Canon Patent: Three Camera System For Smartphones

Canon Patent

A Canon patent related to a camera system for smartphones is a rather unusual patent for Canon. I let it to your educated speculations what if means. Do not be surprised if suddenly everyone starts spreading rumors about Canon making a smartphone.

Canon patent application 2023160089 (Japan, published 11/2/2023) discusses technology and methods for a camera system for devices like smartphones, that allows to seamlessly zoom between cameras in multiple shooting modes.

From the patent literature:

  • When capturing images in parallel in a plurality of imaging modes, the angle of view can be seamlessly switched from wide-angle to telephoto without interrupting the imaging.
  • BACKGROUND ART
    Conventionally, a photographing method has been well known in which a subject is simultaneously recorded using both an imaging section for photographing a still image and an imaging section for photographing a moving image, which are included in an imaging device. Furthermore, in recent years, imaging devices such as smartphones are equipped with a plurality of imaging units having different focal lengths, and each imaging unit can simultaneously record a subject. Furthermore, when switching the angle of view, the smartphone uses an imaging unit with the desired focal length. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically moving the zoom position of an imaging device for capturing a moving image in conjunction with a zoom operation of an imaging device for capturing a still image.
  • In Patent Document 1, each imaging device can switch to an arbitrary angle of view by performing optical zoom by driving a lens. In contrast, smartphones use multiple imaging units (lenses) with different focal lengths to switch the angle of view. For example, when capturing images in parallel in two imaging modes, still image and video, with a smartphone, in order to switch the lens for video to the lens used for still images, you must first stop using the imaging unit for still images. After that, you will be able to switch the viewing angle for video recording. Therefore, it is difficult to seamlessly adjust the angle of view from wide-angle to telephoto without interrupting imaging.
  • Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to seamlessly switch the angle of view from wide-angle to telephoto without interrupting the imaging when images are taken in parallel in a plurality of imaging modes.
  • Means for Solving the Problem
    In order to achieve the above object, an imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging
    device having a plurality of lenses having different angles of view, and which has a
    first imaging mode and a first imaging mode. 2. A reception means that receives a switching operation to switch the lens used for imaging when images are captured in parallel in two imaging modes, and in response to receiving the switching operation of the lens used for imaging, a control unit configured to control switching of lenses used for imaging, the control unit controlling the first imaging mode and the second imaging mode so that different lenses are used in the first imaging mode and the second imaging mode. The present
    invention is characterized in that the lens used in the first imaging mode and the second imaging mode is controlled to be switched .
  • According to the present invention, when images are taken in parallel in a plurality of imaging modes, the angle of view can be seamlessly switched from wide-angle to telephoto without interrupting the imaging.

Is Canon about to license this to smartphone makers?

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: Camera Built-in Fan Stops When Removing Lens

Canon Patent

A rather interesting Canon patent application, but we doubt it will go into production soon.

Canon patent application 2023157248 (Japan, published 10/26/2023) discusses technology and methods to implement a heat dissipation fan into an interchangeable lens camera. From the patent literature:

  • An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can ensure heat dissipation performance while preventing dust from entering the device when a lens is attached or detached.

[Background technology]

  • [0002] In recent years, with the demand for smaller electronic devices, the smaller size and higher density of components mounted inside the devices has become noticeable.
  • [0003] On the other hand, there is a growing demand for higher functionality in imaging devices, especially higher performance in video functions, and the amount of heat generated by the equipment is on the rise.
  • [0004] When shooting a video in a high-temperature environment, the temperature inside the imaging device increases, which is likely to cause malfunctions and performance degradation of mounted components, and eventually cause failure of the imaging device.
  • [0005] Furthermore, in recent years, in order to improve image quality, imaging devices that perform blur correction by moving an imaging element in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction have become popular.
  • [0006] Even in an imaging device that performs such shake correction, heat generated in the image sensor affects image quality when driving the shake correction mechanism, during continuous shooting, or when shooting a video, so sufficient heat dissipation is required. is required.
  • [0007] Therefore, when the amount of heat dissipated by natural heat dissipation is not sufficient for the amount of heat generated by the imaging device, a heat dissipation structure using forced air cooling using a fan is used.
  • [0008] Furthermore, in an imaging device using an image sensor, an optical low-pass filter or an infrared cut filter is arranged on the subject side of the image sensor. It is known that when foreign matter such as dust that enters when a lens is replaced adheres to the filter surface, the attached portion becomes a black dot that appears in the photographed image, degrading the quality of the photographed image.
  • [0009] Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for cooling an optical system and a heat generating element arranged in a closed space using a fan.
  • [0011] However, in the conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, although a cooling effect can be obtained by the fan, it is necessary to maintain a closed space.
  • [0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and one embodiment of the present invention provides an imaging device that can ensure heat dissipation performance while preventing dust from entering the device when a lens is attached or detached. The purpose is to provide

