Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness in such a manner that a part of image taking lenses is saved to a suitable position at the time of the collapse. Both the rear elements lens and the focus lens are revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, or between the position on the optical axis and a saving position in which the front elements lens, the rear elements lens and focus lens form a line substantially on a plane.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a solid-state image pickup element which is curved in a light incident direction and a curvature changing portion which changes a curvature of the solid-state image pickup element, and an optical instrument including a lens unit and a solid-state image pickup element which is curved toward the lens unit and picks up taking an image focused by the lens unit wherein the curvature changing portion changes a curvature radius of the solid-state image pickup element so that the solid-state image pickup element is curved at a first curvature in a telephoto mode and the solid-state image pickup element is curved at a second curvature larger than the first curvature in a wide-angle mode.

Abstract: To provide a digital camera that captures object light with a solid-state image pickup device to generate an image signal and is effectively made thinner by retracting a part of a taking lens into a suitable position when a lens barrel is collapsed. A rear lens group is rotated between a position on an optical axis and a retracted position in a recess section at the side of a CCD solid-state image pickup device, and a focusing lens is rotated between a position on the optical axis and a retracted position in a front lens group side space. When the lens barrel is collapsed, the rear lens group is placed in the recess section, and the focusing lens is placed in the front lens group side space.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A second lens group is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the second lens group comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.

Abstract: Y-driving section is disposed in X-direction of an image sensor holder, and a slider is arranged for the image sensor holder to come in succession to Z-direction and extend to X-direction, so that X-driving section is disposed at the end of the slider. Regarding Y-direction, Y-driving section directly drives the image sensor holder. Regarding X-direction, X-driving section drives the slider and indirectly drives the image sensor holder in X-direction.

Abstract: A camera has a lens system that includes a lens barrel incorporating therein an image taking lens, the lens barrel being variable in a barrel length between a collapsed state in which the barrel length is relative short and a photographic state in which the barrel length is relative long. The lens barrel comprises a light quantity control member that controls quantity of photographic light passing through the image taking lens, and a light quantity control member saving and advancing mechanism that provides such a control that when the lens barrel changes over from the photographic state to the collapsed state, the light quantity control member is saved from a photographic optical axis, and when the lens barrel changes over from the collapsed state to the photographic state, the light quantity control member is advanced to the photographic optical axis.

Abstract: A lens frame is contained in a lower lens barrel and moves in a direction of an optical axis as guided by a guide shaft. An adjusting lever is provided with a lever body having a bearing for supporting the lower end of the guide shaft and an opening into which an adjusting pin is inserted, and a holding portion extended from near the opening of the lever body to outside the lower lens barrel. A length between an edge of the holding portion and a center of the opening is longer than the length between the center of the opening and a center of the bearing. The lever moves around the adjusting pin in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis to adjust the position of the guide shaft.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness in such a manner that a part of image taking lenses is saved to a suitable position at the time of the collapse. Both the rear elements lens and the focus lens are revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, or between the position on the optical axis and a saving position in which the front elements lens, the rear elements lens and focus lens form a line substantially on a plane.

Abstract: A refractive optical unit is provided and has a regulator mechanism that can easily align between a lens of a lens group to be fixed in a housing and a lens of a lens group freely moving along the optical axis at their lens centers, by operation. In a lens holder for the lens group to be fixed in the housing, an operation piece is provided that protrudes outward through an opening of the housing. Furthermore, an elongate hole is provided in a position opposite to the operation piece with reference to a third lens group as viewed from the operation piece side. A guide rod is inserted through the elongate hole so that the lens holder can be parallel moved along the lengthwise of the elongate hole or rotated about the guide rod on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, thereby aligning a lens of the lens group with a lens of another lens group at its centers.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness in such a manner that a part of image taking lenses is saved to a suitable position at the time of the collapse. Both the rear elements lens and the focus lens are revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, or between the position on the optical axis and a saving position in which the front elements lens, the rear elements lens and focus lens form a line substantially on a plane.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A focus lens is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the focus lens comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.

