Patent ID: 8760664

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for imaging an object using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography, the imaging apparatus comprising: a detecting unit for detecting combined light comprising a returning light from the object and a reference light; a first switching unit for switching between a first state in which the detecting unit can detect the combined light and a second state in which the detecting unit can detect the reference light; a second switching unit for switching between the first state and a third state in which the detecting unit can detect the returning light; a controlling unit for controlling the first switching unit and the second switching unit such that the detection of the combined light in the first state, the detection of the reference light in the second state, and the detection of the returning light in the third state are continuously and repeatedly changed, while it takes not less time for the detection of the returning light in the third state than the detection of the reference light in the second state; and an interferometric information acquiring unit for acquiring interferometric information on the returning light and the reference light by using the combined light detected by the detecting unit in the first state, the reference light detected by the detecting unit in the second state, and the returning light detected by the detecting unit in the third state.