Dedicated and knowledgeable Hardware/Software Architect with a distinguished record of achievement designing, developing and delivering cutting edge technologies that enable companies to attain goals within strict time constraints.  Self-motivated multi-tasker with the demonstrated ability to work independently or as an integral team member to achieve goals. 

 

 

Operating Systems: Windows, Symbian OS, Palm OS, Windows CE/Pocket PC/Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, UNIX (Redhat Linux, Embedded Linux, HP-UX, Solaris, QNX).  Also: Intel, SiLabs, Freescale/Motorola, and PIC 8-, 16- and 32-bit embedded microprocessors including ARM XScale.

Languages: Visual Studio .NET framework (C++/C#/VB/ASP), Visual C++/MFC/STL/MTL/COM/DCOM, C, classic Visual Basic, classic ASP, PHP, Perl, MySQL, SQL Server, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, RSS, Ajax, UML, Java 2 (J2SE/J2ME MIDlets), Delphi, MATLAB, Oracle/SQL, and Assembler -- 805x, 80x8x, 68xx, PIC16/8 and ARM.  Visual SourceSafe, CVS and SCCS.

Other: Digital and analog hardware design, embedded microcontroller-based systems; Real-time operating systems (RTOS); Multimedia, graphics(DirectX), animation, sound (MP3); Internet client/server, plug-ins/MIME; stepper motor and servo control; USB, IrDA, SPI, I²C and other serial interfaces; Satellite/cable/digital TV (DSS, DVB) software and interfaces (EPG, CA, automation); Wireless devices (cell phones, PDAs), WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, MICS, SMS messaging; Encryption (symmetric and public-key); Tools, parsers, compilers, translators;  NT services, device drivers, DLLs

 

 

SOFTWEST, LLC – Gilbert, Arizona (previously Softwest, San Jose, California)                          

Consultant

Started this technology consulting company to provide clients with a range of services focusing on software and firmware development on both a per project and long-term basis.  Built client base through networking and referrals.  Key projects and engagements include the following:

 

 

MedApps – Scottsdale, Arizona (2006 – Present)

Created a MIDlet for a Nokia cell phone, which received readings via Bluetooth from a blood glucose meter and forwarded them to a web server.

 

Designed a Bluetooth-based device (BluePAL) using a 8-bit microcontroller to interface with various glucose meters, scales, blood pressure monitors, and other medical devices.  It stored voice samples to allow it to say the reading. Extended the BluePAL design by adding an GSM cell phone module, SIM socket, and microSD socket to become HealthPAL. Designed several “Smart Cable” circuits which allow both the BluePAL and HealthPAL to connect with meters from many different manufacturers using a common electrical interface.

 

BigBlueMarketing – Chalfont, Pennsylvania   (2003–Present)

Developed a large (500+ pages) contact management/customer relationship system (CMS/CRM) web site for real estate professionals using PHP, MySQL and JavaScript.  Each real estate agent can quickly create their own web site(s).  The agent’s administration pages include client management; property listings; calendar of events, open houses and emails; individual and group, and automated follow-up emails; newsletters; email and web statistics; surveys; and image and document libraries.

 

When the system got too big for one server (over 1000 domains), developed a strategy to move it to multiple servers,; managed the move with minimal downtime to web visitors; now there is a separate database server, web servers, and incoming and outgoing email servers.

 

Sensys Medical – Chandler, Arizona   (2004-2007)

Developed hardware-specific software for a Glucose Tracking System (GTS) that uses near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to non-invasively measure blood glucose levels.  The GTS ran embedded Linux on an ARM PXA270 XScale microprocessor. All of the software was written in C++, with the exception of the GTS-specific Linux device driver itself that was written in C.

 

Also wrote firmware in C for PIC18 microcontrollers which operated six small stepper motors.  Designed the hardware and wrote the firmware in C for another PIC18 microcontroller that controlled a peristaltic pump motor and drove a servo using PWM.  Developed a Windows GUI to operate the motors, pump and servo using LabWIndows/CVI library.    Modified an existing DLL to add additional interface functionality to communicate to the GTS instrument to control the devices via USB.

