Latest Canon Patent Applications (Pop-UP EVF, Resin Mount, Hybrid EVF, Lenses and Sensor)

Canon Patent Applications
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Here are the latest Canon patent applications.

Canon patent application 2019-023685 describes a pop-up EVF (Electronic ViewFinder). From the patent literature:

Since a display-device part and the eyepiece for magnifying it are needed EVF, when mounting on a compact camera, the place to arrange serves as problem. Since the large-sized external display device serves as a form which covers a camera back substantially, in order to look into EVF from the back face of a camera, an external display device must be avoided and arranged. A camera will enlarge only the part of EVF then. When it is going to avoid enlargement, an external display device must be made small and usability becomes less good. In order to correspond to these problems, there are some on which pop-up type EVF like the description to a Patent document 1 is mounted. 

EVF loading is realized without [ when using this inside a camera, being stored at the time of EVF non-use, without it functions as a finder by making it jump out to camera outside and miniaturizes an external display device, and ] enlarging a camera. 

Canon patent application 2019-023688 describes a resin (plastics) made lens mount:

Conventionally, although the camera mount of the camera with interchangeable lenses comprised a metallic material in consideration of durability, reliability and accuracy, etc., the camera mount which comprises a metallic material had the problem that things and component cost with heavy weight became high. 

The camera body which has the camera mount which comprised resin materials, such as a plastic, by improvement in the durability of engineering plastics or reliability and progress of forming technique is produced commercially these days. A weight saving and component cost reduction are attained because camera mount becomes a resin material.

Canon patent application 2019-020538 describes a hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder:

The present invention relates to the single-lens reflex camera which has an optical finder and an electronic finder, and relates to the change of the finder to which seeds responded as for the electronic device with which the especially single-lens reflex camera was equipped, or the optical element. 

In recent years, the single-lens reflex camera which has a finder which has arranged the optical-path dividing prism in the optical path of an optical finder in a single-lens reflex camera, and has arranged the display device which becomes the equivalent position from a liquid crystal panel etc. optically with a focus detecting plate is known. 

Canon patent application 2019-020679 describes the optical formula for a RF 100-400mm lens (for EOS R systems):

Focal distance 102.21 195.97 389.86 ​
F number 3.83 4.93 5.85 
Half angle of view (degree) 11.95 6.30 3.18 
Image height 21.64 21.64 21.64 
Lens total length 204.85 250.29 291.30 
BF 4.31 31.68 97.49

Canon patent application 2019-017065 describes a photon counting image sensor.

Canon patent application 2019-0052781 discusses how to improve the reliability of tilt-shift lenses.

That’s all for now; patent round-up source: Canon News

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent: RF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS Lens For EOS R System

Canon Patent
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Canon is investing in their new EOS R system in a concrete and solid way. Here is a Canon patent application (2019-020679) for an RF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS lens. This lens is the EOS R version of a very common lens aimed at non professionals, for the consumer market.

Next week (2/14/19) Canon will announce the EOS RP, the company’s first entry level full frame mirrorless camera, and a lens like the RF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS is sure to hit the market soon (most patent application never do). I’m just not 100% sure it’s also image stabilised.

  • Zoom ratio: 4.11
  • Focal length: 71.40~136.34~293.23 mm
  • F number: 3.94~4.72~5.83
  • Half angle of view: 16.86~9.02~4.22
  • Image height: 21.64 mm
  • Lens length: 165.00~202.03~235.83 mm
  • Back focus: 12.14~31.67~72.45 mm

The Canon patent application was spotted by Hi Low Notes.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent Application For Speedbooster-like Focal Reducer

Focal Reducer
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Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application 2019-003074 that describes a focal reducer.

A focal reducer does the opposite of a teleconverter, reduces the focal length and increases the lens aperture. You likely know that from the Metabone Speedboosters.

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 (18-55mm, F2.8)
Zoom ratio: 3.05
Focal length: 17.50 – 53.35 mm
F number: 2.80 – 2.80
Half angle of view: 36.65 – 13.71 
Image height: 13.02 – 13.02 mm
Lens length: 148.81 – 172.70 mm
Back focus: 35.51 – 40.31 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 with reducer 1
Focal length: 11.36 mm
F number: 1.82
Half angle of view: 36.67 
Image height: 8.46 mm
Lens length: 142.26 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 (34mm, F1.4)
Focal length: 34.20 mm
F number: 1.45
Half angle of view: 32.32 
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 129.16 mm
Back focus: 39.35 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 with reducer 5
Focal length: 23.92 mm
F number: 1.02
Half angle of view: 32.33 
Image height: 15.14 mm
Lens length: 125.59 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Canon Ranked Among Top Five In U.S. Patent Rankings For 33 Years Running

Top 10 Cameras Canon Rumors Full Frame Mirrorless Camera Canon Eos R Pro Eos R Canon Lens Explorers Of Light
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We cover Canon patent applications, listed here.

Press release:

Canon places top five in U.S. patent rankings for 33 years running and first among Japanese companies for fourteen years running

TOKYO, January 8, 2019—Canon Inc. ranked third for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2018, becoming the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for 33 years running, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. What’s more, Canon once again ranked first among Japanese companies.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon U.S. patent rankings 2005–2018

YearOverall 
ranking		Ranking among 
Japanese companies		No. of patents
20183rd1st3,056
20173rd1st3,285
20163rd1st3,665
20153rd1st4,127
20143rd1st4,048
20133rd1st3,820
20123rd1st3,173
20113rd1st2,818
20104th1st2,551
20094th1st2,200
20083rd1st2,107
20073rd1st1,983
20063rd1st2,366
20052nd1st1,829
  • Note:Number of patents for 2016 to 2018 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2015 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Canon promotes the acquisition and application of intellectual property rights, not only for fundamental technologies required for next-generation products, but also such technologies as the wireless communication and image compression technologies shared by next-generation social infrastructure. Canon contributes to the realization of technology that serves society by continuing to provide even better products, greater convenience and by contributing to the development of manufacturing.

Canon Patent For RF 90mm f/2.8L IS Macro Lens (EOS R System)

Canon Patent
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Hi Lows Note spotted a rather interesting Canon patent application (2017-108266).

The patent literature describes a 90mm f/2.8L IS macro lens for the Canon EOS R system. Two optical formulas are discussed in the patent literature.

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 1

  • Focal length: 97.00mm
  • F number: 2.92
  • Half angle of view: 12.57
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.12mm
  • Back focus: 20.01mm

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 3

  • Focal length: 86.00mm
  • F number: 2.87
  • Half angle of view: 14.12
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.07mm
  • Back focus: 15.93mm

Well, this is a patent application for a lens that may indeed hit the market (most patent applications never become a real product).

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these: