Thompson Consulting
Curriculum Vitae of Marc T. Thompson, Ph.D.
(Note: for an up-to-date C.V., contact
Dr. Thompson directly)
Marc
T. Thompson, Ph.D.
Thompson
Consulting, Inc.
Email: marctt@thompsonrd.com
Phone:
978-456-7722
Fax:
240-414-2655
Website:
http://www.thompsonrd.com/
EDUCATION
|
University |
Degree |
Field |
Date |
|
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology |
S.B. |
Electrical
|
June,
1985 |
|
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology |
S.M. |
Electrical
|
Sept.,
1992 |
|
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology |
Electrical
Engineer |
Electrical
|
Sept.,
1994 |
|
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology |
Ph.D. |
Electrical
|
May,
1997 |
PROFESSIONAL
PROFILE
Dr. Marc Thompson specializes in custom R/D, analysis, and failure investigations into multi-disciplinary electrical, magnetic, electromechanical and electronic systems at Thompson Consulting, Inc. (Harvard MA).
Dr. Thompson is also Adjunct Professor of Electrical and
Computer Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. At
W.P.I., Dr. Thompson teaches 2 different graduate design courses. The first,
“Analog Circuits and Intuition” develops intuitive and "back
of the envelope" methods for analog circuit, power electronics, magnetic,
thermal and system analysis. Dr. Thompson also teaches “Power
Electronics,”
focusing on intuitive methods
for designing power electronics systems and magnetics. He also teaches graduate-level and
undergraduate seminars in analog, power quality, power electronics, electomechanics,
electric motors, rotating machinery,
and power distribution for high-tech companies. He has also taught for University of
Wisconsin-Madison, covering classes in electric motors, electromechanical
systems, power electronics and magnetic design.
He was also Senior Managing Engineer at Exponent, an engineering consulting company, focusing on failure analysis of electronic components and systems. Dr. Thompson has held several engineering positions with companies including Polaroid Corporation and video manufacturer For-A Corporation.
Dr. Thompson is author of a textbook entitled Intuitive
Analog Circuit Design, published in 2006 by Elsevier Science/Newnes. Another text
entitled Power Quality in Electronic Systems, co-authored with
Dr. Alexander Kusko, was published by McGraw-Hill in
2007. Dr. Thompson has contributed 3
chapters to Analog Circuits (World
Class Designs), published by Elsevier in 2008, and 1 chapter to Portable Electronics: World Class Designs, Elsevier, 2008.
Dr. Thompson has 7
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
President,
Thompson Consulting, Inc., 1995-present
Custom
research and prototype development consulting firm specializing in advanced
analog design, control systems, power electronics, switching power supplies,
DC/DC converters, magnetic design, eddy-current brakes, magnetic suspensions
and Maglev. Failure investigations related to power
systems, consumer electronics, and electronic equipment. Some related design projects are:
·
Development of a miniature, implantable, transcutaneous
medical power supply using planar magnetics and
variable airgap, including implantable lithium ion
battery charger and motor driver
·
Synchronous buck converter current source for driving
semiconductor diode lasers for medical device application
·
Control loop design for DC-AC inverter driven by photovoltaics
·
Design of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent-magnet
eddy-current brakes for roller coaster and other braking application
·
Design and analysis of permanent magnet Halbach arrays for
magnetic levitation
·
Design, analysis and finite-element analysis (FEA) of high
frequency planar induction heating coils
·
Design, analysis and FEA of microelectronic resonant
actuator scanner (MEMS)
·
Re-design of electromagnets for automated pick-and-place
machines to reduce false picks
·
Re-design for higher efficiency, noise reduction and cost
reduction of multiple-output flyback switching power
supplies
·
Assessment of accuracy of magnetic sensing methods for
robotic applications
·
Contract monitoring consultant for U.S. Department of
Transportation on electromagnetic aircraft launch (EMALS), Maglev and linear motor
technologies
·
Design of high-efficiency switching power supply for laser
driving application
·
Design of high-precision, low noise analog temperature
