Abstract: An aperture regulating apparatus includes a moving barrel moving straight in an optical axis direction, a rotation barrel rotatably held by the moving barrel, a cam member movably fitted on the moving barrel, and a shutter unit movably contained in the moving barrel. In moving the moving barrel in the optical axis direction by magnifying operation, the rotation barrel moves in the optical axis direction with the moving barrel with rotation, and the cam member moves in the optical axis direction on an outer surface of the moving barrel in accordance with rotation of the rotation barrel. The shutter unit has a regulation lever getting in rotational range of shutter blades. The regulation lever is displaced according to movement of the cam member to control a rotational amount of the shutter blades. An aperture size is regulated according to a focal length of a taking lens.

Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a cam follower which is provided to a lens holding frame supporting a lens, and a cam gear with which the cam follower is engaged. The cam gear is rotated by a stepping motor, so that the lens holding frame and the lens move along the optical axis thereof. The cam gear is molded from synthetic resin and is provided with a stopper at the both ends of a non-operative area, in which the cam follower does not come in contact during a normal operation. The non-operative area has a gate mark, which is formed during the resin molding process. The stopper prevents the cam follower from interfering with the gate mark.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes front and rear lens group frames, and a cam ring having a cam groove including a front-lens-group accommodation portion, a rear-lens-group-accommodation portion having a straight connecting portion connected to the front-lens-group accommodation portion, and an end portion. The front lens group frame is linearly guided and the rear lens group frame is relatively rotatably supportable and linearly guidably supportable. Rotation of the rear lens group frame is allowed when first and second followers are positioned in the front and rear-lens-group accommodation portions. When the cam ring is rotated from the accommodation portions, upon the rear lens group frame being switched from the relatively rotatable state to the linearly guidable state, the second follower rotates together with the cam ring while the second follower is positioned in the rear-lens-group accommodation portion or in the vicinity of the straight connecting portion.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring which is rotatable about an optical axis, and at least two linearly movable members provided inside or outside the cam ring, the linearly movable members being linearly guided in an optical axis direction. A plurality of cams are formed on an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring. Furthermore, at least two adjacent cams overlap at least partly as viewed in the optical axis direction, one of the two adjacent cams being a cam projection and the other of the two adjacent cams being a cam groove, and a follower recess portion and a follower projection portion, which are relatively movably fitted into the cam projection and the cam groove, respectively, are respectively formed on the linearly movable members.

Abstract: An image sensor module with a zooming function is disclosed. The sensor module consists of first and second barrels for respectively holding condensing lenses used for image capture, and a housing having a guide channel at a sidewall thereof and movably and stably receiving the first extensions of the first and second barrels in the guide channel such that the first and second barrels are moved along a focusing axis of the condensing lenses. The sensor module also has a motor for generating a rotating force, a motor gear formed on the output shaft of the motor, and a means for controlling the interval between the first and second barrels by converting a rotating action of the motor gear into a linear movement of the first and second barrels in a horizontal direction. In the sensor module used in a variety of electronic apparatuses, the condensing lenses are movable to change their positions, thus accomplishing a zooming effect while precisely condensing light beams to produce clear images.

Abstract: A barrel assembly of a zoom camera includes a front lens frame where a front lens group is installed, a front guide frame for supporting the front lens frame, a zoom ring advancing and retreating along an optical axis of the front lens group, an inner helicoid ring installed to be capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the zoom ring, a rear lens frame where a rear lens group which is arranged on the same optical axis as the front lens group is installed, and a cam unit formed at the zoom ring and an inner rotator which is installed at the inner helicoid ring to be capable of advancing and retreating, for adjusting the interval between the front lens group and the rear lens group as the front lens group moves.

Abstract: A retracting mechanism for a lens barrel, the mechanism includes a non-rotatable member having an engagement surface; a frame movable along an axis towards and away from the non-rotatable member without rotation and having a holder for holding an imaging element, the holder pivotally mounted to the frame for movement between an aligned position where the lens barrel component is aligned with the axis and a displaced position where the component is displaced relative to the aligned position; and a spring assembly configured to resiliently hold the holder at the aligned position and having an engagement surface configured to contact the engagement surface of the non-rotatable member during movement of the frame towards the non-rotatable member, overcome the resilient holding of the holder at the aligned position, and move the holder from the aligned position to the displaced position.

