Controllable light array for projection image display

A projection image display system comprising

• a pair of image displays each having an illumination system, a spatial light modulator illuminated by the illumination system for forming image patterns, an imaging system for projecting a virtual image of the image patterns through a pupil within an eyebox, an array of separately activatable light sources within the illumination system positioned optically conjugate to the pupil,
• the pair of displays supported within a head-mountable frame for positioning each of the eyeboxes of the displays in front of a viewer's eyes, and
• a control system that selectively activates the light sources within both displays in a pattern to increase or decrease a separation between pupils of the displays for accommodating different interpupillary distances between the viewers' eyes.

A method of providing for adjusting a position within an eyebox at which a pupil of a virtual display is formed comprising steps of

• arranging illumination and imaging optics of the virtual display so than the pupil of the virtual display is substantially conjugate to an array of separately activatable light sources,
• connecting a control system to the array to provide for selectively activating the light sources with the array to adjust the position of the virtual display pupil within the eyebox.