Digital Brook Technologies, LLC

Zoran All-In-One Firmware Engineering

Zoran sells system-on-chips (SoCs) for low-cost all-in-one ink-jet systems providing print, scan, copy, fax, as well as high-quality photo printing capabilities.  A reference design was developed to allow customers to integrate Zoran's chips into their products faster with less effort.  The reference design was used as the base platform for several major printing products from HP, Epson, Lexmark, and Samsung.

Managed a team of 23 engineers and contractors, including remote teams all over the US, India, Japan, China, developing up to 12 simultaneous projects in 5 areas: (1) reference all-in-one printer platform, (2) post-silicon verification, (3) development tools for proprietary DSP cores, (4) high-profile sales demos, and (5) technical and RMA support.  Managed $2M annual budget.

Software development and best practice guidelines were also developed and deployed to hundreds of software engineers all over the world to improve software reusability across divisions.

GCC ColorTone Photo-Realistic Dye-Sublimation Printer

The GCC ColorTone printer was one of the first PostScript-based photo-realistic dye-sublimation printers available on the market in 1992.

This project involved managing a team of seven software, hardware, and mechanical engineers and overseeing program management of twenty to create the entire project from conception to manufacturing to maintenance. This was the first project of its type developed at GCC Technologies, so everything had to start from scratch:  selecting the processor; selecting the development tools; selecting the PostScript interpreter; creating an RTOS (no off-the-shelf solutions at that time); developing embedded software for network interfaces; print engine control, page management, and error handling; color management training and software; front panel interface; AMD 29050-based PCB with burst-mode DRAM; BSP software; plastic cover and mechanical design; boxes and user manuals, bill-of-materials.

The technology developed for the ColorTone printer became the base platform for all GCC printers introduced over the next 10 years, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

GCC Elite XL Family of Laser Printers

The GCC Elite XL printer line provided edge-to-edge 11x17 printing capability in resolutions ranging from 400dpi to 1200dpi, from 8 to 16 pages per minute, using AMD 29030 and 29035 RISC processors.

Provided direct engineering management and program management for project based on the technology developed during the GCC ColorTone project.  The Elite XL was the first printer to feature an integrated web server for printer management (1994).  An optimized set of PCBs were developed to provide both low-cost and high-performance solutions at a variety of clock frequencies and embedded software was created to handle high-speed, multi-page management and error recovery.  Also oversaw the production of box designs, user manuals, and introduction into manufacturing.