Patent ID: 8442395

Claim:
A lens barrel comprising: a lens disposed movably in a direction of an optical axis of the lens; and a driving member that is rotatable around the optical axis and that moves the lens in the optical axis direction while the driving member is rotating around the optical axis, wherein the driving member has a gear portion, a first cam portion, and a second cam portion, wherein the gear portion is configured to receive a driving force from a motor via a gear train, wherein the first cam portion is configured to engage a fitting member that is fixed to a supporting member for supporting the lens barrel, wherein the first cam portion has a transition region between a first region and a second region and is configured to move the driving member in the optical axis direction while the first cam portion is engaged with the fitting member in the transition region, wherein the second cam portion is configured to move an external member outside the driving member, and wherein the second cam portion is configured to prevent the external member from moving in the optical axis direction along with the driving member when the first cam portion is engaged with the fitting member in the transition region.