Patents by Inventor Keith A. Benson
Keith A. Benson 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).
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Patent number: 11983886Abstract: A system for performing background and floor replacement in full-length subject images is described. A set of three or more images of a subject can be captured under different illumination conditions. For example, at least one of the images is captured while a foot portion of the subject and surrounding floor, including a floor mat on which the subject is positioned, are illuminated by a floor lighting device. The floor mat has a Lambertian surface to reflect light in a particular manner such that a maximum contrast between the floor and the subject is captured in the image. Varying contrast between the background, floor, and subject among the images of the set can be leveraged by an image processing system to generate a background mask and a floor mask that are combined and seamlessly transitioned to yield a compiled mask for use in background and floor replacement.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20240144437Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Patent number: 11972588Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11854176Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20230017586Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11423558Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11405539Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: SHUTTERFLY, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20220114734Abstract: A system for performing background and floor replacement in full-length subject images is described. A set of three or more images of a subject can be captured under different illumination conditions. For example, at least one of the images is captured while a foot portion of the subject and surrounding floor, including a floor mat on which the subject is positioned, are illuminated by a floor lighting device. The floor mat has a Lambertian surface to reflect light in a particular manner such that a maximum contrast between the floor and the subject is captured in the image. Varying contrast between the background, floor, and subject among the images of the set can be leveraged by an image processing system to generate a background mask and a floor mask that are combined and seamlessly transitioned to yield a compiled mask for use in background and floor replacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20210350558Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Publication number: 20210334945Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20210201518Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11049272Abstract: A system for assembling a group composite image from individual subject images is described. Often subjects of a group vary in height. Additionally, as each subject is photographed individually, different zoom factors can be applied by a camera that affects a pixel density of the image captured. The system includes a fiducial marking device that emits collimated light to form one or more fiducial markers on a subject while an image is captured by the camera. Based on a location of the fiducial markers in the image, a pixel density of the image and a reference height of the subject can be determined. The individual subject image can be scaled based on the pixel density and reference height to account for the varying subject heights and zoom factors to generate a group composite image that accurately represents the subjects of the group relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11030730Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Patent number: 11019317Abstract: A method of photographing a subject includes storing a library of photographic scene designs in a computer memory, training a photographic scene detection model by a computer processing device using machine learning from sample portrait images comprising known photographic scenes defined in the library of photographic scene designs, capturing a production portrait photograph, using a digital camera, of a subject in a photographic scene that is defined by a photographic scene design in the library of photographic scene designs, automatically detecting the photographic scene in the production portrait photograph using the photographic scene detection model operating on one or more computer processors, and processing the production portrait photograph by an image processing system to personalize the photographic scene detected in the production portrait photograph.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventors: Leo Cyrus, Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20200404132Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20200320673Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Lifetouch Inc.Inventor: Keith A. Benson
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Patent number: 10735636Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Shutterfly, LLCInventor: Keith A. Benson
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Patent number: 10349029Abstract: A photographic scene replacement system includes a photographic scene with a detectable pattern. The system operates to capture a digital photograph of a subject and the photographic scene having the detectable pattern with a digital camera when the subject is arranged between the digital camera and the photographic scene. The system also operates to process the digital photograph at least in part by automatically detecting the detectable pattern in the digital photograph, to distinguish the subject from the photographic scene in the digital photograph.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventor: Keith A. Benson
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Publication number: 20190182464Abstract: A method of photographing a subject includes storing a library of photographic scene designs in a computer memory, training a photographic scene detection model by a computer processing device using machine learning from sample portrait images comprising known photographic scenes defined in the library of photographic scene designs, capturing a production portrait photograph, using a digital camera, of a subject in a photographic scene that is defined by a photographic scene design in the library of photographic scene designs, automatically detecting the photographic scene in the production portrait photograph using the photographic scene detection model operating on one or more computer processors, and processing the production portrait photograph by an image processing system to personalize the photographic scene detected in the production portrait photograph.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Leo Cyrus, Keith A. Benson
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Patent number: 10110792Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventor: Keith A. Benson