JP2017037137A - Lens unit and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens unit capable of preventing an internal space thereof from becoming airtight, and a camera having the same.SOLUTION: A lens unit 1 comprises a lens barrel 2 and a plurality of lenses 3-7 held by the lens barrel 2. The lens barrel 2 has, on one end thereof, a frame portion 23 having a seat 25 that comes into contact with the lens 7 to hold the lens 7. The seat 25 is provided with a reference surface 27 that comes into contact with the lens 7 to position the lens 7, and air paths provided at a distance from the lens 7 and configured to allow air to move between inside and outside of the lens barrel 2. The paths consist of grooves 26, 28, 29 provided on the seat 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens unit including a lens barrel holding a lens and a camera including the lens unit.

  Conventionally, an in-vehicle camera mounted on a car is known. There is a possibility that the in-vehicle camera is disposed outside the vehicle, and since it is exposed to rainwater, it needs to be waterproof. In this case, the lens unit having the lens of the in-vehicle camera is disposed in the front portion of the in-vehicle camera, and the lens closest to the object is exposed to rain water. A seal member such as an O-ring is disposed between the outer peripheral portion of the lens and the inner peripheral portion of a cylindrical lens barrel (lens frame, barrel) that holds the lens, and water such as rainwater enters the lens barrel. Intrusion is prevented (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the lens barrel, the lens abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel to determine the radial position, and the lens can determine the front / rear position in the lens barrel by the front and rear frame portions of the lens barrel. ing. The object-side end of the lens barrel has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the lens so that the lens can be accommodated in the lens barrel, but the opening that is smaller than the outer diameter of the lens by caulking the frame portion. By using a frame having a portion or attaching a frame having an opening smaller than the outer diameter of the lens, the diameter of the opening is made smaller than the outer diameter of the lens after housing the lens.

  The frame portion at the image side (image sensor side) end of the lens barrel is a plate-like member perpendicular to the optical axis provided with an opening smaller than the outer diameter of the lens closest to the image side. The inner surface of the plate-like member serves as a seating surface that is a reference surface on the lens barrel side in contact with the reference surface of the outer peripheral portion of the lens on the most image side. When there are a plurality of lenses, a plurality of lenses are sandwiched between the object-side frame portion and the image-side frame portion of the lens barrel, and the front and rear positions of these lenses are determined.

JP 2006-289991 A

  By the way, in the lens unit in which the lens closest to the object side is sealed by a sealing member such as an O-ring, the outer peripheral portion of the lens closest to the image side is pressed against the seating surface of the frame portion on the image side of the lens barrel. Then, the image side of the lens barrel is also substantially sealed, and the air flow is inhibited between the inside and the outside of the lens barrel.

  Here, the lens unit disposed outside the vehicle may be disposed in a high or low temperature environment. If the inside of the lens barrel is sealed as described above, the internal pressure may increase due to the high temperature. The internal pressure becomes lower due to low temperature. When the shape of the lens barrel is deformed due to a change in internal pressure in addition to a change in temperature, there is a possibility that the lens in the lens barrel is tilted or misplaced, resulting in a decrease in optical performance.

  Further, on the object side of the lens unit exposed to the outside, an airtight inspection is performed to confirm the waterproof performance and the like. As one of the methods of the airtight inspection, for example, air is introduced from the image side of the lens barrel into the lens barrel and pressure is applied to the object side of the lens barrel to check the degree of air leakage. If the image side of the lens barrel is substantially sealed, the accuracy of the airtight inspection is lowered, and the measurement becomes difficult.

  In addition, roughen the reference surface of the lens, such as embossing. Although there is a method of ventilating even in contact with the seating surface, it is affected by the texture and transferability of the texture, lack of certainty, and if there is a problem with the reference surface of the lens, there is a risk of worsening the tilt of the lens is there.

  In addition, when the lens barrel is manufactured by, for example, resin molding, the reference surface portion may be deformed, such as waviness. The deformation of the reference surface causes the lenses 3 to 7 to tilt or the arrangement to be displaced. Performance may be affected. In this case, it may be difficult to suppress deformation such as waviness of the reference surface, and there is a risk of difficulty in dealing with it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lens unit that prevents the inside from becoming an airtight state and a camera including the lens unit.

The lens unit of the present invention is a lens unit comprising a lens barrel and one or more lenses held by the lens barrel,
The lens barrel is provided with a frame having a seating surface for holding the lens in contact with the lens at one end,
The seating surface is provided with a reference surface that contacts the lens and determines the position of the lens, and an air path that allows the air to move in and out of the lens barrel away from the lens. Features.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to move the air inside and outside the lens barrel even when the lens is in contact with the seating surface of the lens barrel, and the lens performance changes due to changes in the internal pressure of the lens barrel due to temperature changes. Can be prevented from adversely affecting

  In the configuration of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the lens held by the lens barrel, and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel that determines a position in a direction that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the lens and intersects the optical axis of the lens It is preferable that a gap serving as an air path is formed between the two.

  According to such a configuration, the air path formed on the seating surface in contact with the lens, and the air accounting provided between the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and the outer peripheral surface of the lens, ensure the mirror. Air can be moved inside and outside the cylinder.

  In the above configuration of the present invention, the seating surface is provided at the image side end of the lens barrel, and the outer peripheral surface of the lens disposed on the most object side of the lens barrel and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. It is preferable that the gap is sealed with a seal member.

  According to such a configuration, since the object side of the lens barrel is sealed, when the lens abuts on the seat surface on the image side of the lens barrel and the movement of the air is inhibited, the temperature changes as described above. Although adverse effects are likely to occur due to changes in internal pressure, changes in internal pressure can be suppressed by allowing air to move inside and outside the lens barrel as described above. In addition, the lens unit of the in-vehicle camera that is disposed with the object side end of the lens unit exposed outside the vehicle needs to be sealed as described above. In this case, when the sealing performance is confirmed by airtight inspection, it is necessary to change the internal pressure by the movement of air in the lens barrel. However, as described above, the air can be moved inside and outside the lens barrel. It is possible to conduct the airtight inspection with high accuracy.

  In the configuration of the present invention, the path of the seating surface is a groove extending from an opening formed in the frame portion to a boundary portion between the outer peripheral portion of the seating surface and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. preferable.

  According to such a configuration, air can be moved inside and outside the lens barrel with a simple structure in which a groove is provided on the seating surface. The air path of the seating surface is preferably provided between the outer peripheral surface of the lens in the lens barrel and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel from the opening of the frame portion having the seating surface. In this case, it is preferable that air can move even a little between the outer peripheral surface of the lens and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel.

  In the configuration of the invention, the path of the seating surface is provided in a range from an opening formed in the frame portion to a boundary portion between the outer peripheral portion of the seating surface and the inner peripheral surface of the barrel. Preferably, it is provided on a non-contact surface away from the lens that contacts the reference surface of the seat surface.

  According to such a configuration, the air path can be formed in a wide range, and the air flow can be made smooth.

  In the configuration of the present invention, three or more reference convex portions projecting from the seat surface toward the lens are provided, and a reference surface that contacts the lens is provided on the reference convex portion, and the seat surface It is preferable that a portion excluding the reference convex portion is away from the lens and forms the path.

  According to such a configuration, the air path can be provided in a wider range to facilitate the movement of the air. In addition, it is possible to support the lens that is basically positioned in contact with the seating surface at three points (three reference convex portions), and when the seating surface is deformed due to waviness during molding of the seating surface. For example, it is possible to make positioning of the lens with high accuracy relatively easily by modifying the reference convex portion of the mold.

  The camera of the present invention includes the lens unit configured as described above. According to such a configuration, for example, in a camera such as an in-vehicle camera in which the object side of the lens unit is exposed outside the vehicle, the outer peripheral surface of the lens at the object side end of the lens barrel for waterproofing or dustproofing. Even if the space between the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel is sealed, the lens barrel can be prevented from being sealed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to secure an air path that allows air to move inside and outside the lens barrel.

