Lens barrel and photographing apparatus therewith

A lens barrel comprising:

• (a) a female helicoid cylinder having a female helicoid formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof;
• and
• (b) a male helicoid cylinder for holding a lens, having a male helicoid formed on an outer peripheral surface, which is engaged with the female helicoid, the male helicoid cylinder being moved in an optical axis direction in response to a rotation of the female helicoid cylinder,
• wherein the female helicoid is made as a compound female helicoid, including a first female helicoid portion, a second female helicoid portion formed continuously to the first female helicoid portion and having a lead angle different from that of the first female helicoid portion, and a third female helicoid portion formed continuously to the second female helicoid portion and having a lead angle smaller than that of the second female helicoid portion,
• wherein the male helicoid in the male helicoid cylinder is made as a compound male helicoid including a first male helicoid portion engaged with the first female helicoid portion, a second male helicoid portion engaged with the second female helicoid portion, and a third male helicoid portion engaged with the third female helicoid portion, and
• wherein the third female helicoid portion moves the male helicoid cylinder in the optical axis direction for protruding or retracting operation.

A lens barrel comprising:

• (a) an outer cylinder having a guide section formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof;
• and
• (b) an inner cylinder for holding a lens, having a guided section formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, which is engaged with the guide section, the inner cylinder being capable of being moved between a storing position and an operating position in an optical axis direction in response to a rotation of the outer cylinder,
• wherein the guide section has a guiding portion for introducing the inner cylinder from the operating position to the storing position, and the guiding portion has a first guiding part positioned on a side of the operating position and a second guiding part formed continuously to the first guiding part, a lead angle of the second guiding part is formed to be larger than 0°, and smaller than a lead angle of the first guiding part, and
• wherein the inner cylinder is positioned, at the storing position, within an area in which the guided section is engaged with the second guiding part.

A photographing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a lens barrel comprising,
• (1) an outer cylinder having a guide section formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and
• (2) an inner cylinder for holding a lens and having a guided section formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, which is engaged with the guide section, the inner cylinder being moved in an optical axis direction in response to a rotation of the outer cylinder,
• wherein the guide section has a guiding portion for introducing the inner cylinder into a plurality of positions including an operating position and a storing position, and the guiding portion has a first guiding part, a second guiding part formed continuously to the first guiding part, having a lead angle different from that of the first guiding part, and a third guiding part formed continuously to the second guiding part and having a lead angle smaller than that of the second guiding part, and almost the same lead angle as the first guiding part, and
• wherein the inner cylinder is positioned, at the storing position, within an area in which the guided section is engaged with the third guiding part;
• (b) a driver for driving the outer cylinder;
• and
• (c) a controller for controlling the driver to move the inner cylinder from the storing position to the operating position.

A photographing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a lens barrel comprising;
• (1) a female helicoid cylinder having a female helicoid formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and
• (2) a male helicoid cylinder for holding a lens and having a male helicoid formed on an outer peripheral surface, which is engaged with the female helicoid, the male hericoid cylinder being moved in an optical axis direction in response to a rotation of the female helicoid cylinder;
• (b) a driver for driving the female helicoid cylinder;
• and
• (c) a controller for controlling the driver to move the male helicoid cylinder from the storing position to the operating position,
• wherein the female helicoid is made as a compound female helicoid, including a first female helicoid portion, a second female helicoid portion formed continuously to the first female helicoid portion and having a lead angle different from that of the first female helicoid portion, and a third female helicoid portion formed continuously to the second female helicoid portion, and having a lead angle smaller than that of the second female helicoid portion, and
• wherein the male helicoid in the male helicoid cylinder is made as a compound male helicoid having a first male helicoid portion engaged with the first female helicoid portion and the third female helicoid portion, and a second male helicoid portion engaged with the second female helicoid portion;
• and
• wherein the first male helicoid portion is positioned, at the storing position, within an area in which the first male helicoid portion is engaged with the third female helicoid portion.