Sectional multi spectral sensor with optical blurring

A multi-spectral optical sensor, comprising:

• a monolithic semiconductor chip defining a plurality of subarrays of optical detector regions, each array comprising a same number and relative spatial arrangement of optical detector regions;
• a plurality of optical filters;
• a plurality of lens elements;
• and
• a spacer disposed on the monolithic semiconductor chip, wherein the spacer defines a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is aligned with a corresponding lens element, a corresponding optical filter, and a corresponding subarray of optical detector regions,
• wherein the corresponding optical filter is positioned between the corresponding lens element and the corresponding subarray of optical detector regions such that incident light from a scene incident on any one of the lens elements along a direction of incidence propagates through the corresponding optical filter towards a corresponding one of the optical detector regions of the corresponding subarray of optical detector regions, wherein which of the corresponding one of the optical detector regions depends on the direction of incidence, and
• wherein the incident light forms an out-of-focus image of the scene at a plane of the optical detector regions, and
• wherein a blur circle of each lens element of a first of the optical detector regions forming the out-of-focus image overlaps a second of the optical detector regions.