[Means to solve the problem]

  • [0013] An imaging device including an image sensor of the present invention includes a mount to which a lens can be attached and detached, a lens attachment/detachment detection means for detecting that the lens is attached to and detached from the mount, an image pickup element, and a cooling device for cooling the image pickup element. In the imaging device, the imaging device includes a heat dissipation fan that generates an air flow, and a control means that controls driving of the heat dissipation fan, wherein the control means detects whether the lens is attached to the mount by the lens attachment/detachment detection means while the heat dissipation fan is being driven. If it is detected that the heat dissipation fan is removed from the heat dissipation fan, the heat dissipation fan is stopped.
  • [0014] Further, an imaging device including an image sensor of the present invention includes a mount to which a lens can be attached and detached, a lens attachment/detachment detection means for detecting that the lens is attached to and detached from the mount, an image pickup element, and a lens attachment/detachment detection means for detecting that the lens is attached to and detached from the mount. In the imaging device, the imaging device includes a heat dissipation fan that generates a cooling air flow, a control means that controls the drive of the heat dissipation fan, and a mechanical
    shutter that is disposed closer to the subject than the image sensor. If the lens attachment/detachment detection means detects that the lens is removed from the mount while the fan is being driven, the drive of the heat dissipation fan is not stopped when the mechanical shutter is closed.

【Effect of the invention】

  • [0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently remove foreign matter such as dust attached to the imaging surface by the fan at a more effective timing.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: Wearable Camera With Automatic Scene Recognition

Canon Patent

Here is an interesting Canon patent application: a wearable camera that automatically checks and adjusts the shooting position.

Canon patent application 2023152657 (Japan, published 10/17/2023) discusses methods and technology for a wearable camera that can recognize the scene to the degree to automatically adjust the framing of the picture (if I got it right).

From the patent literature:

  • An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable camera whose imaging direction can be adjusted by a user and whose imaging position can be easily specified.
  • BACKGROUND ART
    Wearable cameras have attracted attention in recent years. Various types of wearable cameras are known, such as glasses, neck type, wristwatch, and ring type.
  • Applications of wearable cameras include, for example, equipment maintenance and remote work support at manufacturing sites. A worker wearing a wearable camera can broadcast video and audio from the site in real time to a remote supporter, and the supporter can give instructions and information to the worker based on the video.
  • However, since the wearable camera described in Patent Document 1 is worn around the user’s neck, it is difficult for the user to specify the shooting position. In particular, when the angle of the lens is adjusted, it is considered difficult to specify the photographing position after the adjustment.
  • The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wearable camera in which the user can adjust the imaging direction, and in which the shooting position can be easily specified. .
  • Means for Solving the Problems
    The wearable camera of the present invention includes an imaging section, a fixed section worn by a user, and an irradiation section that irradiates light substantially parallel to the optical axis of the imaging section. A movable part that is movable with respect to the fixed part is provided, and the imaging part and the irradiation part are arranged in the movable part.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: Keep High-precision Autofocus During Tilt-shift Operations

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application, another one that deals with tilt-shift lenses.

The Canon patent application, published on October 18, 2023, discusses methods and technology to make sure autofocus is kept during tilt-shift operations with the lens.

