Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a first cylindrical member having first and second bottomed grooves, which intersect each other, on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a first moving member which is provided with a first radial projection which is fitted in the first bottomed groove, the first moving member being movable relative to the first cylindrical member; and a second moving member which is provided with a second radial projection which is fitted in the second bottomed groove, the second moving member being movable relative to the first cylindrical member. The shapes of the first bottomed groove and the first radial projection and the shapes of the second bottomed groove and the second radial projection are such that the second radial projection cannot be fitted in the first bottomed groove and that the first radial projection cannot be fitted in the second bottomed groove.

Abstract: A lens barrier opening/closing device of a movable lens barrel includes a barrier blade which is driven to open and close a photographic aperture; a barrier drive ring driven to rotate about an optical axis; a first biasing device which biases the barrier drive ring in a rotational direction; a rotational barrel which rotates about the optical axis; a receiving surface formed on the barrier drive ring to extend parallel to the optical axis; and a transmission surface, formed on the rotational barrel, extending parallel to the optical axis. The receiving surface and the transmission surface are engaged with each other to rotate the barrier drive ring together with the rotational barrel about the optical axis in a direction against a biasing force of the first biasing device when the movable lens barrel moves from either the photographing position to the accommodation position or vise versa.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembling mechanism includes a stationary barrel; a movable barrel; a linear guide barrel; a linear guide mechanism for linearly guiding the linear guide barrel; and at least one lens group which is linearly guided by the linear guide barrel. When the movable barrel is in an operating range, the linear guide barrel is linearly guided via the linear guide mechanism, while the movable barrel moves with the linear guide barrel while relatively rotating, to move the lens group. If the movable barrel is moved forward from a frontmost position of the operating range in order to disassemble an assembly including the movable barrel and the linear guide barrel from the stationary barrel, the linear guide barrel is no longer guided by the linear guide mechanism, and the linear guide barrel moves forward while rotating with the movable barrel to thereby remove the assembly.

Abstract: A movable lens hood mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided linearly in a direction of an optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a first cam barrel rotatably driven to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a movable hood barrel having a photographic aperture positioned in front of the frontmost lens group and guided linearly in the optical axis direction; and a feed mechanism which drives the movable hood barrel forward/rearward in the optical axis direction relative to the frontmost lens group by rotation of the first cam barrel so that a space between the photographic aperture of the movable lens hood and the frontmost lens group in the optical axis direction varies in accordance with a variation of a focal length of the zoom lens.

Abstract: A bayonet fixing device includes a cylindrical member; an annular member attached to one end of the cylindrical member; and a retainer ring attached to the cylindrical member to fix the annular member to the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member includes engaging lugs and insertion areas which are alternately arranged along the circumference at one end of the cylindrical member; grooves formed behind the engaging lugs; and recesses formed behind the grooves. The annular member includes a plurality of projections which are respectively fitted into the recesses via the insertion areas and the grooves. The retainer ring includes engaging blades which are fitted into the grooves via the insertion areas to be positioned between the engaging lugs and the projections in an axial direction of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a linear guide barrel provided with a linear guide projection at one end thereof, extending radially outwards; a cam barrel fitted on the linear guide barrel, rotatable relative to the linear guide barrel and movable along the optical axis with the linear guide barrel, the cam barrel being provided with a cam groove on an inner surface thereof; a linear guide slot formed on the linear guide barrel extending parallel to the optical axis; at least one lens frame positioned inside the linear guide barrel; a projection formed on the lens frame to be slidably engaged in the linear guide slot; and a cam follower formed on the projection to be engaged in the cam groove. The linear guide projection and the linear guide slot are formed on the linear guide barrel at the same circumferential position of the linear guide barrel.

Abstract: A selectable assembling device of a zoom lens barrel includes a stationary barrel having a female helicoid, and linear guide grooves spaced at 120 degree intervals; a cam ring including bottomed cam grooves; a linear guide barrel provided with linear guide projections and linear guide slots spaced at 120 degree intervals; and a plurality of lens frames provided with sliding projections spaced at 120 degree intervals, which are engaged in the linear guide slots of the linear guide barrel, each of the sliding projections including a cam follower which is fitted in a corresponding bottomed cam groove of the cam ring. Upon assembly, a relative angular position of assembly for the cam ring and the linear guide barrel can be selected from among three circumferential positions spaced at 120 degree intervals. A device for guiding a flexible circuit board is also provided.

Abstract: A lens frame guiding mechanism of a zoom lens includes lens frames having projections which extend radially outwards, wherein a cam follower is formed on each projection; a linear guide barrel; linear guide slots formed on the linear guide barrel parallel to the optical axis, wherein the projections of each lens frame are respectively engaged in the linear guide slots to be slidable therealong; a cam barrel fitted outside the linear guide barrel to be relatively rotatable about the optical axis thereto; and bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam barrel, in which the cam followers of a corresponding lens frame are respectively engaged. The lens frames are moved in the direction of the optical axis, without rotating about the optical axis, to change a focal length of said zoom lens via rotation of said cam barrel.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups, and a cam barrel having a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The cam barrel includes a first barrel having the cam groove on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a second barrel which is fitted on a front part of an outer peripheral surface of the first barrel, the first barrel and second barrel being movable in the optical axis direction with a predetermined clearance provided therebetween in the optical axis direction while being rotatable together about the optical axis, so that an external force applied to the zoom lens from the outside of the zoom lens is transmitted to the first barrel via the second barrel.

