JPH09230194A - Device for restricting moving range of lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of parts and to stabilize a lens supporting mechanism by providing a movable lens frame through a guide shaft, a feed screw shaft extended to a supporting member side fixed on the movable lens frame approximately to the guide shaft and a stopper member regulating the moving end of the movable lens frame. SOLUTION: A screw shaft 43 is disposed in the vicinity of either slide shaft 51 of the slide shafts 51 and 52 supporting a rear group lens supporting barrel 50 to be movable in an optical axis direction, and a single stopper plate 306 is fixed at the front ends of the shafts 43 and 51. Though only the shafts 51 and 52 are provided as a member guiding the supporting barrel 50 to be movable in the optical axis direction, the supporting barrel 50 is stably and surely held by the shafts 43 and 51, and the movement of the shaft 43 is surely transmitted to the supporting barrel 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving range limiting device for limiting a moving range of a moving lens such as an AF lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional lens driving device for moving a lens by using a feed screw, a supporting mechanism for supporting the moving lens so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, and the moving lens along the optical axis direction. The feed mechanism for moving back and forth was constructed independently of each other.

Further, in the conventional lens driving device for moving the lens by using the feed screw, the position detecting mechanism of the moving lens is constructed independently of both the supporting mechanism and the feeding mechanism described above.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens movement range limiting device capable of reducing the number of parts and stabilizing a moving lens support mechanism by increasing the number of functions of parts.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The lens movement range limiting device of the present invention comprises:
A supporting member provided in the lens barrel; having at least two guide shafts extending toward the supporting member and parallel to the optical axis,
A movable lens frame movably supported by a supporting member via the guide shaft; fixed to the movable lens frame in parallel with the at least two guide shafts and close to any one of the guide shafts; A feed screw shaft extending to the support member side; and a single stopper member that is fixed to the distal end portions of the feed screw shaft and the one guide shaft and that regulates one moving end of the movable lens frame. It is characterized by that.

According to this structure, the feed screw shafts are juxtaposed close to one guide shaft, and the respective tip portions of the guide shaft and the feed screw shaft are fixed by a single stopper member. The movable lens frame is stably and reliably held by the feed screw shaft and one guide shaft close to the feed screw shaft, and the movement of the feed screw shaft in the optical axis direction is stopped by the stopper portion and the one guide. It is surely transmitted to the support member via the shaft. Therefore, the support mechanism and the feed mechanism of the movable lens frame can be realized with a simple structure, and the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition to the above structure, the support member is provided with an encoder including a light shield movably supported in the optical axis direction, and a photo interrupter fixed to the support member and having a light path opened and closed by the light shield. If the stopper member is provided with a dog portion that closes the optical path of the photo interrupter by moving the light shield when the movable lens frame reaches the vicinity of the one moving end in the optical axis direction, the stopper member can move the moving lens. Since it also serves as a part of the position detection mechanism, the number of parts can be further reduced.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the zoom lens barrel provided in the lens shutter type zoom lens camera shown in FIG.
The concept of this zoom lens camera will be described.
Zoom lens barrel 1 included in this zoom lens camera
0 indicates the first movable lens barrel 20, the second movable lens barrel 19, and the third movable lens barrel 19.
3 having three moving lens barrels (moving lens barrels) of the moving lens barrel 16
It is a step-out type zoom lens barrel. The zoom lens barrel 10 has two lens groups, a front lens group L1 and a rear lens group L2.

The camera main body has a whole movement motor control means 60, a rear group movement motor control means 61, and a zoom operation means 6.
2, a shutter release means 63, a distance measuring device 64, a photometric device 65, and an AE motor control means 66 are provided.

The whole movement motor control means 60 is a zoom operation means 62 such as a zoom operation lever provided on the camera body.
Is operated (that is, during zooming operation), the whole movement motor 25 is instructed to move the zoom lens including the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 from the wide side to the tele side, or from the tele side. Gives a move command to move to the wide side. The focal length is changed and set to an arbitrary focal length by the operation of the zoom operating means 62 by the photographer. The image magnification of the viewfinder field is changed in association with the change of the focal length by the zoom operation means 62. Therefore, the photographer can know the change in the focal length due to the operation of the zoom operation means 62 by observing the change in the image magnification of the viewfinder field. Also, the zoom operation means 62
The focal length set by the operation of
It can be recognized by the numerical value displayed on the display panel (not shown).

The overall movement motor control means 60 is also driven by the rear group movement motor control means 61 when the shutter release means 63 is operated.
Along with driving the overall movement motor 25, the front lens group L
The rear lens group L2 is moved backward with respect to 1 to focus on the subject. The shutter release means 63 is composed of a release button, and by pressing the shutter release button 63 one step, the distance measuring device 6 is released.
A distance measuring command to the No. 4 and a photometering command to the photometric device 65 are given, and the two-step push makes the focusing operation, and at the same time, the shutter 27 of the AF / AE shutter unit 21 is operated via the AE motor control means 66. The shutter 27 is a photometric device 65.
Upon receiving the photometric output from the shutter blade 27a, the shutter blade 27a is opened for a predetermined time.

When operated, the zoom operating means 62 drives the whole moving motor 25 to move the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 integrally. At the same time as this movement, the rear lens group moving motor 30 may be operated via the rear lens group moving motor control means 61. However, in the present zoom lens camera, the movement of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by the zoom operation means 62 does not occur. , The conventional zooming concept in which the focal length is continuously changed without moving the focal position is not performed. That is, when the zoom operation means 62 is operated, only the whole movement motor 25 is operated to move the front lens group L.
1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved back and forth without changing the air gap between them, and both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear lens group movement motor 30 are operated to operate the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2. It is possible to move while changing the air gap between the two.

