Patents by Inventor Earl John Adolphi

Earl John Adolphi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10573045
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Publication number: 20180276867
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Patent number: 10013784
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Publication number: 20160012623
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Patent number: 9025906
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Publication number: 20140169697
    Abstract: An assembled group editor enables editing of an assembled group image. The assembled group image is automatically assembled from a plurality of individual subject images. A user interface is generated by the editor that includes a workspace. The assembled group image is displayed by the editor in the workspace to provide a preview of the assembled group image to the user. The user provides inputs, at least some of which are received by the editor into the workspace. The editor modifies the assembled group image according to the inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Earl John Adolphi
  • Publication number: 20140169696
    Abstract: An assembled group image is generated from subject images. Each of the subject images is associated with height data for the subject in the image. The height data is used to position the subject images in the assembled group image to provide a natural appearance. Shadows can also be added to the assembled group image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: LIFETOUCH INC.
    Inventors: Michael T. Breckenridge, Eric J. Runquist, Michael J. Surma, Earl John Adolphi
  • Patent number: 8457480
    Abstract: A photography station operates to capture digital images of a subject with at least one digital camera. The photography station includes foreground lighting and background lighting. The foreground lighting is configured to illuminate the subject, while the background lighting is configured to illuminate a background. The photography station includes a computing device having a setup module operable to perform tests to check a configuration of the photography station, and a photography module operable to capture digital images of the subject with the digital camera. In some embodiments, the tests performed by the setup module include a plurality of initial checking operations and a plurality of background processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Surma, Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 8319797
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Patent number: 8233785
    Abstract: A photography station operates to capture digital images of a subject with at least one digital camera. The photography station includes foreground lighting and background lighting. The foreground lighting is configured to illuminate the subject, while the background lighting is configured to illuminate a background. The photography station includes a computing device having a setup module operable to perform tests to check a configuration of the photography station, and a photography module operable to capture digital images of the subject with the digital camera. In some embodiments, the tests performed by the setup module include a plurality of initial checking operations and a plurality of background processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Surma, Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Brent Peterson
  • Publication number: 20120120281
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: LIFETOUCH INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Patent number: 8134576
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Publication number: 20110134141
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: LIFETOUCH INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Patent number: 7834894
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Publication number: 20080246777
    Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
  • Patent number: 5717454
    Abstract: To facilitate creating professional poses for a person to be photographed, a posing mask generating system is provided including a microprocessor having a video graphics board therein. The microprocessor also has a memory and a data input and output device. A video camera is interfaced with the video graphics board so that a video image of a model to be photographed can be viewed on a display terminal. Using the data input device, a professional photographer, experienced in posing subjects, enters graphics information into the system which is then overlaid with the video image and appropriately positioned to define a mask or template defining the location for prominent features of the subject within the frame of reference. This is repeated for a number of possible poses, with the graphics information being stored in the memory of the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lifetouch Portrait Studios, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl John Adolphi, Michael T. Breckenridge, Michael J. Surma