Rob Day Email & Phone Number

De Leon Springs, Florida, Us

Developing embedded firmware and signal processing algorithms for sonar and communications systems. Most recent experience with ARM Cortex-M7 processors and ADI Blackfin DSPs.

Developing software for tracking systems.

• Simulation of sonar and communications algorithms in Matlab and Python.• Designed and implemented DSP and control firmware for a remotely deployed sonar system. The firmware was responsible for; complex waveform generation using various types of modulation, control of a highly efficient power amplifier, processing of inputs from multiple sensors, configuration of D/A and A/D converters, implementation of calibration algorithms, transmit equalization, maintenance of an embedded database, and reporting of results and status via several communications interfaces. Firmware for the sonar system was written in C for the ADI Blackfin DSP using the CrossCore development environment. Also developed device drivers for DSP peripherals and developed test scripts and utilities in Python, Matlab, and LabView CVI. In addition, was responsible for writing software design documents, release notes, and test reports. This system has been successfully qualified by the US Navy.

Fremont, Ca, Us

Developed next generation VDSL2 chip set with cross-talk cancellation (vectoring). This system improves data rates and throughput by more than a factor of two compared to traditional non-vectored systems. Involved in a broad range of system aspects including performance tuning, algorithm optimization, and solving numerous problems in a complex multitasking system.Defined and developed an advanced data collection and display system for monitoring and debugging system performance and problems via http. The purpose of the system is to assist with development in the lab as well as to facilitate the isolation and solving of field issues.Worked on the development of a home wiring analysis software package. The purpose of this system is to ease the DSL installation proccess as well as to assist in debugging wiring related DSL performance issues.

Involved with the development of a VDSL2 (100Mbps) chip set including:• DSP algorithm development in C++ and assembly language relating to startup sequence, frequency domain processing, and timing recovery.• System performance optimization involving algorithm tuning and analog hardware configuration.• API development in C++ relating to the user interface, control, and system status reporting.• Debugging of digital LSI problems.• Unit testing including performance testing, interoperability testing, and functional testing.Led a team responsible for the development of ADSL2 DSP firmware for second generation DSP platform. Successful and timely completion of this project helped Conexant maintain a leading position in the ADSL2 market. The project involved writing new algorithms, reworking existing algorithms to execute with fewer hardware resources, and debugging firmware and LSI device problems. Algorithms included impulse and micro-interrupt detection and mitigation, bit swapping, bit loading for seamless rate adaptation (SRA), and training signal detection. Also involved with performance tuning of the overall system. Responsible for scheduling and planning the work and coordinating with other teams including software for network control processor, system test, field support, and marketing.A major aspect of this work involved providing training and technical direction for firmware engineers in our remote design center in Shenzhen. Created training sessions and materials on various DSL signal processing and communications topics and on Conexant ADSL2 design and implementation. Guided this team for several years while they began to take over responsibility for the product line.

Led firmware team involved in validation and debugging of next generation DSP engines for ADSL2 and VDSL. The team was responsible for validating all portions of the chip including frequency and time domain DSPs, framer, and controller. This work was done during the LSI design phase using a VHDL simulator (NCSIM), FPGAs, and eventually the initial LSI devices. This effort included writing test vectors as well as coding and debugging algorithms on the new DSP engines. Personally involved in frequency domain DSP and algorithms including FFT, bit loading, tone ordering, frequency domain equalization, and timing recovery. In addition, developed tests to check memory contention, DMA, and data flow between engines.Formed and led a team to develop PCI and USB ADSL modem reference designs. This effort included developing Windows and Linux device drivers as well as firmware for the USB controller. Also involved in PCI and USB LSI definition for several generations of products. Major challenges of this work included setting up and passing Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) tests for device drivers, and achieving a sustained 8 Mbps USB 1.0 throughput with a first generation ADSL modem. During this time, developed an ATM cell header compression technique to improve USB throughput.

Led a team that developed the 56K PCM modem chipset, a proprietary version of V.90. This was the first modem to take advantage of the digital nature of the network in order to drastically reduce the effects of u-law quantization noise, thereby enabling higher data rates. Involved in development of various algorithms including timing recovery and startup sequence.Led the team that developed the DSP firmware for the V.34-28.8 Kbps and V.34bis 33.6 Kbps chip sets. V.34 makes use of many advanced algorithms including transmit precoding, 4D trellis coding, non-linear constellation encoding, and fractional bit rates via shell mapping to achieve higher data rates.

Member of a five person development team that began AT&T Microelectronics’ modem chip set business (now part of LSI Logic). Helped to build AT&T’s modem business to the #1 supplier of modems for laptops for the PC and retail market as of the late 90s. The size of this business eventually grew to nearly $400 million employing over 300 engineers. Involved in all accepts of modem algorithm development using AT&T DSPs and Intel micro-controllers.

Msee, Electrical Engineering

Bachelor'S Degree, Electrical Engineering