Abstract: A digital camera can retain its optical performance and has a particularly slim closed status. The digital camera (1) includes two lens groups (51, 52) installed in a collapsible lens barrel (3a), a focus lens (44), and a CCD (42) generating an image. An evading mechanism carries the front parts of the lens groups to rotate about a rotary axis parallel to the optical axis and placing the front parts beside the image sensor. When the collapsible lens barrel (3a) is retracted in the housing of the digital camera (1), the first lens group (51) and the second lens group (52) are rotated around a central axis J(2) parallel to the optical axis J(1) and are located beside the CCD (42). Thus, the axes of the first, second lens groups (51, 52) are prevented from being offset, and a thin digital camera (1) is obtained.

Abstract: A lens barrel with a shutter unit. While the lens barrel is retracted to obtain a collapsed state or advanced to obtain a photographing state, the flexible printed circuit board of the shutter unit is bendable so as to provide a variable length for the rotation of the shutter unit 71 around the rotary axis J2 parallel with the optical axis J1. When the lens barrel is operated in the photographing state, the flexible printed circuit board is foldable so as to provide a variable length for the movement of the shutter unit 71 in the optical axis J1. The flexible printed circuit board can support flexibly without twisting and loosening. The lens barrel further includes a restraint member to bring the shutter unit 71 rotating around the central axis and to restrain the rotation of the shutter unit 71.

Abstract: A zoom finder drive mechanism, driven only when taking a picture. When a lens barrel is in a collapsed position, the cam-follower pin of a rotary barrel does not abut at an end of a protrusion of a finder cam barrel such that a first and second movable finder lenses are idle. When taking a picture, the cam-follower of the rotary barrel is abutted at the end of the protrusion of the finder cam barrel such that the first and second movable finder lenses are driven.

Abstract: A lens barrel extending and retracting mechanism. A photographic optical axis and a central axis of a lens barrel are eccentric such that a first lens group and a second lens group are housed in a side of a CCD separated from the optical axis. The lens barrel is rotatably extended around the central axis thereof, and a picture is taken when lens optical axes of the first lens group and the second lens group coincide with the optical axis. The lens barrel extending and retracting mechanism prevents displacement and tilt of the lens optical axes of the first lens group and the second lens group, maintaining optical performance and reducing the size of the lens barrel in the housed position.

Abstract: A lens barrel is retractable in electronic equipment having an image-generating device, such as a CCD. During photographing, the lens barrel relocates a first lens group and a second lens group to a predetermined position in an optical axis to zoom the image of an object. During collapsing, the first lens group and the second lens group adjacent to the object side are transferred to a side of a CCD which is away from the optical axis and a focus driving mechanism drives the third lens group along the optical axis. The focus driving mechanism is disposed inside the lens barrel.