Electronic Engineer Consultant: RDIF Circuits and Low Cost RDFI Tag Systems (726)
Expertise
Complex electrical systems incorporating
RDIF digital circuits;
analog / RF circuits;
embedded software;
digital and analog signal processing
electromagnetic fields
20+ years of commercial value generating electronics engineering experience with electronics companies; 11+ years of consulting experience. Technology development focus on rapid information gain an and risk reduction.
Experience
1996 - 1997 CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC., Thorofare, NJ, Director of RFID Development
Completed technology development for very low cost tag RFID system oriented towards the company's retail customers. This development was partially defensive - to prevent the displacement of Checkpoint's relatively mature EAS technology by RFID technology developed elsewhere.
Helped develop a relationship with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation which resulted in a substantial development venture for RFID products with Checkpoint.
Developed very low cost read only RFID tag and long range reader products.
Developed core concepts behind a compatible low cost read/write RFID technology.
1991 - 1996 CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS Director of Technology Development
Provided a technical foundation for the company's product developments during the critical years during which Checkpoint's RF EAS technology became dominant in the market. These foundations include:
a series of antennas that enable sensing of tags at long distances;
method of making the tag smaller without sacrificing sensing range;
a tag/system design that substantially eliminated false alarms;
fundamental understanding of the mechanism of deactivation of the tag and the manufacturing method for optimizing tag deactivation performance;
a manufacturing test apparatus that enables high speed testing of the critical tag parameters during manufacture without slowing down a production line;
a device to activate tags in bulk without damage to merchandise or exceeding FCC emissions regulations;
a means to substantially eliminate the static sensitivity of activatable tags;
circuit topologies for maximizing the efficiency of inductive antenna driver circuits;
signal processing algorithms to optimally detect tags.
Identified the threat that RFID technology creates to Checkpoint's products and began the development of very low cost RFID technology compatible with Checkpoint's manufacturing and distribution methods.
1980 - 1991 PA CONSULTING GROUP, East Windsor, NJ, Principal and Technical Manager
Hired and managed a team of very high caliber electronics engineers to operate a large variety of electronics consulting assignments.
Through technical guidance and training, project management, and quality control, ensured that group assignments were operated to the best advantage of clients and were profitable for PA.
Sold or helped to sell a large number of standard and specialty integrated circuits.
Developed in-house technical capabilities, particularly in the design of application specific integrated circuits (including full-custom) and surface mounted component technology.
Undertook international strategic technical assignments in Canada, England, South Africa and Japan. Also operated technical assignments in South Korea and Belgium.
Successfully operated a variety of development assignments including:
high speed color industrial printing technology capable of printing magazine quality images at 30 feet per minute;
high speed, low light level CCD line camera utilizing GaAs signal processing components in order to obtain maximum S/N;
digital video filter performing 1.28 giga multiplies/accumulates per second;
first generation design and implementation of two ASIC's to be used in a low cost spread-spectrum radio application; later, specified the design criteria and managed the implementation of a second generation of these ASIC's;
44 Mbs 512 x 512 crosspoint switch for telecommunications applications;
an automotive keyless entry system;
large scale high density stylus array for magnetographic printing;
dynamic graphics display system for arcade games;
specification and analog design of a full custom IC for a cost attractive consumer security application;
microprocessor controlled medical X-ray generator;
microcomputer based airport lighting system current regulator.
1972 - 1980 PRINCETON ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, INC., North Brunswick, NJ, Development Engineer
Contributed to the design and manufacture of the company's electron beam addressed image memory system and other systems incorporating it. Contributions included:
increasing the operating speed of a computer graphics terminal by a factor of four through optimal interfacing of microprocessor software and hardware;
determining the methodology used for writing and erasing information from the Lithocon as configured in a new generation computer graphics terminal;
developing a new target structure for the Lithocon with increased charge storage capacity and retention time;
developing a new, proprietary immersion electron optics system for the Lithocon;
leading the effort to design impregnated tungsten cathodes into the electron gun of the Lithocon, replacing oxide cathodes, in order to sustain high current density from the cathode;
designing a wide bandwidth video amplifier and preamplifier;
designing a variety of special purpose analog and digital circuits;
helping set up a new manufacturing facility for a computer graphics terminal and trained its staff;
hiring and training technician staff for manufacturing setup and testing.
Honors & Publications
17 U.S. Patents granted, others pending.
Education
1995 MSE University of Pennsylvania
1974 Princeton University, completed two years of study for BSEE