Canon Patent: Wide-angle Fixed Lens For 1″ Imaging Sensor (PowerShot?)

Canon Patent

A new Canon patent for a wide-angle single focus lens for a camera with an 1 inch imaging sensor. A new PowerShot camera?

Canon patent application 2023-140823 (Japan, published 10/5/2023) discusses optical formulas for a 28mm-35mm equivalent wide angle lens for a camera with an 1 inch imaging sensor.

From the patent literature:

Optical system and imaging device having the same

The present invention provides an optical system that is compact and has high optical performance, and an imaging device that includes the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, with the miniaturization and increase in the number of pixels of image pickup devices, optical systems used in image pickup devices are required to be small and have high optical performance.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The optical system described in Patent Document 1 uses a telephoto type power arrangement to reduce the overall length, and uses a plurality of aspheric lenses to reduce distortion and image plane. Curvature is being corrected. However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, the Petzval sum of the entire system is large and the incident angle of the off-axis light beam is also large, so when trying to apply it to an imaging device with a large imaging element, it is difficult to correct field curvature or reduce the amount of peripheral light. Decrease is an issue.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 13.82
  • F value: 2.88
  • Half angle of view: 29.72
  • Image height: 7.89
  • Total length: 16.32
  • Back focus: 4.83

Example 2

  • Focal length: 17.20
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 24.65
  • Image height: 7.89
  • Total length: 21.52
  • Back focus: 5.22

Example 3

  • Focal length: 12.64
  • F value: 2.91
  • Half angle of view: 31.97
  • Image height: 7.89
  • Total length: 15.87
  • Back focus: 4.19

Example 4

  • Focal length: 10.39
  • F value: 2.55
  • Half angle of view: 37.20
  • Image height: 7.89
  • Total length: 15.65
  • Back focus: 4.54

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Canon Patent: Electric Tilt-shift Lens Operation (take #2)

Canon Patent

Here is another Canon patent for electric tilt-shift lens operation. The other one was published last week.

Canon patent application 2023-140195A (Japan, published 10/4/2023) discusses technology and methods for a tilt-shift lens with electronic controls.

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can establish a desired focus plane for a desired subject or object plane using a desired tilt effect in hand-held photography.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, an optical system has been proposed that has a tilt effect that tilts a focusing surface so that an object surface tilted with respect to the optical axis of an imaging optical system is brought into good focus over the entire surface. . Patent Document 1 discloses a surveillance camera system that includes a lens unit and a camera device that have a tilt effect, determines the amount of tilt for each specific area set as a shooting range, and focuses on a subject using a desired focus plane.

However , in the camera system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the position of the camera device changes, it is necessary to set the tilt amount for each specific area. Therefore, when hand-held photography is performed using the camera system of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the desired tilt effect may not be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can establish a desired focus plane for a desired subject or object plane using a desired tilt effect during hand-held photography .

Means for Solving the Problems

A control device as one aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device including an imaging device, and at least one optical member for tilting a focusing surface with respect to an imaging surface of the imaging device. A control device used in a camera system having a lens device having an optical system including an acquisition unit that acquires information about a designated subject, and a subject for constructing a focus plane based on information about the designated subject. and a control unit that acquires information regarding the position of the.

The lens barrel 2 has an optical system, a zoom operation ring 6, a guide barrel 7, a cam barrel 8, a lens-side CPU 9, and an aperture mechanism 11 . The optical system includes a first group lens 21, a second group lens 22, a third group lens 23, a fourth group lens 24, a fifth group lens 25, a sixth group lens 26, a seventh group lens 27, an eighth group lens 28, a ninth group lens 29, and A 10-group lens 30 is provided. In this embodiment, by moving at least one lens (optical member) included in the optical system, at least a tilt effect that tilts the focus plane with respect to the imaging surface of the image sensor 1106 and a shift effect that moves the imaging range are achieved. You can get one. Each lens is held by a lens barrel with a cam follower. The cam follower engages with a straight groove parallel to the optical axis O provided on the guide tube 7 and a cam groove inclined with respect to the optical axis O provided on the cam tube 8. When the zoom operation ring 6 rotates, the cam cylinder 8 rotates, and the positional relationship of each lens in the Z-axis direction changes. As a result, the focal length of the lens barrel 2 changes. The focal length of the lens barrel 2 can be detected by a zoom position detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of rotation of the zoom operation ring 6. The lens-side CPU 009 changes the aperture diameter of the optical system by controlling the aperture mechanism 11. In this embodiment, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis O, a tilt effect or a shift effect can be obtained. Specifically, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in opposite directions, a tilt effect can be obtained, and by moving them in the same direction, a shift effect can be obtained. The lens-side CPU 9 controls the sixth lens group 26 via a drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the sixth lens group 26 . Further, the lens side CPU 9 controls the 8th group lens 28 via a drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the 8th group lens 28. The drive unit that moves the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 is, for example, a stepping motor or a voice coil motor (VCM). Note that it is also possible to obtain a tilt effect by tilting (rotating) the lens.

