Andrew  J.  Mason

 

The University of Kentucky                                                                                          Voice: 606-257-1775

453 Anderson Hall                                                                                                           Fax: 606-257-3092

Lexington, KY  40506-0046                                                                                             mason@engr.uky.edu

                                                                                                                                            http://www.engr.uky.edu/~mason/

 

 

Education

Ph.D.        University of Michigan,  Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Aug. 2000      -Electrical Engineering, Advisor: Dr. Kensall D. Wise

                        Thesis Title: “A Generic Multielement Microsystem for Portable Wireless Applications”

M.S.         University of Michigan,  Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dec. 1994       -Electrical Engineering

B.E.E.             Georgia Institute of Technology,  Atlanta, Georgia.

June 1992       -Electrical Engineering (with Honors)

B.S.                Western Kentucky University,  Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Dec. 1991       -Physics (with Highest Honors), Minor: Mathematics

 

FIELDS OF Interest

MEMS-based Microsystems: Low-power wireless microsystem integration, circuits and devices for wireless communication, microsensor calibration/compensation and digital signal processing, integrated sensors and actuators, system and device packaging/assembly (multi-chip modules), MEMS modeling and fabrication.  VLSI Circuits and Architectures: Mixed-signal circuits for sensor/actuator interfacing and telecommunications, low-power analog/digital circuits and microcontrollers, temperature sensor integrated circuits.

 

Professional Experience

The University of Kentucky,  College of Engineering, Lexington, Kentucky

7/99 – pres.

Assistant Professor:  Electrical Engineering Department.

Established the Advanced Microsystems and Circuits Laboratory for design, fabrication, and characterization of microelectronic devices, circuits, and microsystems. Major research projects include:

- Design of Universal MicroSystem Interface (UMSI) Circuit for use with MEMS sensors in microsystems.

- Development of closed-loop characterization equipment for sensor calibration and compensation.

- Integration and packaging of MEMS-based environmental monitoring microsystems.

- Design of Low-Power microcontrollers for portable multi-sensor microsystems.

 

The University of Michigan,  Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department,  Ann Arbor,  Michigan.

6/93 - 6/99

Research Assistant:  Center for Integrated Sensors and Circuits.

  Ph.D. thesis topic: “A Generic Multielement Microsystem for Portable Wireless Applications”

      -Design and build microcontroller-based microinstrumentation system for MEMS transducers

            System architecture for generic microsystem populated with a variety of MEMS devices

            Low-power mixed analog/digital VLSI bus/sensor interface circuit

            Analog IC temperature sensor (bandgap/PTAT)

            Very-low-power microsystem power-management circuit

            Intramodual communication (sensor) bus, sensor bus protocol

            Microcontroller programming including sensor calibration/compensation DSP algorithms

            Multi-chip-module packaging and PCB layout

      -Design and fabricate4-mask silicon substrate for microsystem packaging (foldable micromachined substrate)

      -Design interconnect substrate and electronic interface for sensor suite/backpack worn by an insect

      -Design polyimide-based strain gauges and angle sensors for controlled biological systems

9/92-5/98

Teaching Assistant:

  Give lectures, prepare and grade homework, assist with laboratory experiments, hold office hours, etc. for several grad. and undergrad. courses in semiconductor physics and integrated circuit design and fabrication.

 

Canopus Systems Inc.,  Ann Arbor,  Michigan.

1/97- 6/99

Electronic Systems Engineer:  Responsible for design and development of microcontroller-based sensor and sensor interface systems.  PI for DARPA funded Phase I SBIR to design a MEMS-based environmental monitoring microsystem.

 

Georgia Institute of Technology,  Electrical Engineering Department,  Atlanta,  Georgia.

1/92-6/92

Student Research Program:  Conduct independent research project comparing SPICE model parameters with test results obtained from in-house CMOS fabrication -emphasis on gate capacitance modeling.

3/91-3/92

Teaching Assistant:  Instruct and evaluate student performance during practical physics laboratory.

 

International Business Machines (IBM),  Federal Sector Division,  Gaithersburg,  Maryland.

6/91-8/91

Systems Engineer:  Create and process technical documents.  Support SE team during Systems Requirements Review regarding air-traffic control.

 

Martin Marietta,  US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,  Oak Ridge,  Tennessee.

6/90-8/90

Research Analyst:  Assist in setup and execution of nuclear physics experiments using ion-beam accelerator.  Program control software for data analysis.

 

Siemans Corporation,  Potter & Brumfield Division,  Franklin,  Kentucky.

