Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam follower, a first cam ring with a cam slide protrusion in which a cam groove engages with the cam follower, a second cam ring so supported by the first cam ring that both are unrotatable around an axis parallel to an optical axis, a rectilinear guide ring so supported by the second cam ring that the second cam and rectilinear guide rings are rotatable around the axis and unmovable in the optical axis direction, a rectilinear guide guiding the rectilinear guide ring in the optical axis direction, a rectilinear cam ring in which a cam slide groove engages the cam slide protrusion and which guides the rectilinear guide in the optical axis direction, and a rotary ring so supported by the rectilinear cam ring that the rectilinear cam and rotary rings are rotatable around the axis and unmovable in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a holding frame; a cam ring rotatable relative to the holding frame around a rotational axis substantially parallel to an optical axis of an imaging optical lens system; and a cam follower and a cam groove that engage with each other so that the holding frame and the cam ring move relative to each other along the optical axis when the holding frame and the cam ring are rotated relative to each other.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a holding frame; a cam ring rotatable relative to the holding frame around a rotational axis substantially parallel to an optical axis of an imaging optical lens system; and a cam follower and a cam groove that engage with each other so that the holding frame and the cam ring move relative to each other along the optical axis when the holding frame and the cam ring are rotated relative to each other.

Abstract: An addendum of a gear portion and a tip end of a first cam follower are located on similar-diameter cylindrical planes centering at a center axis of a cam ring. A gear housing recess is provided in an inner peripheral surface of a fixed ring. A bottom surface of a first-cam-ring-movement cam groove engaging with the first cam follower, and a bottom surface of the recess are located on similar-diameter cylindrical planes centering at a center axis of the fixed ring. A release portion is provided at the inner peripheral surface of the fixed ring to provide communication between a protruding position cam groove portion of the first-cam-ring-movement cam groove and the recess. At the protruding position of the cam ring, a portion of the gear portion near the first cam follower passes through the release portion and is located inside the protruding position cam groove portion.

Abstract: An engagement pawl of a linear-movement guide ring engages with an engagement groove of a cam ring, and hence the cam ring is supported by the linear-movement guide ring non-movably in an optical-axis direction. When the cam ring is rotated, a cam pin of a second group moving frame moves in the optical-axis direction along a cam groove formed in an inner periphery of the cam ring. The cam groove includes a plurality of first cam grooves and a plurality of second cam grooves. The engagement groove of the cam ring intersects with the second cam groove. The engagement pawl has a width larger than a groove width of the second cam groove intersecting with the engagement groove.

Abstract: An addendum of a gear portion and a tip end of a first cam follower are located on similar-diameter cylindrical planes centering at a center axis of a cam ring. A gear housing recess is provided in an inner peripheral surface of a fixed ring. A bottom surface of a first-cam-ring-movement cam groove engaging with the first cam follower, and a bottom surface of the recess are located on similar-diameter cylindrical planes centering at a center axis of the fixed ring. A release portion is provided at the inner peripheral surface of the fixed ring to provide communication between a protruding position cam groove portion of the first-cam-ring-movement cam groove and the recess. At the protruding position of the cam ring, a portion of the gear portion near the first cam follower passes through the release portion and is located inside the protruding position cam groove portion.

Abstract: An engagement pawl of a linear-movement guide ring engages with an engagement groove of a cam ring, and hence the cam ring is supported by the linear-movement guide ring non-movably in an optical-axis direction. When the cam ring is rotated, a cam pin of a second group moving frame moves in the optical-axis direction along a cam groove formed in an inner periphery of the cam ring. The cam groove includes a plurality of first cam grooves and a plurality of second cam grooves. The engagement groove of the cam ring intersects with the second cam groove. The engagement pawl has a width larger than a groove width of the second cam groove intersecting with the engagement groove.

Abstract: A lens barrel cam mechanism having a linearly movable member for holding an optical element and which includes a cam follower and a rotary member rotatable relative to the linearly movable member and which has a cam groove with which the cam follower is slidably engaged formed on its circumferential surface, wherein the rotary member is rotated to guide the cam follower so that the linearly movable member is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction includes a gear portion, the gear portion being developed at the outside of a radius direction and having teeth on its outer periphery and a cam groove opening portion, wherein the cam groove opening portion and the gear portion are provided such that they become substantially coincident with each other on the same vertical plane vertical to the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel including a base and a collapsible barrel provided so as to collapse into and expand out of the base, the barrel including a lens constituting an image-capturing optical system for introducing an image of an object, a lens frame for holding the lens, and an operational unit provided in the lens frame for performing an operation relating to image capture based on a control signal supplied thereto, the lens barrel including a flexible substrate provided within the lens barrel for supplying the control signal from an electric circuit provided outside the barrel to the operational unit; wherein the flexible substrate has a first interconnect section to which the control signal is supplied; and a second interconnect section provided separately from the first interconnect section and having an end connected onto the lens frame and another end electrically connected to a ground potential.

Abstract: A lens barrel cam mechanism having a linearly movable member for holding an optical element and which includes a cam follower and a rotary member rotatable relative to the linearly movable member and which has a cam groove with which the cam follower is slidably engaged formed on its circumferential surface, wherein the rotary member is rotated to guide the cam follower so that the linearly movable member is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction includes a gear portion, the gear portion being developed at the outside of a radius direction and having teeth on its outer periphery and a cam groove opening portion, wherein the cam groove opening portion and the gear portion are provided such that they become substantially coincident with each other on the same vertical plane vertical to the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel including a linearly movable member to hold an optical element and which can be moved in an optical direction of the optical element and which includes a cam follower, a rotary member rotatable relative to the linearly movable member and which includes on its circumferential surface a cam groove with which the cam follower is slidably engaged, a gear portion formed integrally with or separately of the rotary member in order to rotate the rotary member, a drive gear and a power source including a gear train meshed with the drive gear. Power from the power source is transmitted from the drive gear to the gear portion to rotate the rotary member. This lens barrel includes a gear spring-biasing member for spring-biasing the drive gear to one of directions in which spur gear is extended under spring force.

Abstract: A lens barrel including a base and a collapsible barrel provided so as to collapse into and expand out of the base, the barrel including a lens constituting an image-capturing optical system for introducing an image of an object, a lens frame for holding the lens, and an operational unit provided in the lens frame for performing an operation relating to image capture based on a control signal supplied thereto, the lens barrel including a flexible substrate provided within the lens barrel for supplying the control signal from an electric circuit provided outside the barrel to the operational unit; wherein the flexible substrate has a first interconnect section to which the control signal is supplied; and a second interconnect section provided separately from the first interconnect section and having an end connected onto the lens frame and another end electrically connected to a ground potential.