Patent ID: 7097367

Claim:
An optical element retracting mechanism for a retractable lens including an optical system having a plurality of optical elements, said optical element retracting mechanism comprising: a linearly movable ring configured to be guided along an optical axis of said optical system without rotating, and retracting toward a picture plane along said optical axis when said retractable lens moves from an operational state to a fully-retracted state; a swingable holder pivoted on a pivot and swingable about said pivot, and positioned inside and supported by said linearly movable ring, said swingable holder supporting a retractable optical element as one of said plurality of optical elements; a holding device holding said swingable holder such that said retractable optical element remains on said optical axis when said retractable lens is in said operational state; and a retracting device configured to rotate said swingable holder about said pivot such that said retractable optical element retracts to a position which deviates from said optical axis, when said linearly movable ring, together with said swingable holder, retracts toward said picture plane, wherein said holding device comprises: an adjusting shaft having a shaft axis generally parallel to said optical axis, supported by said linearly movable ring and rotatable about said shaft axis, and including an eccentric pin having an axis eccentric to said shaft axis of said adjusting shaft, wherein said eccentric pin is engaged with said swingable holder to set a limit for rotational movement of said swingable holder when said swingable holder is in a photographing position in which said retractable lens is in said operational state; and a spring configured to bias said swingable holder to rotate said swingable holder in an advancing direction to engage said swingable holder with said eccentric pin; and wherein a position of said retractable optical element is configured to be varied in said operational state, in a plane generally orthogonal to said optical axis by a rotation of said adjusting shaft.