Lens barrel

A lens barrel comprising:

• barrier means selectively openably and closably provided just behind a front aperture of a movable photographing optical system;
• a barrier driving mechanism for opening and closing the barrier means;
• a lens group driving mechanism for selectively moving at least one lens group backward and forward in an optical-axis direction within said photographing optical system;
• a driving source for operating said barrier driving mechanism and said lens group driving mechanism;
• and
• transmitting means for selectively transmitting driving force of said driving source to said lens group driving mechanism responsive to movement of the optical system to a state capable of photographing for to said barrier driving mechanism when the optical system is moved to a state incapable of photographing.

A lens barrel comprising:

• an aperture provided at a front of a photographing optical system;
• barrier means movable between a state of covering said aperture and a state of uncovering said aperture;
• a barrier driving mechanism for moving said barrier means;
• a lens group driving mechanism for moving at least one lens group backward and forward in an optical-axis direction within said photographing optical system;
• a driving source for selectively operating said barrier driving mechanism and said lens group driving mechanism;
• and
• switching means for switching a driving force transmitted direction of said driving source from said lens driving mechanism to said barrier driving mechanism responsive to a shift of said optical system in a direction of the optical axis from a state capable of photographing to a state incapable of photographing by said photographing optical system.

A lens barrel comprising:

• a single driving source;
• barrier means movable between a state covering an aperture and a state uncovering an aperture provided at a front of a photographing optical system having at least one movable lens group;
• first connecting means for connecting said barrier means to said driving source;
• second connecting means for connecting said lens group to said driving source for moving said lens group backward and forward in an optical-axis direction within said photographing optical system;
• and
• switching means for switching a driving force of said driving source from said first connecting means to said second connecting means responsive to a shift of the optical system in a direction of the optical axis from a state capable of photographing to a state incapable of photographing by said photographing optical system.

A lens barrel comprising:

• a single driving source;
• an aperture provided at a front of a photographing optical system;
• barrier means movable between a state covering the aperture and a state uncovering the aperture;
• first connecting means for connecting said barrier means and said driving source;
• second connecting means for connecting a lens group of said optical system and said driving source for selectively moving at least one lens group backward and forward in an optical-axis direction within said photographing optical system;
• and
• switching means for switching a driving force of said driving source between said first connecting means and said second connecting means responsive to a change of position of at least one lens group of said photographing optical system.

A camera comprising:

• a single driving source;
• a photographing optical system;
• barrier means movable between a state of covering an aperture and a state of uncovering an aperture provided at a front of said photographing optical system;
• said photographing optical system including at least one lens group changing a state of said photographing optical system by selectively moving backward and forward in an optical-axis direction;
• and
• transmitting means for selectively transmitting driving force of said driving source to one of said barrier means and said lens group responsive to a state change of the photographing optical system.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• a holding frame for holding a lens;
• lens driving means for moving said holding frame in an optical-axis direction;
• barrier means for selectively covering and uncovering a front surface of a lens positioned at a tip of a lens barrel;
• barrier driving means for opening and closing said barrier means;
• driving means for selectively driving said lens driving means and said barrier means;
• and
• switching means for switching a driving force of said driving means in accordance with a position of said holding frame, said barrier means maintaining an open state and said switching means transmitting driving force of said driving means to said lens driving means to move said holding frame in an optical-axis direction responsive to movement of said holding frame to a photographing state, said switching means transmitting driving force of said driving means to said barrier means and operating said barrier means responsive to movement of said holding frame to a non-photographing state.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• a driving apparatus;
• barrier means for covering a lens surface at a tip of a lens barrel;
• barrier driving means for driving said barrier means;
• lens driving means for moving a lens holding frame in an optical-axis direction;
• and
• choosing means for choosing which one of said barrier driving means and said lens driving means is driven responsive to a position of said lens holding frame.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• electric driving means;
• a photographing optical system;
• barrier means for covering a lens front surface at a tip of a lens barrel;
• barrier driving means for driving said barrier means;
• a frame including at least said barrier means and being movable in an optical-axis direction of a lens;
• lens driving means for selectively driving said photographing optical system and said moving frame;
• and
• switching means for switching a driving force of said electric driving means wherein, in a photographing state, said driving force output is coupled to said lens driving means responsive to movement of a lens frame to a photographing position to move said optical system in an optical-axis direction and wherein said driving force output is connected to said barrier driving means responsive to movement of a lens frame to a collapsed position for covering said lens surface at the tip of said optical system when said photographing optical system and said moving frame move to non-photographing states using said lens driving means.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• electric driving means;
• a photographing optical system;
• barrier means for covering a lens front surface of a tip of a lens barrel;
• barrier driving means for driving said barrier means;
• a frame including at least said barrier means and being movable in an optical-axis direction of a lens;
• lens driving means for driving said photographing optical system;
• switching means for switching a driving force of said electric driving means, said electric driving means being able to drive said lens driving means in a photographing state and being able to drive said barrier driving means in a non-photographing state;
• and
• said lens driving means, when in a photographing state, moving said photographing optical system in an optical-axis direction, and said barrier means being connected to said barrier driving means and said barrier means covering a lens front surface at a tip of said optical system when said optical system and said moving frame are move to non-photographing states.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• electric driving means;
• a photographing optical system;
• barrier means for covering a lens front surface at a tip of a lens barrel;
• barrier driving means for driving said barrier means;
• a frame including at least said barrier means and being movable in an optical-axis direction;
• lens driving means for driving said photographing optical system and said moving frame;
• switching means for switching a driving force of said electric driving means, said switching means coupling the driving force to only said lens driving means when the switching means is moved along the optical axis to a photographing state and coupling driving force to only said barrier driving means when the driving means is moved along the optical axis to a non-photographing state;
• barrier connecting means for disconnecting said barrier means and said barrier driving means in a photographing state of said photographing optical system and for connecting said barrier means and said barrier driving means in a non-photographing state of said photographing optical system;
• and
• said lens driving means moving said photographing optical system in an optical-axis direction when said photographing optical system and said moving frame are in a photographing state, said driving force being transmitted to said barrier driving means and said driving means being connected to said barrier means by said barrier connecting means when said photographing optical system and said movable frame are in a non-photographing state, said barrier means covering the lens front surface at the tip of said photographing optical system.

A lens driving apparatus comprising:

• driving means for driving a plurality of driven portions;
• a photographing optical system;
• photographing optical system driving means being one of said driven portions;
• barrier means for selectively covering a front surface of said photographing optical system;
• barrier driving means for opening and closing said barrier means being another one of said driven portions;
• switching means for selectively switching a driving force of said driving means to one of said photographing optical system driving means and said barrier driving means;
• and
• barrier connecting means for selectively connecting said barrier means and barrier driving means responsive to a predetermined state of said photographing optical system.

A lens barrel comprising:

• at least one focusing lens;
• barrier means arranged at one end of the lens barrel for selectively covering an aperture in the lens barrel;
• barrier drive means for operating said barrier means;
• focus means for driving said focusing lens in a direction of an optical axis;
• electric drive means;
• means for coupling an output of said barrier drive means to an input of said barrier means;
• said output of said barrier drive means being separated from said input f said barrier means when said lens barrel is moved along the optical axis from a collapsed state in which photography is prevented to an extended state in which photography is performed.