 

Created a Windows DLL to interface a 2 megapixel image sensor to MATLAB 7, then wrote routines in MATLAB to test it.  Also made changes to a library built on top of the MTL (Matrix Template Library) to facilitate porting of MATLAB code to C++.

 

All production code was written and tested to meet FDA requirements.  Design employed UML class and state diagrams, and code maintained on CVS. 

 

Temple Software – Scottsdale, Arizona  (2005)

Created a UI in Visual C++ to lookup entries in a VIN (vehicle identification) database for use by the Arizona DPS.

 

Star Instruments – Flagstaff, Arizona  (2005)

Developed the UI in Visual C++ to interface to a Galil motion controller, operating an automated telescope mirror polisher using three stepper motors.

 

Light Diagnostics – Murray, Utah   (2003-2004)

Designed the interface electronics (analog and digital including A/D interface and custom logic) and the firmware (in C) for a Raman spectroscopy sensor, using an 8051-based microcontroller with an integrated USB end-point controller and I2C interface.  The sensor LED was controlled via a PWM signal generated using realtime interrupts.  A stepper motor was used to control the positioning of an optical filter.  Also developed the firmware to communicate to a PC via a USB interface, and the corresponding USB and signal processing software on the Windows side using Visual C++. Debugged the final hardware and realtime firmware together using my Tektronix 450 MHz oscilloscope.

 

Various clients –   (2003-2004)

Developed several web sites using PHP, ASP, Perl, JavaScript and SQL Server/MySQL, including an au pair registration site, personal ads/matchmaking site, investment survey form with automated response (emails with MIME attachments), and auto-responder emails sites.

 

Therapeutic Research Center – Stockton, California  (2003)

Made modifications to existing code Palm and Pocket PC applications used to access a prescription drug and natural medicine databases, and download and display a monthly newsletter.

 

France Telecom R&D – South San Francisco, California  (2002)

Conducted a study, including the production of several detailed documents, for France Telecom/Orange relating to the implementation of secure wireless devices using the Palm OS. Part of the study involved analyzing the Palm security offerings for Palm OS 4 and 5, and beyond.

 

SoftOlogy – Oxnard, California  (2000–2003)

Recruited by the founder of this unique software company to program, modify and troubleshoot software designed to bridge the gap between man and machine, including its flagship product, RapidReader, which enables users to read text on computer screens up to three times faster, especially on handheld PDAs or cellular phones.

§   Developed RapidReader and associated GUI for the EPOC, Symbian, and Palm operating systems (latter two used for smart phones), providing the only viable scroll-free method of reading large amounts of text on a small screen. Versions of RapidReader are now being sold for the Nokia Series 80 running Symbian OS 7 and various Palm and Psion handhelds.  Currently developing a version for the BlackBerry 7250/7520 handheld  using J2ME.

§   Developed the Windows version of RapidReader (and associated GUI), which runs on all Win 32-bit platforms (Windows 95 through XP), using MS Visual C++/MFC (MS Office automation using Visual Basic).

§   Facilitated company expansion into the content provider arena by creating the StoryBoarder authoring tool and the proprietary TextVision file format, which integrates text, JPEG graphics, and MP3 audio into a single, encrypted, compressed file to facilitate secure transmission of e-books and other intellectual property.

 

Sony/DirecTV   (1993–1999)

San Jose and Long Beach, California; Castle Rock, Colorado; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Ibaraki Ken, Japan

Contracted to the Sony software team to develop automation and scheduling software to support the efficient transmission of DirecTv broadcasts to several markets in the US, Latin America and Japan. 

§   Originally joined the Sony team as one of 12 contractors working with 13 employees and was the only contractor retained following completion of the US project to lead six programmers in the DirecTv/ Galaxy Latin America project; retained as a consultant to DirecTv in 1999 after its maintenance contract with Sony ended.  These projects included working with the DSS format (based on MPEG 1.5), used by domestic DirecTv and DirecTv/Latin America, and DVB format (superset of MPEG2) used by DirecTv/Japan. 

