Patent ID: 7635833

Claim:
An image sensor forming an electronic neutral density filter comprising: a group of photoreceptor elements forming an entire image sensor array that acquires an image, said group of photoreceptor element, respectively forming pixels of an overall image; a plurality of electronically variable capacitor elements, each connectable in parallel with each of said photoreceptor elements of said group only during a time which shares the charge integrated by each photoreceptor, and during said readout time, said outputs caused by said photoreceptor elements receiving charge are shared between the photoreceptor and said variable capacitor element, and at times other than said readout time, said outputs caused by said photoreceptor elements receiving charge are not shared between the photoreceptor and said variable capacitor element, wherein each of said photoreceptor elements of said entire image is connected in parallel with one of said electronically variable capacitor elements having substantially a same capacitance value, for an entire image; and an output element, receiving an output electrical signal that has a magnitude which is based on a value of said variable capacitor element.