Patent ID: 8724014

Claim:
A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprising: optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point, wherein the focal point is associated with a focal length of the optics; a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined distance is substantially independent of the scene, and wherein an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity; and a user interface configured to receive a user input, wherein, in response to the user input, the light field sensor acquires the light field image data of the scene; and a storage device, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to store the acquired light field image data of the scene, wherein the optics is configurable to include a plurality of zoom positions which provide a plurality of different focal lengths having associated focal points, and wherein the device further comprises a mechanical system, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to maintain the light field sensor unit at the same fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics for the plurality of focuses.