According to a patent found by Canon Rumors, the company may be developing a new kind of linear focus motor for its upcoming range of autofocus lenses.
With the popularity of hybrid cameras, which are capable of both still and moving image capture, auto-focusing must be quick and precise for still images while also being silent and seamless during video recording.
Canon’s Evolution In Autofocus
It’s not like Canon hasn’t addressed this problem in more recent incarnations of its autofocus system.
Its STM (stepper motor) AF technology was hailed as being incredibly smooth and quiet while autofocusing when it was introduced in 2012.
With the release of its most recent AF technology, Nano USM, by Canon in 2016, this technique was further enhanced.
With the near-silent operation, finer speed control, and linear focusing movement, nano USM AF motors use ultrasonic vibration to move the lens focus group.
The most recent innovation described by this patent appears to be more of an evolution than a revolution as Nano USM already sets a high standard for hybrid stills and video AF.
The patent summary states that Canon is concentrating (warning: pun intended) on increasing the AF system’s power efficiency and decreasing the size of the lens barrel as a whole.
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Beyond DSLR And Into RF-Mount
The patent specifies how this may be accomplished by utilizing unique magnet arrays, and at that point, you’d need more electrical engineering expertise than I do to comprehend the specifics of how the AF system functions.
Given that Canon’s last significant advancement in autofocus occurred seven years ago, was created first for DSLR lenses, and arrived two years before the release of R-series cameras, the time may be appropriate for a new AF generation that is exclusive to RF-mount lenses.
Canon has an intriguing essay on the topic that provides further information about the development of its autofocus systems.
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