Projects and Customers

Projects and Customers

For Device Drivers International, we created a custom PCI ROM Expansion BIOS image for their new Top Secret Project, yet to be released.

Device Drivers International:

http://www.ddiusa.com

For StarMatix, Harman International, and IBM, Under contract to IBM, then Harman International, then StarMatix, Developed PowerFile’s 200 disc FireWire ® DVD-ROM Changer. This device was featured as a main stage demo at WinHEC ’97, by none other than Bill Gates and Keith Laepply of Microsoft. We were responsible for the system architecture, working directly with Harman International to help develop a corporate strategy for IEEE 1394 (FireWire ®) devices. We implemented the SCSI-3 command set for the changer, and helped direct the development of the hardware and other firmware in the device. We were instrumental in tying together the various engineering disciplines required to bring the project to fruition. We wrote the WDM Driver for Win2K and Win98 to support the changer, along with a comprehensive test program to exercise the unit, it's command set, both internally over a serial interface and also over IEEE 1394.

PowerFile 200 Disc DVD Jukebox :

http://www.powerfile.com
http://www.powerfile.com/Products/prodSubIntro.html

For Harman International, Under contract to Harman International, we developed many enhancements to various high end home theater components. For both the Signature 2.5 Surround Preamp/Tuner and Citation 5.0 Six Axis Surround Sound Processor, we developed the serial interface that allowed these units to be controlled by numerous "whole house" controllers. We also developed windows based test programs to exercise the units and their protocol. For the Signature 3.0 DVD player, we developed the flash loader firmware, which allows for firmware updates in the field. We also developed the Windows based flash loader program that works with the Signature 3.0 DVD player and other products for various brands (harman/kardon, Madrigal Audio Labs) under the Harman International umbrella. Also developed complete firmware solution for the AudioAccess six channel audio distribution amplifier.

Citation 5.0:

http://www.citation-audio.com/cit50.html

Signature 2.0/2.5:

http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/AVPreamplifier/product_5932.shtml
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_support.asp?ProdId=SIG2.0

MA-361:

http://www.audioaccess.com/prod_aa_fr.htm

For Brunswick Bowling and Billiards, We were involved with producing the newest, most fun way to bowl, the Frameworx Scoring System. We created the Online Help, Pinsetter, Touch Screen, and Instant Replay Processor Remote Software Update systems, and designed the Scorer Software Update, Desklinx Mini Center Management, and Non-Volatile Memory systems for implementation by other contract and customer team members. Our work has also involved kernel development, communications development (RS485 Multidrop Protocols and Snoopers), and general application support. "Bowling is sold on Brunswick Worldwide", and this scorer is no exception. The Touch Screen interface (as well as the rest of the system) has to support 14 languages, including keyboards and input methods for the Romance Languages, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese. Japanese and many other languages can be supported simply adding keyboard definitions and translations. This scoring system supports four distinct channels of VGA video, including mini-movie exciters, two channels of audio, a LAN connection, Center TV support, as well as a host of extras like BowlerTrack and the Instant Replay Processor (which puts YOU on the PBA by digitally recording and playing back your delivery and pin action on the overhead monitors - we worked on this too!). In addition to developing key parts of the system, we were instrumental in providing debugging expertise in all aspects of the system.

Brunswick Frameworx Scoring System:

http://www.brunswickbowling.com/capital/products/frameworx/

For Corporate Information Systems, Inc., We started by taking the existing beta product, and making debugging and optimizations sufficient to make LaserCOM one of the highest performance C.O.L.D. products on the market. We made many improvements to the product, adding automated batch processing, DOS and Windows based TIFF file / document viewers, interfaces to hardware such as the Canon Canofile 250. As a manager, With a three person core development team, we designed and implemented the plan for making the product object oriented, database independent, scaleable, and cross platform. To that end, the product was hosted on DOS, Windows, and AIX, and provided client services to SNA (IBM Mini/Mainframe) hosts.

The Successor to CIS and the LaserCOM System:

http://www.iminformation.com/cp.htm

For Techrand Corporation of America, we developed a PC based system for monitoring enameled wire production. A single PC could monitor up to 100 lines of production, displaying, collecting, and exporting sample data in real time. Once exported, the data can be taken to another machine running our system, to be imported into the SPC (statistical process control) package of the customer's choosing. A pilot installation in a prominent North Carolina wire production plant enabled them to gain Q1 acceptance from the Ford Motor Company.

For Meridian, Inc., a Herman Miller company, we developed the ELF (Electronic Locking File) PC software. We helped brainstorm the project, developed a proposal, won the contract, and completed the software in time for it to be a hit at the 1990 NEOCON show in Chicago. Meridian came to us with a vague idea of a product that involved connecting a PC to an electronic locking file, and we gave them the following system: Up to 100 file cabinets networked to a single PC; Real time monitoring of accesses (valid and invalid); A personnel database for loading access codes in to the files on the network via a query system; Remote access via modem to all functions in the system; Double password protection controlling access to sensitive portions of the system; On-line diagnostics, and much more. All this was wrapped in an attractive windowing interface capable of running on 8088 to 80486 based PCs.

We also help design the next generation electronics in the files themselves. We layed out the system architecture, modular, bus based, with smart modules in each drawer section. We also selected many of the major components used to implement the design.

We updated software in 1994, 1995, and 1996 to interface with new hardware we helped develop, and developed a bridge device that interfaced Novell Netware clients and the keyless (ELF) files. This was done via embedded PC-based bridges to allow access to files distributed throughout the customer's enterprise. This design won another NEOCON award in 1995, this time a Silver Best-Of-Show.

We developed the REPCOMM module in 1995 to dial corporate BBS, log in and download sales representative information.

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