Lens barrel

Abstract

In a lens barrel, the direction of lens movement relative to the rotation direction of a rotational operation linkage member operated by the user is switched without using electronic components such as a motor. [Solution] The lens barrel 10 includes a lens drive member 28 that rotates around the optical axis C1 to move the lenses 16 and 18 in a direction substantially extending along the optical axis C1, a rotation operation interlocking member 30 that surrounds the lens drive member 28 and is rotated by the user around the optical axis C1, a rotating body 32 that engages with the outer circumferential surface 28c of the lens drive member 28 and the inner circumferential surface 30a of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and is capable of rolling on the outer circumferential surface 28c and the inner circumferential surface 30a around a rotation center line parallel to the optical axis C1 and circumferential movement around the optical axis C1, and a lens movement direction switching member 36 that is operated by the user to allow either the rolling or circumferential movement of the rotating body and restrict the other, thereby switching the direction of movement of the lenses 16 and 18 with respect to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lens barrel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a lens barrel in which a user can adjust shooting conditions by rotating a cylindrical member (rotation operation interlocking member) provided on the lens barrel. For example, there are known a lens barrel capable of adjusting the focal length, a lens barrel capable of adjusting the focus position, a lens barrel capable of adjusting the aperture amount, and the like.

[0003] A lens barrel capable of adjusting the focal length, that is, a lens barrel with a zoom function, has a lens movable in the optical axis direction and a zoom ring (rotation operation interlocking member) that moves the lens in the extending direction of the optical axis. When the user performs a rotation operation on the zoom ring, the lens moves in the extending direction of the optical axis, and the focal length is adjusted. A lens barrel capable of adjusting the focus position, that is, a lens barrel with a focus function, has a lens movable in the optical axis direction and a focus ring (rotation operation interlocking member) that moves the lens in the extending direction of the optical axis. When the user performs a rotation operation on the focus ring, the lens moves in the extending direction of the optical axis, and the focus position is adjusted. A lens barrel capable of adjusting the amount of light transmitted through the lens, that is, a lens barrel with an aperture amount (F-value) variable function, has at least one aperture blade and an aperture ring (rotation operation interlocking member) that rotationally drives at least one aperture blade. When the user performs a rotation operation on the aperture ring, each of the at least one aperture blade moves in a direction intersecting the optical axis, and the aperture amount (F-value) that adjusts the amount of light passing between them is adjusted.

[0004] In the aforementioned lens barrels with zoom, focus, and variable aperture (F-number) functions, rotating the rotational linkage member in one direction increases the focal length or aperture (F-number), while rotating it in the other direction decreases it. In other words, the direction of rotation of the rotational linkage member when increasing or decreasing the adjustment amount is fixed and cannot be changed. However, there are lens barrels in which the direction of rotation of the rotational linkage member when increasing or decreasing the adjustment amount can be changed.

[0005] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a lens barrel in which the lens moves in the direction of extension of the optical axis by the user rotating a cylindrical zoom ring (rotation operation interlocking member). These lens barrels are equipped with a zoom direction switch for the user to switch the direction of lens movement relative to the rotation direction of the zoom ring from the forward direction (towards the subject) to the backward direction (towards the camera body) or vice versa.

[0006] In the lens barrel described in Patent Document 1, when the user operates a zoom direction switching switch, the rotation direction of the motor that drives the lens relative to the rotation direction of the zoom ring is switched from forward to reverse or from reverse to forward, thereby switching the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the zoom ring.

[0007] Furthermore, the lens barrel described in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a switching mechanism in the interlocking member (lens driving member) that operates the optical elements, which switches the direction of operation of the optical elements. By operating a mode change switch, the rotation direction of the interlocking member relative to the rotation direction of the zoom ring is switched from forward to reverse or from reverse to forward, thereby switching the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the zoom ring. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-10407 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 047460 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] However, the lens barrel described in Patent Document 1 requires electronic components such as a motor. Furthermore, the lens barrel described in Patent Document 2 requires a complex switching mechanism.

[0010] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a lens barrel in which the user can adjust the shooting conditions by rotating a rotation operation linkage member provided on the lens barrel, and to easily change the direction of rotation of the rotation operation linkage member when increasing or decreasing the adjustment amount, without using electronic components such as a motor and without providing a complex switching mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of this disclosure, A main body having a roughly cylindrical section, One or more lenses, One or more lens support members that support the one or more lenses, A lens driving member having a substantially cylindrical portion that moves the one or more lens support members in a substantially extending direction of the optical axis in conjunction with the rotation of the main body with the optical axis of the one or more lenses substantially at its center, A rotation operation interlocking member is provided, which is positioned radially outward from the lens driving member with the optical axis as its approximate center, and has a substantially cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the main body with the optical axis as its approximate center in conjunction with manual operation. An odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the outer circumferential surface of the lens driving member and the inner circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member, and that are capable of performing rolling motion on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface with respect to a rotation center line parallel to the optical axis, and rotational motion around the optical axis, The system includes a lens movement direction switching member that switches between a state in which the rolling motion of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the rotational motion is permitted, and a state in which the rolling motion is permitted and the rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa. A lens barrel is provided that switches the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member by switching the lens movement direction switching member.

[0012] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this disclosure, One or more lenses, One or more aperture blades that adjust the amount of light passing through one or more lenses, A substantially annular base member that supports one or more aperture blades so as to be rotatable about a pivot center line parallel to the optical axis of the one or more lenses, A diaphragm blade drive member that opens and closes one or more diaphragm blades in conjunction with the rotation of the base member with the optical axis of one or more lenses as substantially the center, A rotational operation interlocking member is provided, which is positioned radially outward from the aperture blade drive member with the optical axis as its approximate center, and has a substantially cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the main body with the optical axis as its approximate center in conjunction with manual operation. An odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the outer circumferential surface of the aperture blade drive member and the inner circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member, and are capable of performing rolling motion on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface with respect to a rotation center line substantially parallel to the optical axis, and rotational motion around the optical axis, The system includes a switching member that switches between a state in which the rolling motion of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the rotational motion is permitted, and a state in which the rolling motion is permitted and the rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa. A lens barrel is provided that switches the opening and closing direction of one or more aperture blades relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member by performing the switching of the switching member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, in a lens barrel in which shooting conditions can be adjusted by a user rotating a rotation operation interlocking member provided on the lens barrel, without using electronic components such as a motor and without providing a complicated switching mechanism, the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member when increasing or decreasing the adjustment amount can be easily changed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] Perspective view seen obliquely from the front of a lens barrel in a state of wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) according to an embodiment [Figure 2] Perspective view seen obliquely from the front of a lens barrel in a state of telephoto shooting (longest optical system) [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view seen from the side of a lens barrel in a state of wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view seen from the side of a lens barrel in a state of telephoto shooting (longest optical system) [Figure 5] Exploded perspective view seen obliquely from the front of the lens barrel [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view seen obliquely from the rear of the lens barrel [Figure 7] Perspective view seen obliquely from the front of the lens barrel with the rotation operation interlocking member and the lens movement direction switching member removed [Figure 8] Perspective view seen obliquely from the rear of the lens movement direction switching member [Figure 9] Perspective view seen obliquely from the rear of the lens barrel with the lens movement direction switching member removed in a state of wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view seen from the front showing the positional relationship of the lens driving member, the rotation operation interlocking member, and the gear (rotating body) in a state of wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) [Figure 11A] Cross-sectional view seen from the front showing the first positional relationship of the lens driving member, the rotation operation interlocking member, and the gear (rotating body) in a state of telephoto shooting (longest optical system) [Figure 11B]A cross-sectional view from the front showing the second positional relationship of the lens drive member, the rotation operation linkage member, and the gear (rotating body) in the state of telephoto shooting (longest optical system). [Figure 12] Side view of an example lens barrel with a focal length scale. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, unnecessarily detailed explanations may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters and redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art.

[0016] The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description so that those skilled in the art may fully understand this disclosure, and not to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0017] Hereinafter, an imaging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a lens barrel viewed from the front at an oblique angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the lens barrel viewed from the side. Furthermore, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel viewed from the front at an oblique angle, and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel viewed from the rear at an oblique angle.

[0019] Here, the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system shown in the figure is provided to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure and does not limit the embodiments of this disclosure. The X-axis direction is the front-to-back direction of the lens barrel, the Y-axis direction is the left-to-right direction, and the Z-axis direction is the height direction. Furthermore, the side where the subject is located during shooting is considered the front of the lens barrel, and the side where the imaging device (camera body) to which the lens barrel is detachably attached is located is considered the rear of the lens barrel.

[0020] The lens barrel 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 illustrates an example of zoom (focal length change) operation by moving two or more lenses relatively in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis, thereby changing the distance between two or more lenses in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis. Specifically, by changing the distance between multiple lenses 14, 16, and 18, it is possible to take wide-angle and telephoto photographs. Figures 1 and 3 show the lens barrel 10 in the state of wide-angle photography (shortest optical system). Figures 2 and 4 show the lens barrel 10 in the state of telephoto photography (longest optical system).

[0021] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lens barrel achieves wide-angle shooting when the optical system is at its shortest length and telephoto shooting when the optical system is at its longest length; however, this is not always the case. Due to the convenience of the optical design, lens focal length, zoom magnification, and other constraints, the optical system may achieve telephoto shooting when it is at its shortest length and wide-angle shooting when it is at its longest length. Alternatively, the optical system may achieve telephoto or wide-angle shooting when it is at its longest length, and shooting at a focal length between wide-angle and telephoto when it is at its shortest length. In this case, when zooming from wide-angle to telephoto shooting, the optical system length transitions from long to short and then back to long, and at least one lens follows a U-turn trajectory, but the same effect as in this embodiment can be obtained in this state as well.

[0022] Furthermore, while one embodiment of the lens barrel of this disclosure has shown an example in which zoom (focal length change) operation is performed by moving two or more lenses relatively in a direction substantially extending along the optical axis to adjust the focal length, this is not the only example. Focus (focus position adjustment, focus control) operation may be performed by moving at least one lens in a direction substantially extending along the optical axis to adjust the focus position. Alternatively, aperture operation may be performed in which the amount of light transmitted through the lens is adjusted by opening and closing at least one aperture blade in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis to change the size of the opening formed by the aperture blade. In these cases as well, the same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the lens barrel 10 has a main body 12 and a plurality of lenses 14, 16, and 18. The lens barrel 10 is detachably attached to the body mount (not shown) of the imaging device (camera body) via a lens mount (not shown) fixed to the main body 12.

[0024] In this embodiment, the main body 12 is composed of two cylindrical bodies 20 and 22.

[0025] The inner cylindrical body 20 in the main body 12 is a cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical portion, and holds the lens 14 at its front end. The inner cylindrical body 20 also has a flange portion 20a at its rear end. The lens mount is attached directly or indirectly via another member to the rear surface of the flange portion 20a of the inner cylindrical body 20, or to the rear end surface of the outer cylindrical body 22. Specifically, with the lens mount attached to the body mount, the main body 12 of the lens barrel 10 is fixed to the lens mount such that the optical axis C1 passes through approximately the center of the light-receiving surface of the image sensor mounted on the imaging device (camera body), and the optical axis C1 is approximately perpendicular to the light-receiving surface.

[0026] The outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 is a cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical portion, and the inner cylindrical body 20 is housed between its inner circumferential surface 22a and the outer circumferential surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20, with a gap extending around the entire circumference centered on the optical axis C1. The rear end of the outer cylindrical body 22 is fixed to the flange portion 20a of the inner cylindrical body 20.

[0027] Lenses 14, 16, and 18 are arranged such that their respective optical axes are approximately aligned on a straight line (the optical axis C1 of the lens barrel 10).

[0028] As described above, lens 14 (fixed lens) is provided on the front end side of the inner cylindrical body 20 in the main body 12. In other words, lens 14 is a lens that is fixed to the main body 12 and does not move in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 of the lens barrel 10 (X-axis direction).

[0029] Lenses 16 and 18 (first and second movable lenses) are mounted on the lens barrel 10 so as to be movable relative to the main body 12 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 of the lens barrel 10 (X-axis direction).

