Canon Inc. places 3rd in the U.S. for Patents granted in 2019

MELVILLE, NY, January 15, 2020 – Aligning with its mission of empowering innovations, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that its parent company, Canon Inc., was granted 3,548 patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office and maintained its third place ranking for patents granted in 2019 according to IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, a leading producer of global patent databases. With this year’s ranking, Canon has become the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for number of patents granted for 34 consecutive years. Additionally, Canon has once again ranked first in patents among Japanese companies for the 15th consecutive year.

These patents continue to demonstrate Canon’s contribution to science and technology which are used to develop fundamental technologies designed to drive innovation and support customer and business needs.

“As technology continues to evolve, we too will continue exploring new areas and future innovation opportunities,” said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. Inc. “Canon is proud to be in the top three patent holders as it reflects our dedication and commitment to delivering innovative ideas and solutions to meet market and customer demands.”

Canon Inc. Ranked As One Of The Most Admired Companies By Fortune For 2018

I am back from my East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It was a great trip with many sightings and photo opportunities. Time to process my photos and return to writing this blog. You can follow my travels on Facebook  and Twitter , see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com.


MELVILLE, N.Y., January 19, 2018 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that Canon Inc., its parent company, has been named to FORTUNE Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for 2018, demonstrating its strong standing within the global business community. Called the “definitive report card on corporate reputations” by FORTUNE, Canon received positive marks for financial soundness, long-term investment value, social responsibility, global competitiveness and quality of products and services to earn this distinction, resulting in a rank of fourth in the Computer category.

“To be named as one of the ‘World’s Most Admired Companies’ is a true testament to Canon’s forward-thinking vision, solidifying the strength of our brand and speaking to our continued commitment to innovation,” said Christine Sedlack, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon prides itself in developing leading-edge technology to help meet the needs of our customers while still staying true to our strong philosophy of corporate social responsibility. Receiving this honor is the result of the hard work and dedication of all Canon employees, as well as the devotion of the company’s loyal customers, for which we are incredibly grateful.”

Executive, directors and analysts from 680 companies in 29 countries around the world were asked to rate these companies based off of nine criteria categories: financial soundness, long-term investment value, people management, social responsibility, use of corporate assets, quality of management, quality of products/services, innovation and global competitiveness.

Canon Inc. CEO Aims To Make Company More Innovative

Canon Inc. Chariman and CEO Fujio Mitarai

TOKYO -- Canon aims to look beyond cameras and copiers to tap such new areas as factory equipment and health care for growth, Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai told The Nikkei on Friday.

Excerpts from the interview follow.

Q: How do you see earnings performing for the current fiscal year ending December 2018?

A: 2017 was a strong year for cameras, office equipment and other existing businesses. With the addition of new business segments like health care and industrial equipment, we have evidently boosted both sales and profit.

The business climate will improve further in 2018, and we aim to lift sales and profit for a second consecutive year.

Q: How far is Canon in fulfilling its medium-term plan to 2020?

A: We aim to make at least 5 trillion yen ($44.1 billion) in consolidated sales. It is definitely not impossible if we maintain the current economic situation and stable exchange rates. I see cameras contributing over 30% and office equipment another 40%, while new business segments, with health care at the center, will account for the rest.

Q: Tell us about upcoming mergers and acquisitions.

A: In particular, we will implement M&As that will further strengthen areas where we've already made acquisitions. Future purchases will supplement the health care, security camera and industrial equipment segments, with no bias toward either hardware or software.

We will set aside 300 billion yen to 400 billion yen for this purpose through 2020.

Q: What is the biggest issue currently facing Canon?

A: Our primary management goal this year is to raise our antennas high toward cutting-edge technology. It is on this point where we lag behind other companies. We will open up a research and development center in the U.S.'s Silicon Valley, where we will actively adopt new technology.

Q: What do you believe is imperative for today's corporation?

A: To read the trends of an era. Innovation is steadily advancing, and it has become difficult to put out products that are ahead of the competition, even if by just a little. This is now an era when latecomer manufacturers stand to gain. Compared with the past, even I feel mounting tensions.

