Patent ID: 6081391
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A lens barrel, comprising:a fixed frame;a plurality of lens groups disposed on an inner circumference of said fixed frame and movable along an optical axis direction with respect to said fixed frame;lens holding frames for holding at least one of said lens groups;a cam frame coupled with an inner circumference of said fixed frame through cams and moving along an optical axis direction with respect to said fixed frame responsive to rotation about the optical axis with respect to said fixed frame;a key member for regulating rotation of said lens holding frames about the optical axis with respect to said fixed frame;a cam mechanism interposed between said cam frame and said lens holding frames for moving said lens holding frames along the optical axis responsive to rotation of said cam frame about the optical axis with respect to said fixed frame;an internal gear defined on an inner circumference of said cam frame; anda pinion gear for transmitting a drive force from a drive source to said internal gear, said pinion gear extending along an axis parallel with the optical axis and rotating said cam frame about the optical axis when said pinion gear is rotated about its axis.