A scanning laser projector comprising: a scanning mirror adapted to reflect a modulated light beam; a light source comprising a laser diode and adapted to produce the modulated light beam when driven with pixel drive values derived from received video data; a programmable voltage source coupled to provide the light source with a power supply voltage that corresponds to a programmed value; and a video processing apparatus adapted to receive the video data and to drive the light source to illuminate pixels by providing the pixel drive values from the received video data, wherein the video processing apparatus includes a pixel buffer adapted to store pixel drive values for pixels to be illuminated in a future time period, and a look-ahead circuit adapted to determine a programmed value for pixels to be illuminated in the future time period in response to corresponding pixel drive values stored in the pixel buffer, characterized in that the look-ahead circuit is further adapted to: select a duration of the future time period according to a modulation speed of the programmable voltage source and tolerable switching noise, thereby minimizing the number of pixels to be illuminated in the future time period, determine a maximum pixel drive value among the stored pixel drive values to be illuminated in the future time period of the selected duration, determine a minimum power supply voltage necessary to drive the light source with the maximum pixel drive value, wherein the minimum power supply voltage is equal to a junction voltage of the laser diode plus a minimum voltage headroom value to support operation of a driver circuitry of the light source, and determine the programmed value for pixels to be illuminated in the future time period that corresponds to the minimum power supply voltage. a scanning mirror adapted to reflect a modulated light beam; a light source comprising a laser diode and adapted to produce the modulated light beam when driven with pixel drive values derived from received video data; a programmable voltage source coupled to provide the light source with a power supply voltage that corresponds to a programmed value; and a video processing apparatus adapted to receive the video data and to drive the light source to illuminate pixels by providing the pixel drive values from the received video data, wherein the video processing apparatus includes a pixel buffer adapted to store pixel drive values for pixels to be illuminated in a future time period, and a look-ahead circuit adapted to determine a programmed value for pixels to be illuminated in the future time period in response to corresponding pixel drive values stored in the pixel buffer, characterized in that the look-ahead circuit is further adapted to: select a duration of the future time period according to a modulation speed of the programmable voltage source and tolerable switching noise, thereby minimizing the number of pixels to be illuminated in the future time period, determine a maximum pixel drive value among the stored pixel drive values to be illuminated in the future time period of the selected duration, determine a minimum power supply voltage necessary to drive the light source with the maximum pixel drive value, wherein the minimum power supply voltage is equal to a junction voltage of the laser diode plus a minimum voltage headroom value to support operation of a driver circuitry of the light source, and determine the programmed value for pixels to be illuminated in the future time period that corresponds to the minimum power supply voltage. select a duration of the future time period according to a modulation speed of the programmable voltage source and tolerable switching noise, thereby minimizing the number of pixels to be illuminated in the future time period, determine a maximum pixel drive value among the stored pixel drive values to be illuminated in the future time period of the selected duration, determine a minimum power supply voltage necessary to drive the light source with the maximum pixel drive value, wherein the minimum power supply voltage is equal to a junction voltage of the laser diode plus a minimum voltage headroom value to support operation of a driver circuitry of the light source, and determine the programmed value for pixels to be illuminated in the future time period that corresponds to the minimum power supply voltage.