IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,742,952
Granted Patent B2
US 12,742,952 · App. 18/628,959 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus

Inventor: Yu Inomoto (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G02B15/1451G02B15/163
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,742,952
App. No.
18/628,959
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first positive lens unit fixed for zooming, a second negative lens unit that moves during zooming, at least two lens units that move during zooming, a final positive lens unit disposed closest to an image plane and fixed for zooming, and an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. The first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing. Predetermined inequalities are satisfied.

Claims (235)

1 . A zoom lens comprising, in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having positive refractive power and fixed for zooming;

a second lens unit having negative refractive power and configured to move during zooming;

at least two lens units configured to move during zooming;

a final lens unit having positive refractive power, disposed closest to an image plane, and fixed for zooming; and

an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end,

wherein the first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing,

wherein the second lens unit includes a first negative lens closest to the object in the second lens unit, at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens, and at least one positive lens, and

wherein the following inequalities are satisfied:

6

⁢

0

≤

v

⁢

d

⁢

2

⁢

1

≤

105

30

≤

vd

⁢

2

⁢

Nave

≤

65

1.5

≤

f

⁢

21

/

f

⁢

2

≤

5

.

0

where νd21 is an Abbe number of a material of the first negative lens based on d-line, νd2Nave is an average Abbe number of a material of the at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens in the second lens unit, and f21 is a focal length of the first negative lens, and f2 is a focal length of the second lens unit.

2 . The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

0

<

θ

⁢

g

⁢

F

⁢

2

⁢

1

+

0

.

0

⁢

0

⁢

1

×

vd

⁢

21

-

0.603

where θgF21 is a partial dispersion ratio for g-line and F-line of the material of the first negative lens.

3 . The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein the second lens unit includes at least three negative lenses including the first negative lens.

4 . The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein the first negative lens is a single lens.

5 . The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

vd

⁢

2

⁢

P

⁢

min

≤

2

⁢

8

where νd2Pmin is a minimum Abbe number among Abbe numbers based on the d-line of a material of the at least one positive lens of the second lens unit.

6 . The zoom lens according to claim 1 , wherein the first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first sub-lens unit fixed for focusing, a second sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing, and a third sub-lens unit fixed for focusing.

7 . A zoom lens comprising, in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having positive refractive power and fixed for zooming;

a second lens unit having negative refractive power and configured to move during zooming;

at least two lens units configured to move during zooming;

a final lens unit having positive refractive power, disposed closest to an image plane, and fixed for zooming; and

an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end,

wherein the first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing,

wherein the second lens unit includes a first negative lens closest to the object in the second lens unit, at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens, and at least one positive lens,

wherein the at least two lens units configured to move during zooming include, in order from the object side to the image side, a third lens unit having negative refractive power, and at least one lens unit, and

wherein the following inequalities are satisfied:

6

⁢

0

≤

v

⁢

d

⁢

2

⁢

1

≤

105

30

≤

vd

⁢

2

⁢

Nave

≤

65

where νd21 is an Abbe number of a material of the first negative lens based on d-line, and νd2Nave is an average Abbe number of a material of the at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens in the second lens unit.

8 . A zoom lens comprising, in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having positive refractive power and fixed for zooming;

a second lens unit having negative refractive power and configured to move during zooming;

at least two lens units configured to move during zooming;

a final lens unit having positive refractive power, disposed closest to an image plane, and fixed for zooming; and

an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end,

wherein the first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing,

wherein the second lens unit includes a first negative lens closest to the object in the second lens unit, at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens, and at least one positive lens,

wherein the at least two lens units configured to move during zooming include, in order from the object side to the image side, a third lens unit having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power, and

wherein the following inequalities are satisfied:

6

⁢

0

≤

v

⁢

d

⁢

2

⁢

1

≤

105

30

≤

vd

⁢

2

⁢

Nave

≤

65

where νd21 is an Abbe number of a material of the first negative lens based on d-line, and νd2Nave is an average Abbe number of a material of the at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens in the second lens unit.

9 . A zoom lens comprising, in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having positive refractive power and fixed for zooming;

a second lens unit having negative refractive power and configured to move during zooming;

at least two lens units configured to move during zooming;

a final lens unit having positive refractive power, disposed closest to an image plane, and fixed for zooming; and

an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end,

wherein the first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing,

wherein the second lens unit includes a first negative lens closest to the object in the second lens unit, at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens, and at least one positive lens,

wherein the final lens unit is a fifth lens unit counted from the object side, and

wherein the following inequalities are satisfied:

6

⁢

0

≤

v

⁢

d

⁢

2

⁢

1

≤

105

30

≤

vd

⁢

2

⁢

Nave

≤

65

where νd21 is an Abbe number of a material of the first negative lens based on d-line, and νd2Nave is an average Abbe number of a material of the at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens in the second lens unit.

10 . An image pickup apparatus comprising:

a zoom lens; and

an image sensor configured to capture an image formed through the zoom lens,

wherein a zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having positive refractive power and fixed for zooming;

a second lens unit having negative refractive power and configured to move during zooming;

at least two lens units configured to move during zooming;

a final lens unit having positive refractive power, disposed closest to an image plane, and fixed for zooming; and

an aperture stop disposed between a lens surface closest to the image plane of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to an object of the final lens unit, configured to move during zooming, and located closer to the image plane at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end,

wherein the first lens unit includes a sub-lens unit disposed closest to the object in the first lens unit and fixed for focusing, and a sub-lens unit configured to move for focusing,

wherein the second lens unit includes a first negative lens closest to the object in the second lens unit, at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens, and at least one positive lens, and

wherein the following inequalities are satisfied:

6

⁢

0

≤

v

⁢

d

⁢

2

⁢

1

≤

105

30

≤

vd

⁢

2

⁢

Nave

≤

65

1.5

≤

f

⁢

21

/

f

⁢

2

≤

5

.

0

where νd21 is an Abbe number of a material of the first negative lens based on d-line, νd2Nave is an average Abbe number of a material of the at least one negative lens other than the first negative lens in the second lens unit, and f21 is a focal length of the first negative lens, and f2 is a focal length of the second lens unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2024
From: INOMOTO, YU
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 067603/0986 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-185712 · Nov 15, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022007185 · Feb 22, 2022
Related Publication 20240255741A1 · Aug 1, 2024
References Cited (28)
US 9264638B2 · Inomoto · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9268120B2 · Inomoto · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9291800B2 · Inomoto · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9310592B2 · Inomoto · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9715092B2 · Inomoto · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10338359B2 · Inomoto · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10678031B2 · Inomoto · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11294156B2 · Inomoto · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230350168A1 · Inomoto · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230350173A1 · Inomoto · 2023 [cited by applicant]
JP H05215966A · 1993 [cited by applicant]
JP H6109976A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H07140386A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001318315A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004341237A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009042346A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012058660A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013221976A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013221999A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 5732176B2 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016014816A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017058590A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017078770A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013221976 A (Imoto yu) machine translation (Year: 2013). [cited by examiner]
Notice of Reasons for Refusal issued by the Japanese Patent Office on Sep. 30, 2025 in corresponding JP Patent Application No. 2021-185712, with English translation. [cited by applicant]
International Report on Patentability issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2022/007185, dated May 2, 2024, pp. 1-7, English Translation. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Refusal issued by the Japanese Patent Office on Jan. 20, 2026 in corresponding JP Patent Application No. 2021-185712. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report issued by the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 26, 2022 in corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2022/007185, with English translation. [cited by applicant]