In the aspect, although the subject at a specific distance is not always in focus, the lens shutter type camera such as the present camera which does not observe the image by the photographing optical system,
There is no problem at all when the shutter is released as long as it is in focus. In addition, in the mode, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved while permitting the movement of the focal position, and both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are operated at the time of shutter release to focus.

After executing any one of the above control modes in accordance with the operation of the zoom operating means 62, the shutter release means 63 is operated in the focal length range of at least a part of the focal length set by the zoom operating means 62. Then, the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30
Both are operated to focus on the subject. The amount of movement of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 at this time is not limited to the movement amount obtained from the subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64, and
It is determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained by the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 62. As described above, when the shutter release means 63 is operated, if the whole movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are operated to perform the focusing operation, the degree of freedom in controlling the lens position is increased, and the control is performed. Will be easier.

Theoretically, when the zoom operating means 62 is operated, the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 are operated.
The shutter release means 63 is operated by changing only the view field magnification and the focal length information of the finder without operating any of the above.
When the is operated, its focal length information and distance measuring device 64
The overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are simultaneously operated according to the subject distance information according to, and the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 are moved to positions uniquely determined by the focal length information and the subject distance information. You can also let it.

Next, an embodiment in which the zoom lens barrel 10 of the above concept is embodied will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The schematic configuration and operation of the zoom lens barrel 10 will be described first. First, the first movable barrel 20,
The second movable lens barrel 19, the third movable lens barrel 16, and the fixed lens barrel block 12 are provided. The third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed into the tubular portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and advances and retreats in the optical axis direction with rotation. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a linear guide cylinder 17 whose rotation is restricted, which moves integrally in the optical axis direction, inside, and the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates relative to the linear guide cylinder 17. While moving forward and backward along the optical axis. The rotation of the first movable lens barrel 20 is restricted, and the first movable lens barrel 20 moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction by the relative rotation with respect to the second movable lens barrel 19. The whole moving motor 25 is fixed to the fixed lens barrel block 12, and the shutter mount (support member) 40 on which the rear group moving motor 30 and the AE motor 29 are mounted is fixed to the first moving lens barrel 20. The front lens group L1 is a lens having a positive power and supported by the front lens group support cylinder 34, and the rear lens group L1.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a lens having a negative power, which is supported by the rear lens group support barrel (movable lens frame) 50.

The fixed lens barrel block 12 fixed in front of the aperture plate 14 of the camera body has a female helicoid 12a and a plurality (4) parallel to the optical axis O on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion.
Book) straight advancing groove 12b. An engaging projection 17c '(see FIG. 12) formed on the linear guide cylinder 17 is slidably engaged with one of the plurality of linear guide grooves 12b. Straight guide groove 1 with which the engaging protrusion 17c 'is engaged
A code plate 13 having a predetermined pattern is provided on the bottom of 2b.
a is fixed. The code plate 13 a is configured as a part of the flexible printed circuit board 13 located outside the fixed lens barrel block 12. Aperture plate 14
Is an aperture 14a that determines the exposure area on the film.
Having.

In the cylindrical portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12, a gear accommodating portion 12c which bulges outward in the radial direction and extends in the optical axis direction.
Are formed (see FIG. 7). This gear storage 12c
The drive pinion 15 which is long in the optical axis direction is rotatably accommodated in the. Both ends of the shaft 7 of the drive pinion 15 are rotatably supported by the support hole 4 provided in the fixed lens barrel block 12 and the support hole 31a provided in the gear support plate 31, respectively. The tooth surface of the drive pinion 15 projects to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed barrel block 12.

On the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the fixed barrel block 12,
The third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of (three) linear guide grooves 16c parallel to the optical axis O on the inner peripheral surface, and the female helicoid 12a of the fixed lens barrel block 12 on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. Male helicoid 16 meshing
a and an outer peripheral gear 16b (see FIG. 6) that meshes with the drive pinion 15. The drive pinion 15 has an axial length that meshes with the outer peripheral gear 16 in the entire movement range of the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction.

On the inner circumference of the third movable lens barrel 16, a linear guide barrel 17 is supported so as to be movable integrally with the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable around the optical axis. . The straight guide cylinder 17 has a rear end flange portion 1 provided with a plurality of (four) engagement protrusions 17c protruding radially outward on the outer periphery of the rear portion.
7d and a retaining flange portion 17e having a smaller diameter than the flange portion 17d, which is provided in front of the rear end flange portion 17d with a slight gap. This retaining flange 17
A plurality of notches 17f are formed in the circumferential direction of e.
The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of engagement protrusions 16d (FIG. 11) protruding inward in the radial direction on the inner periphery of the rear end portion. The straight guide tube 17 is located in the gap between the flange portions 17d and 17e.
By being relatively rotated with respect to the above, it is connected to the linear guide cylinder 17. The aperture 1 is provided on the rear end surface of the straight guide tube 17.
An aperture plate 23 having an opening 23a having substantially the same shape as 4a is fixed. Each of the engaging projections 17c is a corresponding straight guide groove 12 formed on the inner circumference of the tubular portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12.
It is slidably engaged with b and its rotation is restricted. The engaging projection 17c ', which is one of the engaging projections 17c, is in sliding contact with the code plate 13a fixed to the bottom of the corresponding linear guide groove 12b to generate a signal corresponding to the focal length during zooming. The contact terminal 9 is fixed.

Further, two linear guide grooves 17a parallel to the optical axis O are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the linear guide cylinder 17, and the linear guide grooves 17 are slightly wider in the circumferential direction than the linear guide grooves 17a.
One g is formed.

