Lens barrel, image capturing apparatus, and manufacturing method

Abstract

Provided is a lens barrel including: a guide shaft in an axial form supported by a reference member; a holding member holding an optical system, and movable in an axial direction of the guide shaft with respect to the reference member; and an interlocking member including an engaging section engaging with the holding member, the interlocking member moving in the axial direction while rotating around an optical axis of the optical system, and moving along the guide shaft without rotating the holding member. The lens barrel may include a driving cylinder including a cam groove engaging with the interlocking member, where when rotated around the optical axis, the driving cylinder drives the interlocking member by means of the cam groove, to cause the interlocking member to move linearly in the direction of the guide shaft.

1 . A lens barrel comprising:
 a guide shaft in an axial form supported by a reference member;   a holding member holding an optical system, and movable in an axial direction of the guide shaft with respect to the reference member; and   an interlocking member including an engaging section engaging with the holding member, the interlocking member moving in the axial direction while rotating around an optical axis of the optical system, and moving along the guide shaft without rotating the holding member.   
   
   
       2 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a driving cylinder including a cam groove engaging with the interlocking member, wherein   when rotated around the optical axis, the driving cylinder drives the interlocking member by means of the cam groove, to cause the interlocking member to move linearly in the direction of the guide shaft.   
   
   
       3 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the interlocking member includes the engaging section that has a groove formed along a circumference whose center corresponds to the optical axis of the optical system, and   the holding member includes a protrusion engaging with the groove.   
   
   
       4 . The lens barrel according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the groove and the protrusion are engaged with each other, at a position on an extension line of the guide shaft.   
   
   
       5 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the holding member has a groove formed along a circumference whose center corresponds to the optical axis of the optical system, and   the engaging section includes a protrusion engaging with the groove.   
   
   
       6 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the engaging section includes one of (a) a groove formed along a circumference whose center corresponds to the optical axis of the optical system and (b) a protrusion engaging with the groove,   the holding member includes the other of the groove and the protrusion, and   the lens barrel further comprises:   an operation member that rotates with respect to the reference member at a angle of rotation corresponding to a moving range of the protrusion in relation to the groove, to rotate the interlocking member.   
   
   
       7 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the engaging section includes one of a groove and a protrusion, the groove including a cam section tilted relative to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and formed along a circumference whose center corresponds to the optical axis of the optical system, and the protrusion engaging with the groove,   the holding member includes the other of the groove and the protrusion, and   when the interlocking member rotates, the engaging section moves relatively along the cam section, to move the holding member in the direction of the guide shaft.   
   
   
       8 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first guide shaft provided for a first holder that holds a first optical component, the first guide shaft oriented in a direction of the optical axis;   a support member supporting the first guide shaft to be movable in the axial direction; and   a second guide shaft provided for a second holder that holds a second optical component different from the first optical component, the second guide shaft being movable with respect to the first guide shaft in the direction of the optical axis, by being restricted by the first guide shaft.   
   
   
       9 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first guide shaft is a hollow shaft, and   the second guide shaft is inserted into the first guide shaft.   
   
   
       10 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , wherein
 an image focusing position of an optical system is changed by moving the second guide shaft in relation to the first guide shaft, the optical system including the first optical component and the second optical component.   
   
   
       11 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the support member includes a first engaging section and a second engaging section, the first engaging section engaging with the first guide shaft, and the second engaging section engaging with the first guide shaft at an interval from the first engaging section in the direction of the optical axis.   
   
   
       12 . The lens barrel according to  claim 11 , wherein
 an interval at which the first guide shaft supports the second guide shaft is larger than the interval between the first engaging section and the second engaging section.   
   
   
       13 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third guide shaft provided for the first holder, and supported by the support member to be movable in the direction of the optical axis; and   a fourth guide shaft provided for the second holder, the fourth guide shaft restricted by the third guide shaft to be movable with respect to the third guide shaft in the direction of the optical axis.   
   
   
       14 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a driving member driving the first holder, wherein   a driving force of the driving member is provided to the first holder by the engaging section in the vicinity of the first guide shaft.   
   
   
       15 . The lens barrel according to  claim 8 , comprising:
 an engaging member that engages the second holder via a groove provided in the first holder in a circumferential direction of the first holder, thereby moving integrally with the second holder in the direction of the optical axis, in accordance with movement of the first holder that is in accordance with movement of the first guide shaft in the direction of the optical axis, wherein   the second holder moves with respect to the first holder in the direction of the optical axis, by movement of the engaging section in the circumferential direction of the first holder.   
   
   
       16 . The lens barrel according to  claim 15 , wherein
 a range of engagement between the engaging section and the second holder is in a vicinity of the second guide shaft.   
   
   
       17 . An image capturing apparatus comprising:
 the lens barrel according to  claim 1 ; and   an image capturing section capturing an image by the optical system.   
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a lens barrel, comprising:
 supporting a guide shaft in an axial form by a reference member;   holding an optical system by a holding member movable in an axial direction of the guide shaft with respect to the reference member; and   providing an interlocking member including an engaging section engaging with the holding member, the interlocking member moving in the axial direction while rotating around an optical axis of the optical system, and moving along the guide shaft without rotating the holding member.   
   
   
       19 . A lens barrel comprising:
 a first guide shaft provided for a first holder that holds a first optical component, the first guide shaft oriented in a direction of an optical axis of the first optical component;   a support member supporting the first guide shaft to be movable in the direction of the optical axis; and   a second guide shaft provided for a second holder that holds a second optical component different from the first optical component, the second guide shaft being movable with respect to the first guide shaft in the direction of the optical axis by being restricted by the first guide shaft.   
   
   
       20 . The lens barrel according to  claim 19 , comprising:
 an actuator provided for the first guide shaft, the actuator moving the second guide shaft with respect to the first guide shaft.   
   
   
       21 . An image capturing apparatus, comprising:
 the lens barrel according to  claim 19 ; and   an image capturing section capturing an image by the optical system.   
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a lens barrel, comprising:
 providing a first guide shaft provided for a first holder that holds a first optical component, the first guide shaft oriented in a direction of an optical axis of the first optical component;   providing a support member supporting the first guide shaft to be movable in the direction of the optical axis; and   providing a second guide shaft provided for a second holder that holds a second optical component different from the first optical component, the second guide shaft being movable with respect to the first guide shaft in the direction of the optical axis by being restricted by the first guide shaft.