Canon patent to reduce moire artefacts in image data

Canon Patent

Here is another Canon patent application I think might go into production.

Canon patent application US20170358058 describes an algorithm to estimate and eventually correct moire artefacts in image data.

From the patent abstract:

An image processing apparatus includes an estimator which estimates a moire component included in an image based on optical characteristic information, a determiner which determines a correction amount based on the estimated moire component, and a corrector which corrects the image so as to reduce the moire component included in the image based on the correction amount.

Canon files a huge amounts of patent applications. That does not mean all the patents we spot will go into production. However, some patents actually have a chance to made it into production and I am trying to find them, like this patent to improve burst rate by compressing raw files, or this one describing an improved way to review photos from a sequential shot, or the patent that describes technology to improve wireless communication while reducing power consumption.

Canon patent to improve operability and reduce power consumption during wireless communication

canon patentSince a few weeks it seems anyone is flooding the web with patent applications filed by Canon, going from obscure to unintelligible (to me). Patents are a way companies have to put a protective seal on their research, independently from the fact if they plan or not to release their proprietary technology.

I’m trying to find patents that actually have a chance to made it into production, like this patent to improve burst rate by compressing raw files, or this one describing an improved way to review photos from a sequential shot.

Similar immediate and real-world usefulness can be found also in Canon patent EP20170176556, which describes system and method to save power during a wireless communication, i.e. how to achieve both an improvement in operability and suppression of battery consumption. Something that surely matters to most photogs. It sure matters to me.

This is important, this is real world, and this may get soon on a camera (could be the EOS 7D Mark III).

The patent’s abstract:

A communication apparatus capable of achieving both of improvement in operability and suppression of battery consumption. A camera as the communication apparatus wirelessly communicates with one of a plurality of external devices including a remote controller and a smartphone. The state of the camera is switched between an operating state and a power-saving state in which power consumption is smaller than in the operating state. In the power-saving state, when a connection request is received from the remote controller as a device for non-continuous connection, a process for establishing a connection with the remote controller is started, and the camera is shifted to the operating state. In the power-saving state, when a connection request is received from the smartphone as a device for continuous connection, a process for establishing a connection with the smartphone is started, and the camera is not shifted to the operating state.

canon patent

Canon patent for EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens

canon patent

Here is a patent application that could make it into production, more sooner than later.

Canon patent application in Japan 2017-16156 describes the optical formula for an EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens. Since Canon started to build non-L, STM lenses for their full-frame cameras, it was to expect that this popular focal length would follow. We usually point to the fact that most patent never make it into production. This one may be different.

  • focal distance: 17.50  25.12  34.09
  • f numbers: 4.00 4.85   5.88
  • half field angle (degree): 51.03  40.73  32.40
  • image height: 21.64  21.64  21.64
  • length of the lens: 130.88 128.52 134.05
  • BF: 37.60  49.75  64.06

Here are two more patents (1 and 2) that could likely go into production.

Source

Canon patent for stacked sensor design (AF and image data off the sensor)

canon patentCanon patent application US20170366776 describes several stacked sensor designs.

The patent focuses on separating auto-focus and image data pipelines from the chip on the image sensor. Such a design has several advantages: less bandwidth to transfer data from the sensor, which leads to more speed and reduced power consumption (hence also less heat).

The patent abstract:

An imaging element having a layered structure including a first chip having a pixel portion in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an optical image of an object and generating a pixel signal are arranged two-dimensionally and a second chip in which a drive means of the pixel portion is arranged, and having a first output path to output the pixel signals of at least a first pixel group in the pixel portion and a second output path to output the pixel signals of a second pixel group, comprises the a conversion means for converting the pixel signals of the first and second output paths into digital signals and a control information generation means for generating control information of a photographing operation of the object by using the digital signal converted by the conversion means, wherein at least a part of the conversion means is arranged in the first chip.

Please note that patent applications do not mean a company will implement the described technology any time soon. Indeed, most patents never make it into production. An example of a Canon patent describing a technology that might be featured on a future Canon DSLR can be seen here, another one here.

Canon patent to improve raw file burst rate through lossy compression

canon patentCanon patent application US20170359471 describes an algorithm to improve raw file writing performance during burst shoots. This is an example of patent that likely will be found on a future Canon DSLR.

The patent abstract:

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit configured to generate RAW image data by imaging; a generation unit configured to generate record RAW image data from the RAW image data; and a recording unit configured to record in a storage unit the record RAW image data, wherein the generation unit generates the record RAW image data by performing Lossy compression on the RAW image data in a case where consecutive shooting is performed, and generates the record RAW image data by performing Lossless compression on the RAW image data in a case where single shooting or bracket photographing is performed.

The interesting aspect is: raw files are compressed and saved lossy only when burst shooting, during normal operation raw files will be saved lossless. The patent literature states the algorithm:

  • record RAW image data is generated by performing lossy compression on the RAW image data in a case where consecutive shooting is performed, and
  • record RAW image data is generated by performing lossless compression on the RAW image data in a case where single shooting or bracket photographing is performed.

I am not sure if I want lossy compressed raw files on my camera. What about you?