Nested Barrel Lens Structure for Extended Optical Zoom Path

The patent applies nesting by placing the second barrel inside the first barrel and the third barrel inside the second barrel, creating a nested configuration. This allows the optical zooming path to extend through multiple nested barrels, increasing the effective path length without proportionally increasing the external volume of the lens structure.

The patent transitions from a single-dimensional straight-line zooming path in one barrel to a multi-dimensional path that winds through grooves in multiple nested barrels. The zooming path extends in multiple directions and dimensions rather than simply increasing the thickness of a single barrel, thereby increasing path length while controlling overall volume.

The nested barrel configuration allows the lens structure to achieve a long optical zooming path within a compact form factor, making the product more competitive by maintaining smaller size while delivering enhanced zooming capability.

By creating a multi-dimensional zooming path through grooves in multiple barrels, the patent achieves extended optical path length without increasing the external dimensions of the lens, thereby maintaining product competitiveness in terms of size and adaptability.

The patent divides the lens structure into multiple segmented barrels (first, second, and third barrels), each with its own groove. This segmentation allows the optical zooming path to be distributed across multiple components, achieving extended path length while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

The nested arrangement of barrels with interlocking grooves and pins creates a structured, hierarchical complexity that is easier to manufacture and assemble than a monolithic complex structure. Each nested level is relatively simple, but their combination achieves the extended optical path.