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Getting to know your Member-At-Large Candidate 2008-9
GARY L. BLANK

"When you see a Blank on the ballot, vote for the Blank"

WORK EXPERIENCE in INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY (CONSULTING) EXPERIENCE SUMMARY:

HIGHLIGHTS: Experienced in the development, design, analysis, test, and manufacturing of control systems and electronic circuits and systems, both analog and digital; state-of-the-art DSP's in many applications including electromechanical control systems, and telecommunications. Also experienced in navigation and guidance, Kalman filters, stabilization, brushless dc motors, actuators, electric power, motors, generators, power electronics, modeling and simulation.


RECENT CONSULTING ASSIGNMENTS: assignments typically vary from 3 months to 2 years.

1. ENGINEERING UPDATE INSTITUTE, Elgin, IL
(i) Developed, designed, and conducted courses (some live, some video) for engineers in industry on a variety of topics including electronics, control systems, brushless motors, electromechanical systems, Kalman filtering, navigation, circuit analysis and design, motor control, and DSP digital signal processing.
(ii) Provided expert witness testimony for attorneys in cases involving electrical, electronics, and communication devices.
(iii) Provided consultation services to capitalists and managers on future technological trends.

2. MPC PRODUCTS CO., Skokie, IL
Performed the design, analysis, and development of a variety of brushless dc motor-control systems for actuators using trapezoidal and sinusoidal (analog and DSP) drives. Included power electronics and EMI filter circuit design for various environments. Developed an in-house company seminar and training course on brushless dc motors and drive electronics.

3. WOODWARD CO., Rockford, IL
Performed a study and developed a state-of-the-art technology status report on aircraft electric power systems, generators, starter/generators, brushless dc motors, switched-reluctance motors, controls, and associated power electronics.

4. RECON OPTICAL INC., Div of Bourns Instrument Co., Barrington, IL
Contracted by previous client (below) to provide the technical expertise as a consultant for acquiring new business in areas requiring beyond-state-of-the-art technologies. Required expertise in GPS Global
Positioning Satellite, INS Inertial Navigation Systems, Servo Control Systems, Stabilization, DSP Digital Signal Processing, and Optics.

5. TERADYNE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Deerfield, IL
Design, analysis, testing, worst-case analysis of analog/digital circuits, power supplies, DSP's, interface circuits, used for telephone/telecommunications.

6. PACKARD INSTRUMENT CO., Downers Grove, IL
Hardware design of electrical and electronic control circuits (DSP, Orcad, boards, connectors, cables, BOM's, etc.) for a robotic multi-tip liquid dispenser.

7. RECON OPTICAL INC., Div of Bourns Instrument Co., Barrington, IL
Design of the servo control system for the shutter of a high-speed aerial reconnaissance camera using brushless dc motors, three-phase motors, resolvers, and DSP.

8. BARBER-COLMAN CO., Loves Park, IL
Analysis and design of a microprocessor-controlled system for the magnetic bearing of a magnetically-suspended turbine shaft.

9. ROCKWELL-COLLINS, Cedar Rapids, IA
Designed, reviewed, and modified analog/digital circuits for the control systems of a mobile vehicle navigated by GPS (Global Positioning Satellite).

10. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES (BELL LABS), Naperville, IL
Design of Digital Signal Processing Circuit Board (FPGA's, MPC860 Processor, Transwitch Cubit Cell Bus, PCI Bus Interfaces, PMC Sierra Freedm Switch, TMS320C5510 DSP, Broadband and Narrowband Bus Interfaces).

11. WOODWARD GOVERNOR CO., Loves Park, IL
Control Systems analysis and design; digital controller and microprocessor-based control for aircraft and helicopter engine control. Designed and conducted in-plant courses for engineers in analog, digital, and nonlinear control systems, electromechanical modeling and simulation, and microprocessors.

12. HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND AEROSPACE, Rockford, IL
Analysis and design of electromechanical actuator control systems, aircraft power generator systems, high voltage power systems, fault analysis, modeling, simulation, and testing. Designed and conducted in-plant courses for engineers in analog, digital, and nonlinear control systems, electromechanical modeling and simulation, power electronics, DSP digital signal processing, circuit design, filter design, high voltage power systems, motors and generators, and microprocessors.

Other previous assignments (less recent):

1. Ansco Photo Optical (Camera Control): Designed servo control system for autofocus, advance, rewind, and shutter actuation.

2. Traffic Control Devices (Analog/Digital Circuit Design): Designed receiver/transmitter for microprocessor-based traffic conditions displays.

3. Data Specialties Inc. (Logic Circuit Design): Designed circuits for high-speed robots.

4. Honeywell (Brushless DC motor control): Designed system for robot control in hazardous environments.

5. Northrop Electromechanical (Aircraft Control): Rudder control actuators for military aircraft.

6. TRE Electromask (Robot Control Circuit Design): Robots used for manufacturing silicon wafers.

7. System Technika (Welding Robot Design): Robot for welding the inside
connections of pipe joints.

8. Pertec Corp. (Mainframe Computer Tape Drive Design): Control system for capstan speed control.

9. Micropolis Corp. (Control System Design): Servo system for positioning read/write heads over rotating disks.

10. Xerox Corp. (Actuator Servo for Head Positioning): Servo system for positioning read/write heads over rotating disks.

11. EMM Sesco (Hand-Held Computer used in Severe Environments):   Computer/Navigational System used for downed-airmen rescue.

12. Terminal Data Corp. (Microfiche Copier Control System Design): High speed accurate positioning servo.

13. Hughes Aircraft (Aircraft Navigation Control): Radar/Doppler aided navigation system.

14. Litton Guidance & Control (Navigation using Global Positioning System): Kalman filter navigation system analysis and design.

15. Litton Data Systems (Radar Navigation for Military Aircraft): Autopilot design, analysis, and simulation.

16. UNISYS Corp. (MI) (Disk Pack Servo Design): Servo system for positioning read/write heads over rotating disks.

17. UNISYS Corp. (CA) (Capstan Drive Servo System Design): Tape unit servo system design.

18. Teledyne Systems (Multiple Transponder Direction Navigation): Classified details.

19. General Motors (DELCO)(Electrically Suspended Gyro): Vacuum gyro for inertial and strapped-down navigation systems.

20. A.O. Smith Co. (Logic Circuit Design for Petroleum Dispensers): Majority logic circuit design for high reliability and redundancy.

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