Canon Patent: Automatic Self-composing Selfie Stick (extends, retracts, changes angle)

Canon Patent
View Post

You read it right. This Canon patent application might refer to a selfie stick that automagically adjusts length and angle to take the perfect selfie.

Canon patent application 2021040089 (published 9/26/2022, Japan) discusses methods and technology for an automatically self-composing, robotic selfie stick. From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of adjusting the composition in real time when taking a selfie.

An imaging apparatus as one aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit, an extendable rod attached to the imaging unit, a grip provided on the rod, and a target composition and a current composition of the imaging unit. control means for adjusting the composition of the imaging unit based on the difference, wherein the control means controls the focal length of the imaging unit, the first angle between the imaging unit and the rod, the grip unit and the At least one of a second angle with the bar or the length of the bar is changed to adjust the composition.

The Canon patent’s selfie stick adjusts the composition of a selfie by recognizing the subject and automatically extending or retracting the stick, and by adjusting the angle. A fully automatic composition for the perfect selfie.

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

Canon Patent: Air Cooling System That Also Does In Body Image Stabilization

Canon Patent
View Post

Well, that’s an interesting Canon patent application: an air-cooled heat dissipation system that also functions as IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization).

Canon patent application 2022137975 (Japan) discusses methods and technology for an air cooling system that also works for IBIS. How is that achieved? The patent literature describes a cooling method that is very similar to what is done for computer CPUs. Heat dissipation elements are mounted on the back of the imaging sensor, the cooling air passes through these elements. Extract from the patent literature (machine translated):

An imaging apparatus capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by an imaging element movable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis is provided.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in order to improve image quality, there has been known an imaging apparatus that optically corrects image blur by moving an imaging device in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis . The image pickup device is required to have sufficient heat dissipation because the heat generated in the image pickup device affects the image quality when driving image blur correction, continuous shooting, moving image shooting, and the like.

In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200013, the amount of heat radiation generated by the imaging element is determined by the thickness and width of the heat radiation sheet connected to the imaging element .

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, the amount of heat generated by an imaging device has increased due to improvements in moving image performance of imaging devices. For this reason, with the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to sufficiently dissipate the heat generated by the image pickup device, and there is a possibility that the temperature rise of the image pickup device cannot be eliminated. On the other hand, if the thickness and width of the heat dissipation sheet are increased in order to increase the amount of heat dissipation, the movement load of the imaging element increases .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by an imaging element movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Means for Solving the Problems

An imaging apparatus as one aspect of the present invention includes an imaging element section having a fixed unit and a movable unit movable with respect to the fixed unit ; The movable unit has an imaging element and a heat exchange member, and at least part of the heat exchange member is inserted into the duct from an opening of the duct .

Item 521 refers to the heat dissipation elements on the back of the imaging sensor

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

[via asobinet.com]

Canon Patent: Fan Powered Cooling System For Mirrorless Cameras

Canon Patent
View Post

Remember the overheating soap opera that came along with the Canon EOS R5? Here is a new Canon patent for a fan aided cooling system for what we think is a mirrorless camera.

Canon patent application 20220294954 (US, filed 2/15/2022) discusses methods and technology for a cooling system with fans that draw in air through vents on the back (21c in the drawing on top) and out on the front (22b in the drawing on top). The patent abstract:

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

[via Northlight Images]

Canon Patent: Variable Apodization Using Electrochromic Elements (Defocus Smoothing technology)

Devocus Smoothing
View Post

This Canon patent application might point to the next generation of Canon’s Defocus Smoothing technology.

Canon patent application 2022124678 (Japan) discusses technology and optical formulas to obtain Defocus Smoothing by the mean of electrochromic elements (EC). Defocus Smoothing is Canon’s technology to improve bokeh (see short video below for an explanation).

From the patent literature:

BACKGROUND ART

An electrochromic (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “EC”) element is an element having a pair of electrodes and an EC layer disposed between the electrodes. It is an optical element that adjusts the hue and amount of light in the visible light band by applying a voltage between them to oxidize or reduce the compounds in the EC layer.