The linear guide member 2 is provided in each linear guide groove 17a.
Corresponding engagement projections 28a formed in 2 are slidably engaged, and engagement projections 28b formed in the rectilinear guide member 22 are slidably engaged in the rectilinear guide grooves 17g. A part of the flexible printed circuit board 6 is passed between the bottom of the straight guide groove 17g and the engaging protrusion 28b. Further, the linear guide cylinder 17 has a plurality of (three) lead grooves 17 penetrating its peripheral wall and inclined with respect to the circumferential direction and the optical axis direction.
b is formed.

A second movable lens barrel 19 is fitted on the inner periphery of the straight guide cylinder 17. The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of (three) lead grooves 19c having an inclination opposite to that of the lead grooves 17b on the inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of (three) lead grooves radially outwardly projecting on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. (3) a follower protrusion 19a having a trapezoidal cross section,
The follower pin 18 located on the follower protrusion 19a
And The follower pin 18 is a ring member 18
b and a center fixing screw 18a for supporting the ring member 18b on the follower protrusion 19a. Each follower protrusion 19 a is provided with a corresponding lead groove 1 of the linear guide cylinder 17.
7b is slidably fitted, and each follower pin 18 has a third
The movable lens barrel 16 is slidably fitted in the corresponding linear guide groove 16c. Therefore, when the third movable lens barrel 16 rotates, the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates and moves straight in the optical axis direction.

The first movable lens barrel 20 is fitted on the inner periphery of the second movable lens barrel 19. The first movable lens barrel 20 has a plurality of (three) follower pins 24 provided on the outer periphery of the rear end portion.
It is engaged with the corresponding inner peripheral lead groove 19c, and is linearly guided by the linear guide member 22. The linear guide member 22 has an annular portion 22a and a pair of guide legs 22b extending from the annular portion 22a in the optical axis direction, and is provided with the inner peripheral surface of the first movable lens barrel 20 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21. The guide leg portion 22b is inserted between the two so as to be able to guide straight. Further, the linear guide member 22 includes two engaging projections 28a (only one of which is shown in the drawing) that are slidably engaged with the linear guide groove 17a and project outward in the radial direction of the annular portion 22a. One engagement projection 28 slidably engaged with the linear guide groove 17g
b.

Further, the annular portion 22a of the linear guide member 22 is
The second movable lens barrel 19 is coupled to the rear end of the second movable lens barrel 19 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction and rotatable relative to the optical axis. The linear guide member 22 has engagement protrusions 28a, 2
8d has a rear end flange portion 22d, and a retaining flange portion 22c having a smaller diameter than the flange portion 22d, which is provided in front of the rear end flange portion 22d with a slight gap, and the circumference of the retaining flange portion 22c. A plurality of (three) notches 22e are provided in the direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of (three) engagement protrusions 19b (see FIG. 11; only one is shown in FIG. 11) projecting radially inward on the inner circumference of the rear end portion. , The engaging projections 19b are inserted from the corresponding notches 22e to be positioned in the gaps between the flange portions 22c and 22d, and rotate relative to the rectilinear guide member 22 so as to be coupled to the rectilinear guide member 22. . With the above configuration, when the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates in the forward and reverse directions, the first movable lens barrel 20 moves straight forward and backward with respect to the second movable lens barrel 19 while the rotation is restricted. To do.

A barrier device 35 having barriers 48a and 48b is attached to the front end portion of the first movable lens barrel 20,
The AF / AE shutter unit 2 provided with a shutter 27 including three shutter blades 27a (FIG. 5) on the inner peripheral surface.
1 is fitted and fixed. The AF / AE shutter unit 21 has a plurality of fixing holes 40a (FIG. 3) formed at equal angular intervals on the outer periphery of the shutter mount 40.
The plurality of follower pins 24 also serve as fixing means for the AF / AE shutter unit 21, and the pin hole 20a formed in the first movable lens barrel 20 and the fixing hole 40a are
The follower pin 24 is fitted and fixed, and the shutter unit 21 is fixed to the first movable lens barrel 20 (see FIG. 4). The follower pin 24 can be fixed by, for example, bonding, screwing, or the like. Incidentally, 41 is the first movable lens barrel 20.
It is a decorative plate fixed to the front end of the.

The AF / AE shutter unit 21 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the shutter mount 40, the shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to the rear part of the shutter mount 40, and the rear group supported so as to be movable relative to the shutter mount 40. The lens support barrel 50 (the rear lens group L2) is included. This shutter mount 40 has
Lens support ring 34, AE motor 29, rear group movement motor 3
0 is supported. The shutter mount 40 has an annular portion 40f having a photographing opening 40d through which the front lens group support cylinder 34 is inserted, and three leg portions 40b extending rearward from the annular portion 40f. There is. Two of the gaps between the three leg portions 40b are provided in the linear guide member 22.
The pair of guide leg portions 22b are slidably engaged with each other to guide the movement of the linear guide portions 40c.

The shutter mount 40 further has an AE gear train 45 that transmits the rotation of the AE motor 29 to the shutter 27.
And a lens drive gear train 42 that transmits the rotation of the rear group movement motor 30 to a screw shaft (feed screw shaft) 43,
Photo interrupters 56 and 57 connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6 and rotating plates 59 and 60 having a large number of circumferential slits are supported. The photo interrupter 56 and the rotating plate 59 constitute an encoder for the rear group moving motor that detects the rotation of the rear group moving motor 30, and the photo interrupter 57 and the rotating plate 60 for the AE motor that detects the rotation of the AE motor 29. The encoder is configured.