(A) is a front view which shows the lens-barrel of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) is sectional drawing which shows a lens unit similarly. It is sectional drawing orthogonal to the optical axis of a lens unit. (A) is a front view which shows the lens-barrel of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is sectional drawing which shows a lens unit similarly. (A) is a front view which shows the lens-barrel of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is sectional drawing which shows a lens unit similarly.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The lens unit 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1B is for a camera such as an in-vehicle camera, for example, and is installed on the outside of the automobile with at least the object side end of the lens unit 1 exposed. The In the camera of the present embodiment, an image sensor (not shown) is arranged on the image side of the lens unit 1 so that an image formed by the lens unit 1 can be taken.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lens unit 1 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical lens barrel 2 and a plurality of (for example, five) lenses 3 arranged in the lens barrel 2. , 4, 5, 6, 7 and two diaphragm members 11, 12. An in-vehicle camera including the lens unit includes the lens unit 1 described above, a substrate having an image sensor (not shown), and an installation member (not shown) that installs the substrate on a vehicle such as an automobile.

  The plurality of lenses 3.4.5.6.7 fixed and supported by the lens barrel 2 are arranged in a state in which the respective optical axes coincide with each other, and each lens 3 is arranged along one optical axis. , 4, 5, 6 and 7 are arranged to constitute one lens group used for imaging.

  The first diaphragm member 11 from the object side (one end portion of the lens barrel 2) of the two diaphragm members 11 and 12 is disposed between the second lens 4 and the third lens 5 from the object side. Has been. The second diaphragm member 12 from the object side is disposed between the third lens 5 and the fourth lens 6 from the object side. The diaphragm members 11 and 12 are “aperture diaphragms” that limit the amount of transmitted light and determine an F value that is an index of brightness, or “light-shielding diaphragms” that shield light rays that cause ghosts and light rays that cause aberrations. .

  The lens barrel 2 is crimped at one end on the object side, so that the inner diameter thereof is reduced, and the end of the lens barrel 2 on the object side of the outer diameter of the most object-side lens 3 accommodated inside the lens barrel 2. A plurality of lenses 3 to 7 and diaphragm members 11 and 12 constituting a lens group are held in the lens barrel 2. That is, a frame portion 21 having an opening 22 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the lens 3 on the most object side is provided at the object side end of the lens barrel 2 as described above. The frame portion 21 may be attached to the end of the lens barrel 2 on the object side after the lenses 3 to 7 are accommodated in the lens barrel 2.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the lens 3 closest to the object side, a reduced diameter portion having a reduced diameter is provided in the image side portion of the lens 3, and an O-ring 30 as a seal member is provided in the reduced diameter portion. The outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 are sealed at the object side end of the lens barrel 2. Thereby, it is possible to prevent fine particles such as water and dust from entering the lens barrel 2 from the end of the lens unit 1 on the object side.

  The inner diameter of the lens barrel 2 gradually decreases from the object side to the image side. Correspondingly, the outer diameters of the lenses 3 to 7 become smaller as their arrangement positions go from the object side to the image side. Basically, the outer diameters of the lenses 3 to 7 are substantially equal to the inner diameters of the portions of the lens barrel 2 where the lenses 3 to 7 are supported. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 is not cylindrical, but is a polygon such as a dodecagon. 2 shows a cross section of the lens barrel 2 at the position of the lens 7 closest to the image side. However, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 where all the lenses 3 to 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the diaphragm member 11.12 come into contact with each other. Are all polygonal. The number of corners of the polygon is not particularly limited and may be three or more, but it is preferably approximated to a circle, for example, about 8 to 20 is preferable. FIG. 1 (a) In FIGS. 3A and 4A, the lens barrel 2 is illustrated in a simplified manner, and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 is illustrated as a circle. The surface is polygonal as shown in FIG. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2, a flange portion 31 that is used when the lens barrel 2 is installed in a vehicle-mounted camera is provided in a bowl shape on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2.

  Thus, even if the outer peripheral surface of the substantially circular lenses 3 to 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 are in contact with each other, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 has a polygonal shape. A gap (air path) is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the lenses 3 to 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2, and the lens 3 to 7 are in a sealed state. It is preventing.

