Archive for the ‘Canon Patents’ Category
Canon still working on Foveon Technology
Canon has been working on 3 layer Foveon sensor technology for a while now, it still hasn’t appeared in a camera and we haven’t heard anything to say it will. However, the fact they continue to spend resources on it, tells us there is definitely a good application for the technology.
Patent Publication No. 2013-93553 (Google Translated)
- Publication date 2013.5.16
- Filing date 2011.10.4
Imaging element of three-layer structure
- Photodiode deep layer (hereinafter, PD) in the charge is diffused into the substrate
- Thus sensitivity is poor red
Canon patent
- I as a photonic crystal of irregular shape, the boundary surface of the PD of red or green,
- In the periodic structure of uneven spacing, less than twice the 1/4 times or more the wavelength of light, or I shall be two times or less 1/2 times or more
- Irregular shape has the properties to be spatially-localized or resonant light
- The incident light is diffracted, it combines with the light of the boundary plane, the resonant
- Prolonged exists than normal, the light becomes easy to be absorbed by the PD Thus
Source: [EG]
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DO appears to still be alive
More patents for large Canon DO lenses. The one of note is the 500 f/5.6, a lens that would be a very solid follow-up to the EF 400 f/4 DO IS.
We’ve seen a lot of these patents in the past, and none of them have ever come to market. It is good to see R&D is still going into DO technology, as I really enjoy the 400 DO.
Source: [EG] via [NL]
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A new tilt-shift related patent from Canon
A patent to help usability by changing the grind lines on the EVF or LCD when tilting, shifting and rotating. This is definitely something I could see being useful in a tilt-shift macro.
Patent Publication No. 2013-81129 (Google Translation)
- Publication date 2013.5.2
- Filing date 2011.10.5
Shooting assist functions suitable for tilt lens
- Rotate display grid lines
- The angle information of the tilt lens to determine the angle of the grid lines
- To align in the direction of change of focus, the angle of the grating lines, easy to compose the picture
Source: [NL] via [EG]
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Another DO patent
We haven’t seen a new DO lens in a long time, but the patents haven’t stopped. It looks like Canon is continuing the R&D, I’d love to see it go somewhere.
Interpretation and self-description of the patent literature
- Patent Publication No. 2013-64858
- 2013.4.11 Release Date
- Filing date 2011.9.16
Example 1
- Focal length f = 392.12mm
- Fno. 4.12
- Half angle of ω = 3.16 °
- Image height Y = 21.64mm
- 262.14mm length lens
- BF 69.97mm
- Two fluorite
- Materials and anomalous partial dispersion DOE to use, reduce the chromatic aberration
- Refractive power of the diffractive surface
- Strong, but can reduce the chromatic aberration of the element itself, flare increases
- The weaker, other optical element DOE play a role
- Refractive optical unit
- DOE anomalous partial dispersion and bonding materials
- DOE aspherical surface on the opposite side of the
- Vibration control
- Inner Focus
Source: [EG] | Canon EF 400 f/4 DO IS
Patent for wide angle fluorite concepts
Canon has filed patent for a wide angle fluorite concept. Such a patent could be part of a new ultra-wide zoom lens, perhaps a 14-24 or a replacement to the 16-35. Egami also thinks it’s possible this patent could be for the EF-M mount. It’s an interesting read, even when Google translated. Read the full patent here.
- Patent Publication No. 2013-37339
- 2013.2.21 Release Date
- Filing date 2011.7.12
- Example 1
- Zoom ratio 1.00
- Focal length f = 1.00mm
- Fno. 2.90
- Half angle of view ω = 56.66 °
- Image height Y = 1.52mm
- 9.51mm length lens
- BF 2.82mm
- 6 aspherical surfaces, the first surface 25
- Punctually
- Example 3
- Zoom ratio 2.06
- 2.06mm – f = 1.00 focal length
- Fno 2.79 -. 4.00
- Half angle of view ω = 51.27 – 32.82 °
- 1.33mm – Y = 1.25 image height
- 8.55mm – 8.79 length lens
- BF 2.41 – 3.46mm
- Aspheric first surface, the fifth surface, the first surface 26
- Positive and negative positive negative
- Example 6
- Zoom ratio 1.00
- Focal length f = 1.00mm
- Fno. 2.90
- Half angle of view ω = 87.35 °
- Image height Y = 21.60mm
- 9.51mm length lens
- BF 2.82mm
- 6 aspherical surfaces, the first surface 25
- Punctually
Source: [EG]
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A patent for APS-C?
Canon has filed a patent to reduce the noise and aliasing in small pixels.
This sort of patent could benefit higher megapixel APS-C cameras, like the EOS 7D Mark II.
Source: [EG]
EOS 7D Body at B&H Photo for $1199
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Camera Lens 18-70 f/2.8-6
A patent has shown up for a lens that is an 18-70 f/2.8-6. It looks like the lens could possibly be for a fixed lens APS-C camera. The PowerShot G1X, while a cool enough camera, didn’t catch on. Canon may not be done exploring a large sensor fixed lens camera.
Personally, I’d be more into a Sony RX1 style camera for a few dollars less.
As a side note, the G1X was announced last year for CES, and that’s coming up in January.
Read the full patent
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400mm, 600mm and 800mm DO Lenses
Patents have shown up showing new DO optical formulas with 2:1, 1:1 and 1:4 macro functions.
Adding macro functionality to super telephoto lenses would be a pretty cool feature. It’s also good to see DO patents continue to show up, it’d be nice to see new DO lenses.
Read the patent here
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New Canon 50 f/1.2
A new patent has surfaced that shows a new design for an EF 50 f/1.2 lens. The current 50L has somewhat of a mixed reputation due to some focus shift.
Also shown is potentially a 50 f/2 for a full frame mirrorless camera as it mentions a 22mm back focus distance. Keith at [NL] is reading the patent that way, and that interpretation looks plausible. If anyone is better at reading and interpreting the patent than we are, please let us know.
- Example 1
- Focal length f = 51.70mm
- Fno. 1.25
- Half angle of view ω = 22.71 °
- Image height 21.64mm
- 105.65mm length lens
- BF 40.00mm
- Nine 6 groups lens configuration
- One one aspherical surface
- Maximum effective diameter 45.16mm
- Example 4
- Focal length f = 50.00mm
- Fno. 2.06
- Half angle of 23.40mm
- Image height 21.64mm
- Length 72.62mm lens
- BF 28.86mm
- Eight four group lens configuration
- No aspherical
- Maximum effective diameter 33.34mm
Source: [EG] via [NL]
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New Coating
Below seems to be a patent for large protruding front elements, that will help with issues of reflection and cleaning. This could possibly appear in the much talked about EF 14-24 f/2.8L.
Patent Publication No. 2012-159723
- 2012.8.23 Release Date
- 2011.2.1 filing date
Example 1
- F = 14.3mm focal length
- Fno. = 2.89
- Half angle ω = 56.6 °
- 14 images in 10 groups lens configuration
- Existing coating roughness
- Will making cleaning the front element easier and possibly less destructive
Canon patent
- (Coating applied to one surface of a lens) thin film layer
- Having a plurality of tubular spaces are arranged parallel to the tube
- Maximum opening diameter of the tubular space below 400nm
- The inorganic oxide materials (silica, titania)
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