Roger Melen
Roger Melen, Ph.D. | |
---|---|
Born | October 31, 1946 |
Died | April 23, 2024 |
Education | B.S.E.E. Chico State College M.S.E.E. Stanford University Ph.D. Stanford University |
Occupation(s) | Electrical Engineer, Entrepreneur |
Known for | Co-founder Cromemco |
Call sign | WB6JXU |
Roger Douglas Melen (born 1946)[1][2] is an electrical engineer recognized for his early contributions to the microcomputer industry, and for his technical innovations.
Dr. Melen was co-founder of Cromemco, one of the earliest microcomputer companies. At Cromemco he developed color graphics systems that were widely used in television broadcast, and in mission planning systems deployed by the United States Air Force. He also developed the first microcomputer systems widely distributed in China. In addition to his work in microcomputer systems and color graphics, Dr. Melen has made significant technical contributions to the development of CCD image sensors, ultrasonic imaging systems, implantable cochlear devices, image processing technology, and vehicular information systems.
He has been recognized as one of the most important inventors and innovators in the history of Silicon Valley.[3]
Early contributions
As a young man, Roger Melen enjoyed
He also continued to write for Popular Electronics magazine, which resulted in a meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico that would change the course of his career. In 1974 he submitted a design for a digital camera, called the “Cyclops”, to Popular Electronics. While visiting the editorial office of Popular Electronics in New York to discuss the Cyclops, Melen saw a prototype of the MITS Altair Computer that was also being readied for publication. Recognizing the potential of interfacing the Cyclops digital camera to the Altair, Melen changed his return flight to California to go through Albuquerque to visit Ed Roberts, president of MITS.[15] Roberts was anxious to develop third-party support for the Altair, and encouraged Melen to interface the Cyclops digital camera to the Altair computer.[16] Roberts agreed to ship an Altair computer to Melen so that he could get to work on the interface.[17]
Cromemco
The MITS Altair Computer appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics in January 1975, and the
The next product developed by Melen was a color graphics interface for the Altair, called the “Dazzler”. The Dazzler appeared on the front cover of the February 1976 issue of Popular Electronics.[20] Melen and his team developed a series of other products culminating in the introduction of complete computer systems based on the Zilog Z80 microprocessor, and later the Motorola 68000 processor. These systems were used for graphics generation in U.S. television stations,[21] were widely deployed as Mission Planning Systems by the United States Air Force,[22][23] and were the first microcomputer systems widely distributed in China.[24] Dr. Melen served as Vice President of R&D for Cromemco from its inception in 1975 to its sale to Dynatech Corporation in 1987.[22]
Further contributions
Dr. Melen served as Vice President of R&D for Canon Research Center of America from its inception in 1990 until 2001.[2] During this time he developed image processing technology for document imaging,[25] stereographic photography,[26] and radiographic imaging.[27] In 2001 Melen joined Toyota InfoTechnology Center, U.S.A. as Senior Advisor.[28] At Toyota he has focused on developing technology for vehicular information systems in support of vehicle safety and efficiency.[29][30]
Recognition
Dr. Melen served as Editor of Charge-Coupled Devices: Technology and Applications published by the IEEE Press.[31] He is also co-author of two other technical books: Understanding IC Operational Amplifiers,[32] and Understanding CMOS Integrated Circuits.[33] His role as a pioneer in the microcomputer industry has been recognized in numerous books,[1][3][16][17] and by his appearance in the 1996 PBS documentary, The Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires.[34] Dr. Melen has been awarded 50 patents by the U.S. Patent Office.[35]
References
- ^ a b c
Levering, Robert; Katz, Michael; Moskowitz, Milton (1984). The Computer Entrepreneurs. New American Library. pp. 36–40. ISBN 0-453-00477-6.
- ^ a b "Roger Melen - Camera Phone Image Sensor Market 9.11.07". Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-137-27917-0.
- ^ Melen, Roger (February 1969). "The Beatnote Basher: a selective audio filter". 73 Magazine. 101: 12.
- ^ Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1971). "Build the Fil-oscillator". Popular Electronics. 34 (5): 58–62.
- ^ Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1971). "Add Triggered Sweep to your Scope". Popular Electronics. 35 (1): 61–66.
- ^ Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1971). "Build the Muscle Whistler". Popular Electronics. 35 (5): 60–62.
- ^ Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1973). "Build a Low-Cost Op Amp Tester". Popular Electronics Including Electronics World. 4 (6): 34–35.
- ^ Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1974). "A Single-IC Capacitance Meter". Popular Electronics Including Electronics World. 5 (2): 44–45.
- ^ Stanford Alumni Association (1989). Stanford Alumni Directory Centennial Edition. p. 870.
- ^ Melen, Roger (May 24, 1973). "The tradeoffs in monolithic image sensors: MOS vs CCD". Electronics. 46: 106–111.
- .
- ^ Melen, R.D.; Shott, J.D.; Walker, J.T.; Meindl, J.D. (October 1975). "CCD dynamically focussed lenses for ultrasonic imaging" (PDF). Proceedings of the 1975 International Conference on the Application of Charge-Coupled Devices: 165–171.
- S2CID 2891373.
- ^ Solomon, Les. "Solomon's Memory". atariarchives.org. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ ISBN 9780071358958.
- ^ ISBN 0-385-19195-2.
- ^ Walker, Terry; Garland, Harry; Melen, Roger (1975). "Build Cyclops". Popular Electronics. 7 (2): 27–31.
- S2CID 32243439.
- ^ Walker, Terry; Melen, Roger; Garland, Harry; Hall, Ed (1976). "Build the TV Dazzler". Popular Electronics. 9 (2): 31–40.
- ^ "Cromemco Computer Graphics 1987". wn.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ a b Kuhman, Robert. "The Cro's Nest RCP/M-RBBS". www.kuhmann.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "USAF will equip its tactical fighter squadrons with a mission planning system". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 126 (22): 105. June 1, 1987.
- ^ Ost, Laura (November 9, 1979). "Cromemco Saw the Future for Computers Overseas". The Peninsula Times Tribune: E1, E3.
- ^ "Reduced resolution document storage and retrieval system". USPTO. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Stereographic image compression with image moment normalization". USPTO. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Flipping stereoscopic radiographs". USPTO. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Sixth Annual Fujitsu Laboratories of America Technology Symposium Speaker Biography: Roger D. Melen". Fujitsu. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Group interaction system for interaction with other vehicles of a group". USPTO. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Managing vehicle efficiency". USPTO. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ISBN 0-87942-083-9.
- ISBN 0-672-22484-4.
- ISBN 0-672-21598-5.
- ^ "Full cast and crew for The Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "USPTO Patent Full_Text and Image Database". USPTO. Retrieved 2012-02-10.