Canon patent for 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender

canon patent

Canon’s labs are working without interruption. Here we have a Canon patent for a 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191761
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Main lens
    • Focal distance 392.57
    • F number 2.90
    • Field of View 3.15
    • Image height 21.64
    • Lens total length 371.15
    • BF 44.00
  • Example 1
    • First state magnification 1.40
    • Second state magnification 1.70

Excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a rear converter lens expandable to a long focal length by equipping the image surface side of a main lens,
Magnification can be changed by switching some or all of the rear converter lens,
Magnification of the n-th state of a rear converter lens from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of beta_n, a rear converter lens, and a main lens, When average value of Sk_n and Sk_n of each state is made into Sk_ave for distance to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens
| (Sk_n-Sk_ave) x beta_n | < 0.10
A satisfied rear converter lens.
[Claim 2] When a focal distance of a rear converter lens of f_max and a minimum magnification state is made into f_min for a focal distance of a rear converter lens of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.5 < |f_min/f_max| < 10.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 3] When a forward side principal point position of ho_max and a minimum magnification state is made into ho_min for a forward side principal point position of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
0.05 (ho_max -ho_min) < /root(f_max^2+f_min^2) < 0.28
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 4] The rear converter lens according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned rear converter lens is characterized by some or all of a rear converter lens changing to optical axis direction and vertical direction at the time of magnification change.
[Claim 5] The rear converter lens according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has the 1st lens group Lfix of fixing at the time of magnification change in order, and the 2nd switchable lens group Lex from the object side.
[Claim 6] When a focal distance of a change group of fex_max and a minimum magnification state is made into fex_min for a focal distance of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.1 < |fex_min/fex_max| < 5.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 7] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, a refractive index of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of nd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, a refractive index of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, nd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(nd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(nd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < *(beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 8] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of vd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, vd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(vd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(vd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < * (beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 9] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most average value of Dex_n of each state when distance to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side is made into Dex_n of the n-th status-switching group of the aforementioned rear converter lens Dex_ave, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
0.08 < Dex_ave/Sk_ave < 0.40
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 10] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most distance of a fixing group of the aforementioned rear converter lens which it is to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side Dfix, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
-0.20 < Dfix/Sk_ave < 0.00
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 11] The rear converter lens according to claim 5, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has an aspheric surface in the 1st lens group of fixing to the time of magnification change.

canon patent

[via Egami]

Canon patent for 0.82x optical viewfinder

canon

Canon patent for an optical viewfinder with 0.82x magnification. The viewfinder magnification is not to be confused with the frame coverage.

For instance, the EOS 5D Mark IV has a viewfinder magnification of 0.71x and a frame coverage of 100%. The Canon EOS 80D has 0.95x magnification and 100% frame coverage. The EOS 7D Mark II has 1x magnification and 100% frame coverage. Finally, Canon’s entry-level Rebel DSLRs have a magnification between 0.8x and 0.87x. Hence it’s legit to assume this patent refers to a viewfinder for a future Rebel-class DSLR.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191760
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Example 5
    • Diopter -1 – 3 + 1
    • Focal length 61.30 58.73 64.32
    • Eye point 20.0 20.0 20.0
    • Magnification 0.82 0.85 0.78
An extract fro the patent literature:
[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a finder optical system which observes an object image formed in a predetermined side with a taking lens,
From the predetermined side side to order, it is a condensing lens of positive refracting power,
A reversal optical system,
The 1st lens of positive refracting power,
The 2nd lens of negative refracting power,
The 3rd lens of positive refracting power
The 4th lens of positive refracting power
A finder optical system comprising the 5th lens of negative refracting power.
[Claim 2] A finder optical system being aforementioned claim 1 and satisfying the following conditional expression in a finder optical system of a description.
K: -2.0<f12-/f<-0.9 .. (1)
L: -0.45<f5-/f<-0.3 .. (2)
Here, f expresses a focal distance of the finder system whole system, f12 expresses a composite focal length of said 1st lens and the 2nd lens, and f5 expresses a focal distance of the 5th lens.
[Claim 3] A finder optical system satisfying the following conditional expression in said finder optical system according to claim 1.
N: nud1>54 .. (3)
O: nud2<30 .. (4)
Here, the number of ATSU ** of the 1st lens and nud2 express the number of ATSU ** of the 2nd lens nud1.
[Claim 4] In said finder optical system according to claim 1,
A finder optical system, wherein the 1st lens of positive refracting power and the 2nd lens of negative refracting power are cemented lenses.
[Claim 5] A finder optical system satisfying the following conditional expression in said finder optical system according to claim 1.
Nd4>1.80 .. (5)
Nd5<1.55 .. (6)
Here, Nd4 expresses a refractive index in d line of the 4th lens, and Nd5 expresses a refractive index in d line of the 4th lens.
[via Egami]

Canon patent for camera with exchangeable mount

canon patent

As usual: I hope I got it right, machine translated patents are not easy to interpret. Any help appreciated.

