Canon patent for curved sensor design (to suppress vignetting)

canon patent

Canon’s labs working on a curved sensor design? At least a new patent suggests it.

The patent refers to a curved sensor design with should suppress vignetting artefacts to a large degree.

  • Patent publication number 2016 – 197663
    • Release date 2016.11.24
    • Application date 2015.4.3
  • Canon patent
    • Make the central part flat in shape where light falloff is not noticeable
    • The surrounding portion where the drop in light quantity is conspicuous is defined as a curved shape

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Excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] It has an imaging surface which carries out light reception of the light from an object imaged with a lens,
An image sensor, wherein the aforementioned imaging surface has a flat shape part and a curved shape section.
[Claim 2] The image sensor according to claim 1 having made a central part of the aforementioned imaging surface into a flat shape part, and making a periphery of the aforementioned imaging surface into the aforementioned curved shape section.
[Claim 3] The image sensor according to claim 2, wherein a position of a boundary between said flat shape part and the aforementioned curved shape section is set as the same distance to one reference point on the aforementioned imaging surface.
[Claim 4] The image sensor according to claim 3, wherein the aforementioned imaging surface has a picture element region where a unit pixel is arranged at matrix form.
[Claim 5] The image sensor according to claim 4 which is provided with the following and characterized by the aforementioned valid pixel area comprising said flat shape part and an aforementioned curved shape section.
A valid pixel area which outputs a signal [ picture element region / aforementioned ] according to light income.
A black reference picture element region which outputs a black reference signal.

[Claim 6] The image sensor according to claim 5, wherein the aforementioned reference point is placed at the center of the aforementioned valid pixel area.
[Claim 7] The aforementioned black reference picture element region adjoins the aforementioned valid pixel area, and is arranged, and, in the aforementioned black reference picture element region, the part or whole serves as a curved shape section, The image sensor according to claim 5 or 6, wherein curvature of a curved shape section of the aforementioned black reference picture element region differs from curvature of a curved shape section of the aforementioned valid pixel area.
[Claim 8] The image sensor according to claim 7, wherein curvature of a curved shape section of the aforementioned black reference picture element region is smaller than curvature of a curved shape section of the aforementioned valid pixel area.
[Claim 9] An image sensor of a description in any 1 item of Claims 5-8, wherein the aforementioned black reference picture element region comprises a shaded unit pixel provided with a photoelectric conversion part.
[Claim 10] An image sensor of a description in any 1 item of Claims 5-8, wherein the aforementioned black reference picture element region comprises a unit pixel without a photoelectric conversion part.
[Claim 11] An image sensor of a description in any 1 item of Claims 1-10,
The aforementioned lens,
An imaging device characterized by preparation ******.
[Claim 12] The imaging device according to claim 11, wherein the aforementioned reference point is placed on an optic axis of the aforementioned lens.

[via Egami]

Canon patent for 6-22mm f/1.4-1.8 lens for Powershot cameras with 1/1.7″ sensor

6-22mm
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Canon patent describing an optical formula for a 6-22 mm f/1.4-1.8 lens for a 1/1.7″ sensor equipped camera. 6-22mm is 28-100mm equivalent on full-frame sensors.

The Canon PowerShot G3 X and Powershot S110 are equipped with a 1/1.7″ sensor (as other Canon Powershots), so I guess this patent is possibly referring to a future Powershot model.

  • Patent publication number 2016 – 191753
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Example 1
    • Zoom ratio 3.43
    • Focal length 6.15 20.03 21.08
    • F number 1.44 1.85 1.85
    • Viewing angle 37.08 13.06 12.43
    • Image height 4.65 4.65 4.65
    • Length Total length 74.93 77.34 76.67
    • BF 3.98 3.98 3.98