  In the present embodiment, among the lenses 3 to 7, the lens 3 exposed to the outside of the vehicle closest to the object side (outside the lens barrel 2) is a glass lens, and the lenses 4 to 7 are resin lenses. The resin lens of the present embodiment has a gate cutting portion 7a obtained by cutting the gate at the time of molding on the outer periphery of the circle like the lens 7 in FIG. 2, and is disposed on the inner side with respect to the above-described circular outer periphery. The outer shape is not a circle. Thereby, even if the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 is not polygonal but circular, if the resin lenses 4 to 7 have a gate cutting portion, the outer peripheral surface of the lenses 4 to 7 and the inner lens barrel 2 There is a gap (air path) between the lens and the peripheral surface, and sealing between the lenses 3 to 7 can be prevented.

  The most image-side lens 7 has an image-side surface on the outer periphery thereof as a reference surface that is orthogonal to the optical axis. The reference surface of the lens 7 is provided at an image side end portion of the lens barrel 2 described above, and a later-described reference surface 27 on the inner surface side of the frame portion 23 having an opening portion 24 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the lens 7. It comes in contact with the seating surface 25 it has.

  In the present embodiment, the seat surface 25 has an annular shape with an opening 24 at the center, and a pair of grooves 26 are formed on the seat surface 25 from the opening 24 of the frame portion 23 to the outer peripheral portion inside the lens barrel 2. Is formed. The pair of grooves 26 are arranged in a straight line along the diameter of the seating surface 25 passing through the center of the seating surface 25 (center of the opening 24), and the opening 24 is sandwiched therebetween. . Further, the pair of grooves 26 are in a state where the seat surface 25 is divided into two along the radial direction, and the reference surfaces that abut on the reference surface of the lens 7 respectively at the portions divided into the grooves 26 of the seat surface 25. 27 is provided.

  An annular groove 28 is formed in a portion adjacent to the outside of the outer edge of the opening 24 of the seat surface 25. The groove 28 communicates with the pair of grooves 26 while being open to the opening 24. An annular groove 29 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the seat surface 25, that is, on the seat surface 25 side of the boundary between the seat surface 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2, and the pair of grooves 26 communicate with the groove 29. doing. Thus, even if the reference surface 27 of the seating surface 25 abuts on the reference surface of the lens 7 closest to the image side, a pair of air extends along the radial direction of the seating surface 25 from the groove 28 on the inner peripheral side of the seating surface 25. It reaches the groove 29 on the outer peripheral side of the seating surface 25 through the groove 26, and is inside the lens 7 of the lens barrel 2 from the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lens 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 formed as described above. It is possible to flow into. As a result, air can move inside and outside the lens barrel 2.

  Since the object side of the lens barrel 2 is sealed by the most object side lens 7 and the O-ring 30, air does not flow from one end to the other end in the lens barrel 2. However, when the internal pressure and the external pressure of the lens barrel 2 are different from each other due to a temperature change, air flows through the groove 6.8.9 described above, and the outer peripheral surface of the lenses 4 to 7 and the inner periphery of the lens barrel 2 By flowing through the gap with the surface, the internal pressure and the external pressure of the lens barrel 2 naturally become substantially equal, the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure becomes too large, and the lens barrel 2 is deformed to tilt the lenses 3 to 7. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the lens unit 1 by staking or displacing the arrangement.

  At this time, since there is a gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the lenses 4 to 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 as described above, the pressure between the lenses 3 to 7 is higher than the external pressure of the lens barrel 2. Can be prevented. Further, the O-ring is formed from the opening 24 at the image side end of the lens barrel 2 by the above-described groove 26.28.29 and a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lenses 4 to 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2. Since the air passage (route) is secured up to the position of 30, the airtight inspection can be performed by applying an appropriate pressure to the portion of the O-ring 30 during the airtight inspection of the O-ring 30. Therefore, the grooves 26, 28, and 29 formed in the seating surface 25 are paths through which air flows.

  Further, since the most object side lens 3 is attached to the lens barrel 2 with the O-ring 30 attached, for example, when the air passage as described above is not formed, the lens 3 is attached. By confining the air, the internal pressure increases, and it may be difficult to attach the lens 3.

  In the lens barrel 2 and the lens unit 1 as described above, even if the object side end of the lens barrel 2 is sealed, the image side end of the lens barrel 2 is sealed. Since a path through which air flows from the lens 2 to the innermost side of the lens 3 on the object side is formed, it is possible to prevent the internal pressure in the lens barrel 2 from becoming too high or too low due to a temperature change. In addition, an airtight inspection when the object side of the lens barrel 2 is sealed can be facilitated. In addition, it is possible to prevent the lenses 3 to 7 from being difficult to be attached due to an increase in internal pressure when the lenses 3 to 7 are attached to the lens barrel 2.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the lens unit 1 and the camera of the second embodiment are formed on the seating surface 25 with respect to the lens unit 1 and the camera of the first embodiment. Since the air flow paths are different, the description of the configuration other than the seating surface 25 is omitted, and the seating surface 25 will be described below.

  A seating surface 25 having a reference surface 32 to be described later on the inner surface side of the frame portion 23 has an annular shape with an opening 24 at the center, and is integrated with the seating surface 25 from the opening 24 to the outer peripheral portion of the frame portion 23. A recess 33 is formed. The recess 33 has a shape in which three apex portions of an equilateral triangle centered on the center of the seating surface 25 (center of the opening 24) are cut out, and the notched portions communicate with the groove 29 described above. It has become a state. In addition, the recess 33 is formed in a state where the bottom surface thereof is formed with a substantially constant depth, and the seating surface 25 is divided into three parts with the opening 24 being disposed in the central portion. A reference surface 32 that abuts on the reference surface of the lens 7 is provided at each of the three portions of the recess 33. That is, the bottom surface of the concave portion 33 is a non-contact surface that is away from the lens 7 without contacting the reference surface of the lens 7, and the reference surface 32 is a contact surface that contacts the reference surface of the lens 7. The seat surface 25 includes these contact surfaces and non-contact surfaces.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, an annular groove 28 is formed in a portion adjacent to the outside of the outer edge of the opening 24 of the seat surface 25, and an annular groove 29 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the seat surface 25. The recess 33 communicates with the grooves 28 and 29. In this case, the grooves 28 and 29 become non-contact surfaces of the seat surface 25. In this embodiment, the grooves 28 and 29 are deeper than the recess 33. However, the recess 33 and the grooves 28 and 29 have the same depth, and are formed as an integral recess (non-contact surface). It is good. In the first embodiment, the reference surface 27 is a contact surface that contacts the reference surface of the lens 7, and the grooves 26, 28, and 29 are non-contact surfaces that are separated from the lens 7. Reference numeral 25 denotes a contact surface and a non-contact surface.

  From the above, even if the reference surface 32 of the seating surface 25 comes into contact with the reference surface of the lens 7 closest to the image side, the air flows from the groove 28 on the inner peripheral side of the seating surface 25 through the recess 33. To the groove 29 on the outer peripheral side of the lens barrel 2 and can flow inwardly from the lens 7 of the lens barrel 2 through the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lens 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 formed as described above. ing. As a result, a path through which air passes through the seating surface 25 is ensured as in the first embodiment, and the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved. The air path can be widened to make the air flow smoother.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lens unit 1 and the camera of the third embodiment are formed on the seating surface 25 with respect to the lens unit 1 and the camera of the first embodiment. Since the air flow paths are different, the description of the configuration other than the seating surface 25 is omitted, and the seating surface 25 will be described below.

  A base surface 41 is formed on the seat surface 25 on the inner surface side of the frame portion 23, and at least three reference convex portions 42 protruding from the base surface 41 are provided. The front end surfaces of these three reference convex portions 42 are substantially arranged in one plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the lenses 3 to 7 described above, and the front end surfaces of these reference convex portions 42 are the reference surfaces of the lens 7. It is a reference surface with which the surface comes into contact. The three reference convex portions 42 are substantially equidistant from the center of the seating surface 25 in the present embodiment, and three line segments along the radial direction connecting the center and each reference convex portion 42 are at substantially the same angle. Are located apart.

  In addition, an annular groove 28 is formed on the base surface 41 of the seat surface 25 at a portion adjacent to the outside of the outer edge of the opening 24, and an annular groove 29 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the seat surface 25. Yes. With such a configuration, even if the front end surface serving as the reference surface of the reference convex portion 42 of the seating surface 25 abuts on the reference surface of the lens 7 closest to the image side, the air is grooved on the inner peripheral side of the seating surface 25. To the groove 29 on the outer peripheral side of the seating surface 25 through the base surface 41 in a state of being retracted from the reference convex portion 42, and the outer peripheral surface of the lens 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 2 formed as described above. It is possible to flow inward from the lens 7 of the lens barrel 2 through the gap. As a result, a path through which air passes through the seating surface 25 is secured in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.

  Also in the third embodiment, the reference surface that is the tip surface of the reference convex portion 42 is a contact surface that contacts the reference surface of the lens 7, and the base surface 41 and the grooves 28 and 29 are separated from the lens 7. The seating surface 25 is formed from these contact surfaces and non-contact surfaces. The base surface 41 and the bottom surface of the groove 28.29 may be flush with each other and may be arranged in the same plane. That is, the grooves 28 and 29 may be included in the base surface 41.

  Further, in the third embodiment, the direction (inclination) of the lens 7 is determined by the three reference convex portions 42, and when the lens barrel 2 is made of resin, the swell of the seating surface 25, etc. When the lens 7 is tilted due to the deformation, the part for forming the reference convex portion 42 of the mold for forming the lens barrel 2 is corrected in accordance with the deformation of the formed lens barrel 2 such as swell. The tilt of the lens 7 can be corrected relatively easily.

  The seat surface 25 may be provided with a path through which air flows with a non-contact surface that does not contact the reference surface of the lens 7 from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the seat surface 25 as described above. The shape of the path through which air flows is not limited to the path of each of the above-described embodiments. That is, as long as a reference surface (contact surface) that determines the direction (tilt) of the lens 7 can be secured on the seat surface 25, the shape of the non-contact surface as a path through which air flows may be any.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens unit 2 Lens tube 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Lens 23 Frame part 24 Opening part 25 Seat surface 26 Groove (air path)
27 Reference plane 28 Groove (air path)
29 Groove (air path)
30 O-ring (seal member)
32 Reference surface 33 Concavity (air path)
41 Base surface (air path)
42 Reference convexity (reference surface)

Claims (7)

A lens unit comprising a lens barrel and one or more lenses held in the lens barrel,
The lens barrel is provided with a frame having a seating surface for holding the lens in contact with the lens at one end,
The seating surface is provided with a reference surface that contacts the lens and determines the position of the lens, and an air path that allows the air to move in and out of the lens barrel away from the lens. Characteristic lens unit.   An air path between the outer peripheral surface of the lens held by the lens barrel and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel that determines the position in a direction that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the lens and intersects the optical axis of the lens The lens unit according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed.   The seating surface is provided at the image side end of the lens barrel, and a seal member seals between the outer peripheral surface of the lens arranged on the most object side of the lens barrel and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel The lens unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens unit is provided.   The path of the seat surface is a groove that extends from an opening formed in the frame portion to a boundary portion between the outer peripheral portion of the seat surface and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. The lens unit according to claim 3.   The path of the seating surface is provided in a range from an opening formed in the frame portion to a boundary portion between the outer peripheral portion of the seating surface and the inner peripheral surface of the barrel, and the reference surface of the seating surface The lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lens unit is provided on a non-contact surface that is separated from the lens that contacts the lens.   Three or more reference convex portions projecting from the seat surface toward the lens are provided, a reference surface that contacts the lens is provided on the reference convex portion, and a portion of the seat surface excluding the reference convex portion is provided. The lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the path is separated from the lens.   A camera comprising the lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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