Canon patent application for space aircraft and artificial satellite

canon

We reported about Canon’s conquer of space before. Regular Canon Watch visitors already know that Canon builds artificial satellites and fires small rockets into space.

Canon patent applications 2018-030556 and 2018-025463 describe the technology Canon used to move into space. In case you have doubts: we are not kidding you. Canon is indeed building satellites and mini rockets.

Excerpts from the patent literature describing a space aircraft and its structure (machine translated):

The present invention is a spacecraft body structure thing transported to space, and relates to the spacecraft body structure thing and spacecraft object which are connected so that mutual internal space may communicate unidirectionally.

[…]

It is a spacecraft body structure thing transported to space, A pair of cylindrical body connected so that mutual internal space may communicate unidirectionally,
It has a reinforcing member which is joined by inner peripheral surface of each body which constitutes said pair of cylindrical body, respectively, and reinforces the aforementioned body, A spacecraft body structure thing comprising: A through-hole which penetrates a plate-like member from which the aforementioned reinforcing member constitutes the aforementioned reinforcing member to a thickness direction.
A rib structure part formed at a part of aforementioned plate-like member so that an opening of the aforementioned through-hole might be surrounded in an opening peripheral edge part of the aforementioned through-hole.

The other patent describes solar energy supply, and acquisition and transmission of data (also machine translated):

The present invention relates to the information processing apparatus which treats the point which carries out light reception through light guide holes, such as a pinhole, for example, the sunlight photo detector incorporating this information processing apparatus, and the artificial satellite which mounted this sunlight photo detector.

An information processing apparatus capable of highly accurately extracting a spot of light to be detected, a solar light receiving element, and an artificial satellite are provided.
An acquisition unit configured to acquire image data obtained by receiving an incident light from the light guide hole by an image sensor facing a light guide hole of the light guide member; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire image data And extracting means for extracting a point image satisfying a predetermined luminance condition. More preferably, the extracting means extracts a point image having the highest luminance among the plurality of point images when there are a plurality of point images satisfying a predetermined luminance condition in the image data.

Well, it’s not all about photography when it comes to Canon. Recently, the Japanese company moved into automated indoor gardening.

canon

Canon Digital Learning Center articles about SpeedLite 470EX-AI

canon Speedlite 470EX-AI

Canon SpeedLite 470EX-AI at a glance:

  • Auto Intelligent Bounce Head
  • Compatible with Canon E-TTL / E-TTL II
  • Guide Number: 154′ at ISO 100 and 105mm
  • Zoom Range: 24-105mm (14mm with Panel)
  • Tilts Upward 120°, +/- 180° Rotation
  • AI.B Full-Auto and AI.B Semi-Auto Modes
  • Optical Receiver Mode
  • LCD Panel
  • AF Assist Beam
  • Runs on 4x AA Batteries

The Canon Digital Learning Center posted a set of technical/instructional articles about the new Canon SpeedLite 470EX-AI.

Pre-orders for the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI are open at $339 at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Canon Digital Learning Center articles about Canon EOS M50

Canon eos m50 mark ii

EOS M50 at a glance:

  • 24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • UHD 4K and HD 720p120 Video Recording
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • ISO 100-25600, Extended ISO 51200
  • Combination 5-Axis Image Stabilization

The Canon Digital Learning Center posted a set of technical articles about the brand new Canon EOS M50 (canon rumors).


The Canon EOS M50 can be pre-ordered, starting at $779.

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in USA & CANADA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in UK: Park Cameras | Canon UK | Wex Photo Video | Amazon UK

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in GERMANY: Canon Germany | Wex Photo Video

Pre-order the Canon EOS M50 in ITALY: Canon Italia

Canon USA pushes “One Canon” strategy to showcase the company’s growing portfolio

Canon Rumors

Canon press release:

Canon U.S.A. Builds on Success of the “One Canon” Strategy during Annual Press Event that Showcases the Company’s Growing Portfolio

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 1, 2018 – Canon U.S.A., Inc. a leader in digital imaging solutions, concluded its One Canon Event, held February 12-14 in Hollywood, Florida. The annual gathering of esteemed industry analysts and press commemorated the Company’s inclusive and inventive approaches to its diverse customers and the continued success of the One Canon business strategy. The exclusive event provided over 45 industry analysts and journalists the opportunity to engage with executive leaders, customers, and business partners, and hear about the Company’s strategic evolution to continue to help foster strong growth and performance drivers going forward.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon updates Digital Photo Professional (and other software) to support latest MILCs and DSLRs

Canon Digital Photo Professional

Canon released new version of their photo software.

Digital Photo Professional (ver. 4.8.20), EOS Utility (ver. 3.8.20), and Picture Style Editor (ver. 1.20.20) now support the following Canon cameras:

  • EOS Kiss M/EOS M50
  • EOS REBEL T100/EOS 4000D/EOS 3000D
  • EOS Kiss X90/EOS REBEL T7/EOS 2000D/EOS 1500D

Digital Photo Professional 4.8.20 now supports MOV movies and MP4 movies shot with a camera compatible with Digital Photo Professional.

The software updates can be downloaded from here.

Canon announces entry acceptance schedule for New Cosmos of Photography 2018 

canon rumors

Canon press release:

Canon announces entry acceptance schedule for New Cosmos of Photography 2018 

TOKYO, February 28, 2018—Canon Inc. announced today that the company will begin accepting entries for its New Cosmos of Photography 2018 (41st edition) photo competition on April 18. To promote the competition as a global photo contest, experts from outside Japan have also once again been invited to judge this year’s competition.

Entries for New Cosmos of Photography 2018 will be accepted between April 18 and June 6, 2018, while the Excellence Award Selection Committee is to meet in July to choose seven Excellence Award winners and fourteen Honorable Mention Award winners. Later, in November, the Grand Prize selection committee is scheduled to meet to select one Grand Prize winner from among the seven Excellence Award-winning entries.

The Grand Prize winner of this year’s competition will receive not only JPY 1 million in prize money and a Canon product, but as an added bonus will be granted the right to hold a solo exhibit at the exhibition of winning entries for next year’s New Cosmos of Photography. Additionally, to encourage the continued pursuit of their creative activities, 2018 Excellence Award and Honorable Mention Award winners will each receive prize money and the right to display their works at this year’s exhibition of winning entries.

The New Cosmos of Photography is Canon’s cultural support project to discover, nurture, and support new photographers who pursue new possibilities in creative photographic expression. Launched in 1991, this year marks the 28th iteration of the annual contest, which, since its 25th iteration in 2015, has expanded to accept digital submissions (stills and video). What’s more, promoting the competition as a global photo contest that elevates photographers and videographers playing an active role in the current art scene, this year’s seven judges will include the Artistic Director of the Dutch photo and video exhibition Unseen, Emilia van Lynden, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) Curator Emerita of Photography Sandra Philips.

The New Cosmos of Photography encourages the creation of original works that push the boundaries of photography’s potential and systematically assists and nurtures award winners through exhibitions and published collections of their winning works as well as through publicity on the New Cosmos of Photography website. To date, the New Cosmos of Photography contest has accepted 27,406 entries from both individuals and groups, and has turned out a great number of outstanding photographers who are enjoying widespread success around the world. As a result, the contest has come to be regarded today as a gateway to success for new photographers.

For additional information about this year’s New Cosmos of Photography competition, visit the New Cosmos of Photography homepage (click here).