Canon Patent Application For Speedbooster-like Focal Reducer

Focal Reducer
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Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application 2019-003074 that describes a focal reducer.

A focal reducer does the opposite of a teleconverter, reduces the focal length and increases the lens aperture. You likely know that from the Metabone Speedboosters.

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 (18-55mm, F2.8)
Zoom ratio: 3.05
Focal length: 17.50 – 53.35 mm
F number: 2.80 – 2.80
Half angle of view: 36.65 – 13.71 
Image height: 13.02 – 13.02 mm
Lens length: 148.81 – 172.70 mm
Back focus: 35.51 – 40.31 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 with reducer 1
Focal length: 11.36 mm
F number: 1.82
Half angle of view: 36.67 
Image height: 8.46 mm
Lens length: 142.26 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 (34mm, F1.4)
Focal length: 34.20 mm
F number: 1.45
Half angle of view: 32.32 
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 129.16 mm
Back focus: 39.35 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 with reducer 5
Focal length: 23.92 mm
F number: 1.02
Half angle of view: 32.33 
Image height: 15.14 mm
Lens length: 125.59 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Canon Ranked Among Top Five In U.S. Patent Rankings For 33 Years Running

Top 10 Cameras Canon Rumors Full Frame Mirrorless Camera Canon Eos R Pro Eos R Canon Lens Explorers Of Light
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We cover Canon patent applications, listed here.

Press release:

Canon places top five in U.S. patent rankings for 33 years running and first among Japanese companies for fourteen years running

TOKYO, January 8, 2019—Canon Inc. ranked third for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2018, becoming the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for 33 years running, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. What’s more, Canon once again ranked first among Japanese companies.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon U.S. patent rankings 2005–2018

YearOverall 
ranking		Ranking among 
Japanese companies		No. of patents
20183rd1st3,056
20173rd1st3,285
20163rd1st3,665
20153rd1st4,127
20143rd1st4,048
20133rd1st3,820
20123rd1st3,173
20113rd1st2,818
20104th1st2,551
20094th1st2,200
20083rd1st2,107
20073rd1st1,983
20063rd1st2,366
20052nd1st1,829
  • Note:Number of patents for 2016 to 2018 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2015 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Canon promotes the acquisition and application of intellectual property rights, not only for fundamental technologies required for next-generation products, but also such technologies as the wireless communication and image compression technologies shared by next-generation social infrastructure. Canon contributes to the realization of technology that serves society by continuing to provide even better products, greater convenience and by contributing to the development of manufacturing.

Canon Patent For RF 90mm f/2.8L IS Macro Lens (EOS R System)

Canon Patent
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Hi Lows Note spotted a rather interesting Canon patent application (2017-108266).

The patent literature describes a 90mm f/2.8L IS macro lens for the Canon EOS R system. Two optical formulas are discussed in the patent literature.

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 1

  • Focal length: 97.00mm
  • F number: 2.92
  • Half angle of view: 12.57
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.12mm
  • Back focus: 20.01mm

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 3

  • Focal length: 86.00mm
  • F number: 2.87
  • Half angle of view: 14.12
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.07mm
  • Back focus: 15.93mm

Well, this is a patent application for a lens that may indeed hit the market (most patent applications never become a real product).

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent For RF 28-70mm F/2-2.8 For EOS R (with no image stabilisation, sign for IBIS?)

Canon Patent
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Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application (2018-197774) for an RF 28-70mm F/2-2.8 lens for the EOS R system.

  • Focal length: 28.68 – 67.90mm
  • F number: 2.26 – 2.91
  • Half angle of view: 37.03 – 17.67
  • Image height: 21.64 – 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 149.69 – 174.43mm
  • Back focus: 20.57 – 35.45mm

The interesting fact: the lens literature does not refer to an image stabilisation group inside the lens. Some people is saying this is a sign for IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) coming to future EOS R models (rumors already surfaced). We are not sure how to interpret this.

Canon always stated the superiority of image stabilisation in the lens. Never the less, Canon execs didn’t exclude the possibility of a future mirrorless camera with IBIS, and there are a few patents clearly discussing IBIS (patent 1 | 2 | 3).

Do you think this patent application is a clear sign of IBIS to be featured on future EOS R cameras?

Canon in an unusual move for the company already disclosed the the EOS R lens roadmap for the next years (also see this interview). The lens described in the patent application doesn’t seem to be on Canon’s immediate agenda. Keep in mind that patents are a way for companies to secure they research and development and hence their intellectual propriety. A patent application rarely means a product is coming to the market soon.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent For Basic IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) Used To Correct Lens Eccentricity

Canon
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What a neat coincidence. After a rumor about Canon featuring IBIS in future EOS R cameras, we can report a Canon patent application for a basic IBIS system spotted by Hi Lows Note.

The literature in patent application 2018-194766 seems to describe a basic IBIS system used to correct lens eccentricity. The image sensor can tilt in order to correct the lens eccentricity.

Machine translated excerpt:

[…] the optical instrument concerning the present invention, and its system, A camera device provided with the control means which carries out the tilt of the image sensor to an optic axis, It consists of a lens device provided with the detection means which detects the parameter to which the image formation performance of a lens is changed, The image sensor according to a parameter falls from the aforementioned lens device, information is transmited to the aforementioned camera device, and it is characterized by comprising the optical instrument which consists of the camera device in which the thing [ falling and carrying out the tilt of the image sensor to an optic axis based on information ] is possible, and its system.

As usual I’m glad for any help interpreting patent literature.

canon

Canon Working on RF 25-300mm F/3.5-5.6 For Canon EOS R, Patent Suggests

Canon
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Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application (2018-180203) for a RF 25-300mm F/3.5-5.6 lens for the Canon EOS R system. The patent literature describes a compact lens. Doesn’t look like a L-grade lens.

  • Zoom ratio: 11.68
  • Focal length: 25.20 – 294.41 mm
  • F number: 3.50 – 5.60
  • Angle of view: 36.72 – 4.20
  • Image height: 18.80 – 21.61 mm
  • Lens length: 374.08 mm
  • Back focus: 21.75 mm

canon