Patent ID: 7639301

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging sensor configured to convert an optical image of a subject into an electrical signal; an optical member disposed in front of the imaging sensor in axial alignment with an imaging optical axis of the imaging apparatus; a vibrating device configured to apply vibration to a plane of the optical member which is orthogonal to a light incident plane of the optical member, the vibrating device being directly in contact with the plane of the optical member which is orthogonal to the light incident plane of the optical member; a control device configured to control the vibration of the vibrating device; and an elastic supporting member configured to elastically support at least a plane of the optical member which opposes the plane applied with vibration by the vibrating device, wherein the vibrating device applies a force to an alien substance adhering on a surface of the optical member by applying vibration to the plane of the optical member which is orthogonal to the light incident plane of the optical member at a position outside a center of gravity in the optical axis direction of the optical member, the force applied to the alien substance being a combined force of a force in a vibration direction of the vibrating device and a force in the optical axis direction of the optical member.