The shutter 2 is provided between the shutter mount 40 and the shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to the mount 40.
7, a support member 47 that pivotally supports the three shutter blades 27a of the shutter 27, and an annular drive member 49 that applies rotational force to the shutter blades 27a. The annular drive member 49 is provided with three operation protrusions 49a that engage with the three shutter blades 27a at equal angular intervals. The shutter blade support ring 46 is provided on the front wall portion with the photographing opening 4
6a and three support holes 46b provided at equal angular intervals around the photographing opening 46a, and the straight guide portion 4 is provided on the outer peripheral portion.
It has a bending restriction surface 46c exposed from 0c and slidably supporting the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of guide leg portions 22b (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

Further, the support member 47 located in front of the shutter blade support ring 46 includes a photographing opening 47a facing the photographing opening 46a and three shaft portions 47b (one in FIG. 5) facing the three supporting holes 46b. Only the location appears). Each of the three shutter blades 27a has, at one end, a shaft hole 27b through which the shaft portion 47b is inserted, and at the other end, a shielding portion that shields the photographing openings 46a and 47a. Between the end portions, there is a long hole 27c through which the operation protrusion 49a is inserted. The support member 47
Are shafts 47 that respectively support the shutter blades 27a.
b is the corresponding support hole 46b of the shutter blade support ring 46.
It is fixed to the shutter blade support ring 46 in a state of being fitted to.

The annular drive member 49 has a gear train 4 on its outer peripheral portion.
It has a gear portion 49b that receives rotation from 5. Further, the support member 47 has three circular arc grooves 47c along the circumferential direction at positions close to the three shaft portions 47b. The three operation protrusions 49a of the annular drive member 49 penetrate the three arcuate grooves 47c to form the elongated holes 27 of each shutter blade 27a.
c is engaged. The shutter blade support ring 46 is inserted from the rear side of the shutter mount 40 while supporting the annular driving member 49, the support member 47, and the shutter 27, and is screwed to the shutter mount 40.

Behind the shutter blade support ring 46, a slide shaft (guide shaft) 51 is attached to the shutter mount 40.
A rear group lens support cylinder 50 is disposed so as to be supported so as to be relatively movable via 52. Slide shafts 51, 52
Respectively extend in parallel with the optical axis O, and the screw shaft 43 is arranged near one slide shaft 51. The drive gear 42a provided in the gear train 42 is restricted from moving in the axial direction, and a female screw is formed on the inner circumference thereof. A screw shaft 43 extending parallel to the optical axis O and having one end fixed to the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 is screwed into the female screw, and the drive gear 42a and the screw shaft 43 form a feed screw mechanism. Has been done. Therefore, when the rear lens group moving motor 30 is rotationally driven to rotate the drive gear 42a in either forward or reverse directions, the screw shaft 43 advances and retreats with respect to the drive gear 42a, and the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50, that is, the supporting cylinder 50.
The rear lens group L2 supported by the lens group moves relative to the front lens group L1.

Pressing members 53 and 55 for pressing the motors 29 and 30 supported by the shutter mount 40 are screwed to the front of the shutter mount 40. Motors 29 and 30 and photo interrupters 56 and 57 are connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6 whose one end is fixed to the shutter mount 40. In a state where the first to third movable lens barrels 20, 19, 16 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 are assembled, the aperture plate 23 is fixed to the rear end surface of the linear guide barrel 17, and the front end portion of the tubular portion 11 is fixed. A ring-shaped retaining member 33 is fitted to the.

In this embodiment, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are respectively provided in the AF / AE shutter unit 21.
The AE motor 29 and the rear group movement motor 30 are mounted on the unit 21 as one of the components. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the supporting structure and the driving structure of the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 can be simplified, but at least one of the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 is
Shutter mount 40, annular drive member 49, support member 4
The present zoom lens can be realized even if the AF / AE shutter unit 21 including the shutter 7, the shutter 27, the shutter blade pressing ring 46, and the like is provided as a separate member and is supported by a support member different from the unit.

Next, the AF / AE shutter unit 21 equipped with the lens movement range limiting device, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail. The AF / AE shutter unit 21
As described above, the drive mechanism for moving the rear lens group L2 with respect to the front lens group L1 is provided. AF / AE
The shutter unit 21 includes a detection mechanism that detects the initial position of the rear lens group L2. This initial position is the initial position of the rear lens group L2 with respect to the front lens group L1, and during focusing, the rear lens group L2 is aligned with the front lens group L1 from this initial position toward the rear of the optical axis O. It is moved by the amount necessary for focusing and returned to this initial position after the shutter release is completed. The rear lens group L2 is controlled with respect to the front lens group L1 so as to always maintain this initial position when the power is turned on, after the shutter release is completed, and when the lens group is stored.

An initial position detecting device for the rear lens group L2 provided in the AF / AE shutter unit 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. The rear lens group support barrel 50 is supported by the shutter mount 40 via a pair of slide shafts 51 and 52 so as to be movable along the optical axis. One end of each of the slide shafts 51, 52 has a shaft support boss 50b, 5b projectingly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lens support cylinder 50.
It is fixed at 0c. The slide shaft 51 is a slide bearing 51a fixed to the shutter mount 40 (see FIG.
5) is slidably inserted and supported by the slide shaft 52, and the slide shaft 52 is slidably supported by a guide portion (not shown) formed on the shutter mount 40.

One end of the screw shaft 43 is
The lens support cylinder 50 is fixed to a shaft support boss 50a that is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lens support cylinder 50 so as to project close to the shaft support boss 50b. The screw shaft 43 is screwed to a drive gear 42a which is rotatably supported by the shutter mount 40 and the shutter 27 in a state in which axial movement is restricted. When the drive gear 42a is rotationally driven by the rear group movement motor 25, the screw shaft 43 moves back and forth with respect to the drive gear 42a, and the lens support barrel 50, that is, the rear group lens L2 supported by the lens support barrel 50, moves forward. It moves relative to the group lens L1. A rear group urging coil spring (coil spring) 3 is fitted to one slide shaft 51 between a slide bearing 51a and a shaft support boss 50b. The rear group biasing coil spring 3 biases the lens support cylinder 50 in a direction away from the shutter mount 40 (rearward with respect to the shutter mount 40). The rear group biasing coil spring 3 removes backlash between the screw shaft 43 and the drive gear 42a, and at the same time, removes looseness between the shutter mount 40 and the rear group lens support barrel 50.