[0030] Lens 16 is located behind lens 14. Lens 16 is supported by an annular first lens support member 24 that is movable in the direction substantially extending along the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction).

[0031] Specifically, the first lens support member 24 is housed inside the inner cylindrical body 20 of the main body 12, that is, on the inner diameter side of the inner cylindrical body 20 centered on the optical axis C1. The inner cylindrical body 20 has one or more guide grooves 20c formed therein, which extend linearly in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) and penetrate radially around the optical axis C1. The first lens support member 24 is equipped with one or more cam followers 24a that engage with one or more guide grooves 20c. By being guided by the engagement of one or more cam followers 24a with their corresponding guide grooves 20c, the first lens support member 24 is supported by the inner cylindrical body 20 of the main body 12 so as to be movable in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1. The method for moving the first lens support member 24 will be described later.

[0032] Lens 18 is located in front of lens 14. Lens 18 is provided on the front end side of a cylindrical second lens support member 26, which has a substantially cylindrical portion that is movable in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction).

[0033] Specifically, the second lens support member 26 has at least a portion of its substantially cylindrical section housed in the space between the inner cylindrical body 20 and the outer cylindrical body 22 in the main body 12, i.e., in the radial direction around the optical axis C1, outside the inner cylindrical body 20 and inside the outer cylindrical body 22. One or more guide grooves 22b are formed on the inner circumferential surface 22a of the outer cylindrical body 22, extending in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction). The second lens support member 26 has one or more protrusions 26a that project outward in the radial direction around the optical axis C1 and engage with one or more guide grooves 22b, respectively. By being guided by the engagement of one or more protrusions 26a with the corresponding guide grooves 22b, the second lens support member 26 is supported by the outer cylindrical body 22 in the main body 12 so as to be movable in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1. The method for moving the second lens support member 26 will be described later.

[0034] In this embodiment, lenses 14, 16, and 18 are each shown as a single lens, but this is not limited to this. One or more of lenses 14, 16, and 18 may be a lens group consisting of multiple lenses of different types.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixed lens provided in the lens barrel 10 is one of the lenses 14 (fixed lenses), but this is not limited to this. One or more lenses or lens groups other than lens 14 may be fixed, or the total number of fixed lenses may be zero.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lenses provided in the lens barrel 10 that are movable in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) are lenses 16 and 18 (first and second movable lenses), but this is not limited to them. One or more lenses or lens groups other than lenses 16 and 18 may be supported so as to be movable in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), or the total number of movable lenses may be one.

[0037] The first lens support member 24 supporting lens 16 and the second lens support member 26 supporting lens 18 are driven by a lens drive member 28 in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction). More specifically, the first lens support member 24 moves in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) by a known cam mechanism composed of the lens drive member 28 and an inner cylindrical body 20, and similarly, the second lens support member 26 moves in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) by a known cam mechanism composed of the lens drive member 28 and an outer cylindrical body 22. Therefore, in order to switch the direction of movement of lenses 16 and 18 in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), which is one of the objectives of the present invention, it is sufficient to switch the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 with the optical axis C1 as the approximate center. When the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 is reversed (to the opposite direction), that is, when the rotation direction is switched from forward to reverse or vice versa, the cam groove included in the cam mechanism rotates in the opposite direction, and the trajectory of the cam is traced in the opposite direction. As a result, the direction of movement of the first lens support member 24 and the second lens support member 26 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) is reversed (to the opposite direction), that is, from the forward direction (extension direction) to the backward direction (retraction direction) or vice versa.

[0038] The lens driving member 28 is a cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical portion, and is housed between the inner cylindrical body 20 of the main body 12 and the substantially cylindrical portion of the second lens support member 26, that is, in the radial direction around the optical axis C1, outside the inner cylindrical body 20 and inside the substantially cylindrical portion of the second lens support member 26. Furthermore, the lens driving member 28 is supported so as to be rotatable about the optical axis C1 along the outer peripheral surface 20b, with its radial direction restricted by the substantially radial engagement of its inner peripheral surface 28e with the outer peripheral surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20. In addition, the lens driving member 28 is supported so as to be rotatable about the optical axis C1, with its optical axis direction restricted by the substantially fitted bayonet claw 20d protruding from the outer peripheral surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20 into the bayonet groove 28f.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the lens driving member 28 includes one or more first and second cam grooves 28a and 28b. Each of the first and second cam grooves 28a and 28b has a known cam groove shape and extends in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) while also extending in the circumferential direction of the substantially cylindrical portion of the lens driving member 28. That is, in a view perpendicular to the optical axis C1 (Y-axis and Z-axis direction view), it extends obliquely to the optical axis C1. In other words, each of the first and second cam grooves 28a and 28b extends along a substantially spiral trajectory centered on the optical axis C1 in the substantially cylindrical portion of the lens driving member 28. Note that in Figures 5 and 6, the first and second cam grooves 28a and 28b are not shown for the sake of simplifying the drawings.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first and second cam grooves 28a and 28b extend obliquely to the optical axis C1 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis C1 (viewed in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions), but this is not limited to this. In a similar viewing direction, they may include a portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis C1, i.e., a portion where the angle with the optical axis C1 is constant, such as +90°, or they may include a portion where the angle with the optical axis C1 changes obliquely, for example, an angle with the optical axis C1 of +45° to -60° (U-turn trajectory).

[0041] One or more first cam grooves 28a of the lens driving member 28 engage with one or more cam followers 24a provided on the outer circumference of the first lens support member 24, which penetrates the guide groove 20c of the inner cylindrical body 20 in the main body 12. When the lens driving member 28 rotates, the cam followers 24a of the first lens support member 24 move relative to the inside of the first cam groove 28a along the trajectory of the first cam groove 28a while maintaining engagement with the first cam groove 28a. At the same time, as described above, the cam followers 24a of the first lens support member 24 are supported so as to be movable in substantially the extending direction of the optical axis C1 by being guided by engagement with the guide groove 20c of the inner cylindrical body 20. Therefore, when the lens drive member 28 rotates, the first lens support member 24 moves in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) by a known cam mechanism consisting of the engagement of the first cam groove 28a with the cam follower 24a and the engagement of the guide groove 20c with the cam follower 24a. As a result, the lens 16 moves in the direction substantially extending the optical axis C1 due to the rotation of the lens drive member 28.

[0042] One or more second cam grooves 28b of the lens driving member 28 engage with one or more cam followers 26c provided on the inner circumferential surface 26b of the second lens support member 26. When the lens driving member 28 rotates, the cam followers 26c of the second lens support member 26 move relative to the inside of the second cam groove 28b along the trajectory of the second cam groove 28b while maintaining their engagement with the second cam groove 28b. At the same time, as described above, the convex portion 26a of the second lens support member 26 is supported so as to be movable in substantially the extending direction of the optical axis C1 by being guided by engaging with the guide groove 22b of the outer cylindrical body 22. Therefore, when the lens drive member 28 rotates, the second lens support member 26 moves in the substantially extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1 by a known cam mechanism consisting of the engagement of the second cam groove 28b and the cam follower 26c, and the engagement of the guide groove 22b and the protrusion 26a. As a result, the lens 18 moves in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1 due to the rotation of the lens drive member 28.

[0043] The rotation of the lens drive member 28 causes the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 to move in conjunction in the approximate extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when transitioning from wide-angle to telephoto shooting, that is, when zooming from wide-angle to telephoto, the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 move in conjunction so that lens 16 approaches lens 14 and lens 18 moves away from lens 14. In this state, the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 extend out relative to the main body 12 in the approximate extending direction of the optical axis C1. As a result, the total length of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate extending direction of the optical axis C1 increases. Also, when transitioning from telephoto to wide-angle shooting, that is, when zooming from telephoto to wide-angle, the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 move in conjunction so that lens 16 moves away from lens 14 and lens 18 approaches lens 14. In this state, the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 retract from the main body 12 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1. As a result, the overall length of the lens barrel 10 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 is shortened.

[0044] In this embodiment, the wide-angle shooting state is achieved when the total length of the optical system is at its shortest, and the telephoto shooting state is achieved when the total length of the optical system is at its longest; however, this is not limited to this. As described above, the telephoto shooting state may be achieved when the total length of the optical system is at its shortest, and the wide-angle shooting state may be achieved when the total length of the optical system is at its longest. In that case, when zooming from wide-angle to telephoto, lens 18 moves closer to lens 14, and the total length of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate extending direction of the optical axis C1 shortens. Conversely, when zooming from telephoto to wide-angle, lens 18 moves away from lens 14, and the total length of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate extending direction of the optical axis C1 lengthens.

[0045] Furthermore, as described above, the optical system may be in a telephoto or wide-angle shooting state when its total length is at its longest, and in a shooting state with a focal length between wide-angle and telephoto when its total length is at its shortest. In that case, when zooming from wide-angle to telephoto, lens 18 first moves closer to lens 14, and then moves away from lens 14. The total length of the optical axis C1 of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate extending direction first shortens, and then extends (U-turn movement). A similar U-turn movement occurs when zooming from telephoto to wide-angle.

[0046] Since the lens drive member 28 is housed between the inner cylindrical body 20 and the cylindrical second lens support member 26 having a substantially cylindrical portion in the main body 12, the user cannot directly rotate it manually. To allow the user to rotate the lens drive member 28 in conjunction with manual operation, a rotation operation linkage member 30 that drives and connects to the lens drive member 28 is provided on the outer circumference (radially outward) of the lens barrel 10 around the optical axis C1.

[0047] The rotation operation linkage member 30 is a cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical portion, and its radial direction is restricted by the fact that its inner circumferential surface 30a substantially fits into the outer circumferential surface 22c of the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12, and it is supported so as to be rotatable about the optical axis C1 along the outer circumferential surface 22c. In other words, the rotation operation linkage member 30 is positioned radially outward from the optical axis C1 of the lens drive member 28 and surrounds the lens drive member 28 with a gap. Furthermore, the rotation operation linkage member 30 is supported so as to be rotatable about the optical axis C1 while its direction of rotation is restricted by the fact that the bayonet claw 22f protruding from the outer circumferential surface 22c of the outer cylindrical body 22 substantially fits into the bayonet groove 30e. The rotation operation linkage member 30 rotates when a rotational driving force is applied to its outer circumferential surface by manual operation by the user.

[0048] In this embodiment, the rotational operation interlocking member 30 rotates by applying a rotational driving force directly to its outer surface through manual operation by the user, but this is not limited to that. Even without directly applying a rotational driving force to the rotational operation interlocking member 30 through manual operation, a manual operation member or the like can be placed further outward or inward in the radial direction around the optical axis C1 of the rotational operation interlocking member 30, or on the front or rear side in the direction of the optical axis C1 of the rotational operation interlocking member 30, and the rotational operation interlocking member 30 can be engaged with the manual operation member directly or indirectly through another member by key coupling or the like, thereby enabling the manual operation member to apply a rotational driving force to the rotational operation interlocking member 30.

[0049] Furthermore, the rotation operation linkage member 30 is driven and connected to the lens drive member 28 via a gear (rotating body) 32. In this embodiment, the gear (rotating body) 32 is a rotating body that rotates about its own rotation centerline C2, which is parallel to the optical axis C1, as its central axis. The gear (rotating body) 32 is one of the components necessary to achieve the objectives of the present invention, which is to switch the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 with the optical axis C1 as its approximate center. By switching the gear (rotating body) 32 from a rolling operation, which will be described later, to a circumferential operation, or vice versa, the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation linkage member 30 is switched. When the gear (rotating body) 32 is switched to a rolling operation state, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the opposite direction (opposite direction) relative to the rotation operation linkage member 30, and when the gear (rotating body) 32 is switched to a circumferential operation state, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the same direction relative to the rotation operation linkage member 30. As described above, when the rotation direction of the lens driving member 28 is switched with respect to the optical axis C1, the movement direction of lenses 16 and 18 in the direction of extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) is switched.

