LENS BARREL

Abstract

A lens barrel having a configuration lending itself to effectively reducing the size thereof and ensuring appropriate and safe operation thereof. The lens barrel includes a guiding portion provided for a lens holding member for guiding a cam follower in a radial direction of a cam barrel; a tabular elastic member provided for the lens holding member for urging the cam follower in a guiding direction of the guiding portion; and a regulating member limiting the transfer of the cam follower that is to be moved in a direction opposite to the urging direction by the elastic member. The regulating member is configured to be brought into contact with a predetermined portion of the lens holding member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens barrel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lens barrel during image capturing according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second holder of the lens barrel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second holder of the lens barrel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third holder of the lens barrel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lens barrel when it is collapsed according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lens barrel for transferring a lens holding member in a light axis direction via a cam follower engaged with a cam of a cam barrel, comprising: a guiding portion provided for the lens holding member and configured to guide the cam follower in a radial direction of the cam barrel;a tabular elastic member provided for the lens holding member and configured to urge the cam follower in a guiding direction of the guiding portion; anda regulating member limiting the transfer of the cam follower that is to be moved in a direction opposite to the urging direction by the elastic member when the regulating member is brought into contact with a predetermined portion of the lens holding member, andwherein, when the regulating member is not limiting the movement of the cam follower, a clearance is defined between the regulating member and the predetermined portion of the lens holding member.

2. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member includes the regulating member, andwherein the engagement between the cam follower and the guiding portion is maintained by the contact between the regulating member and the predetermined portion of the lens holding member.

3. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the cam follower includes a first engaging portion engaged with the guiding portion and a protrusion protruding from the first engaging portion in a direction orthogonal to the guiding direction of the guiding portion.

4. The lens barrel according to claim 3, wherein the cam follower includes a second engaging portion engaged with the cam, the first engaging portion being located between the second engaging portion and the protrusion urged by the elastic member.