Abstract: An advancing/retracting mechanism of a lens barrel, including a rotatable ring; a non-rotatable advancing/retracting guide ring positioned inside the rotatable ring including an inclined lead slot, and at least one circumferential slot which is communicatively connected with the inclined lead slot; a driven member having a follower engaged in the inclined lead slot and the circumferential slot, and further engaged in the rotation transfer groove; an optical element supported by the driven member; and a ring spring positioned inside the rotatable ring along an inner peripheral surface thereof and supported by the rotatable ring. The follower is disengaged from the follower pressing portion of the ring spring when the follower is engaged in the inclined lead slot. The follower is engaged with the follower pressing portion and resiliently deforms the follower pressing portion when the follower is engaged in the circumferential slot.

Abstract: A retractable lens includes a linearly movable ring, a retractable holder, a holding device, a retracting device, and a flexible PWB configured to connect an electronic component supported inside the linearly movable ring, with an electronic circuit positioned outside the linearly movable ring. The retractable holder is separate from the flexible PWB when the retractable holder is held by the holding device in an operational position in which the retractable optical element is on the optical axis. The retractable holder presses the flexible PWB in a radial direction of the linearly movable ring from an inside to an outside of the linearly movable ring and supports the flexible PWB when the retractable holder is moved to a radially retracted position by the retracting device such that the retractable optical element retracts to the position that deviates from a photographing optical axis.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a cam ring, and a linearly movable frame supporting an optical element. Cam groove groups are located at different positions in a circumferential direction on the cam ring, and each cam groove group includes cam grooves at different positions in the optical-axis direction and trace the same reference cam diagram. A cam groove intersects another cam groove of another cam groove group adjacent thereto in the circumferential direction. Each cam follower group includes cam followers located at different positions in the optical-axis direction engageable with the cam grooves of each cam groove group. In each cam groove group, at least one complementing cam follower of each cam follower group remains engaged in a corresponding cam groove when another cam follower of the complementing cam followers passes through an intersection area of the intersecting cam grooves during a rotation of the cam ring.

Abstract: A guide mechanism for a lens barrel includes a support frame supporting an imaging component, and a linear guide configured to guide the support frame along an axis. The linear guide can include a ring portion defining an opening through which the support frame can pass, and further includes at least one linear guide key extending along the axis from the ring portion and positioned substantially radially inwardly of the opening. The support frame has at least one linear guide groove located at the outer peripheral surface thereof and configured to slidably engage with a respective the at least one linear guide key, and each of the opposite ends of the at least one linear guide groove are open such that the support frame is movable to extend from either of the sides of the ring portion.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a non-rotatable annular ring and a circumferential guide groove; a first rotatable ring supported inside the annular ring and including a rotation-guiding projection slidably engaged in the circumferential guide groove; a second rotatable ring which rotates with the first rotatable ring and is only axially movable relative to the first ring, including an engaging projection slidably engaged in the circumferential guide groove with the rotation-guiding projection, wherein the engaging projection is insertable/removable from the circumferential guide groove through the insertable/removable aperture at a first assembling/disassembling angular position; and a coupling ring which is positioned inside the first and second rotatable rings. A coupler provided between the coupling ring and the second rotatable ring is disengaged at a second assembling/disassembling angular position. The first and second assembling/disassembling angular positions are substantially the same.

Abstract: A zoom lens mechanism includes a switching lens group frame which supports a first sub-lens group frame and a second sub-lens group frame; a shift cam mechanism provided on opposed surfaces of the first and second sub-lens group frames, respectively, the shift cam mechanism causing the first and second sub-lens group frames to move to a mutually close position or mutually distant position; an actuator ring for providing relative rotation between the first and second sub-lens group frames; a receiving surface provided on the switching lens group frame wherein a rear end surface of the actuator ring abuts against the receiving surface; and a biasing device for biasing the first sub-lens group frame toward the actuator ring to force the first and second sub-lens group frames, and the actuator ring against the receiving surface, so that the shift cam mechanism come into contact with each other.

