Lens barrel of a zoom lens

• US 5,011,273 A
• Filed: 04/12/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ueyama, Masayuki, Kuwana, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/336,847
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 350/423, 350/429
• US Class Current: 359/701
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/10 by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens

Abstract

A lens barrel of a zoom lens is comprised of a plurality of lens groups securely held by respective movable lens holders, a stationary cam ring having one or more stationary cam slots, a movable cam ring having one or more movable cam slots and rotatably supported about the stationary cam ring, and one or more pins extending through the stationary cam ring and the movable cam ring for connecting the first and second movable lens holders to move them together at the time of zooming.

Claims

1. A lens barrel for a zoom lens having a first lens group and at least one second lens group the first and second lens groups moving as a linked unit during zooming, said lens barrel comprising:

a stationary cam ring capable of being fixedly mounted on a camera body;

a movable cam ring rotatably supported relative to said stationary cam ring;

a first lens holder for holding said first lens group at a location outside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring;

a second lens holder for holding said second lens group at a location inside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring; and

a connecting means for connecting said first and second lens holders via said first and second cam rings.

2. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said stationary cam ring has at least one first cam slot, said movable cam ring has at least one second cam slot and said connecting means comprises at least one pin which extends through an intersection between said first and second cam slots, moves along with the intersection and connects said first and second lens holders with each other.

3. The lens barrel according to claim 2, wherein said first cam slot extends along the optical axis of the zoom lens while said second cam slot extends diagonally with respect to the optical axis.

4. The lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other lens group which moves at different locus in the first and second lens groups and locates between said first and second lens groups.

5. The lens barrel according to claim 4, wherein said first lens group is positioned at the object side end of the lens barrel.

6. The lens barrel according to claim 5, further comprising a mechanism provided between said first and second lens holders for moving said first lens group relatively to said second lens group for focusing.

7. The lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein said mechanism comprises a helicoid formed at the first lens holder.

8. A lens barrel for a zoom lens having a first lens group and at least one second lens group, with the first and second lens groups moving as a linked body for zooming, said lens barrel comprising:

a stationary cam ring capable of being fixedly mounted on a camera body and having at least one first cam slot;

a movable cam ring having at least one second cam slot and rotatably supported relative to said stationary cam ring;

a first lens holder for holding said first lens group at a location outside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring;

a second lens holder for holding said second lens group at a location inside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring;

at least one pin which is connected with said second lens holder and moves along with an intersection between said first and second cam slots; and

a connecting means for connecting said first and second lens holders via said first and second cam rings.

9. A lens barrel of a zoom lens having at least two lens groups with the first and second lens groups moving in a linked body for zooming, said lens barrel comprising:

a stationary cam ring fixedly mounted on a camera body and having at least one first cam slot;

a movable cam ring having at least one second cam slot and rotatably supported relative to said stationary cam ring;

a first lens holder for holding said first lens group at a location outside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring;

a second lens holder for holding said second lens group at a location inside said stationary cam ring and said movable cam ring; and

at least one pin which connects said first and second lens holders via an intersection between said first and second cam slots and moves along with the intersection.