Variable imaging arrangements and methods therefor

A digital imaging system for capturing data usable for synthesizing an image of a scene, the system comprising:

• a main lens positioned to receive light from a scene to be digitally captured;
• a light ray sensor for sensing light from the scene as light rays of a light field, the light ray sensor comprising,
• a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses and positioned to receive light from the scene through the main lens and to capture microlens images beneath each of the plurality of microlenses;
• and
• a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors, wherein the photosensor array is positioned to receive light from the microlens array, and in a first position is coincident with a focal plane of the microlens array such that the microlens images are in focus;
• an actuator configurable to set a distance between the photosensor array and the microlens array, wherein when the distance is shorter than the distance of the first position, the microlens images become defocused, and wherein each level of defocus provides a difference light field sampling pattern;
• and
• a processor configurable to provide image data characterizing a synthesized image as a function of the light from the light field sensed at different photosensors of the photosensor array, wherein the processor is configurable to provide image data characterizing a synthesized image as a function of the light from the light field sensed at different photosensors of the photosensor array, the set distance, and an angle of incidence of light from the light field on a two-dimensional focal plane of the main lens, and wherein the two-dimensional focal plane of the main lens coincides with a plane defined by the microlens array;
• wherein the microlens array, the photosensor array and the actuator comprise a common image sensor arrangement.