EC elements have already been applied to products such as variable transmittance windows for aircraft and anti-glare mirrors for automobiles. Attempts have been made to apply it to The apodization filter is an optical element that smoothes the outline of a blurred image, and has a transmittance distribution in which the transmittance decreases with increasing distance from the optical axis.

In the conventional EC device described above, a desirable transmittance distribution is achieved by defining the resistance range of the electrodes, but the setting of the constituent requirements was not sufficient. That is, the transmittance distribution of the solution-type EC element depends on the resistance ratio between the electrode resistance and the solution resistance per unit width. , depending on the resistivity of the electrochromic layer (solution). Therefore, it was necessary to define these in order to achieve a desirable transmittance distribution.

An object of the present invention is to provide an EC element capable of realizing a suitable transmittance distribution in a solution-type EC element in which power is supplied from the outer periphery of the dimming area, and furthermore, a suitable transmittance by following the aperture diameter of the mechanical aperture of the lens. It is an object of the present invention to provide an EC device capable of forming an index distribution. Another object of the present invention is to provide a lens unit and an image pickup apparatus having excellent optical characteristics using such an EC element.

To me it appears this might be the next generation of the Defocus Smoothing technology.

More patents are listed here.

Canon Patent: Converter Lens For EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM (increases focal length)

Canon Patent
View Post

I am not 100% sure I got this Canon patent application right. It seems to be about a magnifying optical system that increases the focal length.

The converter discussed in the patent literature appears to refer to the EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM lens (the master lens). From the patent literature:

BACKGROUND ART

A rear converter lens (hereinafter referred to as a converter lens) capable of enlarging the focal length of the entire system (increasing the focal length) by being placed between an interchangeable lens and an imaging device. It has been known.

In general, a converter lens has a negative refractive power, and the negative refractive power tends to increase as the magnification of the focal length increases. It is also known that if the curvature of the negative lens in the converter lens is increased in order to increase the negative refractive power, various aberrations such as coma due to the off-axis light flux are likely to occur.

In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a converter lens capable of obtaining high optical characteristics in the entire system when arranged on the image side of the master lens.

Master lens

  • Focal length: 24.50
  • F-value: 2.88
  • Half angle of view: 29.14
  • Image height: 13.66
  • Overall length: 64.83
  • Back focus: 35.68

Example 1

  • Focal Length: 39.54
  • F-value: 4.65
  • Half angle of view: 28.68
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 89.59
  • Back focus: 13.96

Example 2

  • Focal length: 49.27
  • F-value: 5.79
  • Half angle of view: 23.71
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 97.18
  • Back focus: 11.00

More Canon patent applications are listed here.

Canon Patent: Extension Grip With Easy To Change Batteries

Canon Patent
View Post

A potentially rather useful Canon patent was spotted: an extension grip that allows for uncomplicated change of the batteries.

Canon patent 2022125113 (Japan) discusses methods and technology for an extension grip where batteries can be changed easily. According to the patent drawings, it seems for a compact mirrorless camera, more or less in EOS RP style.

From the patent literature:

A camera accessory is provided in which a battery can be easily inserted into and removed from the camera while being attached to the bottom surface of the camera.

Description of the Related Art

Along with the miniaturization of cameras, an auxiliary grip attached to a camera has been provided as an imaging accessory for improving the holdability of the camera for users with large hands. Patent Document 1 discloses an auxiliary grip detachably attached to a grip portion of a camera. In addition, an auxiliary grip ( hereinafter referred to as an extended grip) is also provided.

However, if the extended grip is attached to the camera when attempting to insert or remove the battery from the bottom side of the camera, first the extended grip is removed from the camera, and then the cover member on the bottom of the camera is removed. It has to be opened, which is annoying for the user.

The present invention provides a camera accessory that allows the battery to be easily inserted and removed from the camera while attached to the bottom surface of the camera.

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

[via asobinet]