At the front end of the shutter mount 40, a photo interrupter 301 and a chopper (light shield) 302 are mounted near the pressing member 55. The photo interrupter 301 and the chopper 302 constitute an encoder that detects the initial position of the rear lens group L2 with respect to the front lens group L1. Photo interrupter 30
1 is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 6 and fixed to the shutter mount 40. The chopper 302 is planted in the shutter mount 40, has a front end slidably supported by a chopper guide shaft 303 supported by a pressing member 55, and is mounted between the chopper 302 and the pressing member 55. Is urged toward the shutter mount 40 (toward the rear of the optical axis O). Chopper 3
02 includes a chopper plate 302a that enters the slit of the photo interrupter 301, and opens the optical path OP of the photo interrupter 301 when the chopper 302 is in the retracted position by the urging force of the chopper urging spring 304 (see FIG. 17). (State shown in FIG. 15), the optical path OP of the photo interrupter 301 is blocked when the photo interrupter 301 moves forward to a predetermined position against the biasing force of the chopper biasing spring 304 (states shown in FIGS. 15 and 16).

A stopper plate (stopper member) 306 is fixed to the front ends of the screw shaft 43 and one slide shaft 51 via a lock washer 305. The stopper plate 306 is integrally formed with the stopper plate 306, and when the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 moves forward, it abuts on an engaging protrusion 302b projecting from the chopper 302, and this is engaged with the chopper urging spring 304.
A chopper pressing portion (dog portion) 306a that moves forward against the urging force of is formed. The chopper pressing portion 306a comes into contact with the engaging projection 302b of the chopper 302 when the lens support cylinder 50 (rear group lens L2) approaches the shutter mount 40 to a predetermined position, and the lens support cylinder 50 is further moved. The forward movement advances the chopper 302 against the biasing force of the chopper biasing spring 303. Then, when the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 moves to the initial position approaching the shutter mount 40, the chopper plate 302 a of the chopper 302 causes the optical path O of the photointerrupter 301.
Shut off P. The CPU 210 uses the photo interrupter 3
By checking the output of 01, it is detected whether or not the rear lens group L2 (rear lens group supporting cylinder 50) is in the initial position. When it is detected, the rear lens group moving motor 30 is stopped and the lens for the shutter mount 40 is detected. Further advancement of the support cylinder 50 is stopped. As a result, the rear lens group L2 can be reliably stopped at the initial position, the lens support cylinder 50 collides with the shutter mount 40, and the screw shaft 4
3 and the drive gear 42a are prevented from biting each other.

Further, an O-ring 307 made of an elastic member such as rubber is fitted on the slide shaft 51 at a portion between the stopper plate 306 and the slide bearing 51a. The O-ring 307 attenuates the impact when the lens supporting cylinder 50 is stopped at the lens moving end when the rear lens group moving motor 25 runs away in the lens feeding direction (rear lens group L2 backward direction) for some reason. Cushioning material for. When the lens is runaway in the lens retracting direction (forward direction of the rear lens group L2), the rear group biasing coil spring 3 reduces the speed in the vicinity of the lens moving end, and the shock when stopping is buffered. The cushioning action of the O-ring 307 and the rear group biasing coil spring 3 also prevents biting between the screw shaft 43 and the drive gear 42a.

The present zoom lens camera operates as follows. When the power switch (not shown) is turned on in the lens housed state of FIG. 9 in which the zoom lens barrel 10 is most retracted, the whole movement motor 25 is driven to rotate a little in the forward direction. Then, this rotation is transmitted to the drive pinion 15 via the gear train 26 supported by the support portion 32, and the third
Since the movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the extending direction, the second movable lens barrel 19 and the first movable lens barrel 20 are slightly extended in the optical axis direction together with the third movable lens barrel 16, and the camera sets the zoom lens wide. The camera is ready to shoot at the edge.

When the zoom operating means 62 is operated to the tele side in this photographing possible state, the whole moving motor 25 is rotationally driven in the positive direction via the whole moving motor control means 60, and the driving pinion 15 and the outer peripheral gear 16b are used. The third movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the feeding direction. Therefore,
The third movable lens barrel 16 is extended from the fixed lens barrel block 12 due to the relationship between the female helicoid 12a and the male helicoid 16a, and at the same time, the straight guide tube 17 is fixed by the relationship between the engagement projection 17c and the straight guide groove 12b. Block 12
With respect to the third movable lens barrel 16, the lens moves forward along the optical axis in a state where it does not relatively rotate. At this time, the second movable lens barrel 19
Attaches the follower pin 18 to the lead groove 17b and the straight guide groove 1
By being engaged with 6c at the same time, the third movable lens barrel 16 is relatively rotated in the same direction and relatively moved forward of the optical axis with respect to the movable lens barrel 16. Also, the first movable lens barrel 20 is
Since the linear guide member 22 linearly guides and the follower pin 24 is moved and guided by the lead groove 19c, the second movable lens barrel 19 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 together with the fixed lens barrel block 12 do not rotate relative to each other. Advance to the front of the optical axis.

Since the rear lens group moving motor 30 is not driven while the zoom lens barrel 10 is driven in this way, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are integrally integrated with each other while keeping a constant distance from each other. In the direction (see FIG. 8). The focal length set by the zoom operation means 62 is displayed by the display means (not shown).

