Canon Patent: 15-45mm f/4.6-8 For Fixed Lens Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

Fixed Lens
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Here is an interesting Canon patent for a lens featured on a fixed lens full frame mirrorless camera.

Canon might be set to release a camera with a full frame sensor and a fixed lens. Something other manufacturer already offer, like the Sony RX1 R. Canon patent application P2021-26196A (Japan) discusses the optical formulas for a lens to be featured on this kind of camera, a 15-45mm f/4.6-8.

  • Zoom ratio: 2.92
  • Focal length: 14.95 28.12 43.68 mm
  • F number: 4.62 6.22 8.00
  • Half angle of view: 55.35 37.57 26.35
  • Image height: 21.64 21.64 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 92.22 86.07 89.94 mm
  • Back focus: 4.95 17.00 30.06 mm

I wouldn’t be surprised if Canon brings the EOS R technology to a fixed lens full frame mirrorless camera. And I am pretty sure we will see some rumors pointing in that direction soon after this patent makes its rounds ;-)

We think the technology discussed in the patent might get into production within the next years. More Canon patents are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via Hi Lows Note]

Canon Patent For Eye-Controlled Focus For Mirrorless Cameras

Eye-controlled Focus
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A technology already seen on Canon film cameras might come to last generation mirrorless camera technology, sooner or later.

Canon patent application US20210051265 (USA) discusses how to implement eye-controlled focus on a mirrorless camera.

An image capture apparatus detects a subject in a captured image. The image capture apparatus further recognizes its user based on an eyeball image of the user. The image capture apparatus then selects a main subject area from among the detected subject areas, based on information regarding subjects captured in the past and stored being associated with the recognized user.

There is a significant difference if compared with the eye-controlled focus technology used inn the old days for film cameras. The patent discusses some sort of intelligent algorithm that not only recognizes the user but also remembers where the user looked and how frequently.

We think the technology discussed in the patent might get into production within the next years. More Canon patents are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Source: Canon Rumors

Canon Patent For A Bunch Of RF Mount Prime Lenses (24mm, 35mm, 28mm, 50mm)

Canon Patent
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It’s not a secret that Canon is actively working on expanding the lens lineup for the EOS R full frame mirrorless system. A new Canon patent application adds to the long list.

Canon patent application 2021-18277A (Japan) discusses optical formulas for a bunch of prime lenses for the RF mount with f/1.8 and f/1.4.

RF 24mm f/1.4:

  • Focal length: 24.00 mm
  • F number: 1.40
  • Half angle of view: 42.03
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 120.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.00 mm

RF 35mm f/1.8:

  • Focal length: 35.00 mm
  • F number: 1.80
  • Half angle of view: 31.72
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 100.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.00 mm

RF 28mm f/1.8:

  • Focal length: 28.00 mm
  • F number: 1.80
  • Half angle of view: 37.69
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 100.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.85 mm

RF 24mm f/1.8:

  • Focal length: 24.00 mm
  • F number: 1.80
  • Half angle of view: 42.03
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 110.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.06 mm

RF 24mm f/1.4:

  • Focal length: 24.00 mm
  • F number: 1.40
  • Half angle of view: 42.03
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 120.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.79 mm

RF 50mm f/1.4:

  • Focal length: 50.00 mm
  • F number: 1.40
  • Half angle of view: 23.40
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 100.00 mm
  • Back focus: 15.00 mm

More Canon patent applications for RF mount lenses are listed here. All Canon patents are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via Hi Lows Note]

Canon Working To Improve Electronic Viewfinder Optics, Patent Suggests

Electronic Viewfinder
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Since Canon’s commitment to mirrorless technology we can expect the company to improve the technology itself. For instance the Electronic Viewfinder.

An Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) is the only mean to give mirrorless camera users an experience that somewhat resembles the classic viewfinder, plus the added bonuses of information that can be shown in the EVF.

Canon patent application 2021-005111 (Japan) discusses how to improve the optical part of an EVF, in particular high magnification and long eye relief. This refers to the optical eyepiece (part of the EVF) used to look at the magnified image on the built-in display.Some people, me included, do not go along well with EVF. The technology discuses in the paper could make the experience better.

More Canon patents are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via Canon News]

Latest Canon Patents: Stacked Sensor and C700 Shaped Video Camera

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Two new Canon patents for you to speculate about. One is about a stacked imaging sensor, the other one describes a video camera that looks a lot like the C700.

Canon patent application 2021-002807 (Japan) discusses a stacked imaging sensor. Machine translated excerpt from the patent literature:

In the prior art, while the pixel signal can be read out at high speed, the number of vertical output lines in each pixel row increases, so that the number of constant current circuits to be connected increases and the power consumption increases. In particular, the increase in power consumption during Live View shooting greatly affects the number of shots that can be taken. Further, as the vertical output line of each pixel sequence increases, the scale of the correction circuit for correcting the offset to the pixel signal and the gain variation caused by the vertical output line increases. Correction circuit after the image sensor.

If it cannot cope with the increase in the vertical output line, it is necessary to mount a correction circuit on the image sensor. In this case, it is necessary to also mount a memory for storing the correction value, the power due to the read / write of the memory also increases, and the power consumption increases more and more.
The   present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of achieving both high-speed reading of a pixel signal and reduction of power consumption.

Doesn’t look like a patent that might hit the market any time soon.

Canon patent application 2021-002871 (Japan) discusses a video camera that appears to look like the Canon EOS C700. The patent literature discusses a better wiring layout.

When the number of connectors is further increased, if the connectors are arranged on the side surface of the camera body, the connectors are likely to come off due to the cable being caught when the camera body is moved while being carried on the shoulder. 
On the other hand, if all the connectors are arranged on the back surface of the camera body, the size of the camera body in the width direction is further increased, and the shape becomes unsuitable for a shoulder-mounted professional digital video camera.

More Canon patents are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: Quad Pixel Autofocus Imaging Sensor

Quad Pixel
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Dual Pixel AF was true innovation when first launched by Canon on the EOS 70D. It’s just common sense to assume Canon will develop it further. Welcome Quad Pixel AF.

Here is a Canon patent for a Quad Pixel AF imaging sensor, and it is not the first we spotted. Canon patent application 2020-171060 (Japan) discusses the technology. It’s hard to say when we will see the first commercial Quad Pixel AF sensor. But we know it is coming.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these: