The Canon Powershot D30 (price & specs)

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon that refers to a 45x zoom that appears to be for the water and dustproof PowerShow D compact camera series.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-109664
  • Published Date 2014.6.12
  • Filing date 2012.11.30
  • Related 2014-109665,2014-109666
• Example 1
  • Zoom ratio 44.41
  • Focal length f = 4.62-13.02-205.00mm
  • Fno. 3.91-6.14-9.00
  • Half angle ω = 36.14-16.58-1.08 °
  • The overall length of the lens 99.33-103.38-113.64mm
  • BF 12.11-10.81-4.28mm

 

 

Egami (translated) spotted another highly interesting patent filed by Canon. The patent refers to a 3 layer, Foveon-like sensor with an insulator film applied. The film helps reduce reflection and flares.Very interesting patent, and not the first of this kind we report about, similar patents showed up in the past (here and here).

This is the third Canon patent about a Foveon-like sensor I am featuring here on CW. I think to start that such a sensor technology is definitely on Canon’s plans.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-130890
  • Publication date 2014.7.10
  • Filing date 2012.12.28
• Multilayer sensor drawback of
  • G is light, the image quality is degraded and reflected by the surface of the layer between the G and B layer, re-enters the B layer
• Canon patents
  • The provision of the dielectric film and the insulating film as an anti-reflection film
  • First insulating layer, B layer, a dielectric film, insulating film, dielectric film, G layer, a dielectric film, insulating film, insulating film, dielectric film, the R layer
  • By increasing the thickness of the dielectric film, to suppress the multiple reflection
  • The dielectric film is between the G layer and B layer, the reflectance with respect to G is lower than B

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon for a 55mm f/1.4, a 35mm f/1.4, and other fast primes.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-123018
  • Publication date 2014.7.3
  • Filing date 2012.12.21
• Example
  

  embodiment

  Example	Focal length	Fno.	Half angle	The overall length of the lens	BF	MOD
  One	49.53	1.45	23.60	99.46	38.10	450
  Two	35.88	1.45	31.09	126.92	38.77	300
  Three	55.42	1.45	21.33	100.44	40.24	450
  Four	50.75	1.45	23.09	98.17	38.29	450

  Image height = 21.64mm

• Canon patents
  • Positive and negative Shibomake positive
  • Inner focus

[via Egami]

Were will this lead? A rather obscure patent agreement between Canon and Microsoft. Will Canon’s imaging technology find its way into Microsoft’s smartphones (made by Nokia)? Looks like.

Press release:

Microsoft and Canon sign patent cross-licensing agreement

REDMOND, Wash., and TOKYO — July 2, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. and Canon Inc. on Wednesday broadened their strategic alliance with the announcement of a broad patent cross-licensing agreement. With this agreement, Microsoft and Canon gain licenses to each other’s highly valued and growing patent portfolios.

“This collaborative approach with Canon allows us to deliver inventive technologies that benefit consumers around the world,” said Nick Psyhogeos, general manager, associate general counsel, IP Licensing of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft believes cooperative licensing is an effective way to accelerate innovation while reducing patent disputes.”

This agreement covers a broad range of products and services each company offers, including certain digital imaging and mobile consumer products. Microsoft and Canon have a long history of collaborating to bring high-quality, cutting-edge products to consumers, including color technology. Contents of the agreement will not be disclosed.

“This agreement is a natural extension of our longstanding relationship with Microsoft and commitment to developing innovative technologies,” said Hideki Sanatake, senior general manager, Corporate Intellectual Property & Legal Headquarters of Canon Inc.

[SlashGear via PetaPixel]

I made a big mistake reading the patent. Thanks to DicaHub I can correct it. The patent is not for a 400mm lens with built-in extender, but for a 1.4x extender for lenses that do not support contrast AF. With such lenses a “wobbling” effect can appear when shooting video. The patent refers to an extender with movable elements to suppress the “wobbling” effect.

Egami (translated) spotted another patent filed by Canon, this time for a 400mm lens with built-in 1.4x extender.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-115410
  • Publication date 2014.6.26
  • Filing date 2012.12.7
• Master lens
  • Focal length f = 390.09mm
  • Fno. 2.90
  • Half angle ω = 2.01 °
  • Image height Y = 13.66mm
  • The overall length of the lens 367.66mm
  • BF 44.00mm
  • 15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration
  • Two fluorite
• Example 1
  • Focal length f =-226.69mm
  • 1.41x magnification
  • Five 4-group lens configuration
  • One piece of one sided aspherical