LENS BARREL AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS

Abstract

A lens barrel and an image pickup apparatus equipped with the lens barrel of the present invention include a movement frame unit movable in an optical axis direction of a lens with respect to a base unit, and a flexible printed circuit including a stationary portion fixed to the movement frame unit and an extension extending from the stationary portion, the base unit includes a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the movement frame unit is placed, the extension is placed so as to extend from the stationary portion to reach at least the base unit or another member via the protrusion, and a part between the stationary portion and the protrusion is placed to be curved substantially in a U-shape. Due to this configuration, a lens barrel capable of reducing time and labor during assembly can be realized at low cost.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lens barrel in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lens barrel in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lens barrel in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the lens barrel in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a third frame in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the lens barrel in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of an FPC in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional FPC unit.

Claims

1. A lens barrel having at least one lens, comprising: a base unit;a movement frame unit movable in an optical axis direction of the lens with respect to the base unit; anda flexible printed circuit including a stationary portion fixed to the movement frame unit and an extension extending from the stationary portion,wherein the base unit includes a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the movement frame unit is placed,the extension is placed so as to extend from the stationary portion to reach at least the base unit or another member via the protrusion, anda part between the stationary portion and the protrusion is placed to be curved substantially in a U-shape.

2. The lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising an outside frame covering at least the movement frame unit and the protrusion.

3. The lens barrel according to claim 1, comprising a hole in the extension and a pin on the protrusion, wherein the pin is inserted in the hole, whereby the extension is held on the protrusion at least in the hole.

4. The lens barrel according to claim 3, comprising the pin at a tip end of the protrusion.

5. The lens barrel according to claim 3, comprising the pin on a side surface of the protrusion.

6. The lens barrel according to claim 1, comprising a hook capable of holding a part of the extension on the protrusion, wherein the extension is held partially on the hook, and held on the protrusion at least in the part held on the hook.

7. The lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein the hook is provided on the side surface of the protrusion.

8. The lens barrel according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the flexible printed circuits, wherein in the plurality of flexible printed circuits, a part between the stationary portion and the protrusion in the extension is placed to be curved substantially in a U-shape, andin the part curved in the U-shape, a length from the stationary portion to the protrusion of the flexible printed circuit in the U-shape placed inside is smaller than that from the stationary portion to the protrusion of the flexible printed circuit in the U-shape placed outside.

9. An image pickup apparatus having a lens barrel with at least one lens, the lens barrel comprising:a base unit;a movement frame unit movable in an optical axis direction of the lens with respect to the base unit; anda flexible printed circuit including a stationary portion fixed to the movement frame unit and an extension extending from the stationary portion,wherein the base unit includes a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the movement frame unit is placed,the extension is placed so as to extend from the stationary portion to reach at least the base unit or another member via the protrusion, and a part between the stationary portion and the protrusion is placed to be curved substantially in a U-shape.