RON GROSS

The Cheron Group, Inc.

** ******* ***** ****

Greenland, NH 03840-2419

603-***-****

abo2lc@r.postjobfree.com

(updated: 01 March 2011) SUMMARY: Twenty nine years work experience in software/firmware

design and development for embedded/open systems and applications development, including

seven years of software engineering management. Focus is on embedded communications,

robotics, and engineering management.

SOFTWARE: OS: DOS, Windows (XP, Vista, 7, CE, Mobile

6), VxWorks, UNIX, VRTX, Nucleus, C-Exec, Windows CE, Salvo, PharLap TNT, Micrium uC/OS-

II, Linux

Code: C, C++, C#, VB.NET, Perl, PHP, MySQL, HTML, Java, CORBA, Assembly, Basic, Ladder

Logic, Visual Basic, HART Device Description Language (DDL)

Compilers: Microsoft Visual C++, Visual Studio .NET/2003/2005/2008/2010, Microsoft

Embedded C++, Borland C++, GNU 68k/gcc/g++, Franklin, Keil uVision, Avocet, Hi-Tech,

Archimedes, Byte Craft, Introl, MetaWare High C, BSO/Tasking, IAR. Microsoft Visual Basic,

MicroChip MPLab, Atmel AVR Studio, WinAVR GCC, Rabbit Semiconductor Dynamic C, Wind River

Tornado, Arm-Linux-g++, Avr-gcc, Si-Labs, Code Composer

Assemblers: Microsoft MASM, Motorola, BSO/Tasking, IAR, MicroChip MPLab, Keil

Tools: Codewright Premia, Paradigm, Araxis Merge, Sparx Enterprise Architect

Source Control: IBM/Rational ClearTools/ClearCase/ClearQuest (Unix/NT), Intersolv PVCS,

Microsoft SourceSafe, CVS/WinCVS, Perforce, AccuRev, SVN, TortoiseSVN, MKS Integrity

Web: PHP, MySQL, FrontPage, VBScript, ASP, JavaScript

Protocols: Modbus RTU/ASCII, Modbus/TCP, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, Fieldbus, SECS/GEM, BACnet,

LonWorks/LonTalk, Profibus, CORBA, proprietary (slotted-aloha, peer-to-peer, master/slave,

patents), HART, HART Device Description Language (DDL), CAN HARDWARE: CPUs:

8088/8086/80188EC/80186EC/80386EX, 8051, 68HC05/68HC08/68HC11, V8 RISC, ARClite, M16C,

68000/68010/68020/68060/68332, Z80/Z180, COP888, PIC 16x/18x, HP80/HP200/HP300, TI MSP430,

Atmel MegaAVR, Atmega128/Atmega169, Philips LPC2112 (ARM7), Z-World Rabbit Semiconductor

RCM3400, Atmel ARM7, ARM9, PowerPC/PPC, TI TMS320 (c2808/c2812/c2835 DSP), Freescale

ColdFire 5234, Infineon XC2000 (C166)

Emulators/ICE: Beacon, Nohau, Motorola, Microtek, Metaware, MicroChip RealIce, P&E

Microsystems, TI JTAG, Atmel ISP, IAR J-Link (EWARM, EW MSP430), Keil, GDB, Eclipse,

NetBurner, Spectrum XDS510/XDS560, iSystems iC5000

Analyzers: American Arium, HP, Tektronix, Acute Logic

Other Galil/Delta-Tau PMAC motion controllers, RadiSys VME, VME MicroSystems,

AB/Modicon/Square-D/Schneider PLCs, Keithley-Metrabyte DAS boards, Z-World STD boards,

OPTO-22, MCC iPort/AFM, Rockwell Flex I/O, TotalPhase Aardvark I2C, AccesIO DIO-32

Physical Layers: 232, 485, I2C, SPI, Ethernet, Power Line, microWire, Radio, FSK, HART,

CAN, CAN/Fibre EXPERIENCE: The Cheron Group, Inc.

President/Owner/Software Engineering Consultant1995 to Present (following are contract positions under my corporation

)

Autoliv

2012

Developing inter procesor communications specification and code for dual-processor

vehical radar system. Code written in C and uses TMS320 (C28x core, Code Composer 5 with

XDS emulator) and Infineon XC23xx (C166 core, Tasking compiler with iSystems iC5000

emulator).