When the release button is pushed one step at an arbitrary focal length set by the zoom operation means 31, a distance measuring command is given to the distance measuring device 64 and a light measuring command is given to the light measuring device 65 to measure the distance and Photometry starts. Thereafter, when the release button is depressed two steps, both the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 move the moving amount obtained by the distance measuring device 64 based on the subject distance information and the focus set by the zoom operating means 31. The AE motor control means 6 moves the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained from the distance information to set the focal length and focus on the subject.
The AE motor 29 rotationally drives the annular driving member 49 in accordance with the subject luminance information from the photometric device 65 via 6 to drive the shutter 27 so as to satisfy a predetermined exposure. After completion of the shutter release, both the whole movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are immediately driven to return the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 to the state before the shutter release.

Regarding the movement control of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by the two-step pressing of the release button described above,
More specifically, when the release button is pressed twice,
The rear group movement motor 30 moves forward by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained by the subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64 and the movement amount obtained by the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 31. The rear lens group L2 is moved rearward with respect to the group lens L1, and at the same time, the total movement motor 25 moves the distance obtained by the object distance information from the distance measuring device 64 and the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 31. The front lens group L1 is moved by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained by the above, and a combined focal point of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 is set and the object is focused. Then, after the shutter release is completed, the rear lens group moving motor 30 is immediately driven to move the rear lens group L2 toward the front lens group L1 and return to the position before the shutter release.
At the same time, the overall movement motor 25 is immediately driven to return the front lens group L1 to the position before the shutter release.

When the zoom operating means 62 is operated to the wide side, the whole moving motor 25 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction, and
The movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the retracting direction and is retracted into the tubular portion 11 of the fixed lens barrel block 12 together with the linear guide cylinder 17. At the same time, the second movable lens barrel 19 and the third movable lens barrel 1
The first movable lens barrel 20 is retracted into the movable lens barrel 16 while rotating in the same direction as the first movable lens barrel 6, and the first movable lens barrel 20 rotates.
9 together with the AF / AE shutter unit 21. Also during this retraction drive, the rear group moving motor 30 is not driven, as in the above-described retraction drive. Then, when the power switch is turned off, the zoom lens barrel 10 is moved to the lens storage position shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the zoom lens barrel 10 to which the present invention is applied, the screw shaft 43 supports the rear lens group support barrel 50 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction.
Since a single stopper plate 306 is fixed to each of the slide shafts 51 and 52 in the vicinity of one of the slide shafts 51 and at the front ends of the screw shaft 43 and the slide shaft 51, Despite the fact that only two slide shafts 51 and 52 are provided as members for supporting and guiding the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, the rear lens group supporting cylinder is provided by the screw shaft 43 and the slide shaft 51. 50 is held stably and securely, and the movement of the screw shaft 43 in the optical axis direction is prevented by the stopper plate 306 and the slide shaft 51.
Is reliably transmitted to the rear lens group support barrel 50 via. Therefore, the support mechanism and the feed mechanism of the rear lens group support barrel 50 are realized with a simple configuration. Further, the chopper 302 is movably supported on the shutter mount 40 in the optical axis direction, the photo interrupter 301 is fixedly mounted on the shutter mount 40, and the chopper pressing portion 306 a for closing the optical path OP of the photo interrupter 301 is provided on the stopper plate 306. Since it is provided, the stopper plate 306 also serves as a part of the position detection mechanism of the rear group lens L2. Therefore, the number of parts related to this position detection mechanism is reduced.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a three-stage extension zoom lens barrel, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one, two, or four or more extension zoom lens barrels are provided. Can also be applied to. Further, the present invention can be applied to a lens barrel having an AF function that does not have a zoom function. Further, the present invention is not limited to the lens shutter type camera, but can be applied to the lens barrel of the video camera and other lens barrels.

[0049]

As described above, according to the lens movement range limiting device of the present invention, the support member provided in the lens barrel; and at least two support members extending toward the support member and parallel to the optical axis. A movable lens frame having a guide shaft and movably supported by a support member via the guide shaft; at least 2
A feed screw shaft extending parallel to the guide shaft of the book and fixed to the movable lens frame in the vicinity of any one of the guide shafts, the feed screw shaft extending toward the supporting member; and the feed screw shaft and the one guide shaft. A single stopper member that regulates one moving end of the movable lens frame, which is fixed to each tip portion, is provided. Therefore, the feed screw shaft and one guide shaft that is close to the feed screw shaft are provided. With this, the movable lens frame is stably and reliably held, and the movement of the feed screw shaft in the optical axis direction is surely transmitted to the support member via the stopper portion and the one guide shaft.
As a result, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the stopper member also serves as a part of the position detecting mechanism of the moving lens, the number of parts can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the zoom lens barrel in a state different from that in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the zoom lens barrel in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the AF / AE shutter unit of the zoom lens barrel is assembled to the first moving lens barrel.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing main members of an AF / AE shutter unit of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 6 is a perspective external view showing a third movable lens barrel of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a fixed barrel block of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 8 is an upper half sectional view showing a maximum extended state of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 9 is an upper half sectional view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel in a lens housed state.

FIG. 10 is an upper half sectional view showing a main part of the same zoom lens barrel in a maximum extended state.

