Compact Zoom Lens Barrel Using Nested Cylinders and Cam Mechanisms

The patent employs a nested structure where the lens barrel contains multiple concentric cylindrical components (outer barrel, intermediate barrel, inner barrel) that can move relative to each other. Each barrel serves as a housing for the next smaller barrel, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides multiple stages of lens movement without requiring separate discrete components, thus reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining high zoom capability.

The lens barrel is segmented into multiple functional sections: the outer barrel housing, the intermediate barrel for holding lens groups, and the inner barrel for additional lens groups. Each segment can move independently along the optical axis, allowing the system to achieve complex zoom movements through coordinated motion of segmented components rather than requiring a single complex moving assembly.

The patent implements dynamic holding mechanisms where cam followers ride on cam surfaces that are shaped to provide automatic positioning and holding forces. As lenses move along the optical axis during zoom, the cam profiles change the radial position of holding members, creating dynamic engagement that adapts to different lens positions and maintains stable holding throughout the zoom range rather than relying on static fixed-position holders.

The patent introduces intermediate cam mechanisms that act as mediators between the moving lens groups and the fixed barrel structure. The cam surfaces convert axial movement of lenses into controlled radial movement of holding members, providing smooth transitions and stable engagement without direct rigid connections, thus maintaining lens holding stability while allowing necessary movement freedom.

The patent uses nested cylindrical barrels where the intermediate barrel is housed within the outer barrel, and the inner barrel is housed within the intermediate barrel. This nested arrangement allows multiple lens groups to be positioned along the optical axis in a compact configuration, achieving the necessary lens moving distance for high-magnification zoom without proportionally increasing the overall barrel diameter or length.

The patent utilizes the radial dimension by implementing cam mechanisms that convert axial lens movement into radial movement of holding members. This dimensional transformation allows the system to achieve complex multi-dimensional lens trajectories using primarily axial actuation, effectively packing more functional capability into a compact volume by exploiting spatial relationships in multiple dimensions.