To stay on top of and not lose against generational innovations, it is important to strengthen the financial structure. I believe that, as a manufacturer, it is essential to always maintain a strong financial house, creating conditions where you can invest in new things.

Recent Canon Patents On Super Telephoto Lens

As reported earlier, Canon has been working to improve its Super Telephoto lens in the past couple of years. The emphasis is on weight reduction and enhancing image quality with superior coatings and optics. Some time in 2018, the EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens is expected to be announced.

Below are a few new patents Canon has applied for in the Super Telephoto lineup. The 2018 Winter Olympics and World Cup are coming, followed by the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Canon is determined to make a showcase of their products in these worldwide, headlines-grabbing events.

Japan Patent Application 2017-215495

This patent appears to be two fold, lightweight (relatively here!) with a good correction of aberrations such as axis chromatic and chromatic aberrations of due to magnification.  This element design most likely has IS, it's simply not labelled by Canon.

400mm f/2.8
300mm f/2.8
500mm f/4.0

Japan Patent Application 2017-215494

Reduction of chromatic abberrations and secondary spectra (specific type of chromatic aberrations) are reduced in this patent. This element design most likely has IS, it's simply not labelled by Canon.

400mm f/2.8
500mm f/4.0
600mm f/4.0
800mm f/5.6

Japan Patent Application 2017-215493

DIfferent technique to reduce aberrations such as axis chromatic and chromatic aberrations of due to magnification.  This element design most likely has IS, it's simply not labelled by Canon.

300mm f/2.8
400mm f/2.8
500mm f/4.0
600mm f/4.0
800mm f/5.6

Japan Patent Application 2017-215492

DIfferent technique to reduce aberrations such as axis chromatic and chromatic aberrations of due to magnification.  This element design most likely has IS, it's simply not labelled by Canon.

300mm f/2.8
400mm f/2.8
500mm f/4.0
600mm f/4.0
800mm f/5.6

Japan Patent Application 2017-215491

This application changes the element location for focus to reduce weight, and also to reduct chromatic aberrations.  This element design does not have IS, which probably makes it exploritory or defensive in nature.

400mm f/2.8
800mm f/5.6
200mm f/2.0

Recent Canon Patents Involving Mirrorless and DSLR Cameras

Below are a few recent Canon patents involving Mirrorless and DSLR cameras. My readers know from my previous posts Canon is ranked one of the top companies in patents filings.

Hybrid SLR pellicle mirror (Patent #2017-161671)

An imaging device includes: a semi-transmissive mirror that can turn between a first position where subject light is separated to an image pick-up element and a finder and a second position retreating from an imaging optical axis; a light block member that is present at a position not blocking the semi-transmissive mirror when the semi-transmissive mirror (13) is present at the first position, and is configured so as to block the semi-transmissive mirror from an imaging optical axis side when the semi-transmissive mirror is present at the second position; and eyepiece detection means that detects whether a photographer looks into an eyepiece part of the finder. When it is detected by the eyepiece detection means that the photographer does not look into the eyepiece part, the imaging device is configured to move the semi-transmissive mirror and the light block member to the second position.

Anti-reflection lens coating (Patent #2017-167271)

A manufacturing method for an optical member includes: a step of applying dispersion liquid containing particles and dispersant on a base material; a step of, after applying the dispersion liquid, applying a solution containing a binder forming component and causing the solution to enter the space between the particles included in the dispersion liquid applied previously, so as to form a single layer having the binder filling the space between the particles; and a step of drying the layer to form an anti-reflection film. The solution contains a silane alkoxy condensate with an average particle diameter of 8 nm or more and 60 nm or less. The solution contains 70 mass% or more of a solvent whose water solubility is 10 wt% or less.