FIG. 11 is an upper half cross-sectional view showing a lens storage state of the entire zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control system for controlling the operation of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of the main part.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the same main part in a state different from those in FIGS. 15 and 16.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Rear group energizing coil spring (coil spring) 6 Flexible printed circuit board 10 Zoom lens barrel 21 AF / AE shutter unit 27a Shutter blade 40 Shutter mount 42a Drive gear 43 Screw shaft (feed screw shaft) 50 Rear group lens support cylinder (Movable lens frame) 50a 50b Shaft support boss 51 52 Slide shaft (guide shaft) 51a Slide bearing 55 Holding member 301 Photo interrupter 302 Chopper (light shield) 302a Chopper plate 302b Engagement protrusion 303 Chopper guide shaft 304 Chopper biasing spring 305 Lock washer 306 Stopper plate (stopper member) 306a Chopper pressing part (dog part) 307 O-ring L1 Front group lens L2 Rear group lens OP Optical path

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 31, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, an embodiment in which the zoom lens barrel 10 of the above concept is embodied will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The schematic configuration and operation of the zoom lens barrel 10 will be described first. First, the first movable barrel 20,
The second movable lens barrel 19, the third movable lens barrel 16, and the fixed lens barrel block 12 are provided. The third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed into the tubular portion 11 of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and advances and retreats in the optical axis direction as it rotates. The third movable lens barrel 16 is a linear guide tube 17 that is integrally moved in the optical axis direction and whose rotation is restricted.
The second movable lens barrel 19 has a straight guide tube 17
It moves forward and backward while rotating relative to the optical axis. The rotation of the first movable lens barrel 20 is restricted, and the second movable lens barrel 1 is
By the relative rotation with respect to 9, it moves back and forth in the optical axis direction. The whole moving motor 25 is fixed to the fixed lens barrel block 12, and the shutter mount (support member) 40 on which the rear group moving motor 30 and the AE motor 29 are mounted is fixed to the first moving lens barrel 20. The front group lens L1 is a lens having a positive power supported by the front group lens support tube 34, and the rear group lens L2 has a negative power supported by the rear group lens support tube (movable lens frame) 50. It is a lens that has.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The fixed lens barrel block 12 fixed to the front of the aperture plate 14 of the camera body has a female helicoid 12a and a plurality of (4) parallel to the optical axis O on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 11. It has a straight advance guide groove 12b. An engaging projection 17c '(see FIG. 12) formed on the linear guide cylinder 17 is slidably engaged with one of the plurality of linear guide grooves 12b. A code plate 13a having a predetermined pattern is fixed to the bottom of the linear guide groove 12b with which the engaging protrusion 17c 'engages. The code plate 13 a is configured as a part of the flexible printed circuit board 13 located outside the fixed lens barrel block 12. The aperture plate 14 is an aperture 1 that determines the exposure area on the film.
4a.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The tubular portion 11 of the fixed lens barrel block 12 includes
Gear housing 1 that bulges radially outward and extends in the optical axis direction
2c is formed (see FIG. 7). This gear storage 1
A drive pinion 15 which is long in the optical axis direction is rotatably housed in 2c. Both ends of the shaft 7 of the drive pinion 15 are rotatably supported by the support hole 4 provided in the fixed lens barrel block 12 and the support hole 31a provided in the gear support plate 31, respectively. The tooth surface of the drive pinion 15 projects to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed barrel block 12.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed onto the inner circumference of the tubular portion 11 of the fixed lens barrel block 12. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of (three) linear guide grooves 16c parallel to the optical axis O on the inner peripheral surface, and the female helicoid 12a of the fixed lens barrel block 12 on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. Male helicoid 16a that meshes with outer peripheral gear 16b that meshes with drive pinion 15
(See FIG. 6). The drive pinion 15 has an axial length that meshes with the outer peripheral gear 16b in the entire movement range of the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the inner circumference of the third movable lens barrel 16, a linear guide barrel 17 is supported so as to be movable integrally with the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable around the optical axis. . The straight guide cylinder 17 has a rear end flange portion 1 provided with a plurality of (four) engagement protrusions 17c protruding radially outward on the outer periphery of the rear portion.
7d and a retaining flange portion 17e having a smaller diameter than the flange portion 17d, which is provided in front of the rear end flange portion 17d with a slight gap. This retaining flange 17
A plurality of notches 17f are formed in the circumferential direction of e.
The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of engagement protrusions 16d (FIG. 11) protruding inward in the radial direction on the inner periphery of the rear end portion. The straight guide tube 17 is located in the gap between the flange portions 17d and 17e.
By being relatively rotated with respect to the above, it is connected to the linear guide cylinder 17. The aperture 1 is provided on the rear end surface of the straight guide tube 17.
An aperture plate 23 having an opening 23a having substantially the same shape as 4a is fixed. Each of the engaging protrusions 17c is slidably engaged with a corresponding linear guide groove 12b formed on the inner circumference of the tubular portion 11 of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and its rotation is restricted. The engaging projection 17c ', which is one of the engaging projections 17c, is in sliding contact with the code plate 13a fixed to the bottom of the corresponding linear guide groove 12b to generate a signal corresponding to the focal length during zooming. The contact terminal 9 is fixed.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A second movable lens barrel 19 is fitted on the inner periphery of the straight guide cylinder 17. The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of (three) lead grooves 19c having an inclination opposite to that of the lead grooves 17b on the inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of (three) lead grooves radially outwardly projecting on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. (3) a follower protrusion 19a having a trapezoidal cross section,
The follower pin 18 located on the follower protrusion 19a
And The follower pin 18 is a ring member 18
a and a center fixing screw 18b for supporting the ring member 18a on the follower protrusion 19a. Each follower protrusion 19 a is provided with a corresponding lead groove 1 of the linear guide cylinder 17.
7b is slidably fitted, and each follower pin 18 has a third
The movable lens barrel 16 is slidably fitted in the corresponding linear guide groove 16c. Therefore, when the third movable lens barrel 16 rotates, the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates and moves straight in the optical axis direction.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The shutter mount 40 further has an AE gear train 45 that transmits the rotation of the AE motor 29 to the shutter 27.
And a lens drive gear train 42 that transmits the rotation of the rear group movement motor 30 to a screw shaft (feed screw shaft) 43,
Photo interrupters 56 and 57 connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6 and rotating plates 58 and 59 having a large number of slits in the circumferential direction are supported. The photo interrupter 57 and the rotating plate 59 constitute an encoder for the rear group moving motor that detects the rotation of the rear group moving motor 30, and the photo interrupter 56 and the rotating plate 58 for the AE motor that detects the rotation of the AE motor 29. The encoder is configured.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0037