Nuvera Fuel Cells2011

Developed a finite-state machine to control hydrogen fuel system. Incorporated Modbus/RTU

and CAN interfaces to communicate to peripheral devices. Product is based on NetBurner

MOD5234 (Freescale ColdFire 5234) boards, written in C and C++ and uses Eclipse

development system with gcc tools.

SecureCare2011

Developed unit test software for dual PIC18 based CAN communications concentrator. Helped

debug CAN communications between multiple PIC 18 devices and ethernet TCP/IP-based

communications for infant security systems and wandering resident solutions. Products

developed using MPLab C and CCS c compilers for PIC18 devices.

Hologic2009-2011

Developed communications, diagnostics, logging and touch screen code for Class III

medical device. System is based on Atmel AT91SAM (ARM9) processor, running Micrium uC/OS-

II. Developed C++ code using IAR EWARM and OOA/OOD methods, including using Enterprise

Architect UML development tool. Developed communications simulator using Visual Studio

2010 C++. Wrote System Requirement Specs (SRS) and System Design Documents (SDD).

Beacon Power2008-2009

Upgraded CAN communications system between embedded Linux-based host controller and TI

TMS320-based slave devices. Multiple slave devices communicate synchronously to the host

controller over 500k network. Upgraded CAN (can-bus) comms between slave devices and

TMS320-based (c2812) power controller devices. Developed Linux-based multi-threaded TCP/IP-

based client/server system to provide supervisory control over multiple host controllers.

Developed VB.NET gui to interface to supervisor system. Developed logging, configuration

and XML objects for controller software. Developed test software (user interface,

simulations, and low-level) to validate communications and supervisory systems. Developed

proposal for wireless mesh-network replacement of CAN-bus communications. Helped establish

AccuRev as source control system. Software developed using C++/OO, XML, Visual Studio 2008

VB.NET, and Code Composer.

Seacoast Charter School2008

Developed Joomla-based website, including Fireboard forums, for small Charter School.

Upgraded network communications to include wireless access points for Mac/WinPC machines.

Installed file server, with user access control, for system storage/access.

Iwaki2007-2008

Developed mult-threaded Modbus/TCP server for Debian Linux-based ARM7 embedded system.

Code developed in C++/OO, with g++.

SepSensor2007-2008

Developed 8051-based firmware (Keil uVision3) to monitor grease interceptors (tanks) and

transmit data, via radio and phone line, to server. Developed PC application, including

proprietary protocol, to communicate with field devices to retrieve raw data and alarms

for database. Developed Windows Mobile 6 PDA application (Visual Studio 2008, VB.NET,

Compact Framework 3.5) for field configuration/test of devices, including simulation of

field devices. Developed XML configuration editor for system configuration (C#, .NET).

Ellacoya2007

Developed FTP server interface to RADIUS and TACACS+ verification systems. Developed hard-

disk reset management algorithms. Enhanced/added-to Command Line Interface (CLI). Debugged

MIB interface. Debugged Ethernet/IP interfaces. PowerPC-based system, running VxWorks,

monitors/controls flow of IP traffic.

Walchem2006-2007

Developed Modbus Master (RTU/ASCII) driver for ARM7 and AVR ATmega128 system. ARM7 runs

Debian Linux, with code developed in C++. Used arm-linux-g++ and avr-gcc tools. Developed

TCP/IP protocol to communicate between embedded controllers and Linux translator system

(Ubuntu), which translates the protocol to HTML formatted requests for storage into a

database.

Bel Fuse, Inc.

2007

Developed software for a manufacturing test system for TI TPS2384-based Power-over-

Ethernet (POE) modules. Used TotalPhase I2C and AccesIO DIO USB products and developed

code using Visual Studio 2005 (VB.NET).

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

2005-2007

Developed CORBA-based interfaces for communicating between GUIs and the control system

(Windows and VxWorks). Developed drivers for new ION/TC gauges and updated the Rockwell

Flex I/O interface to support new configurations. Provided support for the control system,

in the way of bug fixes and enhancements. Control system is OO-based and developed using

VC++ and Tornado.

Texas Instruments2005-2006

Developed new version of a I2C/RS232-based bootstrap loader and runtime interface for new

TI MSP430 flash-based parts using IAR C tools and Visual Basic. Bootstrap loader is used

for downloading new code to Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) system for communicating with TI

TPS2384 chips. Runtime interface code is for communicating between MSP430 and host system,

with GUI-based test system modified to support I2C PC interface card (uses Visual Basic).

