Location History:
- Pennington, NJ (US) (2004 - 2008)
- Mercer, NJ (US) (2012)
Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2004-2012
Title: Thomas A Funkhouser: Innovator in Acoustic Modeling and Image Processing
Introduction
Thomas A Funkhouser is a notable inventor based in Pennington, NJ (US). He holds a total of 6 patents that showcase his contributions to the fields of acoustic modeling and image processing. His innovative work has significantly advanced the way we understand and interact with virtual environments.
Latest Patents
Funkhouser's latest patents include an "Acoustic modeling apparatus and method using accelerated beam tracing techniques." This invention involves an acoustic modeling system that utilizes beam tracing techniques to enhance the computation of significant acoustic reverberation paths in a distributed virtual environment. The system performs a priority-driven beam tracing to construct a beam tree data structure that represents 'early' reverberation paths between avatar locations. Additionally, it employs a bi-directional beam tracing algorithm to efficiently find viable acoustic reverberation paths.
Another significant patent is the "Method and apparatus for finding feature correspondences between images captured in real-world environments." This technique computes a globally consistent set of image feature correspondences across various viewpoints, making it suitable for interactive walkthroughs and visualizations. The approach leverages the redundancy in a dense set of images captured in a plane or higher dimensions. It detects features in source images and tracks them to neighboring images, ultimately selecting a maximal set of correspondences that produce a globally consistent labeling.
Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Funkhouser has worked with prominent companies such as Lucent Technologies Inc. and Agere Systems Inc. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in developing innovative technologies.
Collaborations
Funkhouser has collaborated with notable individuals in his field, including Ingrid Birgitta Carlbom and Daniel G Aliaga. These collaborations have further enriched his work and expanded the impact of his inventions.
Conclusion
Thomas A Funkhouser is a distinguished inventor whose work in acoustic modeling and image processing has made significant contributions to technology. His innovative patents reflect his dedication to advancing these fields and enhancing our understanding of virtual environments.