Patent ID: 6661970
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A lens barrel comprising:an optical system including a front lens group and a rear lens group; a front lens frame which supports said front lens group, and is guided linearly in an optical axis direction without rotating about said optical axis; a rear lens frame which supports said rear lens group; a lens frame drive mechanism for driving said front lens frame and said rear lens frame, wherein said lens frame drive mechanism allows said rear lens frame to rotate relative to said front lens frame when said front lens group and said rear lens group are in respective accommodation positions, and moves said front lens group and said rear lens group together in said optical axis direction while preventing said front lens frame and said rear lens frame from rotating relative to each other when said front lens group and said rear lens group are in respective photographing ranges excluding said respective accommodation positions; a shutter unit having a shutter and a flexible printed wiring board via which a drive signal is transmitted to said shutter, said shutter unit being positioned in said rear lens frame to be rotatable relative to said rear lens frame and to be movable together with said rear lens frame in said optical axis direction; and a shutter unit guide mechanism for linearly guiding said shutter unit in said optical axis direction without rotating said shutter unit regardless of whether said rear lens frame rotates relative to said front lens frame.