Canon Patent: RF 9-18mm f/4 Wide Angle Zoom For EOS R System

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Here is a new Canon patent application, and it is a rather interesting one.

Canon patent application P2022065383 (Japan) discusses optical formulas for a RF 9-18mm f/4 wide angle zoom lens for the Canon EOS R system.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zoom lens which is compact and has high resolving power while having a wide angle of view.

With the increase in the number of pixels of an image pickup apparatus, there is a demand for a zoom lens having a wide angle and high optical performance. Patent Document 1 discloses a wide-angle zoom lens having a focal length at a wide-angle end of about 11 mm in terms of 35 mm and an angle of view of about 120 °.

However, when the zoom lens is widened, the refractive power of each lens constituting the zoom lens increases and the resolution decreases.

The present invention provides a zoom lens having a wide angle of view, yet being compact and having high resolving power.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 9.27-17.46
  • F value: 4.12
  • Half angle of view: 66.80-51.10
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 130.07-127.77
  • Back focus: 11.00

The Canon patent was spotted by Asobinet. More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: RF 16-28mm f/2.8, RF 15-28mm f/2.8-4 and RF 15-28mm f/4-5.6 IS

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A new Canon patent, once again for RF mount lenses. Some interesting lenses, we might add.

Canon patent application 2022063727 (Japan) discusses optical formulas for three RF mount lenses:

  • RF 16-28mm f/2.8
  • RF 15-28mm f/2.8-4
  • RF 15-28mm f/4-5.6 IS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zoom lens having a wide angle of view, easy to manufacture, and having little aberration fluctuation due to scaling.

In the zoom lenses disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in order to satisfactorily correct distortion and curvature of field, aspherical lenses having a large uneven thickness and a large diameter are added to the first lens group and the second lens group. Is used. As a result, it is difficult to manufacture a zoom lens.

The present invention provides a zoom lens capable of satisfactorily correcting distortion and curvature of field while having a wide angle of view and being easy to manufacture.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 16.45-27.50
  • F value: 2.88
  • Half angle of view: 52.71-38.49
  • Image height: 19.00-21.64
  • Overall length: 134.57-119.35
  • Back focus: 14.07

Example 2

  • Focal length: 15.40-27.50
  • F value: 2.88-4.04
  • Half angle of view: 54.50-38.66
  • Image height: 19.00-21.64
  • Overall length: 114.50-110.87
  • Back focus: 14.15

Example 3

  • Focal length: 15.40-27.50
  • F value: 4.00-5.60
  • Half angle of view: 54.51-38.94
  • Image height: 19.00-21.64
  • Overall length: 103.50-103.50
  • Back focus: 14.20

The Canon patent was spotted by Asobinet. More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Industry News: Fujifilm Files Patent For Active Sensor Cooling System For Cameras With IBIS

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Interesting patent application by Fujifilm: active sensor cooling for cameras with IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation).

Fujifilm patent application 2022-55674 (Japan) discusses methods and technology to actively cool down an imaging sensor with IBIS.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device and an imaging method including an imaging unit.

Conventionally, in an image pickup apparatus provided with a camera shake correction mechanism, a technique for cooling an image pickup element has been proposed.

In recent years, an image pickup device may be used to shoot a high-quality moving image for a long time. The image pickup device is preferably used in an appropriate temperature range. Shooting high-quality moving images consumes a lot of power, and the heat generated from the image pickup device itself exceeds the appropriate temperature range. In high-quality video shooting for a long time, the image pickup device activates a protection function such as forcibly terminating the shooting when the temperature exceeds an appropriate temperature range for the protection of the device itself and the safety of the photographer. Therefore, it may not be possible to secure a sufficient shooting time when shooting a high-quality moving image. Further, in the case of repeated shooting, if there is no time interval in which the temperature of the image pickup device, which has risen during the previous use, falls to an appropriate range, it is not possible to secure a sufficient shooting time. Further, in an image pickup device with a camera shake correction function, since the heat-generating image pickup element is always floating at the time of shooting, it is structurally difficult to dissipate the heat generated from the image pickup element.

The image pickup unit 100 includes three heat pipes 180A to 180C. The heat pipes 180A to 180C are heat transporters that transport heat. The ends of the heat pipes 180A to 180C are installed on the sheet metal 108C of the cooling device 108. Further, the other end of the heat pipes 180A to 180C is installed in the heat sink 110. As a result, the heat generated by the cooling device 108 is transported by the heat pipes 180A to 180C, and can be cooled by the forced cooling mechanism 46 at the transportation destination.