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

One end of the screw shaft 43 is
The lens support cylinder 50 is fixed to a shaft support boss 50a that is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lens support cylinder 50 so as to project close to the shaft support boss 50b. The screw shaft 43 is screwed to a drive gear 42a which is rotatably supported by the shutter mount 40 and the shutter 27 in a state in which axial movement is restricted. When the drive gear 42a is rotationally driven by the rear group movement motor 30, the screw shaft 43 moves back and forth with respect to the drive gear 42a, and the lens support barrel 50, that is, the rear group lens L2 supported by the lens support barrel 50, moves forward. It moves relative to the group lens L1. A rear group urging coil spring (coil spring) 3 is fitted to one slide shaft 51 between a slide bearing 51a and a shaft support boss 50b. The rear group biasing coil spring 3 biases the lens support cylinder 50 in a direction away from the shutter mount 40 (rearward with respect to the shutter mount 40). The rear group biasing coil spring 3 removes backlash between the screw shaft 43 and the drive gear 42a, and at the same time, removes looseness between the shutter mount 40 and the rear group lens support barrel 50.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0039

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A stopper plate (stopper member) 306 is fixed to the front ends of the screw shaft 43 and one slide shaft 51 via a lock washer 305. The stopper plate 306 is integrally formed with the stopper plate 306, and when the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 moves forward, it abuts on an engaging protrusion 302b projecting from the chopper 302, and this is engaged with the chopper urging spring 304.
A chopper pressing portion (dog portion) 306a that moves forward against the urging force of is formed. The chopper pressing portion 306a comes into contact with the engaging projection 302b of the chopper 302 when the lens support cylinder 50 (rear group lens L2) approaches the shutter mount 40 to a predetermined position, and the lens support cylinder 50 is further moved. The forward movement advances the chopper 302 against the biasing force of the chopper biasing spring 303. Then, when the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50 moves to the initial position approaching the shutter mount 40, the chopper plate 302 a of the chopper 302 causes the optical path O of the photointerrupter 301.
Shut off P. The CPU (not shown) checks the output of the photo interrupter 301, and the rear lens group L
It is detected whether or not 2 (the rear lens group supporting cylinder 50) is in the initial position, and when it is detected, the rear lens group moving motor 30 is stopped and further advancement of the lens supporting cylinder 50 with respect to the shutter mount 40 is stopped. As a result, the rear lens group L2 can be reliably stopped at the initial position, and the lens support barrel 5
0 is prevented from colliding with the shutter mount 40, and the screw shaft 43 and the drive gear 42a are prevented from being bitten.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0044

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When the release button is pushed one step at an arbitrary focal length set by the zoom operation means 62, a distance measuring command is given to the distance measuring device 64 and a light measuring command is given to the light measuring device 65 to measure the distance measuring and Photometry starts. After that, when the release button is double-pressed, both the total movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are moved by the object distance information from the distance measuring device 64 and the focus set by the zoom operation means 62. The front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained from the distance information to set the focal length and focus on the subject, and the AE motor control means 6 is provided.
The AE motor 29 rotationally drives the annular driving member 49 in accordance with the subject luminance information from the photometric device 65 via 6 to drive the shutter 27 so as to satisfy a predetermined exposure. After completion of the shutter release, both the whole movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are immediately driven to return the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 to the state before the shutter release.

[Procedure Amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0045

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Regarding the movement control of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by the two-step pressing of the release button described above,
More specifically, when the release button is pressed twice,
The rear group movement motor 30 is moved forward by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained from the subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64 and the movement amount obtained from the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 62. The rear lens group L2 is moved rearward with respect to the group lens L1, and at the same time, the total movement motor 25 moves the distance obtained by the object distance information from the distance measuring device 64 and the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 31. The front lens group L1 is moved by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained by the above, and the combined focal length of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 is set to bring the object into focus. Then, after the shutter release is completed, the rear lens group moving motor 30 is immediately driven to move the rear lens group L2 toward the front lens group L1 and return to the position before the shutter release.
At the same time, the overall movement motor 25 is immediately driven to return the front lens group L1 to the position before the shutter release.

[Procedure Amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 8

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Figure 8]

[Procedure Amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 16

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A support member provided in the lens barrel; and at least two guide shafts extending toward the support member and parallel to the optical axis, and movable to the support member via the guide shafts. A movable lens frame supported by;
A feed screw shaft extending parallel to the guide shaft of the book and fixed to the movable lens frame in the vicinity of any one of the guide shafts and extending toward the support member; and the feed screw shaft and the one guide shaft. And a single stopper member which is fixed to each tip of the movable lens frame and regulates one moving end of the movable lens frame. 2. The encoder according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a light shield movably supported in the optical axis direction, and a photo interrupter fixed to the support member and having an optical path opened and closed by the light shield. When the movable lens frame reaches the vicinity of the one moving end in the optical axis direction, the stopper member moves the light shield,
A lens movement range limiting device provided with a dog portion that closes the optical path of the photo interrupter. 3. The lens movement range limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel is a movable barrel that supports the front lens group and moves back and forth in the optical axis direction. 4. The coil spring according to claim 1, wherein the one guide shaft is fitted with a coil spring having one end elastically contacting a supporting member and the other end elastically contacting a movable lens frame. Lens movement range limiter.