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

Canon Patent

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

Canon Patent

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:

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

Canon Patent

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

Canon Patent

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

Canon Patent

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]

Canon Patent: Catadioptric Optical System With Image Stabilisation And Inner Focus

Canon Patent

A new Canon patent application. It’s for a rather complex catadioptric optical system with inner focusing and image stabilisation.

Canon patent application 2022-45962A discusses optical formulas for a catadioptric lens.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catadioptric reflection optical system capable of realizing good imaging performance with a compact configuration.

As an imaging optical system used in an imaging device, the total length of the lens (distance from the lens surface on the object side to the image surface) is short, the size is small (compact), and the optical performance is high at the time of focusing and vibration isolation. It has been demanded.
According to the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to realize a catadioptric system having a relatively large aperture and high optical performance while shortening the overall lens length. However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the focal length of the entire catadioptric system and the objective lens group is large, and the correction of chromatic aberration and the like is insufficient, so that compact and good imaging performance is realized. I can’t.
Therefore, the present invention provides a catadioptric system capable of achieving good imaging performance in a compact configuration and an image pickup apparatus having the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 1200mm
  • F value: 8.02
  • Half angle of view: 1.03
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 380.02
  • Back focus: 100.01

Example 2

  • Focal length: 1200mm
  • F value: 11.00
  • Half angle of view: 1.03
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 286.02
  • Back focus: 44.99

Example 3

  • Focal length: 800mm
  • F value: 5.60
  • Half angle of view: 1.55
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 340.01
  • Back focus: 49.58

As always, this 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: