Retractable lens barrel

• US 20060193625A1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Nomura, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/349
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/143 having three groups only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/02 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/08 Shutters

Abstract

A retractable lens barrel includes an annular ring having an axis parallel to and eccentric relative to an optical axis of the lens barrel; a holder accommodated within the annular ring and supporting a holder lens group; a first lens group aligned with the optical axis and movable towards the annular ring during accommodation of the first lens group within the annular ring; an actuator of an exposure control component, the actuator positioned inside the annular ring in a space between an inner peripheral surface of the annular ring and an outer edge of the first lens group accommodated in the annular ring.

Claims

1. A retractable lens barrel comprising:

an annular ring having an axis parallel to and eccentric relative to an optical axis of the lens barrel;

a holder accommodated within the annular ring and supporting a holder lens group, the holder movable along a movement path between an aligned position where the holder lens group is aligned with said optical axis and a displaced position where the holder lens group is displaced relative to the optical axis;

a first lens group aligned with said optical axis and movable towards said annular ring during accommodation of said first lens group within said annular ring; and

at least one actuator of an exposure control component, said at least one actuator positioned inside said annular ring in a space between an inner peripheral surface of said annular ring and an outer edge of said first lens group accommodated in said annular ring.

2. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis is disposed to one side relative to the annular ring axis, and wherein the axis of said displaced position is disposed to another side relative to the annular ring axis.

3. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said axis of said displaced position, said annular ring axis, and optical axis each lie substantially in a straight line.

4. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the holder is pivotally connected to said annular ring to move between said aligned position and said displaced position.

5. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising a rear lens group movable towards said annular ring and accommodated within the inner peripheral surface of the annular ring at the aligned position of said holder lens group, when the holder lens group has moved to said displaced position.

6. The retractable lens barrel according to claims 5, wherein when said rear lens group is accommodated within said annular ring, a portion of said rear lens group and a portion of said holder lens group are at substantially the same position on said annular ring axis.

7. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is configured to actuate a shutter and a diaphragm.

8. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said exposure control component and said at least one actuator comprise a subassembly attached to said annular ring.

9. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator comprises first and second actuators.

10. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 9, wherein said annular ring comprises an inner flange which projects radially inwards therefrom and configured to limit movement of said exposure control component in said optical axis direction.

11. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said annular ring is movable linearly along said axis thereof without rotating;

wherein said holder lens group is configured to move together with said annular ring in said annular ring axis direction; and

wherein said retractable lens barrel further comprises an optical element retracting mechanism that retracts said holder lens group to said displaced position by a retracting movement of said annular ring when said retractable lens barrel moves from an operational state to a retracted state.

12. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 11, further comprising at least one rotatable ring positioned concentrically with said annular ring to move said annular ring linearly along said axis thereof by a rotation of said rotatable ring.

13. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 12, wherein said at least one rotatable ring comprises a cam ring including cam grooves.

14. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 12, wherein said at least one rotatable ring comprises a ring gear configured to be driven by motor.

15. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 9, further comprising an axis position adjustment device positioned inside said annular ring configured to adjust the position of said holder lens group along said optical axis;

wherein said axis position adjustment device and the second actuator are positioned at different circumferential positions about said annular ring axis.

16. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the retractable lens barrel is incorporated in a camera.

17. The retractable lens barrel of claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator is positioned within said annular ring at generally the same circumferential position as said holder lens group, when said holder lens group is in the displaced position.

18. A retractable lens barrel comprising:

a plurality of optical components including a front lens group, a middle lens group, a rear lens group and at least one exposure control component which are positioned on a photographing optical axis in an operational state of said lens barrel;

a annular ring which accommodates said plurality of optical components in a retracted state of said lens barrel; and

at least one actuator configured to actuate said at least one exposure control component,

wherein said photographing optical axis is parallel and eccentric to an axis of said annular ring;

wherein, when said lens barrel moves from said operational state to said retracted state, said front lens group and said rear lens group are moved rearward while approaching each other along said photographing optical axis, said middle lens group is retracted to a radially retracted position on an opposite side of said axis of said annular ring from said photographing optical axis, and said middle lens group is moved rearward in said photographing optical axis direction such that at least a portion of said middle lens group and at least a portion of said rear lens group are in substantially a same positional range in the optical axis direction; and

wherein said at least one actuator is positioned inside said annular ring in a space between an inner peripheral surface of said annular ring and an outer edge of said front lens group accommodated in said annular ring.

19. The retractable lens barrel according to claim 18, wherein said at least one actuator comprises first and second actuators.

20. The retractable barrel of claim 18, wherein said at least one actuator is positioned within said annular ring at generally the same circumferential position as said holder lens group, when said holder lens group is in the displaced position.

21. A digital camera comprising:

a body;

an image pick-up device disposed within said body;

an image display panel connected to said body for displaying an image picked up by the image pick-up device;

an annular ring accommodated within said body and having an axis parallel to and eccentric relative to an optical axis of the digital camera;

a holder accommodated within the annular ring and supporting a holder lens group, the holder movable along a movement path between an aligned position where the holder lens group is aligned with said optical axis and a displaced position where the holder lens group is displaced relative to the optical axis;

a first lens group aligned with said optical axis and movable towards said annular ring during accommodation of said first lens group within said annular ring; and

at least one actuator of an exposure control component, the said at least one actuator positioned inside said annular ring in a space between an inner peripheral surface of said annular ring and an outer edge of said first lens group accommodated in said annular ring.

22. The camera according to claim 21, wherein the optical axis is disposed to one side relative to the annular ring axis, and wherein the axis of said displaced position is disposed to another side relative to the annular ring axis.

23. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said axis of said displaced position, said annular ring axis, and optical axis each lie substantially in a straight line.

24. The camera according to claim 21, wherein the holder is pivotally connected to said annular ring to move between said aligned position and said displaced position.

25. The camera according to claim 21, further comprising a rear lens group movable towards said annular ring and accommodated within the inner peripheral surface of the annular ring at the aligned position of said holder lens group, when the holder lens group has moved to said displaced position.

26. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said at least one actuator is configured to actuate a shutter and a diaphragm.

27. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said exposure control component and said at least one comprise a subassembly attached to said annular ring.

28. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said annular ring is movable linearly along said axis thereof without rotating;

and

wherein said holder lens group is configured to move together with said annular ring in said annular ring axis direction;

the camera further comprising an optical element retracting mechanism that retracts said holder lens group to said displaced position by a retracting movement of said annular ring when the camera moves from an operational state to a non-operational state.

29. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said at least one actuator comprises first and second actuators.

30. The camera according to claim 29, further comprising an axis position adjustment device positioned inside said annular ring configured to adjust the position of said holder lens group along said optical axis;

wherein said axis position adjustment device and the second actuator are positioned at different circumferential positions about said annular ring axis.

31. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said image display panel is an LCD.

32. The camera according to claim 21, wherein said at least one actuator is positioned within said annular ring at generally the same circumferential position as said holder lens group, when said holder lens group is in the displaced position.