As described above, the heat generated from the cooling device 108 can be transported by using the heat pipes 180A to 180C, and the cooling can be performed by the forced cooling mechanism 46 at the transportation destination. As a result, it is not always necessary to equip the sheet metal 108C of the cooling device 108 with the forced cooling device, and the space inside the image pickup device main body 2 of the image pickup device 10 can be effectively used.

The Fujifilm patent application was spotted by Asobinet. Canon patents are listed here.

Canon Patent: 60-600mm f/4.5-8, 70-700mm f/4.7-8 And 80-800mm f/5.2-9 For RF Mount

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A new Canon patent application for RF mount super telephoto lenses.

Canon patent application 2022-53697 (Japan) discusses optical formulas for three super telephoto lenses, all for the RF mount:

  • 60-600mm f/4.5-8
  • 70-700mm f/4.7-8
  • 80-800mm f/5.2-9

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zoom lens capable of supporting a high-magnification telephoto zoom and having good optical performance in the entire zoom range, an image pickup device having the same, and an image pickup system.

In recent years, there has been a demand for a telephoto lens having a long focal length or a zoom lens capable of shooting up to a telephoto lens, which is different from a smartphone camera. In recent years, so-called mirrorless cameras without a quick return mirror have been proposed, but since the main body of the mirrorless camera is thin, compact and lightweight, a compact and lightweight interchangeable lens suitable for the mirrorless camera is required.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 61.50-585.00
  • F value: 4.46-8.16
  • Half angle of view: 19.38-2.12
  • Image height: 258.90-346.50
  • Overall length: 258.90-346.50
  • Back focus: 30.00-90.50

Example 2

  • Focal length: 70.00-682.00
  • F value: 4.76-8..16
  • Half angle of view: 17.18-1.82
  • Image height:
  • Overall length: 271.00-361.00
  • Back focus: 31.22-97.50

Example 3

  • Focal length: 81.60-784.00
  • F value: 5.23-9.18
  • Half angle of view: 14.85-1.58
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 274.33-371.01
  • Back focus: 32.48-105.97

The Canon patent was spotted by Asobinet. More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: Shift-compatible Mount Adapter Supporting Electronic Contacts

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Here is a new Canon patent application: shift-compatible mount adapter with support for electronic contacts.

Canon patent application P2022052536 (Japan) discusses the technology to implement a shift-compatible mount adapter with electronic contacts. This seems to be a rather interesting thing. Not the first adapter Canon makes. Assuming this adapter is for the EOS R lineup, it has ti be said that so far there are no tilt-shift lenses for the system.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mount adapter capable of easily shifting an interchangeable lens with respect to an imaging surface for shooting.

However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a configuration for preventing mechanical interference between the camera body and the interchangeable lens, and has a predetermined optical axis with respect to the image pickup surface like a TS lens. It is not possible to shift the image by a variable amount and shoot. Further, if the TS lens configuration is mounted on the mount adapter, the number of parts increases and becomes complicated, which leads to an increase in cost.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the adapter 100 in this embodiment. As described above, the adapter 100 is an adapter that is arranged between the camera body 10 and the interchangeable lens 20 and can be attached (connected) to the interchangeable lens 20 and the camera body 10. The adapter 100 is also a camera accessory that electrically connects the camera body 10 and the interchangeable lens 20. A CPU may be provided in the adapter 100 to perform signal conversion and the like.

The Canon patent was spotted by Asobinet. More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: Drone Camera Pan/tilt Assembly And Mount

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Here is a somewhat different Canon patent application. A drone camera pan/tilt assembly.

Canon patent application 2022-046746 discusses methods and technology for a drone camera assembly.

[Problem] To provide an imaging device which can be miniaturized.

A camera 100 includes a tilt unit 40 having a lens unit 50, a base unit 20, a pan unit 40 erected from the base unit 20 and rotatably supporting the tilt unit 40, and a tilt drive unit 350 for rotationally driving the tilt unit 30. The tilt drive unit 350 has a drive unit 351 for transmitting a drive force, and the tilt drive unit 350 is disposed on the pan chassis 311 of the pan unit 30 so that the drive unit 351 is in pressure contact with the lens unit 50.

[…]

In particular, in order to finely control the rotation in the tilt direction, it is necessary to greatly reduce the rotation of the motor, so that a plurality of pulleys and timing belts are required, and the tilt drive mechanism becomes large. As a result, the image pickup device consisting of the camera and the rotation drive mechanism also becomes large, and the degree of freedom of mounting on the handlebar of the drone or bicycle may be reduced, and in particular, the weight of the image pickup device may exceed the maximum load capacity in the drone. ..
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, an image pickup device, and a mobile body that can be miniaturized.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via CN]