6/89-8/89

Lab Technician:  Assist with projects including materials standardization, installation and refinement of computer analysis system, and maintenance of plant coolant system.

 

Western Kentucky University,  Physics Department,  Bowling Green,  Kentucky.

8/87-5/90

Research Assistant:  Perform faculty-directed nuclear physics research experiments (gamma ray emission spectroscopy, trace element analysis), computer data analysis, and formal presentation of results.

 

Honors & Awards

1st Place Award (experienced class) 1996 Univ. of Michigan Student VLSI Design Contest

    (national, multi-university contest)

3rd Place Award (experienced class) North American 1996 Mentor Graphics Student VLSI Design Contest.

Award of Excellence Scholarship, M. L. Fitten Scholarship

The National Dean's List, Presidential Scholar, Dean's List

Nominated to:  Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Beta Phi, Eta Kappa Nu.

 

Activities

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (Electron Device Society;  Solid-State Circuits Society;  Components, Packaging, and Mfg. Tech Society;  Instrumentation and Measurement Society), Society of Physics Students, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Pi Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Fencing Club,

Residence Hall Government.

 

Computer Skills

Computer Platforms: Sun/UNIX, PC/Windows, Macintosh.

VLSI CAD Tools: Mentor Graphics framework, HSPICE, PSpice.

Programming Languages: FORTRAN, BASIC, Assembly (Motorola 6800, Intel x96), MatLab, HTML.

Documentation/Publication: Extensive experience in technical writing and illustration using MS Word, MS Excel, Canvas, Photoshop, Pagemaker.

 

Publications

N. Yazdi, A. Mason, K. Najafi, and K. D. Wise, “A Generic Interface Circuit for Capacitive Sensors in Low-Power Multi-Parameter Microsystems,” Sensors and Actuators, (accepted for publication in 2000).

 

A. Mason, S. Amimoto, and K. D. Wise, “MEMS-Based Macro- and Micro-Sensing Systems: Architecture, Design and Implementation,” chapter in Microengineering for Aerospace Systems, editor: H. Helvajian, The Aerospace Press, 1999.

 

J. C. Fox, A. Mason, and N. Yazdi, "Spacecraft Microaccelerometer Microsystem," Space Technology Conference and Exposition, Albuquerque NM, September 1999.

 

A. V. Chavan, A. Mason, U. Kang, and K. D. Wise, “A Programmable Mixed-Voltage Sensor Readout Circuit and Bus Interface with Built-In Self-test,” Digest, Int. Solid State Circ. Conf., San Francisco CA, pp. 136-137, February 1999.

 

A. Mason, N. Yazdi, A. V. Chavan, K. Najafi, and K. D. Wise, “A Generic Multielement Microsystem for Portable Wireless Applications,” (Invited) Proc. IEEE, vol. 86 (8), pp. 1733-1745, August 1998.

 

N. Yazdi, A. Mason, K. Najafi, and K. D. Wise, “A Low-Power Generic Interface Circuit for Capacitive Sensors” Digest, Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, Hilton Head Island SC, pp. 215-218, June 1996.

 

N. Yazdi, A. Mason, K. Najafi, and K. D. Wise, “A Smart Sensing Microsystem with a Capacitive Sensor Interface,” Digest, IEEE Int. Symposium on Circ. and Systems, Atlanta GA, vol. IV, pp. 336-339, May 1996.

 

A. Mason, W. Bear, and K. D. Wise, “A Microinstrumentation System for Remote Environmental Monitoring,” Digest, Int. Conf. on Integrated Micro-Nano Tech. for Space Applications, Houston TX, November 1995.

 

A. Mason, N. Yazdi, K. Najafi, and K. D. Wise, “A Low-Power Wireless Microinstrumentation System for Environmental Monitoring,” Digest, Int. Conf. on Sensors and Actuators (Transducers’ 95), Stockholm Sweden, pp. 107-110, June 1995.

 

Invited Presentations

Sensor Technology Conference, New Technology Week, Baltimore MD, September 1998.

        Invited presentation on IC sensors and microinstruments.

Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, August 1998.

        Guest seminar on MEMS-based Microsystems.

Force Command Headquarters, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA, January 1998.

        Invited presentation on University of Michigan Microinstrumentation System (µCluster)

        and MEMS in weather measurements.

NASA-Langley, Langley VA, April 1996

        Invited presentation on MEMS research at the University of Michigan.

Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, February 1996.

        Guest lecture on research activities in MEMS and Microsystems.