Patent ID: 7068929
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A retracting mechanism for a lens barrel, the mechanism comprising: a non-rotatable member having an engagement surface; a frame movable along an axis towards and away from said non-rotatable member without rotation and having a holder configured to hold an imaging element, the holder being movable between an aligned position in which the imaging element is substantially aligned with the axis and a displaced position in which the imaging element is displaced relative to the aligned position; wherein the holder comprises an engagement surface configured to contact the engagement surface of the non-rotatable member during movement of the frame towards the non-rotatable member, and move the holder from the aligned position to the displaced position; and wherein said non-rotatable member comprises one of a guide key and a key groove, and said frame comprises the other of said key groove and said guide key, said guide key and said key groove being slidably engageable with each other and guiding the frame in the axis direction.