Patent ID: 7949252

Claim:
A camera, comprising: a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto the photosensor; an objective lens, wherein the objective lens is configured to refract light from a scene located in front of the camera to form a three-dimensional (3D) image of the scene in the camera; an optical element array positioned between the objective lens and the photosensor, wherein the optical element array comprises a plurality of optical elements, and wherein each optical element in the optical element array comprises: a microlens; and an aperture of diameter D; wherein the 3D image of the scene extends in front of and behind the optical element array, wherein each optical element of the optical element array is configured to project a separate portion of the 3D image of the scene onto a separate location on the photosensor, and wherein the apertures are configured to increase depth of field of the microlenses in the optical element array so that the separate portions of the 3D image projected onto the photosensor are in focus except for portions projected onto the photosensor from within a range extending in front of and behind the microlenses in the optical element array.