[0050] An outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotational engagement part) 28d is provided on the outer circumferential surface 28c of the lens driving member 28 facing the gear (rotating body) 32, as an outer circumferential rotational engagement part that is constantly engaged with the gear (rotating body) 32. The outer circumferential rotational engagement part includes not only gear engagement using gears, such as the outer circumferential gear, but also friction engagement using contact friction. In addition, an inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotational engagement part) 30b is provided on the inner circumferential surface 30a of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 facing the gear (rotating body) 32, as an inner circumferential rotational engagement part that is constantly engaged with the gear (rotating body) 32. The inner circumferential rotational engagement part includes not only gear engagement using gears, such as the inner circumferential gear, but also friction engagement using contact friction.

[0051] In this embodiment, the gear (rotating body) 32, the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d, and the inner gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b all have the same module m. Since the lens driving member 28 is positioned radially inward from the optical axis C1 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d has a smaller pitch circle diameter and fewer teeth compared to the inner gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b. The gear (rotating body) 32 is a pinion gear with a smaller pitch circle diameter and fewer teeth than the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d and the inner gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b.

[0052] In this embodiment, a single gear (rotating body) 32 is constantly engaged with the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d in all states of the rolling operation and rotational operation described later, and the operation of transitioning (switching) between these two operations. Therefore, when the user switches the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, which is rotated by the user, from the forward direction to the backward direction or vice versa, it is necessary to switch the state of the gear (rotating body) 32 from the rolling operation to the rotational operation or from the rotational operation to the rolling operation. However, there is no need to provide a complex switching mechanism for connecting or disconnecting the gear (rotating body) 32 from the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b or the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d. Since the gear (rotating body) 32 is always engaged with both the inner circumferential surface 30a of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer circumferential surface 28c of the lens drive member 28, the rotational driving force from the user's manual operation is always transmitted from the rotation operation interlocking member 30 to the lens drive member 28 via the gear (rotating body) 32. In other words, in both the rolling operation and the rotational operation described later, the rotational driving force from the user's manual operation is transmitted from the rotation operation interlocking member 30 to the lens drive member 28 via the gear (rotating body) 32 without the need for a complex switching mechanism.

[0053] However, as will be described later, the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is different for rolling and circumferential operation. In rolling operation, the rotation directions of the two are opposite (reverse), and in circumferential operation, the rotation directions of the two are the same (forward). This is because the gear (rotating body) 32 acts as an idler gear (idle rotating body) in rolling operation, and the rotation direction of the two gears (rotational engagement parts) that engage with one idler gear (idle rotating body) in between is opposite (reverse) to the state without a gear in between, and the reduction ratio, speed increase ratio, or gear ratio is the same as when they are directly connected. Also, when an odd number of rotating bodies are inserted in between, the direction of rotation of the driven-side rotational engagement part relative to the driving-side rotational engagement part is changed, as in the case of one rotating body.

[0054] In this embodiment, the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is an internal gear, the gear (rotating body) 32 is an external gear, and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28 is an external gear. Therefore, in terms of rotation direction, the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates in the same direction as the rotation operation interlocking member 30, while the lens driving member 28 rotates in the opposite direction to the gear (rotating body) 32. Consequently, in this embodiment, the rotation directions of the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28 and the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 are opposite (reverse) directions. When a gear train (rotating body train) composed of an even number of gears (rotating bodies) is inserted between the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b, the rotation direction of the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d relative to the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b will be the same (forward) direction in rolling operation, so the objective of this invention cannot be achieved.

[0055] In this context, an idler gear is an intermediate gear inserted between two drive shafts. It consists of a fixed number of teeth, each with the same tooth profile, arranged at equal pitches on a single pitch circle. Its role is to transmit power from the drive gear to the driven gear, and its insertion does not change the speed or rotational speed of the driven gear relative to the drive gear, i.e., the reduction ratio, speed increase ratio, or gear ratio. Furthermore, when one or an odd number of idler gears are inserted, the direction of rotation of the driven gear relative to the drive gear is changed.

[0056] The idler rotating body referred to here is an intermediate rotating body inserted between two transmission shafts. It consists of a single type of rotating body with a fixed circumference. Its role is to transmit power from the drive-side rotating engagement to the driven-side rotating engagement, and even when inserted between them, the speed or rotational speed of the driven-side rotating engagement relative to the drive-side rotating engagement, i.e., the reduction ratio, acceleration ratio, or rotational speed ratio, does not change. Furthermore, when one or an odd number of idler rotating bodies are inserted between them, the direction of rotation of the driven-side rotating engagement relative to the drive-side rotating engagement changes.

[0057] In this embodiment, manual operation by the user is directly applied to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, but this is not limited to this configuration. There may be a separate member that the user directly operates, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 may rotate in conjunction with that member. The same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0058] The gear (rotating body) support member 34 is a substantially annular member centered on the optical axis C1. Its radial direction is restricted by the fact that its inner circumferential surface 34e substantially fits radially with the outer circumferential surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20 in the main body 12, and it is supported so as to be rotatable along the outer circumferential surface 20b about the optical axis C1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 is positioned such that its position in the direction of the optical axis C1 is restricted, as it is substantially sandwiched and fitted between the lens driving member 28 and the flange portion 20a of the inner cylindrical body 20 in the main body 12 in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1.

[0059] Specifically, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 comprises an annular main body portion 34a positioned between the inner cylindrical body 20 and the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 in the radial direction centered on the optical axis C1, a tongue portion 34b projecting from the main body portion 34a toward the outer diameter side (radially outward) centered on the optical axis C1, and a gear central shaft portion 34d projecting from the tongue portion 34b in the substantially extending direction of the optical axis C1 and rotatably supporting the gear (rotating body) 32. The gear central shaft portion 34d constitutes the rotation centerline C2. At least a part of the gear (rotating body) 32 and the tongue portion 34b are positioned in substantially the same position as the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 in the radial direction centered on the optical axis C1, i.e., at a position where they interfere with each other.

[0060] Here, we will explain the rolling motion and the rotational motion. The gear (rotating body) 32 is supported by the gear central axis portion 34d of the gear support member 34 (rotating body support member) so as to be rotatable about the rotational centerline C2. In other words, the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates on its own axis around the rotational centerline C2. The rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is the rotational motion in which the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates around its own rotational centerline C2 as its axis of rotation. When the gear (rotating body) support member 34 rotates relative to the inner cylindrical body 20 about the optical axis C1, the tongue portion 34b, the gear central axis portion 34d, and the rotational centerline C2 also rotate about the optical axis C1, and the gear (rotating body) 32 also rotates with them about the optical axis C1. In other words, the gear (rotating body) 32 revolves around the optical axis C1. The rotational motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is an orbital motion in which the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates around the optical axis C1 by rotating its rotational centerline C2 around the optical axis C1.

[0061] In the state where the operation is switched to rolling motion, that is, in the state where rolling motion is permitted and rotational motion is restricted, the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates (rotates on its own axis) around the rotation centerline C2, but does not rotate (revolve) around the optical axis C1. In this state, the gear (rotating body) 32 rolls relative to the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d and the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b. In the rolling state, the teeth of the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d and the teeth of the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b that mesh with the teeth of the gear (rotating body) 32 move sequentially to the adjacent teeth.

[0062] In the state where the gear (rotating body) is switched to rotational motion, that is, in the state where rotational motion is permitted and rolling motion is restricted, the gear (rotating body) 32 does not rotate (spin) around the rotation centerline C2, but it rotates (revolves) around the optical axis C1. In this state, the gear (rotating body) 32 does not roll relative to the outer gear (outer rotational engagement part) 28d and the inner gear (inner rotational engagement part) 30b. In the state where it does not roll, the teeth of the outer gear (outer rotational engagement part) 28d and the teeth of the inner gear (inner rotational engagement part) 30b that mesh with the teeth of the gear (rotating body) 32 do not move to adjacent teeth; in other words, the teeth that mesh with each other do not change, and the same teeth continue to mesh with each other at all times. In the state of rotational motion, the gear (rotating body) 32 moves within the gear movement groove 22d. That is, because the gear movement groove 22d extends in the circumferential direction around the optical axis C1 as described above, rotational motion around the optical axis C1 becomes possible. The reason for this will be explained later.

[0063] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lens barrel from the front at an oblique angle, with the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the lens movement direction switching member 36 removed.

[0064] As described above, since at least a portion of the gear (rotating body) 32 and the tongue portion 34b are positioned to interfere radially with the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12, as shown in Figure 7, the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 has a gear movement groove 22d formed as a relief hole to prevent interference between the tongue portion 34b of the gear (rotating body) support member 34, the gear central shaft portion 34d, and the gear (rotating body) 32 supported by it. The outer cylindrical body 22 needs to avoid the aforementioned interference regardless of whether the gear (rotating body) 32 is in rolling or circumferential motion. Therefore, the gear movement groove 22d is a hole that extends in the circumferential direction around the optical axis C1 and penetrates radially around the optical axis C1, over an angular range that is the sum of the size of the gear (rotating body) 32 and the tongue portion 34b, in addition to the angular range in which the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates approximately around the optical axis C1 for zooming (changing the focal length) by at least circumferential motion.

[0065] The gear movement groove 22d allows the gear (rotating body) 32 to engage with both the inner gear (inner rotational engagement portion) 30b of the rotational operation interlocking member 30 located outside the outer cylindrical body 22 and the outer gear (outer rotational engagement portion) 28d of the lens driving member 28 located inside the outer cylindrical body 22, regardless of whether it is in a rolling or circumferential operation state. In other words, the outer portion (outer diameter side centered on the optical axis C1) of the gear (rotating body) 32 located within the gear movement groove 22d engages with the inner gear (inner rotational engagement portion) 30b of the rotational operation interlocking member 30, while the inner portion (inner diameter side centered on the optical axis C1) engages with the outer gear (outer rotational engagement portion) 28d of the lens driving member 28.

[0066] As described above, the gear (rotating body) 32 is capable of both a rolling motion (rotation motion) where it rolls on the inner circumferential surface 30a of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer circumferential surface 28c of the lens driving member 28 around the rotation centerline C2, and a revolving motion (orbital motion) where it revolves around the optical axis C1 via the gear (rotating body) support member 34. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, in this embodiment, the lens barrel 10 has a lens movement direction switching member 36 that switches the rotation direction of the lens driving member 28 relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and switches the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18, by allowing either the rolling motion or the revolving motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 and restricting the other.

[0067] In other words, the lens movement direction switching member 36 selectively switches between a state in which the gear (rotating body) 32 performs a rolling motion and a state in which it performs a rotational motion. The lens barrel 10 has a lens movement direction switching member 36 that switches from a state in which the rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is restricted and rotational motion is permitted to a state in which rolling motion is permitted and rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa. The switching from a state in which the gear (rotating body) 32 performs only a rolling motion to a state in which it performs only a rotational motion, or vice versa, is performed by the switching of the lens movement direction switching member 36, which causes the gear (rotating body) support member 34 to switch from a state in which it does not rotate around the optical axis C1 to a state in which it rotates, or vice versa.

[0068] The gear (rotating body) support member 34 is then fixed to the outer cylindrical body 22 (main body 12), preventing it from rotating, and fixed to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, allowing it to rotate. When the lens movement direction switching member 36 switches the gear (rotating body) 32 to a state where it only performs rolling motion, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30. When the gear (rotating body) 32 is switched to a state where it only performs circumferential motion, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the same direction to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member 30. Switching the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 also switches the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18.

[0069] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lens movement direction switching member from the rear at an oblique angle. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lens barrel from the rear at an oblique angle with the lens movement direction switching member removed in the wide-angle shooting state (shortest optical system).

[0070] In this embodiment, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is a cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical portion, which substantially fits in diameter with the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 30c at the rear end of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and is supported so as to be rotatable about the optical axis C1 along the outer circumferential surface, and is also supported so as to be movable in the substantially extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1.