§    Developed automation software (C, HP-UX) for DirecTv US that enabled automatic scheduling and transmission of various elements such as commercials, previews and pay-per-view movies broadcast via satellite, which otherwise would be impossible due to the more than 400 channels offered by the company.

§   Created Scheduling software (including all GUI components, using VC++/MFC) which included the electronic program guide, conditional access and automation interfaces for DirecTv/Galaxy Latin America.   Converted a prototype into a production version in just two months to buy time for and eventually replace Sony’s behind schedule effort, allowing the DirecTv Latin America broadcast center to go on the air on schedule.

§   Traveled to Japan five times in six months to attend the planning and specification meetings for the DirecTv Japan, due to in-depth interfacing knowledge, while simultaneously performing duties on the Latin America project.  Also carried out integration testing at the DirecTv Japan broadcast center in Ibaraki Ken, Japan.

§   Relied upon for ability to quickly troubleshoot and resolve problems in an operating environment where downtime of a few seconds is considered a serious outage; served as 24/7 on-call support for escalated issues.

 

Various Embedded System Projects

Completed multiple assignments involving the creation of firmware and hardware to help diverse clients deliver quality products and achieve strategic objectives.  Firmware developed in either C, C++ or assembler using various compilers/assemblers targeted for embedded systems use.  Debugged the combined hardware/firmware using tools like ICE, HP logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.

§   Created the firmware for a Hyundai cruise control, a fiber-optic temperature measuring system for operating rooms (with LCD, UARTs, touchpad, and GPIB interfaces), a multi-channel television studio audio mixer/fader console (with interface to a DSP), and a smart-card based electronic postage meter.

§   Designed both the hardware and firmware for Schlage Lock’s electronic hotel lock (using a magnetic card reader), a security and control system (LCD, UARTs, touchpad, and RS-485), a high-speed temperature measuring system for a paper plant (PID control), a photo chemical recycling system, and an orthroscopic surgical tool (PWM motor control).

 

Other Projects and Assignments

§   Wrote a Pascal compiler for GTE, and a PL/M compiler

§   Produced a high profile 10-minute computer animation with sound used to promote the launch of the Apple IIGS.  The demo led to a personal appearance on the cover of A+, a popular Apple II consumer magazine.

§   Developed operations planning software for law enforcement and SWAT teams.

§   Developed software to control a side-bit milling machine (X-Y motion control) to cut high-security keysets for Schlage Lock.

§   Wrote the software (in C) to control a group of networked semiconductor burn-in ovens for an IC test equipment company.  All test data and results were stored in a hierarchical database accessed via a C API.

§   Served as a guest lecturer on operating systems at Stanford University

 

Previous Employment (before starting my consulting practice)

 

BNR – Palo Alto, California

§   Lead call processing engineer for digital PBX project; led all code reviews, and wrote the critical sections of code. 

§   Designed all of the state diagrams for operation of the Northern Telecom multi-line subscriber set.

§   Was the liaison between BNR and the Human Factors group in Bell Northern Research in Ottawa, which was designing the actual instrument.

§   Designed tools used by the rest of the team to generate consistent software documentation.

 

GTE AE Labs – Northlake, Illinois

§   As a senior software engineer, developed test software for Automatic Electric’s #1 EAX electronic telephone switch, including tests for trunk and junctor circuits, and subscriber line interfaces.

§   Spent 3 months in Taipei, Republic of China testing a special version of the switch prior to cutover

§   As a hardware engineer, designed 4/5 of a frame of digital electronics, comprising nearly 200 PCB’s.  Was awarded four patents on the design.

 

 

Illinois Institute of Technology                                                                 Chicago, Illinois

Master of Science, Computer Science

 

Iowa State University                                                                                               Ames, Iowa

Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering

 

Awarded seven US Patents, with an additional 24 pending

Published in several national trade and consumer magazines

Previous Member of Board of Directors, Professional and Technical Consultants Association (PATCA)

Member, IEEE