In the camera system 1 of this embodiment, if three points to be focused are specified, the subject plane 500 is constructed as described above, and photography can be performed with the desired subject in focus . However, for example, in so-called “reverse tilt photography (miniature photography)” in which cityscapes and people are photographed by blurring the top and bottom of the photograph, the photographer may decide where to focus and what to blur. In that case, the vector OB is defined by the spatial coordinate points O and B designated by the photographer. The photographer instructs the surface 501 to rotate by an angle θctrl using the vector OB as the rotation axis. For example, the photographer can instruct the surface 501 to rotate by an angle θctrl by performing a touch operation of sliding a finger back and forth on the display unit 1108. Further, instructions may be given using line-of-sight input using the EVF, rotating operation of the aperture operation ring 20, and buttons or dials (not shown). Alternatively, it may be determined automatically according to the set shooting mode of the camera 3. The photographer aligns the object surface 500 with the surface 501 that provides the desired degree of blur while maintaining the desired object (spatial coordinate points O, B) in focus.

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Canon Patent: Electric Tilt-shift Lens Operation

Canon Patent

This is a rather interesting Canon patent application, and it might well go into production one day.

Canon patent application 2023135457 (japan, published 9/28/2023) discusses technology and methods to implement an electronic, motor-driven tilt-shift lens operation. The following excerpt from the patent literature should make this more clear:

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can reduce the effort and time of operation and improve the convenience of tilt photography and shift photography.

Background Art

Patent Document 1 describes tilt photography in which the in-focus range is adjusted by moving two optical element groups in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and tilt photography in which the shooting angle of view is changed and distortion is corrected. An optical system is disclosed that can perform shift photography.

In recent years, the number of situations in which tilt photography and shift photography are used has been increasing, and there is an urgent need to reduce the effort and time required for operations in such photography. However, in the optical system of Patent Document 1, there is no mention of reduction in operational effort and time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can reduce the effort and time of operation and improve the convenience of tilt photography and shift photography.

Means for Solving the Problems

A control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device including an imaging device, and a tilt effect that tilts a focus plane with respect to an imaging surface of the imaging device and moves a shooting range. A control device used in a camera system having a lens device including at least one optical member for changing at least one of a shift effect and a shift effect, in which a first operation instruction based on an operation on an operation unit is acquired, A first control unit that moves at least one optical member in response to an operation, and moves the at least one optical member to a preset position when a second operation instruction different from the first operation instruction is obtained. and a second control section.

In this embodiment, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis O, the tilt effect and shift effect can be changed. Specifically, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in opposite directions, the tilt effect can be changed, and by moving them in the same direction, the shift effect can be changed. The lens-side CPU 9 controls the movement of the sixth group lens 26 via a drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the sixth group lens 26. Further, the lens-side CPU 9 controls the movement of the 8th group lens 28 via the drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the 8th group lens 28. The drive unit that moves the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 is, for example, a stepping motor or a voice coil motor (VCM). Note that it is also possible to change the tilt effect by tilting (rotating) the lens.

FIG. 3 [on top, editor’s note] is an explanatory diagram of the operation unit 500 for changing the tilt effect and shift effect. The operation unit 500 includes a direction key 501, a slide switch (selection unit) 502, and a decision/cancel button 503. The operation unit 500 is provided on the lens barrel 2 so that it can be operated by a photographer. Note that although the operating unit 500 is provided on the lens barrel 2 in this embodiment, it may also be provided on the camera 3. Further, a part of the operation unit 500 (for example, the direction key 501) may be provided on the lens barrel 2, and another part (for example, the enter/cancel button 503) may be provided on the camera 3. Further, instead of the direction key 501, an operating member such as a joystick, a lever, or an operating ring may be used. Furthermore, instead of providing the operation section 500, a screen for executing the same functions as the operation section 500 may be displayed on the display section 14, for example. Furthermore, the functions of the operation section 500 may be assigned to an existing operation member provided in the camera system 1.

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Canon Patent: 200-1000mm F5.6-11 IS And 200-800mm F5.6-8 IS Lenses

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application: two super telephoto zooms for the RF mount.

Canon patent application 2023135180 (Japan, published 9/28/2023) discusses optical formulas for two super telephoto zoom lenses for the RF mount:

  • 200-1000mm F5.6-11 IS
  • 200-800mm F5.6-8 IS

From the patent literature:

To obtain a zoom lens whose entire system is compact and whose optical performance is suppressed from deteriorating due to focusing.

BACKGROUND ART

As an imaging optical system, a telephoto zoom lens having a long focal length at the telephoto end is known. (Patent Document 1) Such a zoom lens is required to be small, yet easy to perform high-speed focusing, and to suppress deterioration of optical performance due to focusing.

However, the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a large number of lenses in the fourth lens group, which is a focus group, and also has relatively strong refractive power. Therefore, it is difficult to simultaneously increase the speed of focusing and suppress deterioration in optical performance due to focusing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens whose entire system is small in size and whose optical performance is suppressed from deteriorating due to focusing, and an imaging device having the zoom lens.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 206.00-778.20
  • F value: 5.71-9.18
  • Half angle of view: 6.00-1.59
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 330.11-420.11
  • Back focus: 40.03-96.02

Example 2

  • Focal length: 200.00-998.33
  • F value: 5.71-11.00
  • Half angle of view: 6.17-1.24
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 346.80-456.78
  • Back focus: 43.85-105.49

Example 3

  • Focal length: 206.00-775.95
  • F value: 5.83-8.00
  • Half angle of view: 6.00-1.60
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 330.08-420.12
  • Back focus: 38.46-38.46

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Canon Patent: 11mm F2, 13mm F2, 22mm F2, And 30mm F2 Lenses For RF-S Mount

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application, for a bunch of fast primes for the RF-S mount.

Canon patent application P2023130885 (Japan, published 9/21/2023) discusses optical formulas for RF-S mount prime lenses:

  • 11mm F2
  • 13mm F2
  • 22mm F2
  • 30mm F2

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide a rear focus optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction.

BACKGROUND ART

In imaging, it is required to suppress the generation of noise during zooming and focusing. In order to suppress noise during focusing, the rear focus (inner focus) method, in which focusing is performed by moving the lens group closest to the image side than the lens group closest to the object side, is recommended because it provides the best sound isolation effect from the object side lens. suitable.

Rear focus type optical systems are also required to be compact and have good aberration correction. In order to realize such an optical system, it is necessary to appropriately set the lens arrangement and the focal length of each lens.

The present invention provides a rear focus type optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction, and an imaging device equipped with the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 13.40
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 43.01
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.83
  • Back focus: 12.43

Example 2

  • Focal length: 11.30
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 47.89
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.85
  • Back focus: 12.44

Example 3

  • Focal length: 22.00
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 29.60
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 72.85
  • Back focus: 12.444

Example 4

  • Focal length: 30.52
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 22.27
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 75.88
  • Back focus: 14.49

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Canon patent: 55mm F1.24 Lens With Double Gauss Element Arrangement

Canon Patent

Another Canon patent, although we doubt that this one will ever hit the market.

Canon patent application 2023127280 (Japan, published 9/13/2023) discusses optical formulas for a 55mm F1.24 lens with a double Gauss element arrangement.

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Background Art

In recent years, photographing optical systems with a standard angle of view, where the half angle of view is about 20 degrees to 30 degrees, used in imaging devices have a bright F number and have high optical performance despite the small size of the entire system. That is required. A so-called double Gauss type optical system is known as a standard angle of view photographing optical system. In a Gauss type optical system, the lenses are arranged symmetrically around the aperture, and with a small number of lenses, it is possible to obtain high optical performance despite being compact.

However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, the back focus tends to become long and the total length of the lens becomes long, so it is difficult to suppress the increase in size of the imaging device.

In order to achieve a compact lens with a high F-number, high optical performance, and suppression of fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing, it is important to appropriately set the structure and material of the lens.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 53.80
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.91
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 78.46
  • Back focus: 29.83

Example 2

  • Focal length: 55.98
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.13
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 84.99
  • Back focus: 30.07

Example 3

  • Focal length: 56.00
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.12
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 79.92
  • Back focus: 30.00

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