Canon Patent: 11mm F2, 13mm F2, 22mm F2, And 30mm F2 Lenses For RF-S Mount

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application, for a bunch of fast primes for the RF-S mount.

Canon patent application P2023130885 (Japan, published 9/21/2023) discusses optical formulas for RF-S mount prime lenses:

  • 11mm F2
  • 13mm F2
  • 22mm F2
  • 30mm F2

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide a rear focus optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction.

BACKGROUND ART

In imaging, it is required to suppress the generation of noise during zooming and focusing. In order to suppress noise during focusing, the rear focus (inner focus) method, in which focusing is performed by moving the lens group closest to the image side than the lens group closest to the object side, is recommended because it provides the best sound isolation effect from the object side lens. suitable.

Rear focus type optical systems are also required to be compact and have good aberration correction. In order to realize such an optical system, it is necessary to appropriately set the lens arrangement and the focal length of each lens.

The present invention provides a rear focus type optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction, and an imaging device equipped with the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 13.40
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 43.01
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.83
  • Back focus: 12.43

Example 2

  • Focal length: 11.30
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 47.89
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.85
  • Back focus: 12.44

Example 3

  • Focal length: 22.00
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 29.60
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 72.85
  • Back focus: 12.444

Example 4

  • Focal length: 30.52
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 22.27
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 75.88
  • Back focus: 14.49

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Canon patent: 55mm F1.24 Lens With Double Gauss Element Arrangement

Canon Patent

Another Canon patent, although we doubt that this one will ever hit the market.

Canon patent application 2023127280 (Japan, published 9/13/2023) discusses optical formulas for a 55mm F1.24 lens with a double Gauss element arrangement.

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Background Art

In recent years, photographing optical systems with a standard angle of view, where the half angle of view is about 20 degrees to 30 degrees, used in imaging devices have a bright F number and have high optical performance despite the small size of the entire system. That is required. A so-called double Gauss type optical system is known as a standard angle of view photographing optical system. In a Gauss type optical system, the lenses are arranged symmetrically around the aperture, and with a small number of lenses, it is possible to obtain high optical performance despite being compact.

However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, the back focus tends to become long and the total length of the lens becomes long, so it is difficult to suppress the increase in size of the imaging device.

In order to achieve a compact lens with a high F-number, high optical performance, and suppression of fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing, it is important to appropriately set the structure and material of the lens.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 53.80
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.91
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 78.46
  • Back focus: 29.83

Example 2

  • Focal length: 55.98
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.13
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 84.99
  • Back focus: 30.07

Example 3

  • Focal length: 56.00
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.12
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 79.92
  • Back focus: 30.00

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: In Camera Built-in Neutral Density Filter

Canon Patent

That’s an interesting Canon patent that was spotted in japan: a built-in ND (Neutral density) filter.

Canon patent application 2023128236 (Japan, published 9/14/2023) discusses methods and technology for an ND filter that is built-in on the camera body.

Excerpts from the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device in which an optical filter can be easily switched between a used state and a non-used state, and can appropriately control foreign matter removal from the surface of an imaging unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, imaging devices capable of capturing images using optical filters such as neutral density filters (ND filters) have been known. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device that includes a plurality of ND filters and can move up and down. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration including a through hole for blowing gas to blow away dust attached to the ND filter.

In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to hermetically seal the ND filter and the imaging device, so there is a possibility that dust and the like may enter the interior of the imaging device. Although the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 can remove dust etc. attached to the ND filter, it is not possible to properly control the function of removing dust etc. attached to the surface of the image sensor unit, so that the captured image may not be affected. Dust, etc. may be reflected.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device in which it is possible to easily switch between a state in which an optical filter is used and a state in which it is not in use, and in which foreign matter removal from the surface of an imaging unit can be properly controlled. purpose.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, an image pickup device in which it is possible to easily switch between the use state and the non-use state of the optical filter, and it is possible to properly control foreign matter removal from the surface of the imaging unit. equipment can be provided.

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Canon Patent: 200-800mm F5.6-9, 100-600mm F5.6-9 And 20-150mm F4-8

Canon Patent

A new Canon patent was spotted. Zoom lenses for full frame mirrorless cameras, i.e. the EOS R system.

Canon patent application 2023125584 (Japan, published 9/7/2023) discusses optical formulas for three zoom lenses:

  • 200-800mm F5.6-9
  • 100-600mm F5.6-9
  • 20-150mm F4-8

From the patent literature:

A zoom lens is provided that is compact and lightweight and capable of suppressing variations in optical performance over the entire zoom range.

BACKGROUND ART

As an imaging optical system used in an imaging device, there is a demand for a small and lightweight zoom lens that has a high zoom ratio (variable magnification ratio) and high optical performance over the entire zoom range. As a zoom lens that satisfies this requirement, a positive lead type zoom lens in which a lens group with a positive refractive power is arranged closest to the object side is known.

