Lens assembly provided with an automatic focusing device

Claim 1

An interchangeable lens assembly provided with an automatic focusing device, comprising: (a) a phototaking lens system for imaging an object; (b) a first fixed barrel for holding said phototaking lens system for movement in a direction along its optical axis; (c) a second fixed barrel; (d) an automatic focusing device including a distance detector mounted on said second fixed barrel for detecting the object distance and for producing a drive force for automatically moving said phototaking lens system to an in-focus position, wherein when said lens assembly is mounted to a camera body said distance detector is disposed on the upper half of said lens body and is inclined with respect to the base of the camera body; (e) a focus adjusting member for moving said phototaking lens system, said focus adjusting member and said automatic focusing device being connected to each other through an aperture formed in a portion of said second fixed barrel, said phototaking lens system being moved in accordance with the drive force from said automatic focusing device; and (f) cover means for covering at least a portion of said automatic focusing device, said second fixed barrel covering the portion of said lens assembly which is not covered by said cover means.