Patent ID: 7852385
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising: an array of imaging pixels, said array being organized into a plurality of rows and columns; a plurality of optically black pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, said optically black pixels for generating optically black signals used for a black level pedestal; and a plurality of reference pixels, said plurality of reference pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, each row of reference pixels corresponding to a respective row of imaging pixels within said array, each reference pixel including a circuit for causing said reference pixel to output electrically black signals to be used in row-wise noise correction of signals from the imaging pixels from its associated row, each reference pixel has a different configuration than the optically black pixels and comprises a photosensor directly coupled to a floating diffusion region, said reference pixel being operable to output electrically black signals by resetting the photosensor and floating diffusion region prior to readout.