Developed RS-232 and I2C protocol for communicating with next generation of TPS2384

firmware, with drivers to support both hardware interfaces in same VB and firmware

applications.

TimeLab Corp2005-2006

Developed a WinXP/2000 windows service to monitor system usage to control a new

motherboard clock chip (TLC2900) via SMBus. Windows service and configuration application

are C++ code developed with Visual Studio .NET.

Greenland, NH Town Website

2005-2006

Developed PHP/MySql-based town website that is completely database driven, using forms to

update and add information.

AXTiming Systems2005

Developing high-speed automobile race timing system using multiple TI MSP430 processors,

and a proprietary high-speed wireless network. Developing using IAR C compiler.

Investigating using Zigbee or BlueTooth for communications system.

Masoneilan, Dresser, Inc.

2004-2005

Developed test firmware for validation of new hardware designs/production of valve

controller running on Philips LPC2112 (ARM7). Developed Visual C++/MFC-based scripting

interface for testing of HART interface. Developed BIOS test firmware to validate BIOS

performance, running on Micrum uCos-II. Developed HART Device Description using HCF Device

Description Language (DDL) using DD-IDE toolkit.

iRobot

2004

Developed doppler radar and gyroscope interface using Z-World Rabbit Semiconductor

RCM3400 (enhanced Z180), using Dynamic C. Performed semi real-time sampling of doppler

radar (digital inputs) and gyrcoscopic (serial interface) data. Developed software as a

TCP-UDP/IP server, for transfer of data/information to a client. Used DHCP and socket

communications methods. Developed Visual Basic client to test the serial and TCP/IP

communications and allow configuration via the UDP/IP communications.

TempControl Logic

2003-2004

Developed Atmel AVR ATmega169-based temperature controller for in-home multi-zone remote

furnace control. Uses Atmel butterfly system for LCD interface and proprietary RS-485

multi-master protocol for communicating amongst multiple remote displays and controllers.

Any display/controller can show and/or control any other zones within the system.

Developed using Atmel AVR Studio 4 C compiler and ISP tools. Working on porting the

proprietary protocol to BACnet.

Walchem

2004

Developed Modbus/TCP server (TCP/IP based) for current WebMaster product. Uses PharLap

TNT OS running on 80386EX hardware. Developed using C++, BSD-type sockets and is multi-

threaded, allowing a maximum number of clients to connect without requiring significant

processing power.

Nexus/Senea

2003

Enhanced Slotted-Aloha master-slave power-line communications network for communicating

with electric power meters. System incorporates software-based AGC using peak-detection.

Developed using Hi-Tech C, on proprietary 8-bit RISC microcontroller (based on ARClite

processor), using Salvo OS.

MKS Instruments2002-2003

Managed software development team for recently introduced PICO leak detector, including

supporting new product introduction and new features, maintenance of current systems,

documentation control establishment of current procedures and sources, and developing

fixes and/or new features. Product is multi-processor based, using a Motorola 68332 (in C)

and 68HC08 (in C) for control and Windows CE (in C++) platform for the user-interface.

MTL Inc2001-2002

Ported a real-time distributed industrial I/O product (8051/8086 based) to a 8051/80186-

based PCI single board computer with different memory sharing architectures.

Schneider Automation2000-2002

Developed embedded Modbus, ASCII, and proprietary communications (patent applied for)

networks for next generation programmable logic controller (PLC), which is based on

Mitsubishi M16C processor.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

2000

Worked on very preliminary prototype Java and CORBA based user interface for next

generation control system on Ion Implanter.

BinTel Systems2000

Developed remote inventory control measurement system using strain-gauges, MicroChip PIC

16C773, and RF local area network.

EATON1999-2000

Developed simulator for Kensington linear robot of high-energy implanter robot end-

station. Involved in developing next-generation C++ based control architecture. Provided

upgrade/maintenance support for in-house designed flat panel display handling system

(robot). Upgraded communications interface software (using SECS/GEM) and installed on-site

at Japanese customer. Product developed on UNIX platforms with C code running on

VxWorks.

dbi Corporation/Senea

1998-1999

Developed Slotted-Aloha and master-slave power-line communications network for

communicating with electronic power meters. System incorporates software-based AGC using

peak-detection. Developed, using Hi-Tech C, on proprietary 8-bit RISC microcontroller

(based on ARClite processor).. Developed Perl scripts to modify code for embedding code

into ASIC and FPGA. Debugged and maintained previous master-slave communications system.