Abstract: A refractive optical unit is provided and has a regulator mechanism that can easily align between a lens of a lens group to be fixed in a housing and a lens of a lens group freely moving along the optical axis at their lens centers, by operation. In a lens holder for the lens group to be fixed in the housing, an operation piece is provided that protrudes outward through an opening of the housing. Furthermore, an elongate hole is provided in a position opposite to the operation piece with reference to a third lens group as viewed from the operation piece side. A guide rod is inserted through the elongate hole so that the lens holder can be parallel moved along the lengthwise of the elongate hole or rotated about the guide rod on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, thereby aligning a lens of the lens group with a lens of another lens group at its centers.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length which can be further decreased and its extended length which can be further increased. A photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel into its body. A lens barrel is equipped with a first gear which is rotatably supported by a straight-ahead key ring and rotates being driven by rotation of a middle tube and a second gear which receives driving force from the first gear and retracts a second lens group to a predetermined retracted position off the optical axis of a zoom lens during collapse and advances the second lens group onto the optical axis during extension. The second gear lacks teeth in that part which faces the first gear when the second lens group is at the retracted position during collapse. Consequently, the first gear runs idle while facing that part thereby holding the second lens group at the retracted position.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length that can be further decreased by removing unnecessary space and bringing lens groups close to each other and a photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel. When the lens barrel is collapsed, at least a fourth lens group is retracted from a photographic optical axis by an advance/retract mechanism. In that case, a first lens group and third lens group are aligned along the optical axis and stuffed into the lens barrel, the fourth lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of these lenses, and a second lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of the first and third lens groups. This reduces the length of the lens barrel. During extension, the second and fourth lens groups are advanced onto the photographic optical axis by the advance/retract mechanism to extend the lens barrel greatly.

Abstract: A lens frame is contained in a lower lens barrel and moves in a direction of an optical axis as guided by a guide shaft. An adjusting lever is provided with a lever body having a bearing for supporting the lower end of the guide shaft and an opening into which an adjusting pin is inserted, and a holding portion extended from near the opening of the lever body to outside the lower lens barrel. A length between an edge of the holding portion and a center of the opening is longer than the length between the center of the opening and a center of the bearing. The lever moves around the adjusting pin in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis to adjust the position of the guide shaft.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its length which is reduced by dispensing with guide rods or a travel mechanism long extending from a base which fixes an image pickup device. The optical axes of multiple lens groups can be easily aligned. An image taking apparatus has its body which has the lens barrel incorporated into it. A second lens group, third lens group and, via the travel mechanism, a fourth lens group are supported by a straight-ahead key ring, and the straight-ahead key ring also supports a front tube holding the first lens group. A zoom motor and a focus motor are also supported by the straight-ahead key ring.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus of the present invention includes: a shooting lens which comprises a plurality of lens groups and which has a variable focal length and adjusts a focus; and a lens barrel which accommodates the shooting lens and which can advance and retract. The lens barrel comprises a lens advancing/retracting mechanism which retracts at least one of the lens groups from a shooting optical axis when the lens barrel is retracted, and which advances the lens group retracted when the lens barrel is retracted to the shooting optical axis when the lens barrel advances. The shooting lens forms a fixed focus shooting optical system by the remaining lens group among the plurality of lens groups excluding the lens group which is retracted from the shooting optical axis.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a shooting apparatus which is thinner than a conventional shooting apparatus. A lens barrel is brought into an accommodated state from a shooting state by retracting at least one of lens groups constituting the shooting lens from an optical axis, and by bringing at least a portion of one of the other lens groups remaining on the optical axis or an image pickup element into a non-using state in which an opening is left opening at a predetermined opening diameter.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length which can be further decreased and its extended length which can be further increased. A photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel into its body. A lens barrel is equipped with a first gear which is rotatably supported by a straight-ahead key ring and rotates being driven by rotation of a middle tube and a second gear which receives driving force from the first gear and retracts a second lens group to a predetermined retracted position off the optical axis of a zoom lens during collapse and advances the second lens group onto the optical axis during extension. The second gear lacks teeth in that part which faces the first gear when the second lens group is at the retracted position during collapse. Consequently, the first gear runs idle while facing that part thereby holding the second lens group at the retracted position.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its length which is reduced by dispensing with guide rods or a travel mechanism long extending from a base which fixes an image pickup device. The optical axes of multiple lens groups can be easily aligned. An image taking apparatus has its body which has the lens barrel incorporated into it. A second lens group, third lens group and, via the travel mechanism, a fourth lens group are supported by a straight-ahead key ring, and the straight-ahead key ring also supports a front tube holding the first lens group. A zoom motor and a focus motor are also supported by the straight-ahead key ring.