Patent ID: 7079762

Claim:
A supporting structure for a lens barrel, the structure comprising: an annular ring having an axis and a circumferential engagement surface provided circumferentially around said axis; a first ring having an engagement surface circumferentially around said axis, and configured to contact said annular ring engagement surface and further configured to be mounted radially inwardly of said annular ring for rotational movement about said axis relative to the annular ring; a second ring supporting at least one optical element, the second ring having an engagement surface provided circumferentially around said axis, and configured to contact the annular ring engagement surface and further configured to be mounted radially inwardly of said annular ring for rotational movement about said axis relative to the annular ring, the second ring being capable only of axial movement relative to the first ring; and a biasing arrangement configured to urge the first and second rings in generally opposite directions and bias the first and second ring engagement surfaces into contact with the annular ring engagement surface.