Enhanced depth of focus cameras using variable apertures and pixel binning

A method comprising:

• determining, by a controller, whether a high-light condition or a low-light condition is present;
• causing, by the controller when the high-light condition is present:
• a variable aperture oriented along an optical axis to adjust to a first aperture size;
• and
• a readout circuit of an image sensor to perform a first level of pixel binning, wherein the image sensor comprises an array of light-sensitive pixels and is configured to capture one or more images of a scene based on light received via a lens oriented along the optical axis;
• causing, by the controller when the low-light condition is present:
• the variable aperture to adjust to a second aperture size, wherein the second aperture size is larger than the first aperture size;
• and
• the readout circuit to perform a second level of pixel binning, wherein the second level of pixel binning is greater than the first level of pixel binning;
• and
• capturing, by the image sensor, an image of the scene.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:

• determining whether a high-light condition or a low-light condition is present;
• causing, when the high-light condition is present:
• a variable aperture oriented along an optical axis to adjust to a first aperture size;
• and
• a readout circuit of an image sensor to perform a first level of pixel binning, wherein the image sensor comprises an array of light-sensitive pixels and is configured to capture one or more images of a scene based on light received via a lens oriented along the optical axis;
• causing, when the low-light condition is present:
• the variable aperture to adjust to a second aperture size, wherein the second aperture size is larger than the first aperture size;
• and
• the readout circuit to perform a second level of pixel binning, wherein the second level of pixel binning is greater than the first level of pixel binning;
• and
• causing the image sensor to capture an image of the scene.