David K. Quinn, Jim Thorpe, PA, 321-634-2670 DavidKQuinn@aol.com

 

Introduction: Analog / Digital electronic Design / Power Supply / Embedded Microcontroller Firmware. Expert Witness and excellent technical writing skills also offered. Consultant or direct full-time positions considered (Contract to Perm also considered). Design abilities include: Digital, Analog, Audio, Mixed-Signal, FPGA, Battery Management Systems, Sensors, Power Electronics, Power Supply systems (i.e. DC / DC converters), PWM Class-D, Li-ion (Lithium Cobalt) / LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery controller (Fuel Gauge) applications. This includes knowledge of Smart Battery Applications. 25+ years of R&D / product development. Embedded Microcontroller firmware engineering is offered with a hands-on approach to engineering design including, design validation, organization, manufacturing, and documentation. Being multidisciplined, I can offer simultaneous debug of Hardware and Firmware (Assembly / C). I have acted as project leader, manager, liaison to production, purchasing, C.E.M.s, technical support, and component engineer on numerous projects. Familiar with product I/O protection, including TVS, ESD and lightning protection. Recognized as an out-of-the-box thinker and leader who can optimize an engineering or manufacturing operation, helping a facility maintain its competitiveness and market dominant position.

Knowledge and Experience:

         Hardware Design: (30+ years): Digital, Analog, R.F., Mixed-Signal, Video.

         Power Supply: (Single Phase / Three Phase), Inverter, Battery Backup, Charger, Li-ion (Lithium Ion) / LiFePO4.

         Programming: 25+ years C / Assembly: Cooperative Multitasking / Super-loops / Round Robin / Time Dispatcher / State Machines.

         Embedded Linux Knowledge: (Microchip platform) / listed as a Microchip Design Partner.

         Safety: Vital related design: Creepage / clearance / grounding / Fail-Safe / leakage. ex: standards such as IEC 60950.

         Switching Power Supply: design (DC to DC converters / Inverters): typically 80-90% efficient, Familiar: Mil-Std704 / Mil-Std1275D.

         Board Level Design: Discrete component level, up to high-density Digital / Analog integrated circuits.

         Analog Design: Low Noise Analog, Op-Amps, Mixed Signal, Audio (including Class-D), ASIC and Power Supply .

         Digital Design: Logic families include CMOS: CD4000, LVC, 74HC, 74HCT, LVT, LVX. Bipolar: TTL / LSTTL / ECL / PECL. Detailed understanding of timing, logic voltage thresholds, setup and hold timing employed in successful, bug-free digital designs.

         High Power Peripheral Drivers: for driving solenoids, motors, flow controllers, flow sensors & proportional valves.

         Motor Control Servo-Loop applications: Actuators using Wheatstone Bridge, Load-Cells, Resolution tracking resolver to digital converter for angular motor position tracking.

         EWIS (Enhanced Wiring Integrity System): (Electrical Wiring Interconnection System)

         Programmable Logic: CPLDs, FPGAs and ASICs with on-board mixed signal.

         Communications: SPI, I2C, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, USB, LVDS, FSK, HART, Ethernet, CAN, Infrared, ARINC.

         Microcontrollers: ARM-STR912, Microchip PIC, MSP430, 8051 / 8052, Z80, 68xx, 68xxx, 6502, X86, 8748, 8749, T.I. TMS320 .

         Sensors: Current, PIR, Infrared, Thermal, Pressure, Altitude, Proximity, Wheatstone Bridge.

         Schematic Capture: Altium, Mentor Graphics (Very Best), PADs, Orcad, Sunstone, Autocad.

         EMI / EMC compliance: RF: FCC Part-15 (A&B), Mil-Std-461, Miniature transmitter design, Microwave (during military).

         Telephony and Modem: FCC part-68 (POTS / DAA), TVS (ESD, Transient Voltage and Standard Lightning protection).

