Patent ID: 6714730
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A lens barrel comprising:(a) an outer cylinder having a guide section formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; and (b) an inner cylinder for holding a lens and having a guided section formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, which is engaged with the guide section, the inner cylinder being moved in an optical axis direction in response to a rotation of the outer cylinder, wherein the guide section has a guiding portion for introducing the inner cylinder into a plurality of positions including an operating position and a storing position, and the guiding portion has a first guiding part, a second guiding part formed continuously to the first guiding part, having a lead angle different from that of the first guiding part, and a third guiding part formed continuously to the second guiding part, having a lead angle smaller than that of the second guiding part, and almost the same lead angle as the first guiding part, and wherein the inner cylinder is positioned, at the storing position, within an area in which the guided section is engaged with the third guiding part.