[0071] The lens movement direction switching member 36 allows for the selective connection (approximately fixed, integrated, or integrally connected) of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 or the outer cylindrical body 22 to the gear (rotating body) support member 34 in the rotational direction around the optical axis C1. By switching the lens movement direction switching member 36, the state is switched from one in which the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is connected (approximately fixed to each other) or interlocked with the gear (rotating body) support member 34, to one in which the outer cylindrical body 22 is connected (approximately fixed to each other) or interlocked with the gear (rotating body) support member 34, or vice versa.

[0072] When the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is connected (approximately fixed to each other) or interlocked with the gear (rotating body) support member 34, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes capable of rotating around the optical axis C1 (centered on the optical axis C1), allowing circumferential movement, while the gear (rotating body) 32 supported by the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes unable to roll relative to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, i.e., its rolling motion is restricted. When the outer cylindrical body 22 is connected (approximately fixed to each other) or interlocked with the gear (rotating body) support member 34, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes unable to rotate around the optical axis C1 (centered on the optical axis C1), restricting circumferential movement, while the gear (rotating body) 32 supported by the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes capable of rolling relative to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, i.e., its rolling motion is permitted.

[0073] More specifically, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 can selectively fix (integrate and engage in an immovable state) the rotation operation interlocking member 30 or the outer cylindrical body 22 with respect to the rotation direction (circumferential direction) around the optical axis C1. When the lens movement direction switching member 36 selects the connection (approximately fixing to each other) between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, the rolling motion (rotation motion) of the gear (rotating body) 32, which rotates around the rotation centerline C2 (center of the gear central axis portion 34d), is restricted (not permitted), while the circumferential motion (revolution motion) of the gear (rotating body) 32, which rotates around the optical axis C1, is permitted (not restricted). When the lens movement direction switching member 36 selects the connection (approximately fixed to each other) between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22, the rolling motion (rotation motion) of the gear (rotating body) 32, which rotates around the rotation centerline C2 (center of the gear central axis portion 34d), is permitted (not restricted), while the orbital motion (revolution motion) of the gear (rotating body) 32, which rotates around the optical axis C1, is restricted (not permitted).

[0074] In order to select (approximately fix to each other) the connection (i.e., switch operation) by the lens movement direction switching member 36, as shown in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is provided with a key 36b on its inner circumferential surface 36a that extends in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction).

[0075] In contrast, as shown in Figure 9, the rotational operation interlocking member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the outer cylindrical body 22 each have key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e that engage with the key 36b. Specifically, the key groove 30d is formed in the rotational operation interlocking member 30 so as to extend from the rear end of the outer circumferential surface (radially outward from the optical axis C1) of the reduced diameter portion 30c of the rotational operation interlocking member 30 in the direction of substantially extending the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction). Also, the key groove 34c is formed at the outer diameter side (radially outward) tip of the tongue portion 34b of the gear (rotating body) support member 34, extending in the direction of substantially extending the optical axis C1. Furthermore, the key groove 22e is formed on the outer diameter side (radially outward) of the rear end of the outer cylindrical body 22, extending in the direction of substantially extending the optical axis C1.

[0076] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the lens barrel 10, viewed from the front (front view), i.e., when the lens barrel 10 is viewed from the subject side, showing the positional relationship of the lens drive member 28, the rotation operation linkage member 30, and the gear (rotating body) 32 in the state of wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system). In this embodiment, the state of wide-angle shooting is the state of the shortest optical system. Note that Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line AA shown in Figure 3. Figures 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of the lens barrel 10, viewed from the front (front view), showing the first and second positional relationships of the lens drive member 28, the rotation operation linkage member 30, and the gear (rotating body) 32, respectively, in the state of telephoto shooting (longest optical system). In this embodiment, the state of telephoto shooting is the state of the longest optical system.

[0077] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, when shooting at a wide angle, the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e of the outer cylindrical body 22 are aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), that is, their positions in the width direction of the grooves (circumferential direction around the optical axis C1) are approximately aligned. In this state, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is switched to move the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, or the outer cylindrical body 22 relatively forward in the direction of the optical axis C1 (towards the subject), the key 36b of the lens movement direction switching member 36 engages with the key grooves 30d and 34c, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 10. That is, as a known key connection, the key 36b is connected (approximately fixed to each other) by fitting into the key grooves 30d and 34c in the width direction of the key (circumferential direction around the optical axis C1). In this state, key 36b is not engaged with keyway 22e. This engagement connects the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 to each other (approximately fixes each other) in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) around the optical axis C1, allowing them to rotate substantially as a single unit around the optical axis C1.

[0078] In this disclosure, the term "key coupling" refers to a general method of joining two objects by fitting together the convex and concave portions of each object, similar to fitting a key and a keyhole. Therefore, the key coupling in this disclosure is not limited to the key and keyway shapes described in this embodiment. For example, a form in which a comb-tooth shape with multiple convex and concave shapes is formed on each of the two objects, and the convex and concave portions of the two comb-tooth shapes fit together, causing the two objects to interlock and join.

[0079] When transitioning from the wide-angle shooting state shown in Figure 1 to the telephoto shooting state shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, in order to extend the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 that support the lenses 16 and 18 in the direction substantially extending along the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), the lens drive member 28 needs to be rotated in the forward direction R1 (clockwise) as viewed from the front of the lens barrel 10 (front view), as shown in Figure 10, to operate the cam mechanism described above. In the wide-angle shooting state shown in Figures 1, 3 and 10, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is positioned relative to the front side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1 by manual operation by the user. When the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 by manual operation by the user, the lens drive member 28 also rotates in the forward direction R1 as shown in Figure 11A, and in this embodiment, the lenses 16 and 18 move forward.

[0080] To explain in more detail, as shown in Figures 10 and 11A, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is operated to the front side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are connected to each other (approximately fixed to each other) by the lens movement direction switching member 36 via key coupling, the rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is restricted. In this state, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is not key-coupled to the outer cylindrical body 22, and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer cylindrical body 22 are not connected (approximately fixed to each other), so the gear (rotating body) 32 is permitted to rotate.

[0081] In other words, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is operated to the front side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes unable to rotate relative to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, that is, it is connected (approximately fixed to each other) and becomes almost one unit, and can rotate relative to the fixed part (main body 12, outer cylindrical body 22). In that state, the gear (rotating body) 32 supported by the gear central axis portion 34d of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement portion) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 always have the same teeth meshed, so they cannot roll relative to each other. Furthermore, since the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are not connected (approximately fixed to each other) to the outer cylindrical body 22, they can rotate together around the optical axis C1 while connected (approximately fixed to each other).

[0082] The gear (rotating body) 32 meshes not only with the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 but also with the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28. However, as described above, it cannot roll (rotate) relative to the gear central axis 34d. As a result, the gear (rotating body) 32 and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d cannot roll relative to each other, and the same teeth remain meshed between the gear (rotating body) 32 and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d. In this state, the gear (rotating body) 32 cannot roll (rotate), but it can revolve (orbit) around the optical axis C1 in conjunction with the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34. Therefore, when the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is rotated by manual operation by the user, the gear (rotating body) 32 does not rotate (roll, rotate) relative to the gear central shaft portion 34d (rotation centerline C2), and the rotational operating force is transmitted from the outer peripheral operating portion of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 to the lens driving member 28 via the inner peripheral gear (inner peripheral rotation engagement portion) 30b, the gear (rotating body) 32, and the outer peripheral gear (outer peripheral rotation engagement portion) 28d.

[0083] As a result, the lens drive member 28, while substantially meshed with the outer circumferential surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20, can rotate in the same rotational direction as the rotational operation interlocking member 30 around the optical axis C1, in conjunction with the rotational operation interlocking member 30. In this state, the gears themselves, namely the inner gear (inner rotational engagement part) 30b and the gear (rotating body) 32, and the gear (rotating body) 32 and the outer gear (outer rotational engagement part) 28d, do not transmit force to each other by so-called gear drive, which operates by rolling relative to each other. Instead, they do not roll relative to each other, but transmit force simply by engaging with each other using the uneven surfaces of their teeth. In other words, the meshing gears do not transmit force from tooth to tooth while rolling, but rather transmit force from tooth to tooth without rolling.

[0084] When the rotation operation interlocking member 30 rotates in the forward direction R1, the gear (rotating body) 32 revolves around the optical axis C1 in the forward direction R1 without rotating (rolling, spinning) around the rotation center line C2 of the gear central axis portion 34d. In this state, since the gear (rotating body) 32 is not rolling, it does not act as an intermediate gear such as an idler gear. Therefore, even with the gear (rotating body) 32 in between, the rotation direction of the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement portion) 28d does not reverse with respect to the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement portion) 30b, but remains the same. As a result, the lens driving member 28, which engages with the gear (rotating body) 32 via the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement portion) 28d, also rotates in the forward direction R1, that is, in the same direction as the rotation operation interlocking member 30.

[0085] When the lens movement direction switching member 36 is switched to the relative front side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1 by manual operation by the user, and the rotation operation linkage member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are connected (approximately fixed to each other) by the key 36b engaging with the key grooves 30d and 34c, as shown in Figure 11A, when the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 (clockwise) by manual operation, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the same direction, i.e., in the forward direction R1 (clockwise). As a result, in this embodiment, when the drive member 28 rotates in the forward direction R1 (clockwise), the lens barrel 10 transitions from the wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) side to the telephoto shooting (longest optical system) side, the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18 becomes forward, and the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 extend out in the approximately extending direction of the optical axis C1 relative to the main body 12. As a result, the overall length of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate direction of extension of the optical axis C1 increases.

[0086] With the lens movement direction switching member 36 switched to the relative front side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, when the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 (clockwise) and then rotated in the reverse direction R2 by a manual reversal operation, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the same direction, i.e., the reverse direction R2 (counterclockwise), and the lens barrel 10 transitions from the telephoto shooting (longest optical system) side to the wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) side, the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18 becomes backward, and the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 retract in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 relative to the main body 12. As a result, the overall length of the lens barrel 10 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 is shortened.

[0087] As described above, as shown in Figure 9, in the state during wide-angle shooting, the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e of the outer cylindrical body 22 are aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), that is, their positions in the width direction of the grooves (circumferential direction centered on the optical axis C1) are approximately aligned. In this state, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is switched to move the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, or the outer cylindrical body 22 relatively to the rear side (image plane side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, the key 36b of the lens movement direction switching member 36 engages with the key grooves 34c and 22e. (From the state in Figures 1 and 3, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is moved toward the imaging plane.) That is, as a known key coupling, key 36b is connected (approximately fixed to each other) by fitting into the key grooves 34c and 22e in the width direction of the key (circumferential direction around the optical axis C1). Note that in this state, key 36b is not engaged with key groove 30d. Through this engagement, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 are connected (approximately fixed to each other) in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) around the optical axis C1. Since the outer cylindrical body 22 is a part of the main body 12 fixed to the lens mount, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 connected (approximately fixed to each other) to the outer cylindrical body 22 is substantially fixed in a state where it cannot rotate around the optical axis C1. In this case, the gear (rotating body) 32 is allowed to roll, but its rotational movement is restricted. In other words, the rotation of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 causes the gear (rotating body) 32 to rotate around the rotation center line C2 of the gear central shaft portion 34d.

[0088] To explain in more detail, in the state shown in Figures 10 and 11A, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is operated to the rear side (image plane side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 are connected to each other (approximately fixed to each other) by the lens movement direction switching member 36 via key coupling, the rotational movement (revolution) of the gear (rotating body) 32 around the optical axis C1 is restricted. In that state, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is not key coupled to the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer cylindrical body 22 are not connected (approximately fixed to each other), so the gear (rotating body) 32 is allowed to roll around the gear central axis 34d or the rotation centerline C2.

[0089] In other words, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is operated to the rear side (subject side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes unable to rotate relative to the outer cylindrical body 22, that is, it is connected (approximately fixed to each other) and becomes almost one unit, and can rotate relative to the rotation operation interlocking member 30. In that state, the gear central shaft portion 34d of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 is also almost one unit with the outer cylindrical body 22 and cannot rotate relative to the optical axis C1, so the gear (rotating body) 32 supported by the gear central shaft portion 34d cannot rotate (perpendicular movement) relative to the optical axis C1. Furthermore, since the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is not connected (approximately fixed to each other) to the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22, it can rotate relative to the optical axis C1.

