Patent ID: 7661890

Claim:
An imaging apparatus with a rotatable lens barrel, comprising: an optical block including a lens; an imaging block including an imaging device; the lens barrel receiving the optical block and the imaging block and including a rotating truncated ball that is larger than a hemisphere of a virtual sphere formed by extending the curved surface of the truncated ball; and a mount rotatably holding the lens barrel, wherein the mount includes a support that has a circular hole with a diameter smaller than that of the truncated ball and holds the truncated ball such that the truncated ball is fitted in the hole, and a retainer that has a circular opening with a diameter smaller than that of the truncated ball and holds the truncated ball in the opening such that the ball does not come out of the opening in order to prevent the lens barrel from coming out, the imaging block is arranged within the truncated ball, and at least part of the optical block is located within the virtual sphere.