And the usual excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a zoom lens which performs variable power by having the 1st positive lens group and the 2nd negative lens group, having the 3rd positive lens group and a lens group of succession to the image side, and changing air spacing of each lens group from the object side,
setting air spacing of the aforementioned 1 lens group and said 2nd lens group to telephoto end — a wide angle end — largely
setting air spacing of said 2nd lens group and said 3rd lens group to a wide angle end — telephoto end — largely
Said 1st lens group consists of two lenses, one negative lens and positive lens,
Said 2nd lens group comprises five lenses containing three negative lenses and two positive lenses, and. Said 2nd lens group is 21 lenses more negative than the object side, 22 negative lenses, and 23 positive lenses. A zoom lens comprising a following lens, and said 22 negative lenses and 23 positive lenses comprising a cemented lens which has the plane of composition which turned a convex to the object side, and satisfying the following conditional expressions.
2.5 <f22/f2< 4.0
-7.0 <f23/f2< -3.0
25 <nu22-nu23< 55
f2: A focal distance of the 2nd lens group
f22: A focal distance of the 22nd lens
f23: A focal distance of the 23rd lens
nu 22: An Abbe number of the 22nd lens
nu 23: An Abbe number of the 23rd lens
[Claim 2] The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein said 2nd negative lens group comprises five lenses, 21 lenses more negative than the object side, 22 negative lenses, 23 positive lenses, 24 negative lenses, and 25 positive lenses, and it satisfies the following conditional expressions.
9 <f1/ fw < 14
-2.5 <f2/fw< -1.0
f1: A focal distance of the 1st lens group
fw: A focal distance of a wide angle end
[Claim 3] The zoom lens according to claim 1 or 2 comprising an object side by the 1st positive lens group of the above, said 2nd negative lens group, the 3rd positive lens group of the above, the 4th negative lens group, and the 5th positive lens group.
[Claim 4] The zoom lens according to claim 1 or 2 which object sides being consisted of by the 1st positive lens group of the above, said 2nd negative lens group, the 3rd positive lens group of the above, the 4th negative lens group, the 5th negative lens group, and the 6th positive lens group.
[Claim 5] The zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the 1st positive lens group of the above comprises a cemented lens which joined the 11th lens more negative than the object side and the 12th positive lens.
[Claim 6] The 3rd positive lens group of the above is the 31st positive lens, the 32nd negative lens, and the 33rd positive lens. The zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5 having composition which comprised the 34th negative lens and the 35th positive lens, joined said 32nd lens and the 33rd lens, and joined the 34th lens and the 35th lens, respectively.
[Claim 7] The zoom lens according to claim 3 or 4 constituting said 4th negative lens group from three sheets, the 41st positive lens, the 42nd negative lens, and the 43rd negative lens.
[Claim 8] An imaging device provided with the zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[Egami]

Canon patent for 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender

canon patent

Canon’s labs are working without interruption. Here we have a Canon patent for a 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191761
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Main lens
    • Focal distance 392.57
    • F number 2.90
    • Field of View 3.15
    • Image height 21.64
    • Lens total length 371.15
    • BF 44.00
  • Example 1
    • First state magnification 1.40
    • Second state magnification 1.70

Excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a rear converter lens expandable to a long focal length by equipping the image surface side of a main lens,
Magnification can be changed by switching some or all of the rear converter lens,
Magnification of the n-th state of a rear converter lens from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of beta_n, a rear converter lens, and a main lens, When average value of Sk_n and Sk_n of each state is made into Sk_ave for distance to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens
| (Sk_n-Sk_ave) x beta_n | < 0.10
A satisfied rear converter lens.
[Claim 2] When a focal distance of a rear converter lens of f_max and a minimum magnification state is made into f_min for a focal distance of a rear converter lens of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.5 < |f_min/f_max| < 10.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 3] When a forward side principal point position of ho_max and a minimum magnification state is made into ho_min for a forward side principal point position of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
0.05 (ho_max -ho_min) < /root(f_max^2+f_min^2) < 0.28
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 4] The rear converter lens according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned rear converter lens is characterized by some or all of a rear converter lens changing to optical axis direction and vertical direction at the time of magnification change.
[Claim 5] The rear converter lens according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has the 1st lens group Lfix of fixing at the time of magnification change in order, and the 2nd switchable lens group Lex from the object side.
[Claim 6] When a focal distance of a change group of fex_max and a minimum magnification state is made into fex_min for a focal distance of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.1 < |fex_min/fex_max| < 5.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 7] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, a refractive index of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of nd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, a refractive index of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, nd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(nd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(nd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < *(beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 8] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of vd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, vd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(vd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(vd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < * (beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 9] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most average value of Dex_n of each state when distance to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side is made into Dex_n of the n-th status-switching group of the aforementioned rear converter lens Dex_ave, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
0.08 < Dex_ave/Sk_ave < 0.40
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 10] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most distance of a fixing group of the aforementioned rear converter lens which it is to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side Dfix, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
-0.20 < Dfix/Sk_ave < 0.00
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 11] The rear converter lens according to claim 5, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has an aspheric surface in the 1st lens group of fixing to the time of magnification change.

