Patent ID: 7248795

Claim:
An imaging apparatus having imaging means for imaging an object, comprising: a laser light source for generating laser beams; image projection means for projecting onto the object a hologram which is obtained by applying the laser beams to a hologram plate; and focus control means for performing an auto focus operation of the imaging means by using the hologram image projected onto the object, wherein the projected hologram image is an image pattern comprised of a plurality of segments, with each segment including a predetermined number of light spots arrayed in a straight line; the first segment of the segments being provided in the center of the projected image; four of the second segments being provided at each vertex of a square that circumscribes a circle centered at the center of the first segment and has a predetermined length of diameter; and the power of the laser beams being such that the total heat of the first segment and the second segment is less than a level regulated by a predetermined laser beam safety standard.