1. An image projection method for projecting an image onto a display, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining an image pixel array for the image to be projected;

b) obtaining a plurality of pixel allocation arrays for the image pixel array, each pixel allocation array including occupied elements and vacant elements;

c) generating a trigger pulse train for a laser light source according to a pixel allocation array, whereby a trigger pulse is generated for each occupied element of the pixel allocation array;

d) generating a modulation signal for the laser light source on the basis of the image pixel array;

e) switching the laser light source with the trigger pulse train and modulating the laser light source with the modulation signal to generate a laser light pulse sequence for a sub-frame image; and

f) scanning the laser light pulse sequence to traverse the display such that the sub-frame image is projected onto the display; wherein

the steps c) to f) are carried out for each pixel allocation array of the plurality of pixel allocation arrays so that the image appears on the display.

2. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the modulation signal for the laser light source is generated on the basis of the pixel allocation array.

3. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein each pixel allocation array is of the same dimension as the image pixel array.

4. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the occupied elements of the pixel allocation arrays are distributed in an essentially homogenous manner over the pixel allocation arrays.

5. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the occupied elements of a pixel allocation array are arranged in a staggered fashion among the vacant elements of the pixel allocation array.

6. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle of the trigger pulse train is chosen according to the number of pixel allocation arrays.

7. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light pulse sequence is scanned to traverse the display in a horizontal manner.

8. An image projection method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light sources of a plurality of laser light sources are switched by a shared trigger pulse train.

9. An image projection system comprising

an image pixel array source for providing an image pixel array;

a source of a plurality of pixel allocation arrays for the image pixel array, whereby each pixel allocation array comprises occupied and vacant elements;

a trigger pulse train generator ( 6 ) for generating a trigger pulse train for a laser light source according to a pixel allocation array, whereby a trigger pulse is generated for each occupied element of the pixel allocation array;

a modulation signal generator for generating a modulation signal for the laser light source on the basis of the image pixel array;

a laser control unit for switching the laser light source with the trigger pulse train and modulating the laser light source with the modulation signal to generate a laser light pulse sequence for a sub-frame image; and

a scanning unit for scanning the laser light pulse sequence to traverse the display such that the sub-frame image is projected onto the display,

wherein the components of the image projection system are configured to project a plurality of sub-frame images so that the image appears on the display.

10. An image projection system according to claim 9 , comprising a plurality of laser light sources for generating primary colour light beams (B R , B G , B B ), and a corresponding plurality of modulation signal generators for generating a separate modulation signal for each laser light source of the plurality of laser light sources.