         Battery Management / Fuel Gauge Design: Sealed Lead Acid, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion and Lithium Iron Phosphate.

         Solar Power technology: Familiarity gained through research an strong interest.

         Component Engineering: work closely with suppliers and manufacturers (CEMs / BOMs), qualify samples.

         Documentation: Expert Witness, Technical writing skills, Failure Analysis, BOMs, CAD, Production, Tech. Support and Purchasing.

         Laboratory Equipment: Familiar with standard Oscilloscopes, Meters, Spectrum Analyzers, Logic Analyzers, DVMs, etc.

         Military Document Guidelines: DO-254, DSCC-Military part numbers, Mil-Std 1547 (component derating) and MIL-STD-704E.

         RF: Military - Microwave Transmitters / Receivers and associated Telemetry equipment Tropospheric Scatter, FM / AM transmitters.

         PWM LED Driver Design: VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator) using LEDs.

         MEMs devices: Accelerometers, Gyroscopes and Geomagnetic Sensors / SPI interface.

         Simulation / Instrumentation Design Support Software: Labview, Spice (LTSpice), Excel.

 

Experience:

Consultant Honeywell, Sep2013 Nov2013 (Consultant).

Consultant position regarding conceptual design of a 6Ghz Micropower Impulse Radar for a level sensing application. Additionally performed electrical PWA environmental testing using Humiseal 1B73 Conformal Coating and Dymex 9102 sealant to provide ruggedization, able to withstand extreme humid conditions, while still functioning electrically. Protocol: HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol / Bell 202 FSK over a / 4-20mA current loop.

 

Celestica Corp: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Consultant, Power Supply Design; (LiFePO4) Lithium Iron Phosphate fuel gauge design. Circuit design; Oversight of system designs. Documentation, reliability, component derating, safety, production and EMI / EMC. Core design responsibilities included Fuel Gauge designs using bq78PL116 and bq3060. Management of ~1KW power supply designs, LiFePO4 Battery Packs.

 

Microsun Technology: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Consultant, Military Product Design; Lithium Ion battery charger / balancing circuitry. Circuit Design (Using Eagle) and CAD of the PWB were required on this employ. Also included: review and oversight of all system design decisions. Reliability, component derating, safety, communication (I2C), and EMI were involved in this design. Core Components: CPU: MSP430F2131IPWR and GAS GAUGE: BQ20Z65-R1.

 

ABB: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Consultant, Product Design included data acquisition using current sensors, transmission of current readings to controller PWB for a Power Switching Control System. My responsibilities on this program included design of RS-485 differential transmission and fiber optic system, circuit design and PWB layout. This included review and oversight of all system design decisions. Contained three phase current detection device. This included long term reliability, safety and EMI.

 

General Electric: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

High level controller PWB for a Federal Rail Program. This program included responsibilities of all circuitry, including reliability, communications (RS-232), safety, EMI, I/O design and production readiness. The technologies on this program included 3 Freescale Coldfire CPUs and 2 6805 for legacy product compatibility purposes. Design responsibilities included redesign of analog and digital circuitry on other associated programs. PADs used for schematic entry and PWB layout.

 

Yardney Technical Products Inc. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Lithion-Ion Battery Controller - 28Volt MIL-STD-1275D Aerospace defense program. Lion Fuel Gauge design used optical switch methodology to provide near zero discharge current, extending battery shelf life. Design based on the TI MSP430 with Embedded C firmware with I2C. Stress analysis performed in conformance to Mil-Std-1547 Component Derating Guidelines.

 

Opto Technology, Inc: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Microcontroller based High Powered LED Driver / Power Supply design using PIC2431 including Embedded C firmware. Intersema MS5541C uC Emulation sensor project was completed. Consulted with NASA on a Lithium Iron Phosphate project.

