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).

  • Patent number: 11983886
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20240144437
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Patent number: 11972588
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11854176
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20230017586
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11423558
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11405539
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SHUTTERFLY, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20220114734
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20210350558
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Publication number: 20210334945
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20210201518
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11049272
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Benson, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11030730
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Patent number: 11019317
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Leo Cyrus, Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20200404132
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20200320673
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Patent number: 10735636
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Patent number: 10349029
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20190182464
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Leo Cyrus, Keith A. Benson
  • Patent number: 10110792
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Benson