Abstract: A video camera capable of always stably performing adjustment of a flange back focus of a CCD. Three cam following ribs of three cam followers formed on a CCD holder are kept in pressure contact with three cams of an adjuster ring by means of three springs.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes first and second lens groups guided in an optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis, first and second support frames which support the first and second lens groups and include first and second cam followers, respectively; and a cam ring which is rotatable about the optical axis and includes a cam groove. The cam groove is formed as a continuous groove and includes first and second groove portions via which the first and second cam followers are guided to move the first and second lens groups, respectively. One of the first cam follower and the second cam follower enters one of the first groove portion and the second groove portion after passing through the other of the first groove portion and the second groove portion in a preparation stage of the lens barrel.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: A zoom lens device includes a zoom optical system, in which front, middle and rear lens groups are set at one focal length between a wide-angle end where a focal length is short and a telephoto end where the focal length is long. Lens barrels move in first and second regions to move the front, middle and rear lens groups along an optical axis. The lens barrels, when in the first region, focus the zoom optical system with a predetermined focal length kept by maintaining an interval between the front and middle lens groups, and when in the second region, change the focal length of the zoom optical system. A combination of a cam follower pin and a cam groove effects focusing by moving the middle lens group relative to the front lens group along the optical axis when the lens barrels are in the second region.

Abstract: A lens position control apparatus is disclosed which comprises a variable power lens unit that moves along the optical axis; a focusing lens unit; a drive unit for driving the variable power lens unit along the optical axis; a member defining the reference position to be used prior to execution of a focusing operation of the focusing lens unit, the member being movable along the optical axis in accordance with the movement of the variable lens unit; and a calculating unit for calculating the driven amount of the focusing lens unit from the reference position in association with the focusing operation thereof, wherein the focus lens is moved to the reference position first, and then driven again based on the distance moved.

Abstract: A photographing lens apparatus includes a moveable lens frame having a shaft fixing portion to which a shaft for guiding movements of another moveable lens frame is affixed, and a lens retaining frame mounted to the moveable lens frame that integrally retains a plurality of lenses of different apertures and a predetermined diaphragm member disposed among the plurality of lenses. The shaft fixing portion is disposed such that at least a portion thereof overlaps a projected plane defined by a large aperture lens among the plurality of lenses retained by the lens retaining frame as viewed from a front face, and is also disposed in the vicinity of an outer peripheral portion of a small aperture lens among the plurality of lenses retained by the lens retaining frame.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly is disclosed. The zoom lens barrel assembly includes: an outer barrel provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof with at least one key guide groove and at least one cam groove; a middle barrel fitted into the outer barrel and provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front portion thereof with at least one guide key, a flange and a circumferential groove adjacent to the flange, wherein the guide key is positioned in the key guide groove of the outer barrel; a middle guide ring rotatably mounted on the front end of the middle barrel, and having at least one penetrated hole on the outer periphery thereof and a slider way therein; and at least one cam follower pin, one end of which is piercing through the penetrated hole of the guide ring and disposed in the circumferential groove of the middle barrel and the other end of which is movable disposed in said cam groove of said outer barrel.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a front lens frame supporting a front lens group; a rear lens frame supporting a rear lens group; a cam ring including first and second cam grooves which receive first and second cam followers of the front and rear lens frames; the first and second cam grooves include first and second moving sections and first and second accommodation sections, respectively; and a guiding mechanism allowing the rear lens frame to relatively rotate when the second cam follower engages in a vicinity an accommodation position of the second accommodation section, and prohibiting the rear lens frame from relatively rotating while allowing the rear lens frame to only relatively move in the optical axis direction when the second cam follower engages in a section of the second cam groove which includes the second moving section and excludes this vicinity.

Abstract: A method for molding a cam ring which is provided on the peripheral surface thereof with convex cams whose shape in a developed view is non-linear, the cams overlapping each other at the ends thereof as viewed in the axial direction of the cam ring. The method includes setting first and second cylindrical split molding dies so that cam forming surfaces thereof are located in a normal molding position; and upon completion of a molding operation, rotating the first and second cylindrical split molding dies relative to each other and relative to the molded cam ring, in a direction of an angle not greater than the minimum angle defined between a tangential line on each corresponding the front and rear cam surfaces and the plane including the axis of the cam ring, to thereby part the first and second cylindrical split molding dies from the molded cam ring.

