Patent ID: 6324022
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A lens barrel for causing relative axial movement of lens elements of an optical lens system to adjust optical operating conditions of the optical lens system, said lens barrel comprising:an inner barrel formed with an inner cam slot;an outer barrel disposed coaxially with said inner barrel so as to rotate relatively to said inner barrel and formed with an outer cam slot which spatially intersects said inner cam slot;a lens holder for holding a lens element of the optical lens system; said lens holder having a radial cam follower pin which passes through said inner cam slot of said inner barrel and is received in said outer cam slot of said outer barrel so as to shift said lens holder alongside both said inner and outer cam slots in an axial direction following relative rotation between said inner and outer barrels so as to cause axial movement of said lens element, thereby adjusting optical operating condition of the optical lens system; andaxial movement restraint means for restraining said inner and outer barrels from axially moving relatively to each other during relative rotation between said inner and outer barrels;wherein said axial movement restraint means comprises a peripheral groove which is formed on one of said inner and outer barrels and a radial jaw which is formed on another of said inner and outer barrels and received for contact slide movement in said peripheral groove.