IRIS Graphics, Inc.

1997-1998

Upgraded 80386SX-based control software to support new CPU and print head hardware for

new Computer-To-Plate printer. Ported pump control software using state-driven task-

implemented methods. Involved in design for next generation architecture. Added

diagnostics tools for new print head.

H&L Instruments1997-1998

Upgraded Z180-based serial-to-fiber SDLC repeater network and enhanced/debugged Visual

C++ MFC-based configuration system.

ASTeX Applied Science & Technology, Inc.

1997

Developed control system software base for atomic flourine generator. Provided I/O

drivers for analog and digital I/O, LCD display and serial interface. Developed

downloadable system for upgrading FLASH-based product in the field. Provided embedded

development training to in-house software engineer.

EATON Corporation1997

Developed robot control sequencing system for in-house designed flat panel display

handling system for laptop displays. Interfaced to Delta-Tau PMAC controller using dual

port ram and serial interfaces. Developed multi-tasking, message-based state-machine

control tasks on UNIX workstations for multi-board 68020/68010 based control system,

running VxWorks. Re-worked state-machine and serial drivers for interface to external

Rorze robot.

dbi Corporation1997

Developed Slotted Aloha communications system, with master-slave and peer-to-peer

functionality, for large scale power-line communications system based on National COP888

microprocessor. Debugged and maintained previous master-slave communications system.

H&L Instruments1996

Provided development support and performed design reviews for Z180-based serial-to-fiber

repeater network.

Measurement Technology Ltd.

1996

Developed prototype product based on 80C188 and 68HC05 multi-processor system, with a

high-speed Modbus communications interface. Developed specifications for embedded

diagnostics, boot-up and downloading functions. Consulted on systems development concepts.

Specified development tools, including analyzers, emulators, networking tools, and Nucleus

RTOS.

Borst Automation (Limburg, Germany)

1996

Co-developed communications converter for Modbus to Profibus communications protocols.

MTL Inc.

1994-1996

Upgraded Windows hardware driver for interface card. Consulted on new product

development. Managed company-wide Novell network. Established version control system using

Intersolv PVCS. Transition Technology Inc./Measurement Technology Ltd.

Manager, Systems Development

1988 to 1994

Developed real-time distributed industrial I/O product (8051 and 80x86 based) and a

patented communications protocol. Responsible for software system level design of full

product line. Developed custom interfaces to third party hardware/software including Allen-

Bradley, Modicon, RadiSys, and VME Micro. Responsible for technical development and

applications support with worldwide OEM customers, including IBM and Fischer & Porter.

Responsible for porting 80x86 based system to 68020, using OEM customer-developed real-

time UNIX. Responsible for meeting with customers for applications support and/or to

develop new products based upon customer needs. Worked on developing next generation

product using worldwide communications standards such as Fieldbus, ISP, LonTalk, and

WorldFIP and large count multi-processor system using 80C188, 68HC11 and 68HC05 based

hardware. Developed STD-based software interface to I/O product. Developed driver for

interface to OPTO-22 products. Ionex/HEI

Senior Software Engineer1987 to 1988

Developed real-time control software for robotic control system running on IBM PCs, using

Galil motion controllers, for ion implanters. Developed a real-time communications system

for use on a communications controller board (80186 based) for PC to PC and PC to DAS (Z80

based) hardware using fiber optic links. Met with current and future customers to provide

applications/installation support and to incorporate customer requirements into product.

Developed early prototype for maintenance and diagnostics on VME 68020/VRTX based sub-

system. Upgraded current product to touch-screen user interface. Caterpillar Inc.

Test/Software Engineer1984 to 1987

Developed data acquisition systems based on IBM PCs (using Keithly-Metrabyte boards) and

HP80, HP200, & HP300 systems for in-house & customer tests. Developed prototype 68HC11

based system for next generation control systems, developing extensions for BSO/Tasking

compiler on VAX. Designed new security and access control systems for facilities

management. Added enhancements to 68000 & 6805 based engine/transmission control systems.

ALCOA Corp., REA Magnet Wire

Control Systems Engineer1983 to 1984

Developed plant process control systems, using Square-D and Allen-Bradley PLC's and

embedded CPU boards, for the nation-wide REA wire plants. Added enhancements to current

wire processing systems to triple throughputs. TECHNICAL: U.S. Patent #5,021,777

Mode-Selectable Communications System EDUCATION: Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort

Wayne, IN

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

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