Abstract: A zoom lens and zoom lens barrel superior in precision and excellent in manipulability is disclosed, and they have a feature of combination of plastic cam barrel that retains a high dimensional precision and brings about decrease in a manufacturing cost, with the reduced number of components associated with cam follower pins. The zoom lens is comprised of a plurality of groups of lenses, an adjusting ring rotated for zooming by a user, a cam barrel provided with cam grooves and capable of rotating due to turns of the adjusting ring, a linearly moving barrel provided with grooves for linear movement and unable to rotate, n frames for holding n of the groups of lenses (n is an integer), and cam follower pins fitted in the cam grooves and the grooves for linear movement and fixed the first to the n-th frames for correspondingly holding the first to the n-th groups of lenses, respectively.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a zoom frame for holding a first-group frame and a second-group frame. Three follower pins are implanted in the second-group frame, and each of the follower pins includes a flange portion and a thrust abutment portion. The flange portions are interposed between the outer periphery of the second-group frame and the inner periphery of the zoom frame, so that decentering of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the thicknesses of the flange portions. The thrust abutment portions abut on the rear end surface of insertion grooves of the zoom frame, so that inclination of the optical axis of the second-group frame is adjusted by the difference of the outside diameters of the thrust abutment portions. The position and the inclination of the optical axis of lenses can be easily adjusted by selecting and mounting the follower pins.

Abstract: A lens barrel for use in a zoom lens apparatus to address the needs of optical devices such as a liquid crystal projector equipped with higher magnification and higher accuracy is provided. That is, the lens barrel of the present invention includes: supporting projections provided on the outer periphery of a fixed barrel projecting therefrom to support a cam barrel in contact therewith in a small area for ensuring smooth rotation of the cam barrel; and alignment guides formed in the fixed barrel and the cam barrel to fit the cam barrel into the fixed barrel keeping a predetermined positional relationship therebetween, thereby enabling the operation for adjusting the position of transmission of light having passed through a liquid crystal panel within a projection lens to be performed without any trouble.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a high zoom ratio lens that can be configured to be efficiently downsized and to effectively attain sufficient compensation rate for focusing a lens component in any type of zoom ranges. The high zoom ratio lens comprises a focusing lens (B) that moves forward and backward while simultaneously moving in a circumferential direction during zooming and focusing, and a focusing cam barrel (9) that includes a first focusing cam (103) moving the focusing lens (B) during the focusing, a zooming cam (100) moving the focusing lens (B) during the zooming, and a second focusing cam (102) compensating for a displacement of the first focusing cam (103) and a telescopic movement of the focusing cam barrel (9) in any of zoom ranges. The high zoom ratio lens further comprises a stud (C) that is engaged with the zooming cam (100) and moves within a range corresponding to circumferential movement of the first focusing cam (103).

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first frame member supporting a first lens group, a second frame member supporting a second lens group and being capable of movable relative to the first frame member along an optical axis, a cam follower in the first frame member, a cam frame member having a cam groove engaged with the cam follower to permit the first frame member to be movable along the optical axis, a contact portion which is provided for the second frame member and can come into contact with the cam follower, and a pushing member pushing the second frame member in the direction the cam follower comes into contact with the contact portion. The pushing member pushes the second frame member and the contact portion comes into contact with the cam follower. Thus, the position of the second lens group with respect to the first lens group can be restricted.

Abstract: Briefly, according to the present invention, a lens barrel includes: a first frame member having on the inner surface thereof a female helicoid and cam grooves each of which has substantially the same lead angle as that of the female helicoid and which is deeper than the female helicoid; and a second frame member which is placed inside the first frame member and which has a male helicoid, which is engaged with the female helicoid, and cam followers which are engaged with the cam grooves. The first frame member is rotated relative to the second frame member, resulting in forward or backward movement of the second frame member.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembly that couples a second lens group to a first lens group such that one cam mechanism is able to transfer both lens groups. The second lens group is further provided with a second cam mechanism that is able to provide the fine distance adjustment of the second lens group required for proper focus correction.