From the patent literature:

  • An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can maintain focus with high accuracy even when obtaining a tilt effect or a shift effect.
  • Background Art
    Conventionally, a tilt effect that tilts the focusing surface and a shift effect that moves the shooting range have been used to achieve good overall focus on an object surface that is tilted with respect to the optical axis of an imaging optical system. A resulting optical system has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses an optical system that can obtain a tilt effect and a shift effect by moving two optical elements in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
  • However, the optical system of Patent Document 1 does not take into account that the amount of defocus changes by moving the optical element in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, so it does not take into account that the tilt effect or shift effect is applied after focusing. If the optical element is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis in order to obtain an image, the focus will shift.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can maintain focus with high precision even when obtaining a tilt effect or a shift effect.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: RF 70mm F2, RF 70mm F2.8, RF 75mm F2.4, and RF 85mm F2.8

Canon Patent

A new Canon patent application for relatively fast prime lenses.

Canon patent application 2023149130 (Japan, published 10/12/2023) discusses optical formulas for prime lenses for the RF mount:

  • RF 70mm F2
  • RF 70mm F2.8
  • RF 75mm F2.4
  • RF 85mm F2.8

From the patent literature:

  • The present invention provides an optical system that is small and lightweight, yet can satisfactorily correct various aberrations including chromatic aberration and obtain high optical performance, and an imaging device having the same.
  • BACKGROUND ART
    In recent years, there has been a strong demand for optical systems used in imaging devices to have a compact overall lens system and high optical performance including chromatic aberration correction.
  • Generally, in a telephoto type optical system, as the focal length becomes longer, the entire lens system becomes larger and its mass increases. In order to miniaturize the optical system with a telephoto power arrangement, it is effective to strengthen the positive refractive power on the object side and the negative refractive power on the image side, but it is effective to increase the positive refractive power on the object side and the negative refractive power on the image side. Challenges arise in balancing both work and life.
  • Furthermore, in an optical system compatible with a large image sensor, it is important to perform focusing quickly using a small and lightweight lens group, and with less burden on the driving device. In a telephoto optical system, in order to easily perform focusing and to reduce aberration fluctuations during focusing, it is important to appropriately set the lens configuration of each lens group.
  • Patent Document 1 discloses that a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power, and a third lens group are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. An optical system is disclosed in which the distance between matching lens groups is varied.
  • However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, the number of lenses constituting the optical system is large, and the optical system cannot be sufficiently miniaturized.
  • The present invention provides an optical system that is small and lightweight, yet can satisfactorily correct various aberrations including chromatic aberration and obtain high optical performance, and an imaging device having the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 70.00
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 17.17
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 78.88
  • Back focus: 16.48

Example 2

  • Focal length: 70.00
  • F value: 2.83
  • Half angle of view: 17.17
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 68.97
  • Back focus: 17.41

Example 3

  • Focal length: 85.00
  • F value: 2.83
  • Half angle of view: 14.28
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 83.01
  • Back focus: 17.55

Example 4

  • Focal length: 75.00
  • F value: 2.40
  • Half angle of view: 16.09
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 86.00
  • Back focus: 15.64

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: Haptic Feedback On Camera Operations

Canon Patent

A new Canon patent application: haptic feedback, i.e. vibration, for feedbacks when “beeps” should be avoided.

Canon patent application 2023-147064A (Japan, published 10/12/2023) discusses technology and methods to implement a haptic feedback in a camera body.

From the patent literature:

  • The present invention provides an electronic device that can provide appropriate notification depending on a user’s holding state of the electronic device or a setting state of the electronic device.
  • BACKGROUND ART: Hitherto, there has been known an electronic device having a function of causing the vibrating device to generate vibration at a predetermined timing and notifying the user. By using vibration (tactile sensation), notifications can be made without relying on sight or hearing, which is useful in that it does not easily affect the user’s operation of electronic devices. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of piezoelectric members are arranged in a grip section or a display section of a camera, and the piezoelectric member with the largest contact area with the user’s hand is deformed to notify the user.
  • However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the piezoelectric member that has a large contact area with the user’s hand is deformed, depending on the state or setting of the camera, the Users may not be able to properly recognize notifications.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can provide appropriate notification depending on the state in which the electronic device is held by the user or the setting state of the electronic device.

It seems the described system recognises how the user is holding the camera body (which hand?) and then activates the right motors, which are the items 100 and 100b in the image on top. If I got it right, the described technology gets the hand position through pressure measurements on the grip. Not sure if this patent will go into production any time soon.

More Canon patents are listed here.

[via asobinet]