Canon patent for a camera with exchangeable mount.

  • Patent publication number 2016-192701
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Canon patent
    • Mount exchange possible
    • Change menu contents according to mount

Not entirely sure about this patent. Does it mean you’ll be able to easily change the mount type on your camera? Does it mean I will be able to mount some hot Canon “L” lenses natively on a future Canon mirrorless camera, i.e. without using an adapter?

Description in “patentish”:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] It is an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A discriminating means which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
It has a management tool which manages a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu,
An imaging device carrying out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or performing an update process carried out to an invalid display while the aforementioned management tool makes an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu.
[Claim 2] The imaging device according to claim 1 when an item made said non-display or invalid display is registered into my menu in the aforementioned update process, wherein the aforementioned management tool carries out registration cancellation of the item from my menu or makes it an invalid display.
[Claim 3] It has a judgment means which judges mount exchange,
The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by performing the aforementioned update process when it judges with the aforementioned management tool having had mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 4] While making an item without necessity non-display in the aforementioned update process by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu, the aforementioned management tool, An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claims 1-3 characterized by carrying out registration cancellation of the item from my menu when said item made non-display is registered into my menu.
[Claim 5] The imaging device according to claim 4 which the aforementioned management tool is in a power turn state of the imaging device, and is characterized by making an invalid display an item which judges whether an item on display has an object of an invalid display, and is the target of an invalid display.
[Claim 6] The imaging device according to claim 3 characterized by the aforementioned management tool performing the aforementioned update process when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount at the time of a power turn of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 7] The imaging device according to claim 6 characterized by rebooting the imaging device when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount in the power turn state of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 8] The imaging device according to claim 3 characterized by the aforementioned management tool performing the aforementioned update process when the aforementioned discriminating means distinguishes classification of mount in the power turn state of the imaging device, the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange and it judges with there having been mount exchange by the aforementioned judgment means.
[Claim 9] An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claims 1-8 provided with an initializing means which returns all or a part of item of a menu to an initial value after the aforementioned update process by the aforementioned management tool.
[Claim 10] It has a memory means which memorizes type information of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means,
The aforementioned judgment means by comparing type information of mount memorized by classification and the aforementioned memory means of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means, before memorizing type information of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means to the aforementioned memory means, The imaging device according to claim 3 judging mount exchange.
[Claim 11] A determination means to determine a communication method with a lens based on classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means,
It has a memory means which memorizes communication method information determined by the aforementioned determination means,
The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the aforementioned judgment means judges mount exchange by comparing a communication method determined by the aforementioned determination means with communication method information memorized by the aforementioned memory means before memorizing communication method information determined by the aforementioned determination means to the aforementioned memory means.
[Claim 12] It is a control method of an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A step which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
About a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu, A control method of an imaging device having a step which carries out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or makes it an invalid display while making an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished [ aforementioned ] among items of a menu.
[Claim 13] It is a program for controlling an imaging device which can exchange mount which is a connection part with a lens,
A discriminating means which distinguishes classification of mount with which the imaging device is equipped,
A computer is operated as a management tool which manages a menu including a plurality of items and my menu which registers an item which a user chose among items included in a menu,
A program performing an update process which carries out registration cancellation of all or a part of item registered into my menu, or makes it an invalid display while the aforementioned management tool makes an item without necessity a non-display or invalid display by classification of mount distinguished by the aforementioned discriminating means among items of a menu.

Any suggestions? :-)

[via Egami]

Canon patent to automatically switch from OVF to EVF in a hybrid viewfinder

canon patent

Canon patent for a hybrid viewfinder that can automatically switch from OVF (optical viewfinder) to EVF (electronic viewfinder).

  • Patent publication number 2016-173443
    • Release date 2016.9.29
    • Application date 2015.3.17
  • Canon patent
    • Equipped with OVF and EVF
    • Trackable AF
    • Switching to EVF when it is out of the effective range of the AF sensor

In “patentish”:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] An image sensor (103),
A distance measurement means (110, 111) by an image sensor other than the aforementioned image sensor,
A photometry means (108) by a photometry sensor,
An optical finder (105, 106, 109) which displays an object image optically without passing the aforementioned image sensor,
An electronic view finder (114, 115) which displays a captured image obtained in the aforementioned imaging means,
Object detecting means (112) which detect a position of an object based on a picture signal acquired from the aforementioned image sensor or the aforementioned photometry sensor,
It has a tracking means (112) to track an object detected by the aforementioned object detecting means,
Based on position information on an object detected by the aforementioned object detecting means, An imaging device having a control means (101, 112) by which the aforementioned distance measurement means and ranging operation by the aforementioned image sensor are switched, and the aforementioned optical finder and the aforementioned electronic view finder are simultaneously switched for a display of a finder.
[Claim 2] It has a calculating means (112) which computes movement magnitude of a tracking object,
The photographing instrument according to claim 1 having a control means (112) which controls a decision threshold to which AF and imaging surface AF by an AF sensor are switched with movement magnitude of a tracking object computed by the aforementioned calculating means.