Abstract: A cam barrel rotating mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided in a direction of an optical axis without rotating about the optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a cam barrel rotatably supported to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a rotational barrel positioned around the cam barrel, the rotational barrel being rotatably driven; a plurality of rotation transmission grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam barrel, at an equi-angular intervals, extending parallel to the optical axis; and a plurality of inward projections formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rotational barrel to be engaged in the plurality of rotation transmission grooves, respectively.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a cam barrel having first and second cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; and first and second lens frames having first and second cam followers, respectively engaged with the first and the second cam grooves. The cam dead end of the first cam groove and the second cam follower insertion opening of the second cam groove are formed at the same circumferential position. Upon assembly, the first cam follower is inserted into the first leading section via a first cam follower insertion opening, and the second cam follower is inserted into the second leading section via a second cam follower insertion opening.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a cam barrel having bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a lens frame guided in an optical axis direction, cam followers, and resilient supports which are resiliently deformable radially. Each bottomed cam groove includes a zoom section, and an accommodation section. Each bottomed cam groove is formed so that a depth of the accommodation section is greater than the zoom section. The resilient bias of each resilient support causes the cam followers to be biased against the bottomed cam grooves wherein the follower pins are fitted in the bottomed cam grooves so that no play occurs when the bottomed cam grooves are in the zoom section. Each resilient support is free from being elastically deformed so that the cam followers are inserted in the bottomed cam grooves with a predetermined amount of play when the bottomed cam grooves are positioned in the accommodation section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible printed wiring board which includes: a first flexible board; a second flexible board which overlaps the first flexible board; a conductive wiring pattern formed on a portion of the first flexible board on which the second flexible board is laid; and at least one inspectional land, used for inspection of the conductive pattern, which is formed on the second flexible board. The second flexible board overlaps the first flexible board such that the conductive wiring pattern and the at least one inspectional land do not overlap each other in a direction parallel to a plane which is parallel to the first flexible board and the second flexible board when the second flexible board overlaps the first flexible board.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a front lens holder frame with a male helicoid and a rear lens holder frame including a cam follower pin. A linear movement guide mechanism guides the front and rear lens holder frames to move in the optical axis direction. A rotatable drive ring, with a female helicoid, engages with the male helicoid of the front lens holder frame and with a cam groove in which the cam follower pin of the rear lens holder frame is fitted. The cam groove is provided with a plurality of spaced back focal distance adjusting sections parallel with the lead of the helicoids and with a plurality of zoom sections that connect the adjacent ones of the spaced back focal distance adjusting sections and that are not parallel with the lead of the helicoids. The drive ring is always stopped when the cam follower pin is located in any one of the back focal distance adjusting sections.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel has a rotatable cam ring which is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a female helicoid which can be engaged by a male helicoid formed on an outer peripheral surface of a lens support and a cam groove in which a cam follower pin formed on a lens frame can be fitted. At least a part of said cam groove penetrates in an area of said female helicoid in the axial direction of said cam ring. The cam ring is provided with a first area in which the female helicoid is formed and a second area separate from the first area, in which the cam groove is formed, so that the cam groove does not interfere with the female helicoid.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembly has a rotatable cam ring having first helicoid threads and a cam groove, a front lens group held by a front lens group frame having second helicoid threads held in mesh with the first helicoid threads for moving the front lens groups along an axis of the rotatable cam ring, and a rear lens group held by a rear lens group frame having a cam follower engaging in the cam groove for moving the rear lens group along the axis relatively to the front lens group. A pair of diametrically opposite tension springs in the form of coil springs is coupled between the front and rear lens group frames for normally urging them toward each other thereby to remove backlash between the first and second helicoid threads and between the cam follower and the cam groove.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting the rotational torque of a screw mechanism including a frictional member which is positioned between a lens frame and a lens frame holder. The frictional member can be made of natural fiber, sponge, rubber, or styrene foam.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the axial position of a lens includes a lens frame which holds the lens, and a lens frame holder which holds the lens frame to allow movement in the optical axis direction. A plurality of split screw engaging portions are provided between the lens frame and the lens frame holder, so that the lens frame and the lens frame holder are capable of being fitted together without rotating and are screw engagable with the split screw engaging portions.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembly has a rotatable cam ring having first helicoid threads and a cam groove, a front lens group held by a front lens group frame having second helicoid threads held in mesh with the first helicoid threads for moving the front lens group along an axis of the rotatable cam ring, and a rear lens group held by a rear lens group frame having a cam follower engaging in the cam groove for moving the rear lens group along the axis relatively to the front lens group. A pair of diametrically opposite tension springs in the form of coil springs is coupled between the front and rear lens group frames for normally urging them toward each other thereby to remove backlash between the first and second helicoid threads and between the cam follower and the cam groove.

Abstract: An adjusting apparatus of a zoom lens barrel is provided including a zoom mechanism in which the zooming is carried out by a rotation of a rotatable cam ring, a code plate provided on a linearly movable member which is linearly moved in an optical axis direction by the zoom mechanism, and a brush holder having brushes which come into contact with the code plate to detect a focal length thereof. The adjusting apparatus further includes a brush position adjusting mechanism which adjusts the position of the brush holder in the optical axis direction, and a device for confirming that the cam ring, whose reference angular position is varied in accordance with the adjustment of the brush holder by the brush position adjusting mechanism, is located at a predetermined angular position.