Abstract: The lens barrel according to the present invention is provided with a rotating cylinder that rotates around the optical axis of a photographing lens, a lens holding member that holds a photographing lens and travels in the direction of the optical axis by interlocking with the rotation of the rotating cylinder, a traveling member that travels in the same direction as the lens holding member by interlocking with the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and a force applying mechanism provided between the traveling member and the lens holding member which applies force to the lens holding member in the direction of the optical axis in order to eliminate play in the direction of the optical axis between the lens holding member and the rotating cylinder.

Abstract: A waterproof operation mechanism of an interchangeable lens barrel having an operation member which is rotatably set around a periphery of the interchangeable lens barrel. A button engages with the operation member such that the button penetrates the operation member and protrudes outward from the operation member. The button functions to fix the operation member at a predetermined rotation position and to release the operation member from the predetermined rotation position. The interchangeable lens barrel includes a knurled part around its periphery, the knurled part being made of an elastic material and having a protruding portion integrally formed therewith to cover the button. Further, the operation member includes a fitting groove on a periphery of the operation member to prevent the knurled part from being displaced in a direction of an optical axis of the lens barrel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave motor comprises a vibration member for generating a travelling vibration wave, a movable body to be driven by the vibration member, and a pressing mechanism having a spring member which abuts against at least one of the vibration member and the movable body and presses the vibration member and the movable body toward each other. The spring member is formed by a resilient plate member.

Abstract: A lens barrel which can be easily switched between a manual focusing mode and an auto-focusing mode employs a motor as a drive power source for driving a switching apparatus for switching between an auto-focusing apparatus and a manual focusing apparatus. When a photographer supplies an external electrical signal, a switching operation from the auto-focusing apparatus to the manual focusing apparatus and vice versa can be performed in accordance with the forward/reverse rotational direction of the motor.

Abstract: In a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units including a focusing lens unit movable during zooming and having the zooming and focusing functions, when a predetermined movement locus for zooming is expressed with the angle of rotation of a rotatable lens barrel for prescribing the amount of movement of the lens units in the direction of the optical axis thereof as a variable, the movement locus of the focusing lens unit is formed by the combination of a focus cam and a zoom compensation cam, and the movement locus of the movable non-focusing lens units which are not concerned in focusing is formed by the combination of the zoom compensation cam and a zoom cam corresponding to each non-focusing lens unit.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a camera provided on a camera body, an interchangeable lens and accessories for the electrical connection thereof comprises an upper contact holding member having an engagement portion and a fitting portion, a lower contact holding member having an engagement portion and a fitting portion corresponding to the engagement portion and fitting portion of the upper contact holding member, a plurality of contact springs, and a flexible print distributing panel having a pattern for conduction on the surface of contact thereof with the contact springs, the plurality of contact springs and the flexible print distributing panel being appropriately disposed between the upper contact holding member and the lower contact holding member, the engagement portion and fitting portion of the upper contact holding member being engaged with and fitted to the engagement portion and fitting portion of the lower contact holding member.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with a detecting device for detecting whether a clutch device for effecting the AF mode/MF mode changeover of a focus adjusting mechanism is changed over completely to either mode. When the detecting device detects that the changeover is not complete, as due to the supply of electric power from the camera body being cut off, the clutch device is automatically brought to the change-over position of a selected mode in response to the next supply of electric power.

Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a lens moving member rotatable about the optical axis of the lens barrel for axially moving a focusing lens group, a manual operation member for manually rotating the lens moving member, an ultrasonic wave motor including of a stator composed of piezoelectric members and an elastic member, and a rotor rotating about the optical axis and maintained in pressure contact with the stator, a mode switching member for selecting either a first focusing mode for effecting focusing by driving the lens moving member by the ultrasonic wave motor, or a second focusing mode for effecting focusing by rotating the lens moving member with the manual operation member, and a clutch member engaged for transmitting the rotation of the rotor to the lens moving member without change in the contact pressure of the rotor with the stator in response to the switching to the first focusing mode by the mode switching member, and disengaged in response to the switching to the second focusing mode.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel has a lens unit with both functions of zooming and focusing, comprises a first cyindrical member having a zoom guide groove (or zoom cam) corresponding to a zooming orbit of displacement of the lens unit with both the functions of zooming and focusing and a second cylindrical member having a focus guide groove (or focus cam) for displacing the lens unit with the functions of zooming and focusing along an optical axis for focusing. The focus guide groove or focus cam is non-linear and has an area inclined with respect to the optical axis to permit the relative displacement of the first and second cylindrical members to each other in the optical axis direction necessary for the focusing of a given object to be held substantially constant irrespective of the status of zooming and also permit the displacement of the lens unit with both the functions of zooming and focusing for focusing to be varied according to the status of zooming.

