Ronald McFarlane

Background

About Ronald McFarlane

Throughout my career I have enjoyed working as part of a team. A larger part of my career has been involved with the development of sensors for environmental monitoring and their associated electronics. Starting with the development of laser and fiber optic sensors for use in oceanographic monitoring, proceeding with the development of soil moisture sensors and associated data collection systems, to integration of the soil moisture sensors into a radio based irrigation control and monitoring system, to the development of water cut instrument intended to measure the amount of water contained in the emulsion pumped from oil wells. My physics training provides a good background with which to develop sensors for various physical parameters. My electronic design experienced covers low level electronics used with sensor detectors, RF circuits for radio applications, high speed ECL circuits with sub-nanosecond rise times, embedded microprocessor systems. I'm able to perform schematic capture and complex multi-layer PCB layout, and prepare production documentation for the design. My most recent experience has been focused in the rail transit industry, delivering monitoring and diagnostic electronics of commuter rail vehicles. I'm experienced in designing, testing, and qualifying electronics to meet the very stringent industry standards of performance and reliability, including meeting EMC/EMI, shock, and vibration requirements. I have created and implemented a proactive corporate End of Life (EOL) management system to support the company's efforts to maintaining production of products for a 20 year lifetime, as desired by the transit rail industry. I have extensive field experience with installing/trouble shooting/supporting products in challenging environments and meeting with customers in the field.