Lens barrel, camera and mobile information terminal device having the same

A lens barrel, comprising:

• a fixed frame having a fixed cylinder therein;
• a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within the fixed cylinder;
• a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder;
• a plurality of lens retaining frames configured to retain the plurality of lens groups;
• and
• a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens retaining frames to move the plurality of lens groups along a photographing optical axis between a collapsed state in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed cylinder and a photographing state in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed cylinder,
• wherein the plurality of lens groups includes a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the photographing state and configured to be retracted out of the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed state,
• wherein the plurality of lens retaining frames has a retractable lens retaining frame configured to retain the retractable lens group;
• wherein when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed state, the retractable lens group is stored in a storage position in the fixed frame;
• wherein the lens driving device includes a retractable lens retaining frame driving device configured to drive the retractable lens retaining frame to move the retractable lens group along the optical axis back and forth and configured to retract the retractable lens group out of the photographing optical axis, the retractable lens group being nearest to an image pickup element of the lens barrel, and
• wherein when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed state, the retractable lens retaining frame driving device is positioned anterior to the retractable lens group in the direction of the optical axis.

A lens barrel, comprising:

• a fixed frame having a fixed cylinder therein;
• a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within the fixed cylinder;
• a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder;
• a plurality of lens retaining frames configured to retain the plurality of lens groups;
• and
• a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens retaining frames to move the plurality of lens groups along a photographing optical axis between a collapsed state in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed cylinder and a photographing state in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed cylinder,
• wherein the plurality of lens groups includes at least one retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the photographing state and configured to be retracted out of the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed state,
• wherein the plurality of lens retaining frames has a retractable lens retaining frame configured to retain the at least one retractable lens group;
• wherein when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed state, the at least one retractable lens group is stored in a storage position in the fixed frame;
• wherein the lens driving device includes a zooming device configured to drive at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups to perform a zooming operation and a retractable lens driving device configured to move the at least one retractable lens group;
• wherein the fixed frame has at least two side portions;
• wherein the storage position is located in a corner portion formed between two side portions of the at least two side portions;
• wherein the zooming device is located in a corner of one of the two side portions, opposite to the corner portion on which the storage position is provided;
• and
• wherein the retractable lens driving device is disposed on an intermediate portion of the one of the two side portions.