Abstract: A zoom lens device includes a zoom optical system, in which front, middle and rear lens groups are set at one focal length between a wide-angle end where a focal length is short and a telephoto end where the focal length is long. Lens barrels move in first and second regions to move the front, middle and rear lens groups along an optical axis. The lens barrels, when in the first region, focus the zoom optical system with a predetermined focal length kept by maintaining an interval between the front and middle lens groups, and when in the second region, change the focal length of the zoom optical system. A combination of a cam follower pin and a cam groove effects focusing by moving the middle lens group relative to the front lens group along the optical axis when the lens barrels are in the second region.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes a plurality of lens barrels including a rearmost lens barrel, secured to a camera body, and a frontmost lens barrel. At least one adjacent pair of lens barrels are connected to each other via a helicoid structure. The frontmost lens barrel and a first adjacent lens barrel are connected to each other via a cam structure. The helicoid structure allows the adjacent pair of the lens barrels to rotate and move in an optical axis direction relative to each other while the zoom lens barrel assembly moves from a retracted position to a minimally extended position for a photographing operation. At least a portion of the helicoid structure includes a slip region which allows the pair of adjacent lens barrels to rotate without relatively moving along the optical axis.

Abstract: A cam structure for a zoom lens barrel assembly which includes a first lens group including first and second sub-lens groups, and a second lens group; and a sub-lens group switching mechanism for moving one of the first and second sub-lens groups away from the other in a short focal length photographing range, and toward the other in a long focal length photographing range. The cam structure includes a zoom cam ring having front and rear lens group cam grooves for moving the first and second lens groups toward and away from each other. The front and rear lens group cam grooves are determined according to the following equation: C=B+(A−B)*K  (1); wherein 0<K<1; A designates the other sub-lens group position; B designates the second lens group position; and C designates an imaginary point position between positions A and B.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring which rotates about an optical axis while moving in the optical axis direction and has a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a movable lens frame provided inside the cam ring so as to be movable in the optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis; a cam mechanism for moving the movable lens frame in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement greater than that of the cam ring via rotation of the cam ring in accordance with a profile of the cam groove; and an outer ring which is provided around the cam ring and is engaged therewith so that the cam ring is rotatable about the optical axis relative to the outer ring and so that outer ring moves together with the cam ring in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A barrel assembly of a zoom camera includes a zoom ring at which a front lens group is installed and which is moved back and forth along the optical axis, a rear lens group frame at which a rear lens group is installed along the same optical axis as the front lens group and which is coupled to the zoom ring, and a cam means for correcting the optical position of the rear lens group with respect to the front lens group during operation of zoom.

Abstract: In a collapsing mechanism of the projecting lens apparatus, when a focus ring is moved to the back over a moving range for adjusting the focus, the focus ring is connected to a zoom ring. Then, the zoom ring rotates by following the focus ring which moves to the back, and a first and a second zoom lenses are moved to the back over a moving range for adjusting the zoom. Therefore, the focus ring completely collapses into a body of a projector.

Abstract: A step zoom lens camera having a zoom lens and a cam ring provided with a cam groove having step portions. The zoom lens camera includes a focusing lens group which serves also as a variable power lens group of the zoom lens; and an adjusting lens group, serving also as another variable power lens group of the zoom lens, which is guided by the cam groove and is moved in the optical axis direction in a non-linear relationship with respect to the rotation angle of the cam ring in each focal length step. The step portions of the cam groove are each provided with a path which enables the adjusting lens group to move so as to provide a linear relationship between the rotation angle of the cam ring and amount of movement of the focal position of an infinite distance object.

Abstract: A single mechanism of a camera which performs zooming and focusing operations. The mechanism has a first lens group which performs focusing operation, a second lens group which moves relative to the first lens group to perform zooming operation, and a zoom lens barrel which carries the first lens group and the second lens group, so that each of the first lens group and the second lens group moves along a zooming line including a plurality of focusing sections and a plurality of zooming sections alternately. A forwarding amount of the first lens group in one of the focusing sections is different from that in at least one of the other focusing sections.

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 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 barrel structure of a zoom camera includes a fixed barrel fixed to the camera, a double helicoid ring having first and second helicoid portions having different lead angles, a front lens group support body coupled to the first helicoid portion of the double helicoid ring, a rear lens group support body coupled to the second helicoid portion of the double helicoid ring, and guide means for guiding the front lens group support body and the rear lens group support body to move along the optical axis of the camera, the guide means having a cam portion formed along a path where the rear lens group support body is coupled to the second helicoid portion.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a variable power lens unit, an aperture-variable light-amount adjusting unit having an adjusting member that adjusts the fully open state of the aperture, and a variable power lens control mechanism that shifts the variable power lens unit from a first variable power position to a second variable power position. The variable power lens control mechanism moves the variable power lens unit beyond the second variable power position, then returns it toward the second variable power position, and stops it at the second variable power position. The lens barrel further comprises a cam member having a cam portion with which the adjusting member is engaged, and moves relative to the light-amount adjusting unit in operative association with the control action of the variable power lens control mechanism.

Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes a first zoom frame and a second zoom frame which are moved frontward and rearward by a cam frame. The first zoom frame holds a first lens group, and the second zoom frame contacts and presses a second-group frame. Four guide shafts are fixed to the first zoom frame, and directly and slidably support the second-group frame which holds a second lens group or a third-group frame which holds a third lens group. Therefore, the deviation between the optical axes of the second lens group and the third lens group from the first lens group is reduced. In the lens barrel, the supporting structure of the frame members is simplified, the supporting accuracy of the frame members is increased, and the misalignment of the optical axes of the lens groups is prevented.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel which is an integrated zoom and focus drive type zoom lens barrel that moves lens units on a single zoom line having plurality of focusing sections and plurality of zooming sections, wherein the single zoom line has characteristic that the “rate of change of the relative distance of the two lens units with regard to a barrel rotation angle” in each focusing section becomes smaller in the focusing sections of the telephoto side.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring which rotates about an optical axis while moving in the optical axis direction and has a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a movable lens frame provided inside the cam ring so as to be movable in the optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis; a cam mechanism for moving the movable lens frame in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement greater than that of the cam ring via rotation of the cam ring in accordance with a profile of the cam groove; and an outer ring which is provided around the cam ring and is engaged therewith so that the cam ring is rotatable about the optical axis relative to the outer ring and so that outer ring moves together with the cam ring in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes first and second lens groups guided in an optical axis direction without rotating about the optical axis, first and second support frames which support the first and second lens groups and include first and second cam followers, respectively; and a cam ring which is rotatable about the optical axis and includes a cam groove. The cam groove is formed as a continuous groove and includes first and second groove portions via which the first and second cam followers are guided to move the first and second lens groups, respectively. One of the first cam follower and the second cam follower enters one of the first groove portion and the second groove portion after passing through the other of the first groove portion and the second groove portion in a preparation stage of the lens barrel.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a front lens frame supporting a front lens group; a rear lens frame supporting a rear lens group; a cam ring including first and second cam grooves which receive first and second cam followers of the front and rear lens frames; the first and second cam grooves include first and second moving sections and first and second accommodation sections, respectively; and a guiding mechanism allowing the rear lens frame to relatively rotate when the second cam follower engages in a vicinity an accommodation position of the second accommodation section, and prohibiting the rear lens frame from relatively rotating while allowing the rear lens frame to only relatively move in the optical axis direction when the second cam follower engages in a section of the second cam groove which includes the second moving section and excludes this vicinity.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a stationary barrel, an outer ring, an inner ring, a cam ring and a movable lens frame, arranged in that order from outermost side, wherein the axes thereof coincide with a common optical axis, the outer ring being guided linearly in the optical axis direction by the stationary barrel, the inner ring being linearly guided in the optical axis direction by the outer ring, and the cam ring being rotatable to move the movable lens frame in the optical axis direction; and a lens barrier mechanism having an aperture positioned in front of the movable lens frame, the lens barrier mechanism being provided on a front opening of the inner ring, for opening and closing the aperture.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with a front lens group facing a subject, that moves only during zooming, and an internal focusing lens group, different from the front lens group, moving at least during focusing. A first cam ring having a cam groove for causing the front lens group to move, and a second cam ring that is separate from the first cam ring, is driven by the same drive source as the first cam ring, rotates together with the first cam ring, and has a cam groove for causing lens groups other than the front lens group to move, are also provided.

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 lens barrel having a cam barrel is disclosed. The cam barrel is molded by die-cutting in radial and other directions relative to the optical axis so as to have raised cams without undercuts if the raised cams are even partially lined up fore and behind one another along the optical axis, and there is no parting line in either the cam grooves nor the raised cams. The cam barrel has its outer surface provided with raised cams and is made of synthetic resin, and each of the raised cams has at least one of cam faces inclined toward an opposite cam face off a radial direction relative to an optical axis of the cam barrel.