Patent ID: 7576768

Claim:
An imaging apparatus including a table for receiving an imaging target and a video camera operable to pick up images from a direction of the table, the imaging apparatus comprising: a video camera supporting member including a leading end configured to hold the video camera and a base, the video camera operable to pick up images of the imaging target mounted on the table; a first illumination device positioned on the video camera supporting member above the base at a location of the video camera, and configured to illuminate the table; and a second illumination device positioned at the base of the video camera supporting member and configured to illuminate the table; wherein the video camera supporting member includes: an attitude holding mechanism configured to be inclinable to the table to a degree of inclination with respect to the table to change an imaging location of the video camera on the table surface, and when the imaging location is changed, to hold the video camera at a relative attitude with respect to the table, wherein the first illumination device includes: an illumination spot changeable module configured to change an illumination spot to be illuminated according to the imaging location, the imaging location changing with the inclination of the video camera supporting member, and wherein the second illumination device is positioned to illuminate the table so that the second illumination device turns to the imaging location of the video camera when the video camera by means of the video camera supporting member is turned to an imaging location most distant on the table surface, and the second illumination device is in a turned-off state when the video camera by means of the video camera supporting member takes an imaging location that is closest to the table surface.