 

BAE Systems: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Battery Powered Hybrid Drive Program Design Support. Responsibilities: troubleshooting complex analog and digital circuits interfaced and controlled by a Freescale MPC5554 MPU. Designs included support of single phase and three phase Power drivers and inverters. Responsible for revising designs and resolving production / design problems; DO-254 design verification. Products used RS-232 and CAN. Provided diagnostic support for Assembly language programming application.

 

SESI Inc: Sr. Design Engineer (Consultant).

Short term assignment; Team leader for a small Microcontroller design project. Responsible for the design and debug a new control board used on Ultraviolet Biological Trigger Lidar (UBTL). Project used the TI MSP430 uC using SPI interface. Responsible for Hardware and Embedded C Firmware on this project, which was completed in ~9 weeks.

 

Goodrich Corp: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Design Support, 787 aircraft braking system design team. Responsibilities: Implement Load-Cell circuitry using Analog Devices AD7731 device. System integration, provide Load-Cell readings used SPI interface for DSP / Actuator Feedback. Responsible for 28Volt Power Supply (Compliant to MIL-STD-1275D), Mother Board. Production Liaison for P.S. modules. ARINC bus standards used for avionics equipment interface. Work compliant to EWIS (Enhanced Wiring Integrity System).

 

Quinn Embedded Design, NASA subcontract: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

NASA Lithium Ion Battery Charger Design Confirmation: This short-term project involved the design confirmation and testing of a NASA related new Lithium Battery ION Battery Charge subsystem at my facilities / laboratory. Dissected the charger and measured critical components with supportive documentation. Numerous tests were performed, including battery charge / discharge cycles. Cell voltage matching during said cycles.

 

General Dynamics: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Project Leader: Redesign / Product support of classified Mil. Spec. turret program on light armored vehicles. Nature of work was Microcontroller, DSP, and Power Supply controller. Also, lead team on debug effort on gyroscope problem.

 

Quinn Embedded Design, Avanex: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Production Tester Design, Project Leader: Supported design of a production tester from concept to completion. CPUs: Microchip PIC18F8722 / USB 2.0 Co-Processor: Microchip PIC18F2455. Circuit types employed: 50W Adj. National Semi LM3485 based Switching Power Supply controlled by I2C from CPU interface, USB 2.0 Compliant Port, Two High-speed (230K) RS-232 ports. I/O protected by TVS devices. Wrote Embedded firmware in C for PWB test and debug. Technologies Employed: High Speed CMOS Logic, Analog, Mixed-signal & Switching Power Supply. Schematic Entry: Orcad 10.3 / CAD: Pads. Spice: LTspice. Separate FPGA project (short term) used Quartus. Project completed Jul2005.

 

Quinn Embedded Design, Conexant: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Power Supply Design / Mixed signal, Schematic Entry, Component Selection: This was a short term (9 week) contract job requiring Schematic entry using Orcad. I was also responsible for power supply and mixed signal design, including general component selection. Technologies Employed: High Speed CMOS Logic, Analog, Mixed-Signal & Switching Power Supply. Schematic Entry: Orcad 10.2.

 

General Dynamics contract: Design Engineer (Contractor).

Redesign of Military Transmitter / Audio Unit: This mixed signal assignment required an initial analysis of a Mil. Spec. audio board transmitter. A report was subsequently generated and was submitted to a committee for redesign, which was approved. Some issues of this project were: Redesigned Ground structure of unit, including R.F. Control, Analog and Digital Ground, TVS protected I/O. Redesigned Op-Amp input structures to decrease noise. This included logistical placement of passive components to prevent extraneous noise pick-up. Previously passive components were located too far away from Op-Amp inputs resulting in a low signal to noise ratio, which I corrected. Other aspects addressed on this redesign were related to heat dissipation, Electret microphone input circuit design, redesign of digital potentiometer circuitry. Addressed illegal loading issues on microcontroller output ports. Schematic capture: Orcad. Design was EWIS compliant.

 

Quinn Embedded Design: Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Custom Design of Infrared Detector, Project Lead / Manager: Designed Infrared Sensing product used in a low power battery operated motion sensing unit. I specified all components, designed all circuitry, designed the PWB, Provided BOM and worked with the C.E.M as the unit entered its production stage.

 

Custom Design of Flow Control Gas Mixing Unit: (2003) NH Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

This assignment included selecting Flow Control / Flow Sensing devices that function under Microprocessor control. Additional elements of this program included specifying, designing and SPI based interfaces to Power drivers, A to D converters, Closed Loop Control of gas regulation and mixing system. Components involved in the design: Pressure sensors, Pressure controllers, Proportional Valves, DC Motors (Stepping, D.C. and A.C. Motors) their perspective drivers. Additionally I was responsible for the design of the Peripheral Drivers, CPU, Peripheral Devices, Communications and Power Supply.

 

Unitec Electronics Inc: (2002-2003) Columbia, MD Sr. Design Engineer (Contractor).

Custom Circuitry Design: including Microcontroller Based Analog, Digital, Mixed Signal, Power Supply, Inverters and Lead Acid Battery Charger. Schematic Capture used was Orcad. Performed laboratory tests to verify design concepts, provide documentation including, BOMs, schematics, and wiring harness diagrams. In charge of qualifying components, maintaining and organizing component documentation for Engineering and Production.

         Commercial vending application: Designed circuitry used to control bill acceptors and coin hoppers. Was delegated Firmware responsibilities using Microchip PIC Microcontrollers. Firmware is written in C using a CCS Compiler.

         Designed carrier board for a CPU, Modem, Power Supply and Power Distribution Board, Ethernet network interface used in a type of outdoor Kiosk unit.

         Responsible for the indoor console design to interface with the aforementioned kiosk.

         Responsible for design (including schematic entry & layout, using PADs and Orcad), BOM, and production supervision of SPI based Display I/O board, TVS protected. Designed intercom voice audio detection circuit. TIA/EIA-644 LVDS display interface employing microstrip layout techniques. Revised audio power amplifier circuit. Improved power routing on PWB.

 

Mars Electronics International: (2001-2002) West Chester, PA Design Engineer (Contractor).

Circuit Design / Component Engineering. Schematic capture: Mentor Graphics. Responsibilities: Power supply, motor control and infrared sensing circuitry design. Worked closely with purchasing and outside manufacturer's representatives in order to qualify and acquire components in time for projects. Design of bill acceptor circuitry, based on 8051 CPU and T.I. TMS320 DSP. Responsible for Power Supply, Motor control, low level infrared sensor circuit design. Oversaw laboratory experiments for design verification. Assigned as Component engineer for the group, this included component selection, liaison with distributors & manufacturers, preliminary budgetary pricing and qual. testing. Oversaw installation of new components into MRP system. This required compilation of BOMs, component specifications and MRP documentation. Contract at MEI was extended twice, completed, June 2002.

 

Analog Devices Inc: (2000-2001) Boston, MA Sr. Design Engineer.

Modem design based on the AD1803 / AD1804 chipset operating via AC-97. Supported customers designs with audio CODECs that operated under the AC-97 standard and supported features such as SPDIF and TOSLINK. This program was terminated soon after I started as the result of a legal issue between ADI and Silicon Laboratories Inc.

 

Infrared of New Jersey Inc: (1998-2000) Parsippany, NJ Sr. Design Engineer / Manager.

Electronic Design; Hardware and Firmware for infrared sensors and communications adaptors. Some technologies include: SPI, High speed A-D conversion, custom RS-485 networking, Infrared networking, high gain low drift amplifier techniques used for low level infrared sensing. Employed Medium density FPGAs in designs. Schematics were entered with PADs Power Logic. Oversaw PWB layout (for low noise and safety compliance). Entered Bills of Material into corporate MRP system. Code was written in "C" & debugged with Microchip PIC MPLab and Ice-2000 emulator. Helped in implementation of ISO-9001. My experience with Ethernet helped solve company networking problems.

         Infrared Positioning System: Multidimensional Infrared System. Designed Hardware, Firmware, FPGA and ran studies to verify usefulness of such a device.

         Over Heating Sensing System: Project involved the design of Pyro-sensor support circuitry. Design forced electric heater to shut-down when Pyro-sensor detected a thermal rise (ignition event / smoldering) of an object placed in front of the heater.

         Infrared Bidirectional Human Counting System: This system used multiple bipolar infrared sensors to detect and count humans walking into and out of a large doorway field.

 

U.S. Robotics / 3Com Inc: (1997-1998) Chicago, IL Sr. Design Engineer.

T.I. TMS320 DSP based hardware design; Analog (56K / V.90) and ISDN (fractional T1) RS-232 Modems. TAS test equipment was used to test products for return-loss, BERT tests, noise tests, and other relevant impairment tests of POTs based telephony products. Designs typically depended on critical analog design practices. Designs met requirements of international telecom impedances for compliance in several countries. Prepared and managed PWB layout of products. Departmental interrelations were highly dependent on ISO-9001 registered procedures for which I was responsible. This assignment did not last long as U.S. Robotics and 3Com merged in 1997, Large lay-offs began. My group was sold to a Taiwanese company.

         Supervised Off-Site Compliance and Certification testing of Several Modems: Verified products compliance and safety certifications to UL 1950, TUV EN60950/IEC950, FCC part-15 and FCC part-68.

         ISDN Modem with ringing SLIC. Design was based on North American Ringing Subscriber Line Interface Circuit.

         Software Reconfigurable DAA: Designed and debugged a software selectable Modem DAA for several European countries. This allowed for a software reconfigurable MODEM that would be compliant in several countries.

 

Cardinal Technologies Inc: (1995-1997) Lancaster, PA Sr. Design Engineer.

Hardware design of (33K/V.34) Analog Modems. Designs met Part 15-B & 68 and met EN60950/IEC950 requirements for safety compliance. TAS telecommunications test equipment was used return-loss, BERT tests, Noise, tests. I was responsible for hardware design and all aspects of products' firmware. Products contained transient voltage, ESD and lighting protection. Code was written in Assembly Language, Processors: 8051 and Rockwell cores. I also designed a 33.6K High-End Modem which was feature loaded. Contained audio interface with the computer, logarithmic bar graph that indicated audio levels and Download / Upload Speeds. Additionally was responsible for product cost reduction on several occasions.

 

Boca Research Inc: (1991-1995) Boca Raton, FL Sr. Design Engineer.

U.S. and International POTs 33K / V.34 Modem Design. Products met FCC Part 15-B & 68. Modem DAAs contained TVSs, ESD and lighting protection. Also designed networking and serial/parallel port products. I was responsible or hardware design and all aspects products' firmware. Code: written in Assembly Language. Processors: 8051 and 6502 cores. Assisted in other products and groups when requested.

Modems Designed: 14.4 KBPS U.S. 14.4 KBPS Japanese Int. & Ext., 14.4 KBPS German, 2400 / 9600 KBPS U.S. Quad RS-232 Expansion Port

 


Military: (1971-1975)

Air Force Staff Sergeant.

Achieved rank of Staff Sergeant; Specialized in electronics, maintenance and repair of R.F. equipment including: Tropospheric Scatter and Microwave Transmitters and Receivers and associated telemetry equipment. Held a Secret Security Clearance, and Honorably discharged in 1975.

 

Education:

Nova University (BSEE) Electronics Engineering / Programming.

Keesler Tech. - Military degree (Assoc.) in Advanced Electronics.

St Andrews High School, Charleston, SC Graduated.

 

Additional Information Above and Beyond Work Experience Listed Above:

My strongest areas are both Hardware (Embedded Microcontroller / Analog / Digital / Mixed-Signal) and Embedded Software Engineering. I have been the sole author of many products, in which I have been responsible for all Hardware, Firmware, EMI, safety certifications, BOMs and production documentation. Strongest languages are: Assembly and C.

 

CPU Experience: ARM, 8051, Microchip PIC, T.I. MSP430x, 6502, 6800 family, knowledge of the Motorola 68K, X86 chips, and Rockwell (now Conexant) and TMS320 DSP Modem Chip-Sets.

 

Operating Systems: Knowledgeable and skilled with Windows (95 / 98 / NT / ME / 2000 / XP / Vista / Windows 7) and DOS and most Windows standard applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, etc.

 

Audio Designs: Experienced in high quality audio designs used in applications such as Live Professional Broadcast or Broadcast Automation Equipment. This includes low distortion circuitry, Class-D PWM Amplifiers. Design experience to the Op-Amp and discrete level. I am familiar with Low-Noise audio preamplifiers for microphones. This includes design and installations where knowledge of shielded / balanced audio lines feeding differential circuitry providing high performance audio over long hauls with no distortion, noise, or 60 Hz hum problems. Im familiar with Micro-phonic problems associated with ceramic capacitors. I have design experience in AtoD and DtoA converters, using both External and Embedded devices.

 

Power Supply: I offer solid understanding of analog and switching power supply design. I am aware of how a switching power supply can impact high sensitivity circuitry and the measures necessary to keep noise to a minimum. I have designed switching power supplies with over 90+% efficiency. Ive also been involved with Power-Supply control where high electrical noise environments could mandate Optical coupled, SPI, LVDS, RS485, etc. for high reliability applications. Im also familiar with Mil-Std 704.

 

Low Power Designs: I have designed several ultra low current battery powered designs. Strategies for low power design included event driven Microcontrollers where the CPU was taken out of a deep sleep mode momentarily to service interrupts. Additional low power design experience include: low quiescent current regulators, low power Op-Amps and Comparators, Experience with CD4000 series CMOS logic. Also, knowledge and experience of MOSFET discrete design approaches which included biasing these devices in a static mode where there is virtually no wasted energy.

 

Schematic Capture (CAD): Experienced with Schematic software. The more notably ones include: Pads Power Logic, Orcad and Mentor Graphics (Verybest) Schematic Capture. Occasionally Ive designed PWBs myself when resources were not available.

 

Test Equipment: Familiar with laboratory test equipment including, but not limited to: Oscilloscopes, Meters, Spectrum Analyzers, Logic Analyzers, Signal Generators and Telecommunications Test Equipment (TAS).

 

Telephony: I have a solid understanding of POTs Telecommunications. I have designed Modems with SLICs (Subscriber Line Interface Circuits) complying with both North American and International Standards. I also have a solid understanding and experience with Modem & telephone DAA design strategies. This includes complex impedance issues and D.C. current specifications. Many of my products designed over the years have been certified to both FCC Part 15 & 68 standards.

Networking: Solid understanding of Ethernet networking (802.3x), and protocols, including HDLC. This includes infrastructure wiring, impedance and cabling issues such as using UTP(Unshielded Twisted Pair) verses using STP(Shielded Twisted Pair). Familiar with some protocols including Forward error correction, CRCs, Checksums, and longitudinal parity. Familiar with Power-Over-Ethernet (POE). Also posses good design knowledge of USB 2.0 OTG (AKA: USB 2.0 Rev. 1a)

 

Flow Control: I am familiar with Flow Control Devices including Flow Sensors, Flow Meters, Flow Controllers, and Pressure Sensors. These included units that interface via SPI, I2C, 0-5VDC, and 4-20 MA.

 

ISO9000: Familiar with ISO9000 general procedures and establishing ISO documentation.

 

Documentation: Expert Witness, Familiar with documentation (BOMs and assembly procedures), building relations with outside contract manufacturers and distributors. I understand the critical nature of documentation and the impacts final end product. I am familiar with the relationship between the O.E.M., the component distributor, and the contract assembly manufacturer and have been in charge of this process on occasions.

 

References: Available upon request.