[0090] When the rotation operation interlocking member 30 rotates around the optical axis C1 relative to the gear (rotating body) support member 34, the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 also rotates relative to the optical axis C1 along the gear central axis portion 34d of the gear (rotating body) support member 34. As a result, the gear (rotating body) 32, which is supported by the gear central axis portion 34d and whose teeth mesh with the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b, can roll relative to the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b while sequentially moving the meshing portion to the adjacent teeth. In this state, the gear (rotating body) 32 cannot perform rotational (revolving) motion, but it can perform rolling (rotation) motion. Therefore, when the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is rotated by manual operation by the user, the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates (rolls, spins) relative to the gear central axis 34d (rotation centerline C2), and the rotational operating force is transmitted from the outer peripheral operating part of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 to the lens drive member 28 via the inner peripheral gear (inner peripheral rotation engagement part) 30b, the gear (rotating body) 32, and the outer peripheral gear (outer peripheral rotation engagement part) 28d. In this state, since the gear (rotating body) 32 is performing a rolling (spinning) operation, it is also possible for it to roll relative to the outer peripheral gear (outer peripheral rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens drive member 28.

[0091] As a result, the lens drive member 28, while substantially diametrically fitted to the outer circumferential surface 20b of the inner cylindrical body 20, can rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation operation interlocking member 30 around the optical axis C1, in conjunction with the rotation operation interlocking member 30. In this state, each gear, namely the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b and the gear (rotating body) 32, and the gear (rotating body) 32 and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d, transmits force to each other by so-called gear drive, which operates by rolling relative to each other. In other words, the meshing gears do not transmit force from tooth to tooth without rolling, but rather transmit force from tooth to tooth while rolling.

[0092] When the rotation operation interlocking member 30 rotates in the forward direction R1, the gear (rotating body) 32 stops rotating (circumferential motion) around the optical axis C1 and rotates (rolls, rotates) around the gear central axis 34d (rotation centerline C2). As a result, the lens driving member 28, which engages with the gear (rotating body) 32 via the outer peripheral gear (outer peripheral rotation engagement part) 28d, rotates in the reverse direction R2. In other words, as described above, the gear (rotating body) 32 rolls and acts as an intermediate gear such as an idler gear. In this embodiment, since the gear (rotating body) 32 is sandwiched in between as an idler gear, the rotation direction of the outer peripheral gear (outer peripheral rotation engagement part) 28d is reversed to the opposite direction (opposite direction) relative to the inner peripheral gear (inner peripheral rotation engagement part) 30b.

[0093] The internal gear (internal rotation engagement part) 30b and the external gear (rotating body) 32 rotate in the same direction when their teeth are meshed and the gear is driven. The external gear (rotating body) 32 and the external gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d rotate in opposite (reverse) directions when their teeth are meshed and the gear is driven. Therefore, when the rotation operation interlocking member 30 rotates clockwise, the gear (rotating body) 32 rotates clockwise, and the lens driving member 28 rotates counterclockwise.

[0094] When the lens movement direction switching member 36 is switched to the relative rear side (image plane side) in the direction of the optical axis C1 by manual operation by the user, and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 are connected (approximately fixed to each other) by the key 36b engaging with the key grooves 34c and 22e, as shown in Figure 11B, when the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the reverse direction R2 (counterclockwise) by manual operation by the user, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the opposite (reverse) direction, i.e., in the forward direction R1 (clockwise). As a result, in this embodiment, when the drive member 28 rotates in the forward direction R1 (clockwise), as described above, the lens barrel 10 transitions from the wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) side to the telephoto shooting (longest optical system) side, the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18 becomes forward, and the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 extend out in the approximate extending direction of the optical axis C1 relative to the main body 12. As a result, the overall length of the lens barrel 10 in the approximate direction of extension of the optical axis C1 increases.

[0095] With the lens movement direction switching member 36 switched to the relative rear side (image plane side) in the direction of the optical axis C1, when the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the reverse direction R2 (counterclockwise) and then rotated in the forward direction R1 by a manual reversal operation, the lens drive member 28 rotates in the opposite (reverse) direction, i.e., the reverse direction R2 (counterclockwise), and the lens barrel 10 transitions from the telephoto shooting (longest optical system) side to the wide-angle shooting (shortest optical system) side, the movement direction of the lenses 16 and 18 becomes rearward, and the first and second lens support members 24 and 26 retract in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 relative to the main body 12. As a result, the overall length of the lens barrel 10 in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 is shortened.

[0096] In this embodiment, the connection between the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 (approximately fixed to each other), and the connection between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 (approximately fixed to each other) are performed using the known key coupling described above. However, this is not limited to this method, and a method using frictional force may also be used. In that case, by applying frictional force between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the outer cylindrical body 22, the same effect as in this embodiment can be obtained by connecting (approximately fixing, integrating) and fixing them in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) around the optical axis C1.

[0097] This method using frictional force will be described in more detail. A portion of the inner surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and a portion of the outer surface of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 are arranged to face each other, and tapered surfaces (conical surfaces) are formed on each of these opposing inner and outer surfaces at an angle with respect to the optical axis C1. Furthermore, tapered surfaces (conical surfaces) similar to those described above are also formed on a portion of the inner surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and a portion of the outer surface of the outer cylindrical body 22. In addition, a portion of the inner surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and a portion of the outer surface of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are interlocked so that regardless of whether the lens movement direction switching member 36 is in the front or rear position, these interlocked portions are always in contact with each other, generating frictional force.

[0098] In this state, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is moved forward, the tapered surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the tapered surface of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 approach each other until they come into contact, and when the tapered surfaces (conical surfaces) come into contact, a frictional force is generated at the contact surface. Since a frictional force is always generated between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34, as a result, the rotation operation interlocking member 30, the lens movement direction switching member 36, and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are connected to each other by frictional force, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 become connected (approximately fixed to each other). At this time, the tapered surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the tapered surface of the outer cylindrical body 22 are separated from each other and not in contact, so no frictional force is generated. Therefore, the outer cylindrical body 22 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 become disconnected (not fixed to each other).

[0099] Next, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 is moved backward, the tapered surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the tapered surface of the outer cylindrical body 22 approach each other until they come into contact. When the tapered surfaces (conical surfaces) come into contact, a frictional force is generated at the contact surface. Since a frictional force is always generated between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34, the outer cylindrical body 22, the lens movement direction switching member 36, and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are connected to each other by frictional force, and the outer cylindrical body 22 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 become connected (approximately fixed to each other). At this time, the tapered surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the tapered surface of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 are separated from each other and not in contact, so no frictional force is generated. Therefore, the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 become disconnected (not fixed to each other).

[0100] In this friction-based method, since there are no keys and keyways, it is not necessary to align the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the outer cylindrical body 22 to a specific position in the circumferential direction (rotational direction position) around their respective optical axes C1 to match the keys and keyways before switching the lens movement direction switching member 36. Regardless of the relative circumferential positions of the optical axes C1, the lens movement direction switching member 36 can be switched either forward or backward in the approximate extension direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1. As a result, regardless of the position or state of the lens in the approximate extension direction of the optical axis, for example, in wide-angle shooting mode, telephoto shooting mode, or any other focal length, the lens movement direction switching member 36 can be switched either forward or backward in the approximate extension direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1. If this embodiment is used as an example of the technology in this disclosure, in addition to the same effects as in this embodiment, the user can perform the switching operation of the lens movement direction switching member 36 at any time.

[0101] As an example of the technology in this disclosure, the rotational connection between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 may be made using a key coupling, while the rotational connections between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the outer cylindrical body 22 may employ the frictional force method described above. In this embodiment, compared to the case where frictional force is used at all connection points as described above, the work of adjusting the frictional force generated between a part of the inner circumferential surface of the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the outer circumferential surface of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 becomes unnecessary. In addition, since the frictional force between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 is reduced, the operating force required for the switching operation to move the lens movement direction switching member 36 forward and backward can be reduced. If this embodiment is used as an example of the technology in this disclosure, in addition to the same effects as in this embodiment, the effect that the user can perform the switching operation of the lens movement direction switching member 36 at any timing with a small operating force is added.

[0102] As an example of the technology described herein, the rotational connection between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 may be made using a key coupling, while the rotational connections between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and between the lens movement direction switching member 36 and the outer cylindrical body 22 may employ a comb-tooth shape with multiple concave and concave shapes on each of the opposing portions of the two connected members. In this embodiment, compared to the case where frictional force is used at all connection points as described above, all adjustment work to generate frictional force is unnecessary. Furthermore, since the frictional force at all connection points is reduced, the operating force required for the switching operation to move the lens movement direction switching member 36 forward and backward can be reduced. If this embodiment is used as an example of the technology described herein, in addition to the same effects as in this embodiment, the user can perform the switching operation of the lens movement direction switching member 36 at any timing with a small operating force.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the key connections between the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 (approximately fixed to each other), and between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 (approximately fixed to each other), are configured with one key and one key groove in the circumferential direction around the optical axis C1, but this is not limited to this. Multiple keys and multiple key grooves may be configured in the circumferential direction to form the key connections. The same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the wide-angle shooting state, the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e of the outer cylindrical body 22 are aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), that is, their positions in the width direction of the grooves (circumferential direction centered on the optical axis C1) are approximately coincidental, but this is not limited to this. In any state other than wide-angle shooting, such as telephoto shooting or other focal length states, the key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e may be aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction). The same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the wide-angle shooting state, the rotation operation linkage member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e of the outer cylindrical body 22 are aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction), that is, their positions in the width direction of the grooves (circumferential direction centered on the optical axis C1) are approximately coincident. However, this is not limited to this. The key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e may be aligned in the direction of approximately extension of the optical axis C1 (X-axis direction) in multiple focal length states, including the telephoto shooting state in addition to the wide-angle shooting state, and even other focal length states. The same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0106] In this case, if there are a sufficient number of key grooves 30d and 22e that can engage with a single key 36b in the circumferential direction around the optical axis C1, then the lens movement direction switching member 36 can be switched from the front to the back or vice versa in the approximate extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1, regardless of the focal length state or the approximate position of the lens in the approximate extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1. As for the key groove 34c, since it is always engaged with the key 36b at either the front or rear switching position of the lens movement direction switching member 36 in the approximate extending direction (X-axis direction) of the optical axis C1, it is not necessary to arrange a large number of key grooves in the circumferential direction around the optical axis C1. Using this embodiment as an example of the technology in this disclosure, the user can perform the switching operation of the lens movement direction switching member 36 at any timing.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tongue portion 34b of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 is one (one location) in the circumferential direction centered on the optical axis C1, but this is not limited to this, and there may be multiple tongue portions in the circumferential direction. In that case, the connection (approximately fixed to each other) between the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the connection (approximately fixed to each other) between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 can be made at multiple locations corresponding to the positions of the multiple tongue portions 34b. In addition, the gear central shaft portion 34d that constitutes the rotation centerline C2 can also be provided in multiple locations corresponding to the positions of the multiple tongue portions 34b, and the inner circumferential rotation engagement portion of the gear (rotating body) 32 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 that engages with it, and the outer circumferential rotation engagement portion of the lens drive member 28 can also be provided in multiple locations corresponding to the positions of the gear central shaft portion 34d. The same effects as in this embodiment can be obtained.

[0108] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gear (rotating body) 32 that is sandwiched between the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28 and engages with both is composed of a single idler gear (idle rotating body), and the reduction ratio, speed increase ratio, or gear ratio of the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d with the gear (rotating body) 32 sandwiched in between is the same as when they are directly connected, but this is not limited to this. The gear (rotating body) 32 may be composed of a single two-stage gear (two-stage rotating body), and the reduction ratio, speed increase ratio, or gear ratio of the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d may be changed from the state when they are directly connected.

[0109] In this context, an idler gear is a standard gear consisting of a single gear with a fixed number of teeth. Its role is to transmit power from the drive gear to the driven gear, and its insertion does not change the speed or rotational speed of the driven gear relative to the drive gear, i.e., the reduction ratio or acceleration ratio. However, when an idler gear is inserted, the direction of rotation of the driven gear relative to the drive gear is changed.

