Lots of Canon Sensor Patents Hit USPTO

[Canon Rumors Guy]

Keith over at <a href="http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-camera-rumours-and-info/">Northlight Images has uncovered a large number of sensor patents</a> from Canon. When you put all of these together, you get some interesting full frame sensors that will work with lenses that are quite close.</p>
<p>If you’re bored and love reading patents, take a peak at the list below. (Summarized by Keith)</p>

<ul>
<li>Canon patent info looking at asymmetric micro lenses for sensors [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09768217">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>Canon have a slew of US patents dealing with aspects of DPAF, such as one looking at how you deal with the split in well capacity [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09781328">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>Another looks at making use of contrast to improve the efficiency of phase AF [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09781329">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>If you put lots of smaller BSI pixels under each micro lens you can improve sensitivity and DR [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09773827">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>Automating focus micro adjustment is covered [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09781330">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>Ever wondered what your camera is up to between shutter press and shutter release, when you are in AF/AE mode [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09781331">USPTO</a>]</li>
<li>Oh, and one more for those keeping up with curved sensor development [<a href="http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=09781367">USPTO</a>] – equalizing the influence of bending on dark current</li>
</ul>
<p>This all feels related to Canon’s upcoming full frame mirrorless camera(s).</p>
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[Mikehit]

That abstract for the contrast+phase patent reminds me of the description of Panasonic's 'depth from defocus' technology.

 

[john kriegsmann]

Canon should start buying Sony Sensors like Fuji and Nikon. Canon is so far behind in the sensor area that it is hard to see if they win catch up. The Canon 6D mk 2 is a perfect example, poor camera sales because sensor lacks dynamic range of original 6d and even has less DR than the cropped sensor 80D. Even the flagship 5Dmk 4 has less DR than the 4 year old Nikon D750. Canon is so far behind Sony and Fuji in Mirrorless area that they may be hopelessly far behind. They are charging 1k for a new M5 body, that while a nice body only offers cheap, hopelessly slow (f 6.3) kit lenses. Of course they offer an EF adapter for lenses that are too large for the body.

 

[unfocused]

...The Canon 6D mk 2 is a perfect example, poor camera sales because sensor lacks dynamic range...

Four posts, all basically saying the same thing and then this unsubstantiated claim. Nice trolling. Time to go back under the bridge.

 

[unfocused]

Most interested in the AFMA automation. Long overdue. Hope it surfaces in the next generation of DSLRs.

 

[dak723]

Canon should start buying Sony Sensors like Fuji and Nikon. Canon is so far behind in the sensor area that it is hard to see if they win catch up. The Canon 6D mk 2 is a perfect example, poor camera sales because sensor lacks dynamic range of original 6d and even has less DR than the cropped sensor 80D. Even the flagship 5Dmk 4 has less DR than the 4 year old Nikon D750. Canon is so far behind Sony and Fuji in Mirrorless area that they may be hopelessly far behind. They are charging 1k for a new M5 body, that while a nice body only offers cheap, hopelessly slow (f 6.3) kit lenses. Of course they offer an EF adapter for lenses that are too large for the body.

Blah, blah, blah, blah....

Please don't feed the trolls.

This thread is about new patents. Don't let the usual band of idiots hijack it like they try to do with every thread.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Canon should start buying Sony Sensors like Fuji and Nikon. Canon is so far behind in the sensor area that it is hard to see if they win catch up. The Canon 6D mk 2 is a perfect example, poor camera sales because sensor lacks dynamic range of original 6d and even has less DR than the cropped sensor 80D. Even the flagship 5Dmk 4 has less DR than the 4 year old Nikon D750. Canon is so far behind Sony and Fuji in Mirrorless area that they may be hopelessly far behind. They are charging 1k for a new M5 body, that while a nice body only offers cheap, hopelessly slow (f 6.3) kit lenses. Of course they offer an EF adapter for lenses that are too large for the body.

Blah, blah, blah, blah....

Please don't feed the trolls.

This thread is about new patents. Don't let the usual band of idiots hijack it like they try to do with every thread.

Yep, same nonsense in another post.

Jack

 

[JBSF]

...The Canon 6D mk 2 is a perfect example, poor camera sales because sensor lacks dynamic range...

Four posts, all basically saying the same thing and then this unsubstantiated claim. Nice trolling. Time to go back under the bridge.

Time for him to go back under his ROCK.

I agree about automated AFMA.

 

[aceflibble]

This all feels related to Canon’s upcoming full frame mirrorless camera(s).

If the 35mm mirrorless body is anywhere near release—hell, if even a single prototype exists—then no, none of these patents have anything to do with it. Such patents are 1) filled years before a relevant item is produced, and 2) incredibly rarely result in a production unit as defined by the patent on paper.

Patents are most commonly (as in, virtually always) ideas that a company has drawn up and are looking into testing. They change vastly before they find a home in a retail product (if they ever do at all; most patents do not ever get fully realised) and they get put in place long before such a product is invested in enough to produce prototypes, let alone gear up for mass production. Patents are essentially 'bookmarks' for ideas; companies calling shotgun on a theory before somebody else can beat them to it.


Remember all the fuss a couple of years back about multiple companies filing patents for 'organic' sensor technology? Notice how not a single working prototype camera using such a system exists, still? Same thing.

 

[Jopa]

Dear trolls, we all know Canon suck and doesn't innovate. So there is actually nothing to do for y'all on this forum, time to chill out and go home, TGIF.

 

[RGF]

Dear trolls, we all know Canon suck and doesn't innovate. So there is actually nothing to do for y'all on this forum, time to chill out and go home, TGIF.

And of course they should fold up their tent and go out of business.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

The troll clearly has never shot a 5D4 or 1DXII, sensor is very good, 13.5EV DR at base ISO is more than enough 99% of the time. Sure 14.8 would be nice, but if you are constantly relying on huge DR you are shooting at the wrong time of day.

6DII sensor is a huge let down and does not improve the 6D sensor in any way I can see other than addition of DPAF. For that I cannot understand, but I have never had interest in 6D series, and luckily 5D4 improved as I had hoped.

 

[Deleted member 68328]

Admin > there might be a mistake here:

This all feels related to Canon’s upcoming full frame mirrorless camera(s).

Clearly the patent about automated AFMA is for a DSLR. The figures clearly show the mirror.

BTW, it's AFMA per AF point, i.e. you can have -5 for one focus point and -1 for another for instance. I haven't read all of it, but the menu screenshots went on showing a "near" and "far" position. So, it's still limited to 2 focal lengths for zoom lenses (unlike Sigma dock which allows to configure 4 distances). And no mention of different focus distances. But again this is based on pictures, the detailed text may say otherwise.

Too bad though, this is definitely something we wanted to have in the 5D4.