Patent ID: 6603609
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A lens barrel, comprising:a variable power lens unit; an aperture-variable light-amount adjusting unit having an aperture and an adjusting member that adjusts a fully open state of the aperture; a variable power lens control mechanism that controls movement of said variable power lens unit from a first variable power position to a second variable power position, where said variable power lens control mechanism first moves said variable power lens unit to a position beyond the second variable power position, then returns said variable power lens toward the second variable power position and stops said variable power lens at the second variable power position; and a cam member having a cam portion with which said adjusting member is engaged, and movable relative to said light-amount adjusting unit in operative association with a control action of said variable power lens control mechanism, wherein said cam portion has a cam shape that drives said adjusting member so as to adjust the fully open state of the aperture while said variable power lens control mechanism first moves said variable power lens unit to a position beyond the second variable power position, but does not drive said adjusting member while said variable power lens unit is returned toward the second variable power position by said variable power lens control mechanism.