Canon Is Working Hard On IBIS, Yet Another Patent Suggests

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It seems to be a no brainer that Canon will soon implement IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) on their cameras. Another Canon patent shows the company is working hard on this technology.

Canon patent application 2019-0260938 (USA) discusses how to make IBIS and lens IS work together. It’s not the first Canon patent about IBIS/lens IS we spotted, another one is this one. All IBIS related Canon patent applications are listed here.

From the patent abstract:

An image capturing apparatus comprises: a shake detection sensor which detects shaking; a calculation circuit which calculates a first shake correction amount based on a shake signal output from the shake detection sensor; a transmitting circuit which transmits the first shake correction amount to a lens apparatus that comprises first image stabilization apparatus for correcting shaking by moving an optical system; and a lens characteristics correction circuit which performs correction regarding lens characteristics in an image signal obtained by image-capturing in a state in which the first image stabilization apparatus has corrected shaking, based on the first shake correction amount, wherein the lens characteristics correction circuit performs the correction regarding lens characteristics based on the first shake correction amount at a time prior to the image-capturing time by a predetermined time

According to the patent literature, it can be done in the following way:

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the aforementioned problems, and realizes a technique in which, when correction regarding lens characteristics is performed in a camera main body while using a camera shake correction apparatus on an interchangeable lens side, at least the influence of delay in communication between the interchangeable lens and the camera main body is reduced. [0009] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, one aspect of the present invention provides an image capturing apparatus, comprising: a shake detection sensor which detects shaking; a calculation circuit which calculates a first shake correction amount based on a shake signal output from the shake detection sensor; a transmitting circuit which transmits the first shake correction amount to a lens apparatus that comprises first image stabilization apparatus for correcting shaking by moving an optical system; and a lens characteristics correction circuit which performs correction regarding lens characteristics in an image signal obtained by image-capturing in a state in which the first image stabilization apparatus has corrected shaking, based on the first shake correction amount, wherein the lens characteristics correction circuit performs the correction regarding lens characteristics based on the first shake correction amount at a time prior to the image-capturing time by a predetermined time. [0010] Another aspect of the present invention provides, a control method of an image capturing apparatus comprising: detecting shaking using a shake detection sensor; calculating a first shake correction amount based on a shake signal output from the shake detection sensor; transmitting the first shake correction amount to a lens apparatus that comprises a first image stabilization apparatus that corrects shaking by moving an optical system; and performing correction regarding lens characteristics in an image signal obtained by image-capturing in a state in which the first image stabilization apparatus has corrected shaking based on the first shake correction amount, based on the first shake correction amount at a time prior to the image-capturing time by a predetermined time. [0011] Still another aspect of the present invention provides, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image capturing apparatus, the method comprising: detecting shaking using a shake detection sensor; calculating a first shake correction amount based on a shake signal output from the shake detection sensor; transmitting the first shake correction amount to a lens apparatus that comprises a first image stabilization apparatus that corrects shaking by moving an optical system; and performing correction regarding lens characteristics in an image signal obtained by image-capturing in a state in which the first image stabilization apparatus has corrected shaking based on the first shake correction amount, based on the first shake correction amount at a time prior to the image-capturing time by a predetermined time. [0012] According to the present invention, when correction regarding lens characteristics is performed in a camera main body while using a camera shake correction apparatus on an interchangeable lens side, at least the influence of delay in communication between the interchangeable lens and the camera main body can be reduced. 

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

Canon Patent For 17-70mm Lens For EOS R System

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Here is another Canon patent application for a lens for the EOS R full frame mirrorless system.

Canon patent application 2019-139172 (Japan) discusses optical formulas for a 17-70mm lens for the Canon EOS R system.

  • Focal length 17.40 35.02 68.69   
  • F-number 3.57 4.18 5.85   
  • Half field angle (degrees) 51.19 31.71 17.48   
  • Image height 21.64 21.64 21.64   
  • Total lens length 149.59 133.68 150.50   
  • BF 13.43 27.63 57.99 
  • Focal length 17.10 34.82 72.70   
  • F number 3.57 4.18 5.85   
  • Half angle of view (degree) 51.68 31.85 16.57   
  • Image height 21.64 21.64 21.64   
  • Total lens length 151.00 135.57 157.71  
  • BF 13.13 27.81 63.49 
  • Focal length 18.70 37.55 77.50   
  • F-number 3.57 4.18 5.85   
  • Half angle of view (degree) 49.16 29.95 15.60   
  • Image height 21.64 21.64 21.64   
  • Total lens length 146.50 128.90 147.50   
  • BF 15.19 27.72 59.84   

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

Source: Canon News

An RF 52-83mm F/1.2 Lens For The EOS R Shows Up In Canon Patent

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Another weird zoom range spotted in a Canon patent application.

Canon patent application 2019-138941 (Japan) describes the optical formula for a 52-83mm F/1.2 lens for full frame mirrorless systems.

Two embodiments can be found in the patent literature:

  • Zoom ratio: 1.60 
  • Focal length: 51.50 – 64.01 – 82.52 mm
  • Fno.: 1.24
  • Half angle: 22.79 – 18.67 – 14.69  
  • Lens length: 201.66 – 204.48 – 204.68 mm
  • Back focus: 22.89 – 23.95 – 25.47 mm 

And:

  • Zoom ratio: 1.60 
  • Focal length: 51.50 – 64.01 – 82.52 mm
  • Fno.: 1.13
  • Half angle: 22.79 – 18.67 – 14.69  
  • Lens length: 220.20 – 225.05 – 224.20 mm
  • Back focus: 6.51 – 6.53 – 8.64 mm

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

[via Hi Lows Note]

Canon Cameras Might Get An Expanded Dynamic Range Thanks To Dual Pixel AF Sensors

Dual Pixel AF
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Image sensors with Dual Pixel Autofocus on board can be used to obtain expanded dynamic range, a patent application suggests.

Canon patent application 2019-129491 (Japan) discusses technology and methods for an image sensor output with increased dynamic range. As you probably know, DPAF splits a pixel in two (see here how it works). The idea is that the two half pixel can be amplified at different levels while being read and processed at the same moment. Think about it as “dual ISO”.

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

Source: Canon News

Canon Might Have A Crazy EOS R Lens Up Their Sleeve, An RF 50-82mm f/1.1

Eos R
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Canon patent application US20190243111 discusses various optical formulas for the EOS R full frame mirrorless camera lenses.

Among them is a 50-82mm f/1.1 lens. Will this lens ever come to the Canon EOS R system? Hard to say. At least there is an existing patent. Then time will tell.

  • Focal length 51.50 64.17 82.52
  • F-number 1.13 1.13 1.13
  • Half angle of view 22.79 18.63 14.69 (degrees)
  • Total lens length 220.20 225.05 224.20 
  • BF 6.51 6.53 8.64

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

Source: Canon News

Future Canon Cameras Might Have An Even Better Sensor Dust Removal Feature

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Canon patent application EP3522515A1 discusses method and technology for an image sensor dust removal system. Canon already has one of the best dust removal systems in the industry, so it can only get better.

Excerpts from the patent literature:

An imaging device such as a digital camera for picking up and recording an image by converting an image signal into an electric signal receives an imaging light flux by means of the image pick up device, which may typically be a CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) it comprises. Then, the photoelectric conversion signal output from the image pickup device is converted into image data, which image data is then recorded in a recording medium such as a memory card. In such an imaging device, a cover glass, an optical low pass filter, an infrared absorption filter and other parts are arranged in front (on the subject side) of the image pickup device to form an image pickup unit there.

In an imaging device of the above-described type, when foreign objects such as dusts adhere to any of the surfaces of the cover glass and the filters of the image pickup unit, those foreign objects block the incident light flux and are picked up as black spots in the recorded image. Particularly, in the case of a digital single-lens reflex camera, the dusts that are produced when the shutter, the quick return mirror and/or some other part arranged near the image pickup unit is mechanically driven to operate can adhere, if partly, to any of the surfaces of the cover glass and the filters. Additionally, when the lens is being replaced, foreign objects such as dusts can get into the inside of the camera main body by way of the opening of the lens mount and adhere to any of the surfaces of the cover glass and the filters. However, when each of the cover glass and the filters is equipped with a piezoelectric element and the piezoelectric element is made to operate as a vibrating plate that give rise to elastic vibrations (to be referred to as flexural vibrations hereinafter) in the thickness direction, it can be made to operate as a dust removal device for removing the dusts adhering to the surfaces thereof.

[…] in an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration device comprising a vibrating member having at least n (n≥2) piezoelectric elements arranged on a vibrating plate, each of the piezoelectric elements being formed by using a lead-free piezoelectric material and electrodes, wherein, if the temperature that maximizes the piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material of each of the n piezoelectric elements is expressed as Tm (m being a natural number from 1 to n), at least two of T1 through Tn differ from each other.

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

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