Imaging device and method for operating imaging device

A method for operating an imaging device that includes:

• a modulation mask that converts incident light into modulated light by modulating the incident light;
• an imaging element that captures a modulated image formed from the modulated light that has passed through the modulation mask;
• a selection filter that, for each of a plurality of regions into which an imaging surface on the imaging element is divided, allows the modulated light having optical characteristics that are orthogonal to each other between the regions adjacent to each other, to pass through toward the imaging element;
• and
• a reconstruction unit that reconstructs an image corresponding to the incident light based on the modulated image,
• wherein the modulation mask converts, with a sub-area set for each selection filter as a unit, the incident light into modulated light having optical characteristics corresponding to the selection filter based on at least one of polarization and spectroscopy,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• converting, by the modulation mask, incident light into modulated light by modulating the incident light;
• capturing, by the imaging element, a modulated image formed from the modulated light that has passed through the modulation mask;
• for each of a plurality of regions into which an imaging surface on the imaging element is divided, allowing, by the selection filter, the modulated light having optical characteristics that are orthogonal to each other between the regions adjacent to each other to pass through toward the imaging element;
• reconstructing, by the reconstruction unit, an image corresponding to the incident light based on the modulated image;
• and
• with a sub-area set for each selection filter as a unit, converting, by the modulation mask, the incident light into modulated light having optical characteristics corresponding to the selection filter based on at least one of polarization and spectroscopy.