Patent ID: 8861098

Claim:
A lens barrel comprising: a lens that moves in a direction along its optical axis between an extended state in which the lens barrel is extended and a retracted state in which the lens barrel is retracted; a diaphragm unit configured to open a first aperture to restrict the amount of light passing through the lens in the extended state; a shutter unit configured to open a second aperture so as to permit the light to pass through the lens in the extended state; and an image sensor configured to convert an optical signal passing through the lens into an electrical signal, wherein the lens is arranged between the diaphragm unit and the shutter unit, wherein the distance of the diaphragm unit and the lens relatively moves in a direction along the optical axis of the lens, the diaphragm unit opens in the retracted state so as to arrange at least a part of the lens within the first aperture, and the shutter unit closes the second aperture so as to prevent the light from passing through the lens in the retracted state, and wherein the shutter unit moves integrally with movement of the lens in the direction along the optical axis.