control loop for optical switching application
·
ESD audit and protection schemes for gallium arsenide semiconductor
diode manufacturing facility
·
Analysis and design of high-precision differential pressure
sensor module
·
Comparative study and analysis of electrodynamic (EDS) and
electromagnetic (
·
Analysis of magnetic catheter alignment system
·
Design of 50 kVA inverter switch
·
Mechanical and magnetic design for satellite levitated
flywheel energy storage system
·
Low-noise microphone amplifier design
·
High frequency low noise oscillator design for driving amorphous
magnetic fibers
·
SBIR review panelist for National Science Foundation
·
Assisted in design of low voltage power grid for electric
power co-generation project
·
Troubleshooting on thermal/overvoltage
issues in high power medical pump device
·
Design (analytical and finite element analysis) of
magnetically-driven miniature compressor
·
Failure analysis related to toy automobile motor driver
overheating
·
Risk analysis related to halogen light bulbs
·
Study of "acoustic shriek" in portable telephone
handset
·
Study of failure phenomena in fluorescent electronic lamp
ballasts
·
Re-design of mass spectrometer high voltage RF power supply
·
Design of battery-powered medium voltage power supply for
piezoelectric application
·
Design of low-noise current drivers for high power
semiconductor diode lasers
·
2003-2006: part-time consultant at Exponent, an engineering
and scientific consulting firm.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1998-present
In
charge of EE523, Power Electronics, a graduate subject covering power
electronics, switching power supplies, rectifiers and inverters, power devices,
high frequency DC/DC converters, thermal and magnetic design; and EE529, Analog
Circuits and Intuition, a graduate subject covering intuitive methods in
analog circuit design including CMOS and bipolar transistor amplifiers and
transistor switching circuits, operational amplifier analysis, analog building
blocks including current mirrors, bandgap voltage
references, phase-locked loops, and mechanical and thermal circuit
analogies. Also in charge of
graduate-level Electromechanics (covering magnetics, transformer design, electromechanical energy
conversion, and motor/generator design) and graduate-level Power
Distribution covering elements of industrial and residential power
distribution systems.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Doctoral Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
1993-1997
·
Research areas: Magnetic levitation using superconducting
magnets (Maglev); Maglev control systems; electromechanical actuator design;
induction heating; properties of ferrofluids; scaling
laws for magnetic design.
·
Ph.D. thesis: High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic
Suspension for Maglev, supervised by Prof. Richard D. Thornton at the
Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems. Work includes mechanical and electrical design and
analysis of a superconducting magnetic suspension with active magnetic
secondary suspension for ride-quality control.
Designed and built active vertical control system. Built 2-meter diameter, 1000 RPM composite
test wheel and one degree-of-freedom air bearing for vertical Maglev dynamics
studies.
Master's
Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990-1992
·
M.S. Thesis: High Power
Laser Diode Driver with Plural Feedback Loops, supervised by Prof. Martin Schlecht at the Laboratory for Electromagnetic and
Electronic Systems. 1.2 Watt, 2 Ampere,
20 nanosecond laser driver based on power converter technology with microstrip laser cable.
Research funded by Polaroid Corporation, received patent based on system
concept.
PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 1993-1997
Research
Assistant in the Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems,
focusing on magnetic design and Maglev. Teaching
Assistant for course number 6.101, Introductory Analog Systems Laboratory. In 6.101 was responsible for generating
homework assignments and solutions, supervising laboratory work, and giving
bi-weekly lectures.
Senior Engineer, Polaroid Corporation, 1990-1993
Advanced Engineer, Polaroid Corporation, 1987-1990
Designed
electronics systems including motor drivers, video frame stores, phase-locked
loops, high-speed video amplifiers, and high-speed laser diode drivers.
Received several patents based on laser diode driver work.
