Imaging device, system, method and program for converting a first image into a plurality of second images

A method of operating an imaging device for converting a first image into a plurality of second images, the method comprising:

• controlling a first lens of the imaging device having a first aperture to receive light of the first image;
• controlling a light reflector of the imaging device to reflect the light received by the first lens along a number of paths having a predetermined number of reflections within the light reflector according to a portion of the first aperture from which the light originated;
• controlling a second lens of the imaging device to output at least a subset of the paths of light reflected by the light reflector as a plurality of second images, the second images having a focal length associated with the predetermined number of reflections experienced by the corresponding paths of light through the light reflector;
• capturing information constituting the plurality of second images output by the second lens;
• and
• processing the information constituting the plurality of second images captured, processing including determining a first depth information for forming a three-dimensional image using a focal length of at least one of the plurality of second images by comparing focus levels of the plurality of second images based on a number of reflections.

An imaging system for converting a first image into a plurality of second images, the imaging system comprising:

• a first lens having a first aperture configured to receive light of the first image;
• a light reflector configured to reflect the light received by the first lens along a number of paths having a predetermined number of reflections within the light reflector according to a portion of the first aperture from which the light originated;
• a second lens configured to output at least a subset of the paths of light reflected by the light reflector as a plurality of second images, the second images having a focal length associated with the predetermined number of reflections experienced by the corresponding paths of light through the light reflector;
• image capture circuitry configured to capture information constituting the plurality of second images output by the second lens;
• and
• image processing circuitry configured to process the information constituting the plurality of second images captured by the image capture circuitry, wherein the image processing circuitry is further configured to use the information constituting the plurality of second images from different numbers of reflections to generate multiple unique three-dimensional images.