Automatic and manual focus control lens barrel structure

A lens barrel for automatic and manual focus control of a camera, comprising:

• a non-movable barrel for holding the whole lens barrel;
• a movable barrel for carrying at least one lens group for focussing by means of its axial movement;
• first means for shifting said movable barrel along the optical axis of said at least one lens group relative to said non-movable barrel in accordance with manual focus control operation;
• and
• second means for shifting said movable barrel along said optical axis relative to said non-movable barrel in accordance with automatic focus control operation, said second shifting means being independently operable from said first shifting means to shift said movable barrel without movement of said first shifting means.

Focussing device for automatic and manual focus control of a camera, comprising;

• means for carrying at least one lens group for focussing by means of axial movement thereof;
• first means for shifting said carrying means along the optical axis of said at least one lens group in accordance with manual force control operation;
• second means for shifting said carrying means along said optical axis in accordance with automatic focus control operation, said second shifting means being independently operable from said first shifting means to shift said carrying means;
• means for selecting one of said first and second shifting means to shift said carrying means;
• first means for setting said first shifting means in a specific condition to locate said carrying means at a predetermined position with said second shifting means selected by said selecting means;
• and
• second means for setting said second shifting means in a specific condition to locate said carrying means at a predetermined position with said first shifting means selected by said selecting means.

Focussing device for automatic and manual focus controls comprising;

• means for carrying at least one lens group for focussing by means of axial movement thereof;
• first means for shifting said carrying means along the optical axis of said at least one lens group in accordance with manual focus control operation;
• second means for shifting said carrying means along said optical axis in accordance with automatic focus control operation, said second shifting means being independently operable from said first shifting means to shift said carrying means;
• means for selecting one of said first and second shifting means to shift said carrying means;
• and
• means for allowing the change in selection by said selecting means only at a predetermined position of said carrying means.