Nikon 18mm f/1.8 lens patent

Nikon filed a patent 2012-27450 in Japan for a 18mm f/1.8 and 20mm f/1.8 full frame lenses:

• Focal length: 18.4mm
• Aperture: 1.84
• Angle of view: 100.3deg
• Lens design: 14 elements in 11 groups
• 3 aspherical elements
• 3 ED elements

Nikon 20mm f/1.8 lens patent

• Focal length: 20.4mm
• Aperture: 1.84
• Angle of view: 94.7deg
• Lens design: 12 elements in 9 groups
• 3 aspherical elements
• 4 ED elements

It is typical for Nikon to patent several slightly different versions of each lens.

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Back in May of 2011 Nikon filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sigma over lenses with VR technology. I was told that the negotiations between the two companies should be finalized in the coming weeks and a press release will be issued. Nikon was initially looking for a compensation of 12.6 billion yen (around 150 million dollars) which I assume is a lot of money for Sigma. I am not sure of the final outcome, or least not confident enough to post it online.

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Patents 2012-8268, 2012-8271 and 2012-8273 filed in Japan are for a 16-30mm f/4.5-5.6 full frame lens:

• Patent published on January 12th, 2012
• Patent filed on June 23rd,  2010
• Focal length: 16.48 - 29.10mm
• Aperture: 4.41 - 5.88
• Half angle of view 53.27 - 36.32°
• Zoom ratio: 1.77x
• 14 elemetns in 9 groups
• 3 ED glass elements
• 2 aspherical elements
• Internal focusing

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Nikon filed patent 2012-8264 in Japan for a 35mm f/2.8 VR full frame lens:

• Focal length: 36.20mm
• Aperture: 2.95
• Angle of view: 62.67°
• 6 elements in 5 groups
• 2 aspherical lens elements

FYI: the latest AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G lens ($1,619.00) has 10 elements in 7 groups with one aspherical element.

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• Ubertronix Strike Finder lets you take pictures of lightnings, popping balloons and even speeding bullets.

• Phottix Aion wireless timer and shutter release is now shipping (compatible with Nikon cameras).

• New book: David Busch's Nikon Coolpix P7100 Guide to Digital Photography.

• Nikon D90 now sells for 814.99. My guess is that those are the last shipments. RIP Nikon D90!
• Rare Nikon Rangefinder 3,5/3,5cm Stereo Nikkor outfit for sale on eBay for $42.630.

• Nikon Netherlands now has its own online store.

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• New Nikon lens cap patent (2011-252988).
• Nikon provides aid to the victims of the typhoon "Washi" in the Philippines.
• NME Music Photography Awards with Nikon exhibition taking place in London next month.
• The making of the Nikon vs. Canon  video:

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Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon filed patent 2011232502 in Japan for a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.6 lens which will probably be used in the Coolpix P300 replacement:

The current P300 model has a 24-100mm f/1.8-4.9 equivalent lens.

The Nikon P300 was announced on February 8th, 2011 and will probably be up for replacement in February 2012 (Coolpix cameras are usually refreshed in February and August)

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Patent application 20110273577 is for artificial blur enhancement - in other words simulating bokeh without using a fast lens:

Artificial blur enhancement: before and after

The blur detecting section detects degree of blur of an image of the second region of the image of the photographic image data. The blur enhancement section performs blur enhancement processing on the image of the second region to enlarge the degree of blur of the image after image processing in proportion to the magnitude of the detected degree of blur of the image.

Patent application 20110267707 is for a 10mm f/2.8 lens (f=10.30, FNO=2.91):

Nikon patent for 10mm f/2.8 lens

Patent applications 20110267710 and 20110274419 are for a retractable lens:

There is a lens barrel that drives a first lens and a lens barrier independently on an optical axis. This lens barrel alters relative positions of the lens barrier and the first lens between a retracted state and a shooting state. That is, in the retracted state, the first lens is withdrawn toward the image side in the optical axis direction such that the lens barrier can close, and in the shooting state, the first lens is moved closer to the lens barrier such that a larger angle of view may be provided without the overall external diameter of the lens barrel increasing.

In recent years, in order to further widen the angle of a lens, a mechanism has been employed that, in the shooting state, projects a first lens forward in the optical axis direction beyond a position at which the lens barrier is disposed. However, with this mechanism, when the lens barrel is switching to the shooting state, if, for example, the lens barrier is pushed against by an external force and the lens barrier does not open, the first lens (optical system) comes into contact with the lens barrier, and the lens barrier and the first lens may be damaged.

In addition to the one reported back in August, two more patents (2011-221421, 2011-221422) were filed in Japan for a 24-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. Several different designs were mentioned in the patents:

Nikon patent for a 24-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens

Patent 2011-223469 is for some kind of a hybrid viewfinder that can automatically switch between EVF and OVF based on the photographed scene:

• If the subject is bright: switch to EVF or rear LCD Live View
• If the subject is dark: switch to OVF switch

This invention relates to the imaging device which changes an observation method according to the luminosity of a photographic subject - reducing the light volume which enters into a photography person's pupil as photographic subject luminosity becomes high so that a light strong against a photography person's pupil may not enter conventionally (Google translation)

The patent describes also an OVF and EVF indication in the viewfinder:

Nikon has filed several different hybrid viewfinder related patents in the past.

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"IV said it initially approached Nikon in 2008 about taking a license to the patents. Nikon declined to meet with the technology-licensing company at that time, according to court papers.

In 2011, IV said it made a second approach to Nikon and its “good-faith efforts to negotiate a license” with the camera company failed."

The four patents in question can be found here:

• 6,181,836: “Method and system for non-destructive image editing” by Delean and assigned to MGI Software Corporation. Prosecuted by Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman. Includes 16 claims (4 indep.). Was application 08/933,798. Filed 9/19/1997 & Granted 1/30/2001.
• 6,121,960: “Touch screen systems and methods” by Carroll et. al. and assigned to ViA, Inc.. Prosecuted by Patterson, Thuente & Skaar, P.A.. Includes 30 claims (3 indep.). Was application 08/919,527. Filed 8/28/1997 & Granted 9/19/2000.
• 6,979,587: “Image sensor and method for fabricating the same” by Lee and assigned to Hynix Semiconductor Inc.. Prosecuted by Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP. Includes 10 claims (4 indep.). Was application 10/330,287. Filed 12/30/2002 & Granted 12/27/2005.
• 6,221,686: “Method of making a semiconductor image sensor” by Drowley et. al. and assigned to Motorola, Inc.. Prosecuted by Huffman; A. Kate. Includes 34 claims (4 indep.). Was application 09/493,366. Filed 1/28/2000 & Granted 4/24/2001.
• 7,733,368: “Virtual reality camera” by Teo. Prosecuted by Perkins Coie LLP. Includes 22 claims (4 indep.). Was application 11/935,344. Filed 11/5/2007 & Granted 6/8/2010.

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Nikon filed a patent 2011197413 in Japan for a 800mm f/5.6 lens:

• Patent publication: 2011-197413
• Patent release date: October 6th, 2011
• Patent filing date: March 19, 2010
• Focal length: 800.00mm
• Aperture: 5.61
• Image height: 21.60mm
• Lens design: 16 elements in 14 groups
• Internal focus
• Image stabilization

The longest telephoto in the current Nikon arsenal is the Nikkor 600mm f/4 ED VR lens ($10,300) while Canon already has a EF 800 f/5.6L IS USM lens ($14,000).

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Nikon filed a patent application (#20110228407) for a 70-200mm f/4 VR II lens:

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens patent 2011186159 with 15.7x zoom ratio and 3 aspherical surfaces:

Nikon filed a patent 2011175190 that will allow the lens to be detached from the back of the camera:

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A patent for the 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 mirrorless lens showed also up in Japan (see US filing):

• Patent publication: 2011-175098
• Published on September 8, 2011
• Filed on February 24, 2010
• Focal length: 10.3-97.0mm
• Aperture: 4.6-5.9
• Image height: 8mm
• Lens length: 128.784mm
• 9.42x zoom ratio
• One aspherical element
• Internal zoom
• Inner focus
  
• VR

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Patent 2011-085674 filed by Nikon in Japan is for GPS enabled battery grip (there were some rumors several months ago that the D700 replacement may have such GPS enabled grip):

Problem to be solved: To provide a device with a built-in positioning function capable of receiving a positioning signal from a positioning satellite with good sensitivity and having high accuracy of positioning.

Patent 2011-081076 filed in Japan is for another GPS implementation in a DSLR:

Problem to be solved: To provide a device with a built-in positioning function which is free from lowering of positioning accuracy by a positioning sensor, even when accessory is attached to the device.

Patet 2011-076005 filed in Japan is for a flash with bounce capability:

Problem to be solved: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of changing an illuminating light radiation direction, and including a light emitting part which is easily housed

Patent 2011-164314 (Japan) is for a an adjustable EVF:

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Nikon filed a patent 2011-145435 in Japan for a 24-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens:

Patent 2011-150196 describes three different full frame 24mm lens designs:

Patent 2011-139280 is to prevent condensation inside the camera.

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Brief translation (thanks B.): the new mirrorless demo machine is here, temperatly named X810. The user is not going to post pictures of the whole camera due to trade secret and he do not want to lost his job. but he did post a picture of the mount as requested by other users. As we can see it is not a F-mount and the senser size seems to be 1/2.3 or 2.5. many users seems to be disappointed with the small sensor it has.

The mount on the picture is similar to various, previously filed patents from Nikon for a mirrorless camera:

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A reader asked me if Nikon has previously filed any patents for the recently announced AF-S DX Micro 40mm f/2.8G lens. I searched older patents posts and came across two different entries for a 40mm f/2.8 lens:

Nikon was granted a patent 7656591 for a 40mm f/2.8 lens in 2010, the patent was filed in 2007:

The second patent 2010-204621 (filed in Japan on 02/03/2009) was for a 40mm f/2.8 and 60mm f/3.8 macro lenses but the initial guess was that those designs are for a mirrorless camera because of the 17mm image circle:

The patented lens diagram are slightly different than the final version:

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From the patent:

"However, the camera which does not have a movable mirror for a miniaturization and slimming down of a camera is developed in recent years. In such a camera, the point of contact and the shutter are close.

The problem of this invention is attaining the further miniaturization of a camera using the physical relationship of a point of contact and a shutter.

This invention solves said problem by the following solving means. In order to understand easily, the mark corresponding to the embodiment of this invention is attached and explained, but it is not limited to this."

This is another drawing of Nikon's mirrorless mount:

Patent application 2011-133717 filed in Japan is for a lens cap that can easily be attached to the camera's strap. PetaPixel has a nice visual on how this should look:

Via Egami

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Patent application 2011-112832 is for a 24-145mm or 28-145mm f/4 lens:

Patent application 2011-118379 is for a 200mm f/3.2 Macro lens (again, several different designs were described with focal lengths ranging from 160-220mm and aperture ranging from f/2 - f/3.2):

Other Nikon patents:

• Several patents filed in Japan indicate for a removable sensor:

2011-066509: to provide an imaging apparatus capable of easily and surely fixing a light receiving surface of an imaging element on a predetermined position with respect to a holding member

2011-060814: to provide a light receiving apparatus in which a solid-state imaging device can be detachably attached to a mounting substrate, and to provide a member for fixing the solid-state imaging device

• There are also multiple patents for improving the dynamic range:

2011-066506: to achieve compatibility between the expansion of a dynamic range at low sensitivity, and a high SN ratio at high sensitivity

2011-066338: to widen a variable range of capacity value in a floating capacitor

2011-055345: to provide an imaging apparatus of a high S/N ratio and a wide dynamic range

• Patent 2011-041092 pertains to tilt-shift lens that communicates the lens position to the camera. This implies a new camera able collect tilt shift data from the lens:

"The lens barrel 20 is provided with the amount detection encoder 21 (an oscillation angle detection encoder and an angle-of-rotation detection encoder) of swings and tilts which detects the amount of swings and tilts performed by the swing-and-tilt mechanism 23...

