Canon patent for 27x zoom Powershot camera (Powershot G3 X replacement?)

powershot

Canon patent for an optical formula that appears to refer to a possible Powershot camera. The patent is about a 9-240mm F2.8-5.6 lens that seems to fit a compact camera, a Canon Powershot. The optical formula resolves to a 27x zoom. 

The Canon PowerShot G3 X has a 25x zoom (24-600mm equivalent). May this patent refer to a replacement? It may be.

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-31419
    • Published 2016.3.7
    • Filing date 2014.7.28
  • Example
    • Zoom ratio 25.58
    • Wide-angle intermediate telephoto
    • Focal length 9.35 31.90 239.12
    • F-number 2.88 4.93 5.76
    • Half angle of view (degrees) 35.66 13.89 1.89
    • The image height 6.71 7.89 7.89
    • Overall length of the lens 94.81 119.61 197.21
    • BF 2.97 19.89 29.86
powershot g3 x
Canon Powershot G3 X
[via Egami]

 

Canon patent to avoid image quality degradation in systems with transparent mirror

2016_25487_fig05a

tilted-mirror

Canon patent describing a solution to avoid degradation of image quality in systems featuring a translucent mirror.

The problem: when light goes through a pellicle mirror to the sensor, the tilted mirror produces a tilt in the focal plane. The Canon patent counters this by tilting the sensor. Will we ever see this technology in a Canon product that hits the market?

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-25487
    • Published 2016.2.8
    • Filing date 2014.7.22
  • Canon patent
    • Pellicle mirror
    • Imaging device suppressing the influence of aberration by tilting the
    • Pellicle mirror the characteristics of, to determine the amount of tilt by the F-number and the exit pupil position
[via Egami]

Canon patent for EF-S 18-100mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for APS-C sensors

ef-s 18-100mm

A patent does neither mean that a company is actively working on the described product, nor it is a warranty we’ll ever see the described product. However, here is another patent for a STM lens for APS-C DSLRs filed by Canon.

The patent refers to a EF-S 18-100mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens,. 18-100mm is a sonewhat unusual focal range, even more if you consider that Canon has the excellent EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM on offer.

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-1224
    • Published 2016.1.7
    • Filing date 2014.6.11
  • Example
    • Focal length 18.59 47.22 94.99
    • F-number 3.60 4.92 5.88
    • Half angle of view (degrees) 36.31 16.14 8.18
    • Image height 13.66 13.66 13.66
    • The total lens length 137.78 158.04 178.30
    • BF 35.39 52.79 64.61
[via Egami]

Canon tops among Japanese companies in U.S. patent rankings for eleven years running

canon rumors

Canon is filing a lot of patents, many reported here on Canon Watch. Canon press release:

Canon tops among Japanese companies in U.S. patent rankings for eleven years running

TOKYO, January 14, 2016—Canon Inc. again ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2015, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services on January 13, 2016.

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 among Japanese companies 2005–2015

Year Ranking* No. of patents
2015 1st (3rd) 4,134
2014 1st (3rd) 4,055
2013 1st (3rd) 3,820
2012 1st (3rd) 3,173
2011 1st (3rd) 2,818
2010 1st (4th) 2,551
2009 1st (4th) 2,200
2008 1st (3rd) 2,107
2007 1st (3rd) 1,983
2006 1st (3rd) 2,366
2005 1st (2nd) 1,829
* Number in parenthesis represents Canon’s ranking among all companies
Note: Number of patents for 2015 based on preliminary figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2014 tabulated by Canon based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Canon prizes its corporate DNA of placing a high priority on technology. And with regard to research and development results, the Company actively promotes the acquisition of patent rights in accordance with the management direction of the Canon Group and technology trends while conducting thorough pre-application searches to raise the quality of applications. Through close cooperation between Canon’s technology and intellectual property divisions, the Company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.

Canon patent for EF-M 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 DO IS lens for EOS M system

JPA_427232674_000002

A long awaited super-zoom lens for the EOS M system with better optics might soon be reality. Canon filed a patent for a  EF-M 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 DO IS lens, featuring diffractive optics and image stabilisation. Canon already has a telephoto lens for the EOS M, the Canon EF-M 55-200mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Such a lens would be a welcome addition to the small lens line-up currently available for the EOS M system. Canon filed other patents for telephoto lenses for the EOS-M system. However, this patent might refer to a a product that could hit the market. If it does, then the price is the what I would like to know first. Optics with DO elements are usually not cheap.

  • Patent Publication No. 2015-232674
    • Published 2015.12.24
    • Filing date 2014.6.11
  • Example 1
    • Zoom ratio 5.27
    • Focal length 55.04 135.00 290.01
    • F-number 4.60 5.18 6.30
    • Angle of view 13.94 5.78 2.70
    • Image height 13.66 13.66 13.66
    • Overall length of the lens 136.00 175.46 192.00
    • BF 35.50 35.50 35.50
[via Egami]