canon patent

[via Egami]

Canon patent for 0.82x optical viewfinder

canon

Canon patent for an optical viewfinder with 0.82x magnification. The viewfinder magnification is not to be confused with the frame coverage.

For instance, the EOS 5D Mark IV has a viewfinder magnification of 0.71x and a frame coverage of 100%. The Canon EOS 80D has 0.95x magnification and 100% frame coverage. The EOS 7D Mark II has 1x magnification and 100% frame coverage. Finally, Canon’s entry-level Rebel DSLRs have a magnification between 0.8x and 0.87x. Hence it’s legit to assume this patent refers to a viewfinder for a future Rebel-class DSLR.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191760
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Example 5
    • Diopter -1 – 3 + 1
    • Focal length 61.30 58.73 64.32
    • Eye point 20.0 20.0 20.0
    • Magnification 0.82 0.85 0.78
An extract fro the patent literature:
[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a finder optical system which observes an object image formed in a predetermined side with a taking lens,
From the predetermined side side to order, it is a condensing lens of positive refracting power,
A reversal optical system,
The 1st lens of positive refracting power,
The 2nd lens of negative refracting power,
The 3rd lens of positive refracting power
The 4th lens of positive refracting power
A finder optical system comprising the 5th lens of negative refracting power.
[Claim 2] A finder optical system being aforementioned claim 1 and satisfying the following conditional expression in a finder optical system of a description.
K: -2.0<f12-/f<-0.9 .. (1)
L: -0.45<f5-/f<-0.3 .. (2)
Here, f expresses a focal distance of the finder system whole system, f12 expresses a composite focal length of said 1st lens and the 2nd lens, and f5 expresses a focal distance of the 5th lens.
[Claim 3] A finder optical system satisfying the following conditional expression in said finder optical system according to claim 1.
N: nud1>54 .. (3)
O: nud2<30 .. (4)
Here, the number of ATSU ** of the 1st lens and nud2 express the number of ATSU ** of the 2nd lens nud1.
[Claim 4] In said finder optical system according to claim 1,
A finder optical system, wherein the 1st lens of positive refracting power and the 2nd lens of negative refracting power are cemented lenses.
[Claim 5] A finder optical system satisfying the following conditional expression in said finder optical system according to claim 1.
Nd4>1.80 .. (5)
Nd5<1.55 .. (6)
Here, Nd4 expresses a refractive index in d line of the 4th lens, and Nd5 expresses a refractive index in d line of the 4th lens.
[via Egami]

Canon patent for camera with exchangeable mount

canon patent

As usual: I hope I got it right, machine translated patents are not easy to interpret. Any help appreciated.

Canon patent for a camera with exchangeable mount.

  • Patent publication number 2016-192701
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Canon patent
    • Mount exchange possible
    • Change menu contents according to mount

Not entirely sure about this patent. Does it mean you’ll be able to easily change the mount type on your camera? Does it mean I will be able to mount some hot Canon “L” lenses natively on a future Canon mirrorless camera, i.e. without using an adapter?