Improved dual ramp ADC sensor design (Patent #2017-175565)

The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a pixel part; a signal generating part for generating a first ramp signal of which the signal value is changed by a first amount of change per unit time and a second ramp signal of which the signal value is changed by a second amount of charge greater than the first amount of change; and a conversion part which uses the ramp signal from the signal generation part to perform analog/digital conversion on a signal from the pixel part. The signal generation part includes a capacitor part, a current supply part and a charge emission part. The current supply part is connected to the capacitor part and charge is accumulated in the capacitor part, thereby generating the first ramp signal and the second ramp signal. The capacitor part and the charge emission part are connected, thereby emitting the charge accumulated in the capacitor part to the charge emission part. A resistance value of an electrical path between the capacitor part and the charge emission part in generating the second ramp signal is smaller in relative to that in generating the first ramp signal.

17-35 4.0-5.6 IS (Patent #2017-161568)

The zoom lens includes, successively arranged from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a rear group having at least one lens group and having a positive refractive power as a whole. The first lens group is composed of an 11th lens element having a negative refractive power, a 12th lens element having a negative refractive power, and a 13th lens element having a positive refractive power. A focal length fw of the whole system at a wide angle end, a back focus skw at the wide angle end, and a focal length of the 12th lens element are each appropriately set.

Improved heat sinks for mirrorless cameras (Patent #2017-169176)

An imaging apparatus comprises: an imaging element; an element substrate on which the imaging element is mounted on a subject side becoming a front side and an electronic component is mounted on a back side; an element holder positioned and fixed to the imaging element; a base member to which the element holder is fixed by a spring member; and heat radiation members and which have heat absorption parts and, are brought into contact with at least a back of the element substrate and fixed to the base member by the spring member with the element holder. The heat absorption parts and are arranged so that they do not protrude to the back side in an optical axis direction from the electronic component.

New Canon Patent - EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

I am not sure how many photographers will be interested in buying a new, non 'L' zoom lenses for their full frame camera but Canon has patented the EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM design. It appears to be slow and may be more appropriate for the APS-C sensor cameras.

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

• Focal distance: 17.50  25.12  34.09
• F number: 4.00 4.85   5.88
• A half field angle (degree): 51.03  40.73  32.40
• Image height: 21.64  21.64  21.64
• Whole length of the lens: 130.88 128.52 134.05
• BF: 37.60  49.75  64.06
• Japan patent application 2017-161568

Canon Patent - 18-105mm f/4-5.6 Lens With Built-in Converter

Canon has patented a new design. It is a 18-105mm f/4-5.6 lens with a built-in teleconverter. However, when engaged, it makes the lens wider. At 18mm, the lens is f/4, but when the converter is engaged, it becomes a 15mm lens with an aperture of f/3.3.

This is an interesting lens concept but Canon has been experimenting with many new camera and lens designs in their laboratories for decades including one design with two built-in extenders. They have been awarded more patents than any other Japanese companies.

Normal use

• Focal length 18.40 37.44 104.0
• Aperture 4.00 4.64 5.89
• Half angle of view ω (degree) 36.59 20.04 7.48
• Image height 13.66 13.66 13.66 (APS-C)
• Lens total length 149.30 165.77 191.31

Wide-angle TC added

• Focal length 15.40
• Aperture 3.35
• Half angle of view ω (degree) 41.57
• Image height 13.66
• Lens total length 149.30

Canon Again Ranks First and Third in Patents Awarded Among Japanese and US Companies

Elephant calf trumpeting on the Masai Mara, Kenya

I am back home after a rather successful East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It will take me a little time to get back in my daily routine and updating my readers on the latest Canon rumors, and photography news in general.

This was my first photo safari of 2017 and this will be another busy season for me. The equipment I brought with me worked well. I used the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS-5Ds cameras, EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens.

My next trip is coming up soon and it will be a whale photography tour. Please check back often as I post my new photos after I get back to my regular chores. You can follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter. See my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com


TOKYO, January 12, 2017 - Canon Inc. again ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2016, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services.

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 – 2016

• Year        Rank       # of patents
• 2016 1st (3rd)     3,665
• 2015 1st (3rd)     4,127
• 2014 1st (3rd)     4,048
• 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