Patent ID: 8482639

Claim:
An imaging sensor pixel array, comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of active pixels disposed in the semiconductor substrate for capturing an image, each of the active pixels including a first region for receiving light including a p-n junction for accumulating an image charge and active pixel circuitry coupled to the first region to readout the image charge; and at least one black reference pixel disposed within the semiconductor substrate for generating a black level reference value that includes effects due to dark current within the imaging sensor pixel array without shielding the light from reaching the at least one black reference pixel, the black reference pixel including a second region for receiving light without a p-n junction and black pixel circuitry coupled to the second region without the p-n junction to readout a black level reference signal, wherein the black reference pixel does not include a shielding layer disposed on a light incident side of the imaging sensor pixel array that is positioned to block the light from reaching the second region of the black reference pixel, wherein the black pixel circuitry includes a transfer transistor coupled to the second region such that the black level reference value includes effects due to dark current within the transfer transistor of the black pixel circuitry.