# US 8,570,666 B2 · Lens barrel and image-taking apparatus

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- Number: US 8,570,666 B2
- Document ID: US8570666B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/066,940
- Filed: 2011-04-28
- Published: 2011-11-10
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-10
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Applicants: Takashi Koyama
- Inventors: Takashi Koyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570666B2

## CPC

- G02B 7/102: {controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A lens barrel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fixed barrel, a movable member that is movable relative to the fixed barrel, a flexible circuit board that is bent in a U-shape and hangs between the fixed barrel and the movable member, and a flexible circuit board guide. The flexible circuit board guide secures one side of the flexible circuit board that is continuous with the bent portion of the flexible circuit board to the fixed barrel while the one side of the flexible circuit board extends in a moving direction of the movable member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lens barrel comprising:
a fixed barrel;
a movable member that is movable relative to the fixed barrel;
a flexible circuit board that is bent in a U-shape and hangs between the fixed barrel and the movable member; and
a flexible circuit board guide that secures one side of the flexible circuit board that is continuous with the bent portion of the flexible circuit board to the fixed barrel while the one side of the flexible circuit board extends in a moving direction of the movable member,
wherein an inclined fixing hole is formed in the fixed barrel, the inclined fixing hole securing the flexible circuit board guide with the flexible circuit board guide being inclined relative to the moving direction the movable member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lens barrel according to claim 1,
wherein the inclined fixing hole is formed such that one side of the inclined fixing hole in the moving direction of the movable member contacts one surface of the flexible circuit board guide, and another side of the inclined fixing hole in the moving direction of the movable member contacts another surface of the flexible circuit board guide opposite the one surface of the flexible circuit board guide, and
wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the movable member, a distance between the movable member and the one side of the inclined fixing hole differs from a distance between the movable member and the other side of the inclined fixing hole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lens barrel according to claim 2,
wherein the one side of the flexible circuit board is arranged along one surface of the flexible circuit board guide, an end of the one side of the flexible circuit board is arranged around an area close to an end of another surface of the flexible circuit board guide, and another end of the one side of the flexible circuit board is led out toward the movable member.

### Claim 4

An image-taking apparatus, comprising:
a lens barrel; and
a main body of the image-taking apparatus to which the lens barrel is secured or detachably attached,
wherein the lens barrel includes
a fixed barrel,
a movable member that is movable relative to the fixed barrel,
a flexible circuit board that is bent in a U-shape and hangs between the fixed barrel and the movable member, and
a flexible circuit board guide that secures one side of the flexible circuit board that is continuous with the bent portion of the flexible circuit board to the fixed barrel while the one side of the flexible circuit board extends in a moving direction of the movable member,
in which an inclined fixing hole is formed in the fixed barrel, the inclined fixing hole securing the flexible circuit board guide with the flexible circuit board guide being inclined relative to the moving direction the movable member.