[0110] In this context, an idler rotating body refers to a rotating body consisting of a single rotating body with a fixed circumference. Its role is to transmit power from the drive-side rotating engagement to the driven-side rotating engagement, and even when inserted between them, the speed or rotational speed of the driven-side rotating engagement relative to the drive-side rotating engagement, i.e., the reduction ratio or acceleration ratio, does not change. Furthermore, when a single idler rotating body is inserted between them, the direction of rotation of the driven gear relative to the drive gear changes.

[0111] In this context, a two-stage gear refers to a gear that integrates two gears by placing a first gear and a second gear, which has a larger pitch circle diameter and more teeth than the first gear, adjacent to each other along the axis of rotation with their rotation centers aligned. The role of the two-stage gear is to transmit power from the drive gear to the driven gear, and when inserted between them, it changes the speed or rotational speed of the driven gear relative to the drive gear, i.e., the reduction ratio, speed increase ratio, or gear ratio.

[0112] The two-stage rotating body referred to here is a rotating body formed by integrating a first rotating body with a second rotating body, which has a longer outer circumference than the first rotating body, by placing them adjacent to each other along the axis of rotation with their centers of rotation aligned. The two-stage rotating body plays the role of transmitting power transmitted from the driving-side rotating engagement part to the driven-side rotating engagement part. When inserted between them, it changes the speed or rotational speed of the driven-side rotating engagement part relative to the driving-side rotating engagement part, i.e., the reduction ratio, acceleration ratio, or rotational speed ratio. The transmission of rotational driving force between the rotating bodies is carried out by friction, magnetism, electricity, adhesion, etc., acting between them.

[0113] In this embodiment, the pitch circle of the inner gear (inner rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 has a larger diameter than the pitch circle of the outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens drive member 28. Therefore, when the idler gear (idle rotating body) 32 is placed between them and the rotation operation is performed, the rotation angle around the optical axis C1 is larger for the lens drive member 28 than for the rotation operation interlocking member 30. By replacing this idler gear (idle rotating body) with a two-stage gear (two-stage rotating body), the rotation angles around the optical axis C1 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the lens drive member 28 can be corrected to be approximately the same. Furthermore, the above correction can be achieved by engaging the first gear of the two-stage gear (small pitch circle diameter, few teeth) with the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28, and engaging the second gear (large pitch circle diameter, many teeth) with the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30.

[0114] Specifically, for example, if the idler gear is replaced with a two-stage gear, the rotation angle around the optical axis C1 can be corrected by setting the following conditions.

[0115] When an idler gear is inserted, under the conditions that the inner gear 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 has a pitch circle diameter D30, module m, and number of teeth Z30 = D30 / m, the outer gear 28d of the lens driving member 28 has a pitch circle diameter D28, module m, and number of teeth Z28 = D28 / m, and the idler gear has a pitch circle diameter D32, module m, and number of teeth Z32 = D32 / m, the relationship between the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the rotation angle θ28 of the lens driving member 28 around the optical axis C1 is as shown in Equation 1.

number

[0116] When a two-stage gear is inserted, under the conditions that the inner gear 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 has a pitch circle diameter D30, module m, and number of teeth Z30 = D30 / m, the outer gear 28d of the lens driving member 28 has a pitch circle diameter D28, module m, and number of teeth Z28 = D28 / m, the first gear of the two-stage gear (smaller pitch circle diameter, fewer teeth) has a pitch circle diameter D321, module m, and number of teeth Z321 = D321 / m, and the second gear of the two-stage gear (larger pitch circle diameter, more teeth) has a pitch circle diameter D322, module m, and number of teeth Z322 = D322 / m, the relationship between the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 around the optical axis C1 and the rotation angle θ28 of the lens driving member 28 is as shown in equations 2 and 3.

number

number

[0117] Therefore, the conditions for θ28=θ30 are (D30 / D28)×(D321 / D322)=1 or (Z30 / Z28)×(Z321 / Z322)=1. Rewriting these, we get D30 / D28=D322 / D321 or Z30 / Z28=Z322 / Z321.

[0118] Thus, when an idler gear is inserted, the rotation angle θ28 of the lens drive member 28 becomes larger with respect to the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 in proportion to the ratio of the pitch circle diameter or the ratio of the number of teeth. However, when a two-stage gear is inserted, the rotation angle θ28 of the lens drive member 28 with respect to the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is corrected by the ratio of the pitch circle diameter or the ratio of the number of teeth of the first gear and the second gear of the two-stage gear, so that the difference in rotation angles between the two can be reduced.

[0119] If the condition described above for the two-stage gear, where θ28 = θ30, is adopted, then even if the lens movement direction switching member 36 is operated and the direction of lens movement is switched relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation linkage member 30, the rotation angle of the rotation operation linkage member 30 that moves the lens across the entire range of movement (from wide-angle to telephoto in the case of a zoom lens) remains unchanged. As a result, the user can perform rotation operations without any discomfort even when switching the direction of lens movement.

[0120] Of course, it is not necessary to strictly adhere to the condition that θ28=θ30, for example, Z30 / Z28=Z322 / Z321. It is acceptable to set the parameters to approximate these conditions, or to be roughly equivalent to them, or to approach them. That is, by using a two-stage gear which integrates a first gear (small pitch circle diameter, few teeth) and a second gear (large pitch circle diameter, many teeth) with a larger pitch circle diameter and more teeth than the first gear, and engaging the first gear with the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28, and engaging the second gear with the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, a similar effect can be obtained even if Z30 / Z28=Z322 / Z321 is not strictly met.

[0121] Furthermore, if, for example, the idle rotating body is replaced with a two-stage rotating body, the above correction can be made by engaging the first rotating body of the two-stage rotating body (which has a shorter outer circumference) with the outer circumferential rotation engaging portion 28d of the lens driving member 28, and engaging the second rotating body (which has a longer outer circumference) with the inner circumferential rotation engaging portion 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30.

[0122] Specifically, the rotation angle around the optical axis C1 can be corrected by setting conditions such as the following.

[0123] When an idler rotating body is placed in between, under the conditions that the inner rotation engagement portion of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 has an inner circumference diameter DD30 and an inner circumference length DC30, the outer rotation engagement portion of the lens driving member 28 has an outer circumference diameter DD28 and an outer circumference length DC28, and the outer circumference engagement portion of the idler rotating body has an outer circumference diameter DD32 and an outer circumference length DC32, the relationship between the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the rotation angle θ28 of the lens driving member 28 around the optical axis C1 is as shown in Equation 4.

number

[0124] When a two-stage rotating body is sandwiched in between, the inner rotation engagement portion of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 has an inner circumference diameter DD30 and an inner circumference length DC30, the outer rotation engagement portion of the lens driving member 28 has an outer circumference diameter DD28 and an outer circumference length DC28, the outer circumference engagement portion of the first rotating body of the two-stage rotating body (smaller outer circumference diameter, shorter outer circumference length) has an outer circumference diameter DD321 and an outer circumference length DC321, and the outer circumference engagement portion of the second rotating body of the two-stage rotating body (larger outer circumference diameter, longer outer circumference length) has an outer circumference diameter DD322 and an outer circumference length DC322, then the relationship between the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the rotation angle θ28 of the lens driving member 28 around the optical axis C1 is as shown in equations 5 and 6.

number

number

[0125] Therefore, the conditions for θ28=θ30 are (DD30 / DD28)×(DD321 / DD322)=1 or (DC30 / DC28)×(DC321 / DC322)=1. Rewriting these, we get DD30 / DD28=DD322 / DD321.

[0126] Furthermore, by using a two-stage rotating body which is a rotating body that integrates a first rotating body (with a shorter outer circumference) and a second rotating body (with a longer outer circumference) that has a longer outer circumference than the first rotating body, and engaging the first rotating body with the outer rotation engaging portion 28d of the lens driving member 28, and engaging the second rotating body with the inner rotation engaging portion 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30, a similar effect can be obtained even if DD30 / DD28 = DD322 / DD321 is not strictly true.

[0127] In this embodiment, there is one gear (rotating body) 32 that engages with the inner gear (inner rotation engagement portion) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer gear (outer rotation engagement portion) 28d of the lens drive member 28. However, this is not limited to this, and a gear train (rotating body train) composed of multiple, odd-numbered gears (rotating bodies) 32 may also be used. When a gear train (rotating body train) composed of an odd number of gears (rotating bodies), including one, is inserted in between, the direction of rotation of the outer gear (outer rotation engagement portion) 28d relative to the inner gear (inner rotation engagement portion) 30b is changed. Therefore, the same effect as in this embodiment can be obtained even if a gear train (rotating body train) composed of an odd number of gears (rotating bodies) 32 that are engaged with each other is sandwiched between the outer gear (outer rotation engagement portion) 28d on the outer surface of the lens drive member 28 and the inner gear (inner rotation engagement portion) 30b on the inner surface of the rotation operation interlocking member 30.

[0128] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the gear (rotating body) 32 is composed of an odd number of idler gears (idle rotating bodies), and the gear ratio or rotational speed ratio between the two gears (rotating engagement parts) that engage with the odd number of gears (rotating bodies) 32, namely the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement part) 30b of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the outer circumference gear (outer circumference rotation engagement part) 28d of the lens driving member 28, is the same as when they are directly connected, but this is not limited to this configuration. The odd number of gears (rotating bodies) 32 may include one or more two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies). The two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies) referred to here are as described above.

[0129] In a configuration where one or more two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies) are engaged, one of the outer circumferential gears (outer circumferential rotation engagement portion) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement portion) 30b engages with the first gear (first rotating body) formed on one of the two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies), and the other of the outer circumferential gears (outer circumferential rotation engagement portion) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement portion) 30b engages with the second gear (second rotating body) formed on one of the two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies), the gear ratio or rotational speed ratio of the outer circumferential gears (outer circumferential rotation engagement portion) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement portion) 30b may differ from that of a configuration where they are directly connected. In this case, the rotation angle θ28 of the lens drive member 28 with respect to the rotation angle θ30 of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is corrected based on the concept of a known two-stage gear reduction (speed increase) mechanism, according to the ratio of the pitch circle diameter, the ratio of the number of teeth, or the ratio of the circumference of the outer surface of each of the first gear (first rotating body) and second gear (second rotating body) of the multiple two-stage gears (two-stage rotating bodies).

[0130] In the above configuration, when the first gear (first rotating body) on the side with the smaller pitch circle diameter formed on the two-stage gear (two-stage rotating body) attempts to engage with the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b, the second gear (second rotating body) on the side with the larger pitch circle diameter or the longer circumference of the outer surface adjacent to the first gear (first rotating body) will interfere with the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b first.

[0131] To avoid this interference, one method is to provide a recess (thinned portion, clearance portion) in the outer diameter portion of the outer gear (outer circumference rotation engagement portion) 28d or the inner diameter portion of the inner circumference gear (inner circumference rotation engagement portion) 30b, which are located opposite the second gear (second rotating body) and are the parts that interfere with it. This recess is larger than the amount of interference in the optical axis C1 direction and radial direction, that is, it avoids the outer shape of the second gear (second rotating body).

[0132] As a second method, one or more idler gears (idle rotating bodies) can be added and sandwiched between the first gear (first rotating body) and the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d or the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b as part of the gear train (rotating body train). In this case as well, the number of gear trains (rotating body trains) that are sandwiched between the outer circumferential gear (outer circumferential rotation engagement part) 28d and the inner circumferential gear (inner circumferential rotation engagement part) 30b must be odd. At a minimum, in addition to the two-stage gear (two-stage rotating body) and the idler gear (idle rotating body) for interference avoidance, one more idler gear (idle rotating body) or two-stage gear (idle rotating body) can be added so that three gears (rotating bodies) are sandwiched in between as a gear train (rotating body train).

[0133] Thus, when transitioning from the wide-angle shooting state (shortest optical system) shown in Figure 1 to the telephoto shooting state (longest optical system) shown in Figure 2, by allowing either the rolling motion or the rotational motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 and restricting the other, in other words, by switching from a state where the rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is restricted and rotational motion is allowed, to a state where rolling motion is allowed and rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa, regardless of whether the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 or the reverse direction R2, the lens drive member 28 can be rotated in the forward direction R1, allowing a transition from the wide-angle shooting state shown in Figure 1 to the telephoto shooting state shown in Figure 2, that is, driving in the same zoom direction (direction of focal length change). Similarly, whether the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 or the reverse direction R2, it is possible to transition from the shortest optical system state shown in Figure 1 to the longest optical system state shown in Figure 2, that is, to drive the lenses 16 and 18 in the same direction of movement (extension direction).

[0134] Similarly, when transitioning from the telephoto shooting state shown in Figure 2 to the wide-angle shooting state shown in Figure 1, switching the lens movement direction switching member 36 allows the lens drive member 28 to rotate in the reverse direction R2 regardless of whether the rotation operation linkage member 30 is rotated in the forward direction R1 or the reverse direction R2. This allows transitioning from the telephoto shooting state (longest optical system) shown in Figure 2 to the wide-angle shooting state (shortest optical system) shown in Figure 1, that is, driving the lenses 16 and 18 in the same direction of movement (retraction direction).

[0135] In other words, by switching the rotation direction of the lens drive member 28 relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation linkage member 30 through a switching operation according to the user's preference, the user can switch the direction of movement of the lenses 16 and 18 from forward to backward or vice versa, thereby switching the direction of change of focal length (zoom direction), that is, from the direction toward telephoto shooting to the direction toward wide-angle shooting (magnification expansion direction to magnification reduction direction) or vice versa.

[0136] Furthermore, if the gear (rotating body) support member 34 does not rotate even when the rotation operation interlocking member 30 is rotated with the connection (approximately fixed to each other) released from the gear (rotating body) support member 34, due to frictional force, magnetic force, electric force, or adhesive force between the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 that supports it, then the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 are substantially fixed to each other via the inner cylindrical body 20 by frictional force, magnetic force, electric force, or adhesive force, etc., and therefore, a connecting means that allows for selectable fixing and release, such as a key coupling, can be omitted.

[0137] Similarly, if the gear (rotating body) support member 34 rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation interlocking member 30 when the connection (approximately fixed to each other) between the outer cylindrical body 22 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 in the main body 12 is released due to frictional force, magnetic force, electric force, or adhesive force between the gear (rotating body) 32 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 that supports it, then the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the gear (rotating body) support member 34 are substantially fixed to each other by frictional force, magnetic force, electric force, or adhesive force, etc., so a connection (approximately fixed to each other) that allows for selectable fixing and release, such as a key connection, can be omitted. In other words, as a way to restrict either the rotation of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 around the optical axis C1, i.e., its circumferential motion, or the rotation of the gear (rotating body) 32 around the gear central axis portion 34d or the rotation centerline C2, i.e., its rolling motion, a coupling means such as friction, magnetic force, electric force, or adhesive force that cannot be selected to be fixed or released can be used.

[0138] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 moves forward (towards the subject), the key 36b engages with the key groove 30d of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 and the key groove 34c of the gear (rotating body) support member 34. When the lens movement direction switching member 36 moves backward (towards the imaging plane), the key 36b engages with the key groove 34c of the gear (rotating body) support member 34 and the key groove 22e of the outer cylindrical body 22. In other words, when the lens movement direction switching member 36 moves forward (towards the subject), the rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is restricted while rotational motion is permitted. When the lens movement direction switching member 36 moves backward (towards the imaging plane), the rolling motion of the gear (rotating body) 32 is permitted while rotational motion is restricted. Furthermore, in the above-described alternative embodiment as an example of the technology in this disclosure, the forward or backward movement of the lens movement direction switching member 36 can be performed by the user at any timing. In other words, regardless of the relative positions of the lens drive member 28, the rotation operation interlocking member 30, and the gear (rotating body) 32, the lens movement direction switching member 36 can be moved forward or backward.

[0139] According to the above-described embodiments, in the lens barrel, the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member, which is manually rotated by the user, can be switched from the forward direction to the backward direction or vice versa, without using electronic components such as motors, and without providing a complex switching mechanism in the interlocking member (lens driving member) that operates the optical elements.

[0140] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described above with reference to the embodiments described above, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0141] For example, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, a gear is given as an example of a rotating body that drives and connects the lens driving member 28, which drives the lenses 16 and 18, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, which is rotated by the user. However, this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, an elastic roller, magnetic roller, electrostatic roller, or adhesive roller may be used as the rotating body. The lens driving member 28 and the rotation operation interlocking member 30 may be driven and connected via a roller having an outer peripheral engagement portion that engages the outer peripheral rotation engagement portion 28d on the outer peripheral surface of the lens driving member 28 and the inner peripheral rotation engagement portion 30b on the inner peripheral surface of the rotation operation interlocking member 30 by applying frictional force, magnetic force, electric force, adhesive force, etc.

[0142] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the lens movement direction switching member 36 is provided with a key 36b. The rotation operation interlocking member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 are each provided with key grooves 30d, 34c, and 22e that engage with the key 36b. However, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to this. For example, the lens movement direction switching member 36 may be provided with a key groove, and the rotation operation interlocking member 30, the gear (rotating body) support member 34, and the main body 12 may each be provided with a key.

[0143] In other words, a lens barrel according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a broad sense, comprises a main body having a substantially cylindrical portion, one or more lenses, one or more lens support members that support the one or more lenses, a lens driving member having a substantially cylindrical portion that moves the one or more lens support members in a direction substantially extending along the optical axis in conjunction with the rotation of the main body with the optical axis of the one or more lenses as its approximate center, and a rotation operation interlocking member having a substantially cylindrical portion that is positioned radially outward from the lens driving member with the optical axis as its approximate center, and rotates with the main body with the optical axis as its approximate center in conjunction with manual operation. The device comprises an odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the outer circumferential surface of the lens driving member and the inner circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member, and are capable of performing rolling movements on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface with respect to a rotation center line substantially parallel to the optical axis, and circumferential movements around the optical axis, and a lens movement direction switching member that switches between a state in which the rolling movement of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the circumferential movement is permitted, and a state in which the rolling movement is permitted and the circumferential movement is restricted, or vice versa, and by switching the lens movement direction switching member, the direction of movement of the lens with respect to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member is switched.

[0144] Furthermore, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to lens barrels in which the lens can be moved, or so-called lens barrels in which the zoom amount and focus amount can be adjusted, as described above. The configuration of the above embodiments can also be applied to lens barrels in which the aperture amount can be adjusted.

[0145] A lens barrel according to another embodiment will be described. Specifically, the case in which the technology of this disclosure is applied to a lens barrel that adjusts the aperture amount (F number), which adjusts the amount of light transmitted through the lens by opening and closing aperture blades in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis will be described. The lens barrel according to the other embodiment has at least one aperture blade that adjusts the amount of light by changing the size of the opening by opening and closing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, a drive ring that is rotated approximately around the optical axis to open and close the aperture blade, and an annular base member that supports the aperture blade and the drive ring.

[0146] Specifically, each of the at least one aperture blades is supported on a substantially annular base member so as to be rotatable about a pivot centerline substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel. The drive ring is supported on the base member so as to be rotatable about the optical axis. The drive ring is also connected to each of the at least one aperture blades via a cam mechanism. For example, each of the at least one aperture blades has a cam groove formed therein, and the drive ring has at least one cam follower formed therein that engages with the cam groove of at least one aperture blade.

[0147] When the drive ring rotates around the base member with the optical axis as the approximate center, at least one aperture blade rotates via a cam mechanism to open and close in a direction approximately perpendicular to the optical axis. This drive ring corresponds to the lens drive member 28 in the above-described embodiment and has a similar function. That is, the lens barrel according to another embodiment corresponds to the lens barrel 10 of the above-described embodiment in which the lens 18, inner cylindrical body 20, and lens drive member 28 are replaced with at least one aperture blade, a base member, and a drive ring. With an odd number of rotating bodies (for aperture) engaged between the drive ring and the aperture ring (rotation operation linkage member (for aperture)), by moving the movement direction switching member (for aperture) from front to back or vice versa, it is possible to switch the rotating bodies (for aperture) from rolling motion to rotational motion or vice versa, similar to the embodiment of this disclosure. As a result, the rotation direction of the drive ring can be switched relative to the rotation direction of the aperture ring (rotation operation linkage member (for aperture)), and the opening and closing direction of the aperture blades can be arbitrarily switched relative to the rotation direction of the aperture ring (rotation operation linkage member (for aperture)).

[0148] Therefore, a lens barrel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a broad sense, comprises one or more lenses, one or more aperture blades for adjusting the amount of light transmitted through the one or more lenses, a substantially annular base member that rotatably supports the one or more aperture blades about a pivot center line parallel to the optical axis of the one or more lenses, an aperture blade drive member (drive ring) that opens and closes the one or more aperture blades in conjunction with the rotation of the base member about the optical axis, a rotation operation linkage member (aperture ring) positioned radially outward from the aperture blade drive member about the optical axis, and having a substantially cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the main body about the optical axis in conjunction with manual operation, and the outer circumferential surface of the aperture blade drive member and the The device comprises an odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the inner circumferential surface of a rotation operation interlocking member and are capable of performing rolling movements on the outer and inner circumferential surfaces with a rotation centerline substantially parallel to the optical axis as an axis, and circumferential movements around the optical axis, and a switching member that switches from a state in which the rolling movement of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the circumferential movement is permitted, to a state in which the rolling movement is permitted and the circumferential movement is restricted, or vice versa, wherein when the aperture blade driving member rotates in one direction, one or more aperture blades open, and when it rotates in the other direction, one or more blades close, and by executing the switching of the switching member, the rotation direction of the aperture blade driving member with respect to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member is switched, and as a result, the opening and closing direction of one or more blades is switched. Specifically, by switching the switching member, the opening and closing direction of one or more aperture blades with respect to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member is switched from the opening direction (direction of transition from an open state to a closed state) to the closing direction (direction of transition from a closed state to an open state), or vice versa.

[0149] Next, we will explain how the focal length is displayed during zoom operation.

[0150] In conventional technology, the focal length is displayed by reading the relative rotational position of the rotational operation linkage member 30 with respect to the optical axis C1 of the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12. The cylindrical part of the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12, with respect to the optical axis C1, has a focal length scale marked from wide-angle to telephoto, and the rotational operation linkage member 30 has an index marked opposite the focal length scale, indicating the position of the scale. In some cases, the members marking the scale and the index may be reversed. During zoom operation, the lens moves in conjunction with the relative rotation of the rotational operation linkage member 30 with respect to the main body 12, and the focal length changes. At the same time, the positional relationship between the focal length scale and the index also changes due to this relative rotation, so ultimately, the positional relationship between the focal length scale and the index also changes in accordance with the change in focal length. In this way, it becomes possible to display the focal length (zoom position) that changes with zoom operation in real time.

[0151] In the conventional technology, the rotational operation linkage member 30 and the lens drive member 28, which directly applies driving force to the lens, are directly connected in the rotational direction. Therefore, the rotational phases of the rotational operation linkage member 30 and the lens drive member 28 are perfectly synchronized without any phase difference. As a result, the position of the optical axis C1 of the lens is determined in a one-to-one relationship with respect to the rotational position of the rotational operation linkage member 30, without any shift in the direction of extension (X-axis direction), and consequently, the focal length is also determined. With these limitations, the focal length can be displayed by reading the relative rotational position of the rotational operation linkage member 30 with respect to the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12, with respect to the optical axis C1.