Description in “patentish”:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] It is an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A discriminating means which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
It has a management tool which manages a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu,
An imaging device carrying out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or performing an update process carried out to an invalid display while the aforementioned management tool makes an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu.
[Claim 2] The imaging device according to claim 1 when an item made said non-display or invalid display is registered into my menu in the aforementioned update process, wherein the aforementioned management tool carries out registration cancellation of the item from my menu or makes it an invalid display.
[Claim 3] It has a judgment means which judges mount exchange,
The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by performing the aforementioned update process when it judges with the aforementioned management tool having had mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 4] While making an item without necessity non-display in the aforementioned update process by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu, the aforementioned management tool, An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claims 1-3 characterized by carrying out registration cancellation of the item from my menu when said item made non-display is registered into my menu.
[Claim 5] The imaging device according to claim 4 which the aforementioned management tool is in a power turn state of the imaging device, and is characterized by making an invalid display an item which judges whether an item on display has an object of an invalid display, and is the target of an invalid display.
[Claim 6] The imaging device according to claim 3 characterized by the aforementioned management tool performing the aforementioned update process when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount at the time of a power turn of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 7] The imaging device according to claim 6 characterized by rebooting the imaging device when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount in the power turn state of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 8] The imaging device according to claim 3 characterized by the aforementioned management tool performing the aforementioned update process when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount in the power turn state of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 9] An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claims 1-8 provided with an initializing means which returns all or a part of item of a menu to an initial value after the aforementioned update process by the aforementioned management tool.
[Claim 10] It has a memory means which memorizes type information of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means,
The aforementioned judgment means by comparing type information of mount memorized by classification and the aforementioned memory means of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means, before memorizing type information of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means to the aforementioned memory means, The imaging device according to claim 3 judging mount exchange.
[Claim 11] A determination means to determine a communication method with a lens based on classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means,
It has a memory means which memorizes communication method information determined by the aforementioned determination means,
The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange by comparing a communication method determined by the aforementioned determination means with communication method information memorized by the aforementioned memory means before memorizing communication method information determined by the aforementioned determination means to the aforementioned memory means.
[Claim 12] It is a control method of an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A step which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
About a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu, A control method of an imaging device having a step which carries out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or makes it an invalid display while making an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished [ aforementioned ] among items of a menu.
[Claim 13] It is a program for controlling an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A discriminating means which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
A computer is operated as a management tool which manages a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu,
A program performing an update process which carries out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or makes it an invalid display while the aforementioned management tool makes an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu.

Any suggestions? :-)

[via Egami]

Canon patent to automatically switch from OVF to EVF in a hybrid viewfinder

canon patent

Canon patent for a hybrid viewfinder that can automatically switch from OVF (optical viewfinder) to EVF (electronic viewfinder).

  • Patent publication number 2016-173443
    • Release date 2016.9.29
    • Application date 2015.3.17
  • Canon patent
    • Equipped with OVF and EVF
    • Trackable AF
    • Switching to EVF when it is out of the effective range of the AF sensor

In “patentish”:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] An image sensor (103),
A distance measurement means (110, 111) by an image sensor other than the aforementioned image sensor,
A photometry means (108) by a photometry sensor,
An optical finder (105, 106, 109) which displays an object image optically without passing the aforementioned image sensor,
An electronic view finder (114, 115) which displays a captured image obtained in the aforementioned imaging means,
Object detecting means (112) which detect a position of an object based on a picture signal acquired from the aforementioned image sensor or the aforementioned photometry sensor,
It has a tracking means (112) to track an object detected by the aforementioned object detecting means,
Based on position information on an object detected by the aforementioned object detecting means, An imaging device having a control means (101, 112) by which the aforementioned distance measurement means and ranging operation by the aforementioned image sensor are switched, and the aforementioned optical finder and the aforementioned electronic view finder are simultaneously switched for a display of a finder.
[Claim 2] It has a calculating means (112) which computes movement magnitude of a tracking object,
The photographing instrument according to claim 1 having a control means (112) which controls a decision threshold to which AF and imaging surface AF by an AF sensor are switched with movement magnitude of a tracking object computed by the aforementioned calculating means.

canon patent

[via Egami]