DEPTH OF FIELD ENHANCEMENT

A lens system (100) and image plane (104) are used to capture a number of sample images (400) of a three dimensional scene, each sample image (400) corresponding to a different object distance (106). The in-focus portions of each of the sample images (400) are then merged into a composite image (620) which appears to have a depth of field greater than any of the sample images (400). In one embodiment, the lens system (100) is movably attached to a camera housing (302) such that a motor (304) can move the lens system (100) in the direction of the central axis of the lens system (100). A two dimensional array (300) of photo-sensors is mounted in the camera along the central axis of the lens system (100). As the lens system (100) is traversed along the central axis, points at various distances in front of the lens system (100) pass in and out of focus on the array (300) of photo-sensors. Image information is captured from the array (300) as it is traversed, producing a series of depth-differentiated sample images (400). The in-focus portion of each sample image (400) is identified through contrast analysis. The in-focus portions identified are added to produce a composite image (620) of the scene exhibiting an apparently large depth of field.