The present invention provides an imaging element that can prevent
misappropriation by a third party, an imaging device disposed with the
imaging element, and a method of deterring misappropriation of the
imaging element. In a CCD (imaging element) disposed with plural
photodiodes for breaking down an image into plural pixels to generate
image information representing the image and an OB portion (optical black
portion) that shields a partial region of a light-receiving region
corresponding to the plural photodiodes in order to determine an output
level when the image is black, an opening for guiding light to the
photodiodes is disposed at a predetermined position in the OB portion.