Egami (translated) spotted a patent for a new AF sensor. The patent describes a Foveon-like, multilayer sensor:

Patent Publication No. 2015-37217

• Published 2015.2.23
• Filing date 2013.8.12

Canon patent

• AF sensor
• In the depth direction, I comprises a first layer, the second layer, the photoelectric conversion portion of the third layer
• The second layer is for monitoring, detecting the amount of light that is received in real-time, to control the accumulation time
• The third layer in a bright environment, the dark environment so that the use of the first layer, sensitivity can be switched
• Furthermore, in a dark environment is used by adding the first and third layers

Egami (translated) spotted what could be Canon’s best move to push their mirrorless cameras. A new EF-EF-M adapter that should deliver better AF speed when using EF and EF-S lenses. While the AF performance of Canon’s new EOS M3 is excellent with the native EF-M lenses, AF performance is limited when using EF lenses via the currently available adapter. If Canon puts such an adapter on the market it would a huge selling point for the EOS M3. Access to Canon’s extended lens lune-up, and same AF performance as with native lenses!

Machine translated patent description:

• Patent Publication No. 2015-34903
  • Published 2015.2.19
  • Filing date 2013.8.9
• Master lens
  • Zoom ratio 2.69
  • Focal length 72.13 135.02 193.99mm
  • Fno. 2.90
  • Half angle ω = 10.72 5.78 4.03 °
  • Image height Y = 13.66mm
  • Overall length of the lens 237.36mm
  • BF 54.00mm
• Adapter installed
  • Zoom ratio 2.69
  • The focal length f = 72.12 135.00 193.96mm
  • Fno. 2.90
  • Half angle ω = 10.72 5.78 4.03 °
  • Image height Y = 13.66mm
  • Overall length of the lens 239.70mm
  • BF 16.77mm
• Canon patent
  • Fast AF adapter
  • Wobbling corresponding
  • 3-group configuration of positive and negative positive
  • 2 group also serves as a focus group and the anti-vibration group
  • And realize high-speed AF focus group was lighter

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon that could point to the next iteration of the EF 300mm f/4L IS lens (announced 2004). A 50mm and 24mm lens are also mentioned. If I got it right these lenses are also featuring optimised refractive index distribution.

The lenses described in the patent feature an optical unit with an optimised refractive index distribution over the lens’ optics. The described optical system consists of a first lens unit with positive refracting power, a second lens unit with negative refracting power, and a third lens unit that has positive refracting power. The aforementioned refractive-index-distribution element is arranged at the first lens unit. Such an optical system should be able to reduce various optical aberrations like chromatic aberrations.

• Patent Publication No. 2015-28551
  • Published 2015.2.12
  • Filing date 2013.7.30
• Example
  

  embodiment

  Example	Focal distance	Fno.	Half angle	Image height	Overall length of the lens	BF
  One	294.00	4.14	4.21	21.64	239.07	83.42
  Two	24.48	2.86	41.47	21.64	92.00	38.00
  Three	51.70	1.30	22.71	21.64	94.01	37.50
  Four	294.00	4.14	4.21	21.64	240.00	82.95
  Five	6.15 20.45 71.28	2.88 3.71 3.69	30.34 9.98 2.89	3.60	84.11 86.12 90.41	11.74 15.68 8.50
  Six	293.97	4.14	4.21	21.64	239.98	85.34

• Canon patent
  • The use of refractive index distribution element

EF 300mm f/4L IS 

 

[via Egami]

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon for an external image stabilisation unit. The unit is placed between the camera body and the lens, just like you would do with a teleconverter. Cool invention!

The present invention, users vibration reduction function or lighter or selectable according to the application, in addition to being used as an optical system having a vibration reduction converter, an optical system having a vibration reduction function, a vibration reduction function can also be used as a commercial advantage that the two systems can be Heibai by diverting a large portion of the component with no lightweight optics.

• Patent Publication No. 2015-28555
  • Published 2015.2.12
  • Filing date 2013.7.30
• Example 1a (master lens only)
  • Focal length 392.50
  • F-number 2.92
  • Half angle of 3.16
  • Image height 21.64
  • Overall length of the lens 379.64
  • BF 41.57
  • Effective diameter of the front lens 135.72mm
  • Lens configuration 8 groups nine
• Example 1b (anti-vibration converter mounted state)
  • Focal length 392.50
  • F-number 2.92
  • Half angle of 3.16
  • Image height 21.64
  • Overall length of the lens 379.64
  • BF 41.56
  • Effective diameter of the front lens 135.72mm
  • Lens construction 12 groups 15 sheets
• Canon patent
  • 3-group configuration of positive and negative positive
  • Inner focus (the second group)
  • The anti-vibration converter can be inserted on the object side of the third group

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon that appears to refer to a new auto-focus technology to implement in mirrorless cameras and in cameras with a translucent mirror (like the Sony A99).

• Patent Publication No. 2015-22264
  • Published 2015.2.2
  • Filing date 2013.7.23
• Canon patent
  • Phase difference detection method to be received by the AF sensor can be reflected incident light from the imaging lens
  • The phase difference detection by the image plane phase difference AF
  • The phase difference detection by external light AF sensor