[0152] When attempting to apply the conventional method of displaying focal length to a lens barrel employing the technology of this disclosure, a problem arises in that the focal length cannot be displayed correctly. In a lens barrel employing the technology of this disclosure, the rotational operation linkage member 30 and the lens driving member 28, which directly applies driving force to the lens, are not directly connected in the rotational direction. Therefore, the rotational phase of the rotational operation linkage member 30 and the lens driving member 28 may be out of sync. Consequently, the position of the optical axis C1 of the lens may also be out of sync with the rotational position of the rotational operation linkage member 30 (in the direction of approximately extension of the X-axis), making it impossible to determine. As a result, the focal length cannot be determined. In a lens barrel employing the technology of this disclosure, an odd number of gears (rotating bodies) 32 capable of both circumferential and rolling movements are inserted between the rotational operation linkage member 30 and the lens driving member 28. The rotation directions of the rotation operation linkage member 30 and the lens drive member 28 are the same when the gear (rotating body) 32 is in rotational motion, and opposite when the gear (rotating body) 32 is in rolling motion. Therefore, if the rotational motion and rolling motion are switched during the zoom operation, the rotation direction and phase of the rotation operation linkage member 30 and the lens drive member 28 will be out of sync.

[0153] To solve this problem, the focal length is indicated by reading the relative rotational position of the lens drive member 28 with respect to the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12, with respect to the optical axis C1.

[0154] Figure 12 is a side view of an example lens barrel with a focal length scale.

[0155] The cylindrical portion of the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12 of the lens barrel 10, centered on the optical axis C1, is marked with a focal length scale 100 from wide-angle to telephoto, and the lens driving member 28 is marked with an index 102 that is positioned opposite the focal length scale 100 and indicates the position of the scale 100.

[0156] In the example shown in Figure 12, the scale 100 is marked on the outer cylindrical body 22. Alternatively, the scale 100 may be marked on the lens driving member 28, and the index 102 may be marked on the outer cylindrical body 22 (or inner cylindrical body 20). During zoom operation, the lens moves in conjunction with the relative rotation of the lens driving member 28 relative to the main body 12, and the focal length changes. Simultaneously, the relative positional relationship between the focal length scale 100 and the index 102 also changes due to this relative rotation, so ultimately, the positional relationship between the focal length scale 100 and the index 102 changes in accordance with the change in focal length. In this way, it becomes possible to display the focal length (zoom position) that changes during zoom operation in real time.

[0157] In this embodiment, the focal length is displayed by directly reading the rotational position of the lens driving member 28, which directly applies driving force to the lens, relative to the inner cylindrical body 20 or outer cylindrical body 22 of the main body 12. Therefore, the position of the optical axis C1 of the lens in the approximately extending direction (X-axis direction) does not shift with respect to the rotational position of the lens driving member 28, and is determined in a one-to-one relationship. As a result, the focal length is also determined. Since there are no components between the lens driving member 28 and the lens that change the direction of rotation or shift the phase of rotation, such as a gear (rotating body) 32, the focal length can be displayed by providing a focal length scale 100 on one of the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the lens driving member 28, and an indicator 102 on the other. In this way, the focal length can be correctly displayed even in a lens barrel employing the technology of this disclosure.

[0158] As shown in Figure 3, the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the lens driving member 28 are positioned relatively towards the inner diameter side (radially inward) of the lens barrel 10, and the components on the outer diameter side (radially outward) obstruct their view, making them difficult to see from the surface side (outer diameter side, radially outward) of the lens barrel 10. Therefore, even if the focal length scale 100 and indicator 102 are marked on the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the lens driving member 28, they may not be visible. To address this issue, a window (22g, 36c) consisting of a hole, notch, or transparent section should be provided in a component located on the outer diameter side (radially outward) of the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the part of the lens drive member 28 that displays the focal length scale 100 and the index 102. Specifically, this window should be in the outer cylindrical body 22, or the rotation operation interlocking member 30, or the lens movement direction switching member 36, or a combination of these two components, or a combination of these three components, so that the inner diameter side (radially inward) can be viewed through the window (22g, 36c). In this way, the part of the lens barrel 10 that displays the focal length scale 100 and the index 102 can be visually inspected from the surface side (outer diameter side, radially outward) of the lens barrel 10.

[0159] In the example shown in Figure 12, a through-hole-shaped window 36c is formed in the lens movement direction switching member 36, and a through-hole-shaped window 22g is formed in the outer cylindrical body 22. The focal length scale 100 of the outer cylindrical body 22 is visible through the window 36c, and the indicator 102 of the lens drive member 28 is visible through the two windows 36c and 22g. If there is concern that foreign matter or dust may enter the inside of the lens barrel 10 through the through-hole-shaped windows (22g, 36c), this can be addressed by covering the through-hole-shaped windows (22g, 36c) with a transparent member.

[0160] The method for correctly displaying the focal length in a lens barrel employing the technology described above can be applied not only to zoom operation but also to focus operation and aperture operation. In the case of focus operation, a shooting distance scale and indicator should be marked on the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the lens drive member 28, and in the case of aperture operation, an aperture value (F-number) scale and indicator should be marked on the main body 12 (inner cylindrical body 20, outer cylindrical body 22) and the lens drive member 28. The same effect as in the case of zoom operation can be obtained.

[0161] As described above, the embodiments described in this disclosure have been explained as examples of the technology. For this purpose, drawings and a detailed description are provided. Therefore, among the components described in the drawings and detailed description, there may be not only components that are essential for solving the problem, but also components that are not essential for solving the problem, in order to illustrate the technology described above. For this reason, the mere fact that these non-essential components are described in the drawings and detailed description should not be immediately assumed to be essential.

[0162] Furthermore, since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes of the technology described herein, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the scope of the claims or equivalents thereof. [Industrial applicability]

[0163] This disclosure is applicable to lens barrels with a structure that allows the lens to be moved manually in a direction substantially extending along the optical axis. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0164] 10 Lens barrel 12 Main unit 14 lenses 16 lenses 18 lenses 20 Inner cylinder 20a Flange section 20b Outer surface 20c guide groove 20d Bayonet Claw 22 Outer tubular body 22a Inner surface 22b Guide groove 22c Outer surface 22d Gear movement groove 22e Keyway 22f bayonet claw 22g window 24 First lens support member 24a Cam Follower 26 Second lens support member 26a Convex part 26b Inner surface 26c cam follower 28 Lens driving member 28a First cam groove 28b Second cam groove 28c Outer surface 28d Outer gear (outer rotation engagement part) 28e Inner surface 28f bayonet groove 30 Rotation operation interlocking member 30a Inner surface 30b Inner Circumference Gear (Inner Circumference Rotation Engagement Part) 30c reduced diameter part 30d keyway 30e Bayonet Groove 32 Gears (rotating bodies) 34 Gear (rotating body) support member 34a Main body 34b Tongue piece 34c keyway 34d Gear central shaft 34e Inner peripheral surface 34e 36 Lens movement direction switching member 36a Inner surface 36b Key 36c window 100 Focal Length Scale 102 indicators C1 optical axis C2 Rotation centerline

Claims

1. A main body having a roughly cylindrical section, One or more lenses, One or more lens support members that support the one or more lenses, A lens driving member having a substantially cylindrical portion that moves the one or more lens support members in a substantially extending direction of the optical axis in conjunction with the rotation of the main body with the optical axis of the one or more lenses substantially as the center, A rotation operation interlocking member is provided, which is positioned radially outward from the lens driving member with the optical axis as its approximate center, and has a substantially cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the main body with the optical axis as its approximate center in conjunction with manual operation. An odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the outer circumferential surface of the lens driving member and the inner circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member, and are capable of performing rolling motion on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface with respect to a rotation center line substantially parallel to the optical axis, and rotational motion around the optical axis, The system includes a lens movement direction switching member that switches between a state in which the rolling motion of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the rotational motion is permitted, and a state in which the rolling motion is permitted and the rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa. A lens barrel that switches the direction of movement of the lens relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member by switching the lens movement direction switching member.

2. The system further includes a rotating body support member that supports the odd number of rotating bodies so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotation centerline, and is rotatable approximately centered on the optical axis. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein by switching the lens movement direction switching member, the rotating body support member switches from a state in which it rotates around the optical axis to a state in which it does not rotate, or vice versa.

3. The lens barrel according to claim 2, wherein by switching the lens movement direction switching member, the state changes from one in which the rotation operation interlocking member is substantially fixed to the rotating body support member to one in which the main body is substantially fixed to the rotating body support member, or vice versa.

4. The lens movement direction switching member is a member having a substantially cylindrical portion that is supported on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member so as to be movable in substantially the direction in which the optical axis extends, The lens movement direction switching member comprises one or more keys on its inner circumferential surface that extend substantially in the direction of the optical axis, Each of the rotation operation interlocking member, the rotating body support member, and the main body is provided with one or more key grooves that engage with one or more keys of the lens movement direction switching member, The lens barrel according to claim 3, wherein the rotation operation interlocking member is substantially fixed to the rotating body support member by the engagement of one or more keys with one or more key grooves in both the rotation operation interlocking member and the rotating body support member, and the main body is substantially fixed to the rotating body support member by the engagement of one or more keys with one or more key grooves in both the main body and the rotating body support member.

5. An outer peripheral rotational engagement portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lens driving member that faces the odd number of rotating bodies, and engages with one of the odd number of rotating bodies. An inner circumferential rotational engagement portion is provided on the inner circumferential surface portion of the rotational operation interlocking member facing the odd number of rotating bodies, which engages with one of the odd number of rotating bodies. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral rotation engagement portion, the odd number of rotating bodies, and the inner peripheral rotation engagement portion are arranged in series and engage with each other to transmit rotation.

6. The odd number of rotating bodies are an odd number of gears, The outer peripheral rotation engagement portion is an outer peripheral gear formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens driving member, The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner circumferential rotation engagement portion is an inner circumferential gear formed on the inner circumferential surface portion of the rotation operation interlocking member.

7. The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the odd number of rotating bodies includes one or more idle rotating bodies.

8. The odd number of rotating bodies are an odd number of gears, The outer peripheral rotation engagement portion is an outer peripheral gear formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens driving member, The lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein the inner circumferential rotation engagement portion is an inner circumferential gear formed on the inner circumferential surface portion of the rotation operation interlocking member.

9. The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 or 5, wherein the odd number of rotating bodies include one or more two-stage rotating bodies in which a first rotating body and a second gear having a larger outer diameter than the first rotating body are integrally formed in a coaxial manner.

10. The odd number of rotating bodies are an odd number of gears, The outer peripheral rotation engagement portion is an outer peripheral gear formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens driving member, The lens barrel according to claim 9, wherein the inner circumferential rotation engagement portion is an inner circumferential gear formed on the inner circumferential surface portion of the rotation operation interlocking member.

11. The lens driving member comprises one or more cam grooves, The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more lens support members comprises a cam follower that engages with the one or more cam grooves of the lens drive member.

12. The lens includes two or more lenses that are movably mounted relative to the substantially extending direction of the optical axis, The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the focal length is changed by moving the two or more lenses relatively in a direction substantially extending the optical axis.

13. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein one of the main body and the lens driving member is provided with a scale indicating shooting conditions, and the other is provided with an indicator that points to the position of the scale.

14. One or more lenses, One or more aperture blades that adjust the amount of light passing through one or more lenses, A substantially annular base member that supports one or more aperture blades so as to be rotatable about a pivot center line parallel to the optical axis of the one or more lenses, A diaphragm blade drive member that opens and closes one or more diaphragm blades in conjunction with the rotation of the base member with the optical axis of one or more lenses as substantially the center, A rotational operation interlocking member is provided, which is positioned radially outward from the aperture blade drive member with the optical axis as its approximate center, and has a substantially cylindrical portion that rotates relative to the main body with the optical axis as its approximate center in conjunction with manual operation. An odd number of rotating bodies that engage with the outer circumferential surface of the aperture blade drive member and the inner circumferential surface of the rotation operation interlocking member, and are capable of performing rolling motion on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface with respect to a rotation center line substantially parallel to the optical axis, and rotational motion around the optical axis, The system includes a switching member that switches between a state in which the rolling motion of the odd number of rotating bodies is restricted and the rotational motion is permitted, and a state in which the rolling motion is permitted and the rotational motion is restricted, or vice versa. A lens barrel that switches the opening and closing direction of one or more aperture blades relative to the rotation direction of the rotation operation interlocking member by performing the switching of the switching member.

Images