Abstract: A clamping device for camera accessories includes a cylindrical adaptor member defining a lens hood. The inner periphery of the adaptor member is formed with an annular collar member which has an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of a collar formed on the outer sleeve of a lens barrel along a V-shaped groove which is formed on the outer periphery of the outer sleeve. The collar member serves to prevent the hood from connecting with the lens barrel at an undesirable position.

Abstract: Signal transmission device in an intermediate lens barrel comprises a signal surface, a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. When the intermediate lens barrel is connected to an objective lens, the signal surface gets in engagement with a signal member on the objective lens barrel and is shifted in the direction of the optical axis. When the intermediate lens barrel is rotated to connect it to a camera, a signal detection member on the camera is guided to the signal surface by the first inclined surface. The second inclined surface guides the detection member to a reference surface on the intermediate lens barrel when the latter is rotated in the direction to disconnect the barrel from the camera.

Abstract: In an intermediate lens barrel mountable between an interchangeable lens having on the mount thereof means for generating a minimum F-number signal and a camera having means for detecting the signal on the mount thereof on which the interchangeable lens is mountable and including a circuit for receiving as inputs the detected signal and an output based on the light passed through the interchangeable lens and effecting an exposure operation, there is provided means capable of being coupled to each of the signal generating means and the detecting means during said mounting. The transmitting means includes correcting means for shifting the signal obtained from the signal generating means by an amount corresponding to the difference of the minimum F-number obtained as the result of the coupling of the interchangeable lens and the intermediate lens barrel from the minimum F-number of the interchangeable lens and transmitting the signal to the detecting means.

Abstract: An intermediate lens tube to be mounted between an interchangeable lens and a camera body is provided with means for transmitting an information signal from the interchangeable lens to the camera body. Said information transmission means includes correction means for transmitting a corrected information signal to the camera body only when vignetting takes place in the intermediate lens tube.

Abstract: Fixing means including an operating member is provided on one of a swing portion and a shift portion and by operating the operating member to actuate said fixing means, the fixing means is engaged with the shift portion or the swing portion which is not provided with the fixing means and to a mount body to thereby fix the swing portion and the shift portion to the mount body at the same time.

Abstract: In a stop-down device in a bellows device having a lens mount, operating levers are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the lens mount so as to ensure that a stop-down knob always assumes the same position even if the lens with the lens mount is mounted in normal direction or in the opposite direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a locking device for securely engaging a mounting body having a cylindrical end portion with a body having a projected end portion formed with an engaging portion. According to one embodiment, a resilient engaging member having an engaging portion engageable with said engaging portion of the body is provided. The elastic engaging portion is movable between a first position where it closely contacts with one of the side surfaces of the inner and outer surfaces of the projected end of the mounting body and a second position where the engaging portion is released from said one side surface. At the first position the mounting body is engageable with the body and at the second position both bodies are disenageable.

Abstract: A stopping device is provided for stopping at an optional predetermined position the stop of a phototaking lens which has been in the fully open position when the lens was mounted. A stop interlocking member engages with a stop lever of the phototaking lens at its fully open stop position and is movable a distance which corresponds to the moving distance of the stop lever from its fully open stop position to its minimum opened stop position. The stopping member in engagement with the stop interlocking member is operable to move the stop interlocking member, and means is provided to stop the stopping member when the stop interlocking member has been moved the desired distance.