# US 7,746,564 B2 · Lens barrel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,564 B2 - Document ID: US7746564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/230,169 - Filed: 2008-08-25 - Published: 2008-12-25 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-15 - Assignees: Nikon Corporation - Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746564B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G03B 17/17: with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A lens barrel includes a first optical element that is allowed to move along an optical axis, a first driven member connected to the first optical element, a second optical element disposed in the optical axis of the first optical element, which is allowed to move along the optical axis, a second driven member connected to the second optical element, a first drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the first driven member along the optical axis, a second drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the second driven member along the optical axis, a first drive unit connected to an end of the first drive shaft to drive the first drive shaft, and a second drive unit connected to an end of the second drive shaft to drive the second drive shaft and disposed at a position that partially overlaps a position of the first drive unit when viewed from the direction of the optical axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lens barrel comprising: a first optical element that is allowed to move along an optical axis; a first driven member connected to the first optical element; a second optical element disposed in the optical axis of the first optical element, which is allowed to move along the optical axis; a second driven member connected to the second optical element; a first drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the first driven member along the optical axis; a second drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the second driven member along the optical axis; a first drive unit connected to an end of the first drive shaft to drive the first drive shaft; a second drive unit connected to an end of the second drive shaft to drive the second drive shaft and disposed at a position that partially overlaps a position of the first drive unit when viewed from the direction of the optical axis; a light quantity adjustment unit disposed toward an image side along the optical axis relative to the first and second optical elements to reduce a quantity of light; and a light quantity adjustment drive unit disposed on a side opposite from the second drive unit with the optical axis present in between, to drive the light quantity adjustment unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising: a barrel body in which the first optical element and the second optical element are housed; and a support member detachably mounted at the barrel body, which supports the first drive shaft, the second drive shaft, the first drive unit and the second drive unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A lens barrel according to claim 2, further comprising: a guide unit that guides movement of the first optical element and the second optical element along the optical axis and is disposed on a side where the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are disposed relative to the optical axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A lens barrel according to claim 3, wherein: a first range over which the guide unit guides the first optical element and a second range over which the guide unit guides the second optical element partially overlap along the optical axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein: the first drive unit is connected to an end of the first drive shaft toward a subject side along the optical axis; and the second drive unit is connected to an end of the second drive shaft toward an image side along the optical axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A lens barrel according to claim 5, further comprising: a barrel body in which the first optical element and the second optical element are housed; and a support member detachably mounted at the barrel body, which supports the first drive shaft, the second drive shaft, the first drive unit and the second drive unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A lens barrel according to claim 5, further comprising: a guide unit that guides movement of the first optical element and the second optical element along the optical axis and is disposed on a side where the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are disposed relative to the optical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein: a first range over which the guide unit guides the first optical element and a second range over which the guide unit guides the second optical element partially overlap along the optical axis. ### Claim 9 A lens barrel comprising: a first optical element that is allowed to move along an optical axis; a first driven member connected to the first optical element; a second optical element disposed in the optical axis of the first optical element, which is allowed to move along the optical axis; a second driven member connected to the second optical element; a first drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the first driven member along the optical axis; a second drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the second driven member along the optical axis; a first drive unit connected to an end of the first drive shaft to drive the first drive shaft; a second drive unit connected to an end of the second drive shaft to drive the second drive shaft; a barrel body in which the first optical element and the second optical element are housed; a support member detachably mounted at the barrel body, which supports the first drive shaft, the second drive shaft, the first drive unit and the second drive unit; a light quantity adjustment unit disposed toward an image side along the optical axis relative to the first and second optical elements to reduce a quantity of light; and a light quantity adjustment drive unit disposed on a side opposite from the second drive unit with the optical axis present in between, to drive the light quantity adjustment unit. ### Claim 10 An imaging apparatus, comprising: a first optical element that is allowed to move along an optical axis; a first driven member connected to the first optical element; a second optical element disposed in the optical axis of the first optical element, which is allowed to move along the optical axis; a second driven member connected to the second optical element; a first drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the first driven member along the optical axis; a second drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the second driven member along the optical axis; a first drive unit connected to an end of the first drive shaft to drive the first drive shaft; a second drive unit connected to an end of the second drive shaft to drive the second drive shaft and disposed at a position that partially overlaps a position of the first drive unit when viewed from the direction of the optical axis; an image-capturing element that captures a subject image via the first optical element and the second optical element; a light quantity adjustment unit disposed toward an image side along the optical axis relative to the first and second optical elements to reduce a quantity of light; and a light quantity adjustment drive unit disposed on a side opposite from the second drive unit with the optical axis present in between, to drive the light quantity adjustment unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: the first drive unit is connected to an end of the first drive shaft toward a subject to be imaged along the optical axis; and the second drive unit is connected to an end of the second drive shaft toward the image-capturing element along the optical axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An imaging apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: an objective lens disposed at a position closest to the subject along the optical axis; and a deflecting member disposed between the objective lens and the first optical element to deflect light from the subject. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: the deflecting member is a prism.