canon patent

[via Egami]

Canon patent for focus peaking algorithm

focus peaking

Canon patent for a new focus peaking algorithm. If you wonder what focus peaking is, have a look here.

So far Canon featured focus peaking only on the EOS M5 and EOS M3. Hopefully this patent means Canon will feature focus peaking on more cameras in the future.

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-158106
    • Published 2016.9.1
    • Filing date 2015.2.24
  • Canon patent
    • To get the distance information of the object
    • To generate a waveform image showing the degree of focusing of the object based on the high-frequency component
    • To vary the color of the waveform

For those who love “patentish language”:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] An imaging part,
A display part which displays an image imaged by the aforementioned imaging part,
An information acquisition section which obtains distance information of an object included in the aforementioned image,
It is an imaging device provided with a waveform drawing generation part which generates waveform images which extract a high frequency component of the aforementioned image, and in which a focus degree of an object is shown based on a high frequency component,
The aforementioned waveform drawing generation part generates waveform images of an imaging range corresponding to an object included in a predetermined range scale using the aforementioned distance information,
An imaging device, wherein the aforementioned display part displays the aforementioned waveform images with the aforementioned image.
[Claim 2] The imaging device according to claim 1 having a set part to which a user is made to set the aforementioned predetermined range scale.
[Claim 3] The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aforementioned waveform drawing generation part changes a wave-like color in the aforementioned waveform images according to distance of an object.
[Claim 4] It has a tracking means to track the aforementioned object,
An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claim 1 characterized by the aforementioned waveform drawing generation part generating waveform images of an imaging range corresponding to an object of the aforementioned tracking object even when an object of a tracking object is no longer included in the aforementioned predetermined range scale to 3.
[Claim 5] The aforementioned waveform drawing generation part is adjustable in transmittance of the aforementioned waveform images,
An imaging device of a description in any 1 item of Claim 1, wherein the aforementioned display part displays the aforementioned waveform images on the aforementioned image in piles to 4.
[Claim 6] It is a control method of an imaging device which displays a focus degree of an object with an image under imaging,
Distance information of an object included in the aforementioned image is obtained,
Using the aforementioned distance information, a high frequency component of a region corresponding to an object included among the aforementioned images in a predetermined range scale is extracted, and waveform images in which a focus degree of an object is shown based on a high frequency component are generated,
A control method of an imaging device displaying the aforementioned waveform images with the aforementioned image.

focus peaking

[via Egami]

Canon patent for a variable optical lowpass filter on AE sensor (better subject recognition)

canon patent

Canon patent for a variable optical lowpass filter for the AE sensor in the viewfinder. If I got the machine translation right, this should provide for better subject tracking by reducing “false colors”. This patent seems to be related to another one, refering to the AE sensor in the viewfinder.

An excerpt from the patent literature:

An imaging device which is provided with the following and characterized by changing a spatial frequency limit effect of the aforementioned low pass filter according to an output of the aforementioned thermometer.
A finder optical system for observing an object image formed because object light flux which passed a taking lens (102) images on a focusing screen (108) arranged on a primary image formation face.
A photometry device (110) which measures the strength of the light by making a different optical path from an optical path of the aforementioned finder image secondarily the aforementioned object image formed on the aforementioned focusing screen.
A photometry sensor (117) which outputs a plurality of photometry information which the aforementioned photometry device divides into two or more regions light flux of the aforementioned object image formed on the aforementioned focusing screen, and is related with luminance of the aforementioned object image.
A light measurement lens (115) which makes the aforementioned photometry sensor image the aforementioned object image formed on the aforementioned focusing screen, an object recognition means to perform a color and shape recognition of an object using an output of the aforementioned photometry sensor, a low pass filter (116) with a spatial frequency limit effect strange, good, and a thermometer.

canon patent

Patent description:

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-173437
    • Published 2016.9.29
    • Filing date 2015.3.17
  • Canon patent
    • Performing object recognition using an image sensor AE sensor
    • Using a variable OLPF for false color reduction
    • Image quality decreases when focus deviation occurs is generated by the temperature, is detected object recognition is erroneous
    • It suppresses the effect of the variable OLPF according to the temperature, suppressing the influence of the deterioration in image quality
[via Egami]