Richard Brian Johnson

• Getting things done and completing projects
• Demonstrated capability to interface across multiple technical disciplines
• Understanding the details of both hardware and software
• Removing complexity by using black–box techniques
• Making real–time decisions to prevent project bottlenecks
• Writing excellent software
• Providing excellent documentation

• Designed and wrote software that automatically clones a “golden” Linux–based machine, installing everything including the operating system, on Intel–based control computers. This software produces the Analogic COBRA and OnGuard baggage scanners in production.
• Consulted to Analogic’s Anrad division in Saint–Laurent, Canada and developed a new algorithm used to calibrate the company’s flat–panel X–ray detectors.
• Consulted to Analogic’s BK–Medical division near Copenhagen, Denmark. Debugged and fixed a longstanding problem with ultrasound transducer calibration software written in the Windows C++ environment.
• Designed and coded many software utilities for production testing. One of the last ones, the Flash WRITER, copies Flash RAM contents in production, for the DAS listed next.
• Designed and wrote software for a “network appliance,” which acquires data from an Analogic data–acquisition system (DAS), and transfers it over a private network to a connected computer. This embeds the Linux kernel and comprises a communications and control channel as well as the data–link.
• Designed and wrote software for the AN4501, a massive data acquisition device, which acquires data continuously at over 800 megabits per second, processes it, and sends CT images to a workstation. It uses a quad Pentium server and proprietary data interface boards on a PCI–X bus, which interface with a fiber–optic link.
• Designed a new product called Platinum. This is a “network appliance.” This uses Linux as an embedded kernel and allows VXI/Bus boards to be controlled over the network using a TCP/IP interface. This was the first such implementation whereby VXI/VME boards could be controlled over the network.
• This Platinum Control Computer is the foundation for the successful DBS2055 arbitrary waveform generator, voted “Best in Test” by Test and Measurement World in 2002.
• Wrote all the mathematics software for the companion ATE–Scope product that operates this network appliance from a Windows–based machine and displays waveforms with associated parameters as well as the spectrum with many different selectable windows. The software was written in C++ using a separate class.
• Wrote removable device drivers (modules) for use with the Linux kernel including interface to a proprietary NVRAM board, GPIB, and Firewire. This machine does not have any disk drives. The operating system boots from NVRAM and the applications exist on a small, 250 kilobyte, compressed RAM Disk. The applications, drivers, and interface code are written in ‘C’ and GNU/AT&T assembly language. The processor is an AMD SC520.
• Wrote a complete BIOS for the Platinum Control Computer described above. This provides an IBM/Intel compatible environment for booting any operating system. This BIOS software was written in assembly language with tools written in ‘C.’
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Linux kernel. I have been involved with this since 1995. This is a typical submission for adding functionality to an existing driver.
• Contributed to the development of a new CAT scanner. The central controller of this new product uses Linux for its operating system. I helped write drivers used to interface with Analogic’s proprietary array processor, a CAN–bus interface, an optical fiber interface, and Analogic’s proprietary back projector.
• Made major contributions to the design of the world’s first PORTABLE CAT scanner. The software I wrote, in addition to running the machine, also continuously maintained a real–time notion of the energy available from the batteries and the energy dissipation capabilities of the X–ray source, so that a specified scan could always complete as required by FDA regulations.
• Designed and implemented two completely different real–time operating systems, the first being used for the major controller of Analogic’s Anatom CAT Scanner, marketed by Phillips and certified by the FDA, and the second being used for the EXACT tomographic baggage scanner, marketed by L3 and certified by the FAA. The processors are i586 and i686 devices in the IBM/Intel architecture. Software is written in ‘C’ and assembly. These systems use TCP/IP for communications with the imaging workstations and a proprietary bus for communications between various “smart” subsystems. Other communications and control use RS–232C and the IIC bus.
• Designed and wrote all of the control software for the two machines cited above. The Anatom software was developed within a strictly controlled environment so the machine could be certified by the FDA. A similar development environment was used for the baggage scanner software certified by the FAA.
• Contributed to three advancements in technology:
  • Patented by Analogic, I developed an image correction algorithm to reduce or remove rings in a tomographic image.
  • Patented by Analogic, I invented a bi–directional data–link to transfer data to and from the rotating disc of a CAT scanner.
  • Patented by Analogic, I helped develop a method for producing dual–energy X–rays using amplitude modulation methods.
• Designed and wrote the operating system and control software for the Analogic D2030, a multi–function generator that uses a Motorola 56000 DSP for waveform generation. The operating system and control software runs on a NEC embedded processor with an Intel 80186 core. Software is written in ‘C’ and assembly language.
• Designed and wrote the control software for the Analogic DP100 multi–meter. This meter has six digits of precision, and has won several industrial awards.
• Added a MS–DOS compatible file–system to the Data–6000 product, creating the Analogic DP6100.
• Added a TMS–320C30 DSP to the same product to speed its floating–point operations, designed and wrote the software interface to the DSP subsystem and wrote much of the DSP software.
• Prior to its obsolescence, I was a VAX/VMS system manager for several DEC engineering computers. When Sun workstations replaced them, became a Sun/Unix system administrator.
• Developed a high power (25 kW, 63 MHz) RF power amplifier. This became the standard of the MRI industry and, in fact, the longest–lived product that Analogic ever produced (15 years).

• Fixed many bugs.
• Solved connectivity problems allowing dial–up links to transfer NetBIOS and IPX/SPX packets between clients.
• Wrote software providing for dial–up modems to be transparently shared among PC Workstations.
• Developed a file–transfer protocol called JMODEM. It compresses data during transmission. Typical modems only operated at 2400 baud at the time so this was a significant advance.

• Accomplished fifteen years of engineering development using RF technology, AM/FM and Television
• Designed the first all solid–state AM broadcast transmitter Type Accepted by the FCC
• Designed the first all solid–state FM broadcast transmitter Type Accepted by the FCC
• Designed numerous other transmitters including a single tube 70 kW FM transmitter and two different 50 kW AM broadcast transmitters –the highest power allowed in the United States
• Designed and obtained FCC Type Acceptance for my first 1 kW broadcast transmitter, the Johnson Associates RBJ1-C when I was only 18 years of age
• Designed the NIST shortwave transmitters that transmit standard frequencies and time–codes on 10 and 15 MHz from Hawaii
• Designed the rugged low–power radio transmitters used by the Armed Forces Radio Service in Vietnam
• Developed phased array ultrasound with General Electric at GE’s Advanced Development Group in Rancho Cordova, California
• Developed a high voltage, high–speed modulator/regulator for Princeton Plasma Physics Lab supplying 1/4 MV, and 5 kA

• BSEE Northeastern University
• College and technology courses for continuing education
• FAA Commercial Pilot License, instrument rating
• FCC General Radiotelephone (First Class) License, RADAR endorsement

• Software, language C/C++ expert (code sample)
• Software, language GNU/AT&T assembly expert
• Software, language Intel ix86 assembly expert (code sample)
• Software, development environment Unix/Linux expert (code sample)
• Software, development environment Windows VC++ expert (code sample)
• Software, Linux operating system internals expert (code sample)
• Software, HTML expert (wrote this web–page by hand)
• Language, English fluent
• Excellent documentation and communication skills (samples)
• Commercial aircraft pilot, instrument rating
• Published author Abominable Firebug
• Photographer Web Portfolio   NAB Convention photographs
• Musician Johnson plays the piano

• Member IEEE
• Member IEEE Computer Society
• Member ACM
• Member AOPA