Patent ID: 8139135

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for capturing an image represented by an optical signal and converting the image into digital image data, the apparatus comprising: a CCD imaging device having a plurality of light-receiving elements each of which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and converts an incoming optical signal into charge and accumulates the charge when a first voltage signal applied to the semiconductor substrate has a predetermined first voltage value and discharges the accumulated charge when the first voltage signal has a predetermined second voltage value, an amount of accumulated charge being controlled when the first voltage signal has a third voltage value between the first voltage value and the second voltage value, and the CCD imaging device outputting an analog electric signal indicating an amount of charge discharged from each of the light-receiving elements according to a control signal supplied from outside; an electric signal processor; and a controller which receives fourth power with a fourth voltage value to operate and controls operation of the electric signal processor; wherein the electric signal processor includes: a converter circuit which converts the output electric signal into the image data; a control signal supply circuit which supplies the control signal; a power supply circuit which supplies third power with a voltage value corresponding to the third voltage value; and a voltage signal application circuit which selects power with the first voltage value supplied from outside, power with the second voltage value supplied from outside, or the supplied third power, and applies the selected power, as the first voltage signal, to the semiconductor substrate of the CCD imaging device; and wherein the power supply circuit includes: a power generator circuit which receives fifth power with a voltage value higher than the fourth voltage value to operate and generates third power with a voltage value corresponding to the third voltage value from a second voltage signal having a voltage value between the fourth voltage value and 0 V; and a second voltage signal generator circuit which receives the fourth power to operate and generates the second voltage signal according to control from the controller.