R/D Engineer, For-A Corporation of
Designed
professional broadcast video equipment including NTSC and PAL encoders and
decoders and PAL frame stores.
Have done work on IP and product
liability cases. Have written expert
witness reports, given depositions and testified at trial. References are available on request.
PATENTS
[1]
B. Santarelli and M. Thompson,
[2]
M.
[3]
W. T. Plummer, M. Thompson, D. S. Goodman and P. P. Clark, U.S. Patent #6,061,372, “Two-Level Semiconductor Laser
Driver,” issued
[4]
E. M. Pribonic and M. Thompson,
[5]
E. M. Pribonic and M. Thompson,
[6]
E. M. Pribonic and M. Thompson,
[7]
M.
INDUSTRY
COURSES
·
“Seminar on Analog Circuit Design,” Polaroid
Corporation, 1999
·
“Analog Circuits and Intuitive Design Methods,”
Allegro Microsystems, 2004
·
“Power Electronics,” Allegro Microsystems, 2004
·
“Power Quality in Electronic Systems,” IEEE
Boston, 2005 (with Alexander Kusko)
·
“Electromechanics,”
NSTAR, 2005
·
“Power Distribution,” NSTAR, 2006
·
“Electromechanical
Basics,” Naval Air Engineering Station,
· “Power Distribution,” Northeast Utilities, 2007
· “Power Electronics,” National Grid, 2008
·
“Power Electronics,”
Naval Air Engineering Station,
PUBLICATIONS
Textbooks
Intuitive Analog Circuit Design, Newnes publishing, 2006. ISBN: 0750677864
Power Quality in Electronic Systems, (with Alexander Kusko), to be published in 2007 by McGraw-Hill
Analog Circuits (World Class Designs), contributor
of 3 chapters, edited by Bob Pease, Elsevier, 2008. ISBN:
0750686278
Portable Electronics: World Class Designs, contributor of 1 chapter, edited by Bob
Donovan, Elsevier, 2009. ISBN: 185617624X
Refereed journals
[1]
Marc T. Thompson and Martin F. Schlecht, “Laser Diode Driver Based on
Power Converter Technology,” IEEE
Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 12, no. 1, Jan. 1997, pp. 46-52
[2]
“Simple Models and Measurements of
Magnetically-Induced Heating Effects in Ferromagnetic Fluids,” IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 34,
no. 5, September 1998
[3]
Marc T. Thompson, Richard D. Thornton and Anthony Kondoleon, “Scale Model Flux-Canceling EDS Maglev
Suspension --- Part I: Design and Modeling,” IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 35, no. 3, May 1999, pp.
1956-1963
[4]
Marc T. Thompson and Richard D. Thornton, “Scale Model
Flux-Canceling EDS Maglev Suspension --- Part II: Test Results and Scaling
Laws,” IEEE Transactions on
Magnetics, vol. 35, no. 3, May 1999, pp. 1964-1975
[5]
"Eddy Current Magnetic Levitation --- Models and
Experiments," IEEE Potentials,
vol. 19, no. 1, Feb./March 2000, pp. 40-44
[6]
"Electrodynamic Magnetic Suspension --- Models, Scaling
Laws and Experimental Results," IEEE
Transactions on Education, vol. 43, no. 3, August 2000, pp. 336-342
[7] “Practical Issues in the Use of NdFeB Permanent Magnets in Maglev, Motors, Bearings and Eddy Current Brakes,” accepted by Proceedings of the IEEE, 2008 special issue "Linear Motor Power Transportation: Present Status and Future Possibilities”
Technical articles
[1] “Designing Video Circuits, Part 1 of 3,” Electronic System Design Magazine, October, 1988,
pp. 67-74
[2] “Designing Video Circuits, Part
2," Electronic System Design
Magazine, November, 1988, pp. 75-79
[3] “Designing Video Circuits, Part
3," Electronic System Design
Magazine, December, 1988, pp. 47-51
[4] “Design Linear Circuits Using
OCTC Calculations,” Electronic
Design (Special Analog Issue),
[5] “SCTC Analysis Estimates
Low-Frequency -3-dB Point,” Electronic
Design,
[6] “Network Tricks Aid in
OCTC,” Electronic Design,
[7] “Tips for Designing High-Gain
Amplifiers,” Electronic Design,
[8] "Guesstimating
Inductance of Wire Loops," Newsletter of the IEEE Power Electronics Society, Volume 11, Number 2, April
1999, pp. 3
[9] "Sizing the
MOSFET Gate Damping Resistor," Newsletter
of the IEEE Power Electronics Society,
Volume 11, No. 4, October 1999, pp. 2
[10]
"Inductance Calculation Techniques --- Part I:
Classical Methods," Power Control
and Intelligent Motion, vol. 25, no. 12, December 1999, pp. 40-45
[11]
"Inductance Calculation Techniques --- Part II:
Approximations and Handbook Methods," Power
Control and Intelligent Motion, website http://www.pcim.com
Conference publications
[1] Anthony Kondoleon, Donald Seltzer, Richard D. Thornton, and Marc T.
Thompson, “Development of a Large Scale High Speed Wheel Test Facility,”
Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension
Technology, NASA Conference Publication 3336, part 2, pp. 523-534, Dec.
13-15, 1995
[2] Marc T. Thompson
and Richard D. Thornton, “Modeling of HTSC-Based Iron Core Flux-Canceling
Electrodynamic Suspension for Maglev,”
Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension
Technology, NASA Conference Publication, 1997
[3] Marc T. Thompson
and Anthony Kondoleon, “Test Results from a
Large Scale, High Speed EDS Maglev Wheel Test Facility,” Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Magnetic
Suspension Technology, NASA Conference Publication, 1997
[4] Richard D.
Thornton and Marc T. Thompson, “Magnetically Based Ride Quality Control
for an Electrodynamic Maglev Suspension,”
Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension
Technology, NASA Conference Publication, 1997
[5] "Inductance
Calculation Techniques --- Tutorial on Approximations, Handbook Methods and
Scaling Laws," Proceedings of PCIM 2000,
[6] "Permanent
Magnet Electrodynamic Brakes --- Design Principles and Scaling Laws," Online
Symposium on Electrical Engineering, July 2001
[7] "Inductance
Calculation Techniques --- Approximations and Handbook Methods," Online
Symposium on Electrical Engineering, July 2001
Technical
Presentations
[1]
"Archival Storage of Digital Television Images,” Electronic Imaging,
[2]
"Psychophysics and Future Television Technology," Electronic Imaging,
[3]
“System Design via Intuitive Methods and
Back-of-the-Envelope Calculations,” Worcester
Polytechnic Institute,
[4]
“Modeling and Control of HTSC Flux-Canceling
Electrodynamic Maglev Suspension,” IEEE
Control System Society,
[5]
T. Clark, A. Kondoleon, M.
Thompson and R. Thornton, "Shaftless,
Magnetically Levitated Flywheel Energy Storage System,” Aerospace Flywheel Workshop,
[6]
"Issues in Low Speed Maglev,” United States Department of Transportation Seminar,
[7]
"EMALS Enabling Technologies Overview," United States Department of Transportation,
[8]
“Magnetic Levitation and Control,”
[9]
"Maglev Comparative Study," Lockheed Martin,
Inc.,
[10] “Permanent
Magnet Brakes --- An Application Where Eddy Currents are Useful,” IEEE
Magnetics Society,
·
Manuscript reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Education
·
Manuscript reviewer for IEEE Spectrum
·
Manuscript reviewer for IEEE
Power Electronics Letters
ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP
·
Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE)
·
Member of IEEE Power Electronics Society
·
Member of IEEE Magnetics Society
·
Member of IEEE Education Society
·
Firefighter, Harvard
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