In the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1, the negative second lens group as the main variable magnification group is moved toward the image side during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. In order to obtain a higher zoom ratio with this zoom lens, it is necessary to increase the overall length of the lens in order to ensure the amount of movement of the second lens group. As the total length increases, the diameter of the first lens group increases, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of miniaturization and weight reduction.

The present invention provides a zoom lens that is small and lightweight and capable of suppressing fluctuations in optical performance over the entire zoom range, and an imaging device having the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 206.00-775.96
  • F-value: 5.83-9.20
  • Half angle of view: 6.00-1.60
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 330.07-392.54
  • Back focus: 38.46

Example 2

  • Focal length: 100.02-599.98
  • F-value: 5.83-9.20
  • Half angle of view: 12.21-2.07
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 300.08-373.49
  • Back focus: 77.78

Example 3

  • Focal length: 19.99-150.00
  • F value: 4.12-8.12
  • Half angle of view: 30.77-5.20
  • Image height: 11.90-13.66
  • Total length: 118.37-150.69
  • Back focus: 10.01

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: In Camera RAW Processing With Arbitrary LUTs

Canon Patent

A somewhat different Canon patent application. RAW processing with arbitrary LUTs. LUTs (Look Up Table) allow to apply specific color rendition parameters, for instance. If I got this patent right, it will allow to apply LUTs to the in camera RAW processing pipeline.

Canon patent application 2023121533 (Japan, published 8/31/2023) discusses technology and methods to integrate LUTs to the in camera RAW processing. From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to obtain an image having a degree of applicability desired by a user while using a lookup table desired by the user.

Description of the Related Art

A lookup table (hereinafter referred to as LUT) is generally used as means for correcting the color and contrast of an image. In many imaging devices, an LUT built in the imaging device can be applied to an image, or an LUT created by an external application can be loaded into the imaging device and applied to the image.

In addition, LUTs for converting to cinematic images, LUTs for special effects, etc. are often provided on the Web regardless of whether they are paid or not. can be applied.

However, LUTs provided on the Web, etc. are LUTs for converting into images that the creator considers good, and not everyone finds the images good. Some people may want to weaken the effect and apply it. In that case, it is necessary to first shoot an image without applying the LUT, and then combine the image as shot in post-production with the image to which the LUT is applied. It takes a lot of effort.

In the conventional example described above, the correction table changes depending on the determined scene. Even if it differs from the user’s preference, the user cannot change it according to his/her preference. Therefore, it is conceivable that the user adjusts the degree of application of the LUT before applying it to the image. However, when recording image data that has not been subjected to image processing, such as RAW moving image recording, naturally the LUT is not applied. Therefore, in order to reproduce the same image as the image viewed at the time of photographing at the time of post-editing, it is necessary to perform the same processing on a PC or the like using the LUT used and information on the degree of application, which takes time and effort.

In order to solve this problem, for example, the imaging apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an image pickup apparatus having image pickup means and capable of connecting to a predetermined storage medium, an acquisition means for acquiring a first lookup table for image conversion from the storage medium, and Setting means for setting the degree of application of the first lookup table; and generating means for generating a second lookup table from the first lookup table based on the degree of application set by the setting means. and converting the image data obtained by the imaging means using the second lookup table generated by the generating means.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: 24mm F1.4, 35mm F1.4 And 50mm F1.4

Canon Patent

And yet another Canon patent application. Fast primes for the RF mount.

Canon patent application 2022024113 (japan, published 8/30/2023) discusses optical formulas for three fast prime lenses:

  • 24mm F1.4
  • 35mm F1.4
  • 50mm F1.4

From the patent literature:

Optical system and imaging device

A compact optical system capable of high-speed focusing with a wide angle of view and a large aperture ratio is provided.

Description of the Related Art

Imaging devices using solid-state imaging devices such as CCD sensors and CMOS sensors are required to have optical systems that have a wide angle of view, a large aperture ratio, a small size, and high optical performance. There is also a demand for high-speed autofocus in the optical system.

An optical system with a wide angle of view and a large aperture ratio has the problem that it is difficult to correct various aberrations. In particular, if the weight of the focus lens group is reduced in order to perform high-speed focusing (autofocus), it becomes difficult to suppress aberration fluctuations in focusing from an object at infinity to a close object.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact optical system capable of high-speed focusing while having a wide angle of view and a large aperture ratio.

Example 1 (24mm F1.4)

  • Focal length 24.36
  • F value 1.44
  • Half angle of view 41.61
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens length 106.56
  • Back focus 12.72

Example 2 (35mm F1.4)

  • Focal length 34.09
  • F value 1.45
  • Half angle of view 32.40
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens length 113.84
  • Back focus 13.67

Example 3 (50mm F1.4)

  • Focal length 48.50
  • F value 1.45
  • Half angle of view 24.04
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens length 108.70
  • Back focus 11.47

More Canon patents are listed here.

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