Lens barrel, image capturing device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A lens barrel includes: a first cylindrical member that extends in a prescribed axial direction; a second cylindrical member that slides in the prescribed axial direction along an inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member; an axis member that slides in the prescribed axial direction along an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical member; and a first holding member that is fixed to the axis member, is guided in the prescribed axial direction by the slide of the axis member against the second cylindrical member, and holds a first optical member.

1 . A lens barrel comprising:
 a first cylindrical member that extends in a prescribed axial direction;   a second cylindrical member that slides in the prescribed axial direction along an inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member;   an axis member that slides in the prescribed axial direction along an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical member;   a first holding member that is fixed to the axis member, is guided in the prescribed axial direction by the slide of the axis member against the second cylindrical member, and holds a first optical member; and   a cylindrical base member having a central axis coincident with the prescribed axial direction and to which the first cylindrical member is fixed, wherein   a maximum length along the prescribed axial direction of the base member is greater than a length along the prescribed axial direction of the first cylindrical member.   
     
     
         2 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second holding member that is fixed to the second cylindrical member, is guided in the prescribed axial direction by the slide of the second cylindrical member against the first cylindrical member, and holds a second optical member.   
     
     
         3 . The lens barrel according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a control member that extends in the prescribed axial direction, contacts with each of the first holding member and the second holding member, and controls moving operation of the first holding member and the second holding member around a prescribed axis.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The lens barrel according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control member has a bar shape extending in the prescribed axial direction, and is fixed to any one of the first holding member, the second holding member and the base member.   
     
     
         6 . The lens barrel according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the base member has an extending member which extends in the prescribed axial direction,   the lens barrel further comprises a third holding member that is guided in the prescribed axial direction with the use of any one of the first cylindrical member and the extending member, controls moving operation of the third holding member around the prescribed axis by contacting with another one of the first cylindrical member and the extending member, and holds a third optical member.   
     
     
         7 . The lens barrel according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the extending member has a cylindrical shape, and   the control member has the bar shape, is fixed to any of the first holding member and the second holding member, and is inserted inside the extending member.   
     
     
         8 . The lens barrel according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the control member contacts with a part of an inner circumferential surface of the extending member, so that moving operation of the first holding member and the second holding member around the prescribed axis against the base member is controlled.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An image capturing device, comprising:
 the lens barrel according to  claim 1 ; and   an image capturing unit that captures an image formed by the lens barrel.   
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a lens barrel, comprising:
 providing a first cylindrical member that extends in a prescribed axial direction;   engaging a second cylindrical member with an inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member so that the second cylindrical member is slidable in the prescribed axial direction along the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member;   engaging an axis member with an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical member so that the axis member is slidable in the prescribed axial direction along the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical member;   providing a first holding member for holding a first optical member;   fixing the first holding member to the axis member so that the first holding member is guided in the prescribed axial direction by the slide of the axis member against the second cylindrical member;   providing a cylindrical base member having a central axis coincident with the prescribed axial direction; and   fixing the first cylindrical member to the base member so that a maximum length along the prescribed axial direction of the base member is greater than a length along the prescribed axial direction of the first cylindrical member.   
     
     
         12 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first cylindrical member is arranged at an inner circumference side of the base member.   
     
     
         22 . The lens barrel according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a support member that protrudes from an inner circumferential surface of the base member toward the central axis of the base member and supports at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member.   
     
     
         23 . The lens barrel according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first support member and a second support member that protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the base member toward the central axis of the base member and support a part of an outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical member, wherein   when the first holding member is located farthest from the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member and the axis member are located at an inner circumference side of the first support member and neither the second cylindrical member nor the axis member is located at an inner circumference side of the second support member, and   when the first holding member is located closest to the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member and the axis member are located at the inner circumference sides of both the first support member and the second support member.   
     
     
         24 . The lens barrel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first holding member is fixed to an end of the axis member,   the first holding member moves in the prescribed axial direction by the slide of the second cylindrical member against the first cylindrical member or the slide of the axis member against the second cylindrical member, and   when the first holding member is located farthest from the first cylindrical member, a maximum length from the first holding member to an end of the first cylindrical member is greater than a minimum length along the prescribed axial direction of the base member.   
     
     
         25 . The lens barrel according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second holding member is arranged between the first holding member and the first cylindrical member in the prescribed axial direction, and   along the prescribed axial direction, a sum of a length of the first cylindrical member and a length of a region in which the second holding member is fixed to the second cylindrical member is approximately equal to a length of the second cylindrical member.