Patent ID: 7830561

Claim:
An optical device for acquiring an image, the device comprising: a first light attenuating layer having a plurality of elements, each having a transmittance, wherein the transmittance of each of the plurality of elements is controllable; an image detector disposed at a distance from the first light attenuating layer, the image detector configured to acquire an image from light that passes through the first light attenuating layer; a light attenuating layer controller coupled to the first light attenuating layer and configured to simultaneously control transmittance of each of the plurality of elements independent of each other, wherein the optical device acquires an image without using a lens; wherein the light attenuating layer controller is further configured to create at least one first aperture within the first light attenuating layer, the at least one first aperture comprising at least one element of the first light attenuating layer having a higher transmittance than elements surrounding the at least one first aperture, and to move the at least one first aperture within the first light attenuating layer.