If the camera body 10 is equipped, the characteristic data will be recognized by the camera body 10. namely If the camera body 10 is equipped with the lens barrel 20, the camera body 10 can recognize that the lens barrel 20 with which it was equipped is what has a swing-and-tilt function. The camera body 10 can grasp the state of swing-and-tilt operation of the lens barrel 20 with the detecting signal (an oscillation angle signal and an angle-of-rotation signal) of the amount detection encoder 21 (an oscillation angle detection encoder and an angle-of-rotation detection encoder) of swings and tilts."

• Nikon's patent for preset focus pulls for future cameras.
• Nikon filed another patent for a high speed camera with stylus and voice memo function (see previous patent here).
• Nikon patent 2011-114680 is for an image sensor that allows you to control the dynamic range and sensitivity by combining pixels of different areas.

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“2011 fall no more DC but VR and 77mm filter size min. focusing to 3.6 feet and max magnification of 1:3.4 priced at $2199 no more 135DC”

Yesterday a patent for a new Nikon 105mm f/2 lens appeared in the JPO (Japan Patent Office):

• Patent #: 2011-112955
• Published date: June 9th, 2011
• Filing date: November 27th, 2011
• Focal length: 104.02mm
• Aperture: 1.98
• Angle of view: 23.48°
• Image height: 21.60mm
• Total lens length: 127.09mm
• Back focus: 44.44mm
• Maximum magnification: -0.13080
• No aspherical elements
• Internal Focus

Nikon currently still has the AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D lens in their product line which has similar lens design as the one from the patent:

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Nikon 10-30mm f/3.3-5.6

Nikon 7-13mm f/3.5-5.6

Are those two lenses for Nikon's mirrorless solution? Almost: the image height of both lenses is 7.96mm (sensor diagonal of 15.92mm) which suggests a crop factor of 2.8x. Previous patents and rumors indicated a crop factor of 2.5-2.6x based on a sensor with a diagonal of 17mm. Nikon is either obfuscating their patents or they have different mirrorless solutions in terms of sensor size (even though the difference is only about 1mm).

Patents details:

Nikon 10-30mm f/3.3-5.6

• Focal length: 10.30 - 29.10mm
• Aperture: 3.31 - 5.78
• Angle of  view: 77.58 - 30.52 °
• Image height: 7.962mm
• Total lens length: 73.80 - 72.19mm
• Back focus: 18.7255 - 39.4394mm
• Zoom ratio: 2.825x
• 3 aspherical elements

Nikon 7-13mm f/3.5-5.6

• Focal length:6.90 - 12.61mm
• Aperture: 3.62 - 5.77
• Angle of view: 98.83 - 63.97 °
• Image height: 7.962mm
• Total lens length: 70.23 - 69.98mm
• Back Focus: 14.6644 - 24.7483mm
• Zoom ratio: 1.828x
• 4 aspherical elements

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This just in today - Nikon files a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan against Sigma over lenses with VR:

"Nikon's lawsuit seeks an injunction against Sigma's manufacture and sale of infringing interchangeable lenses with vibration reduction for single lens reflex cameras, along with damages for past infringement.

Although Nikon attempted to resolve Sigma's patent infringement through negotiation, a non-adversarial resolution could not be reached. Consequently, Nikon concluded that filing a lawsuit was the only way it could protect its intellectual property."

Update: according to Reuters, Nikon is looking for a compensation of 12.6 billion yen (around 150 million dollars).

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