Maguffin Microwave LLC

Maguffin Microwave was founded in 1999 by Rich Michalik whose CV follows:

Consulting:  Developed components and systems, performed qualification testing, developed novel engineering applications for microwave technology, and provided manufacturing support for project including, but not limited to Microwave and RF wireless communications, radar, sensor, and position locating applications.  Provide hands-on design experience.  Customers have included industrial, consumer, and military contractors.  We maintain a complete microwave testing, surface mount electronics fabrication, and model prototype shop.  We hold Secret Level security clearance. 

Design Capabilities

• Microwave components and subsystems for Radar, ECM, or EW
• Microwave components and subsystems for communications and wireless 
• Microwave Frequency Synthesizer designs
• Ultra low phase noise
• SAW, BAW Based
• Phase Noise Degeneration techniques
• Unique architectures
• Fiberoptic processing
• Specialized noise testing
• Fast (100 nS) hopping
• Fiberoptic clock distribution system design for VLA radio astronomy
• Developed complete outdoor Radio Frequency Units RFU
• QAM, FSK
• FCC type acceptance testing
• Sustaining engineering projects from Maguffin Microwave
• Quick reaction to solve your RF manufacturing problems
• Wireless consumer personal health button product line
• 24/38 GHz telecom backhaul product line
• Military synthesizer product line
• Military filter/DFM product lines
• Debugging Atmel, Chipcon, Nordic wireless links 
• System Design: Link budgets, Sneak path, Spurious analysis, Frequency planning, Cascade noise figure/intermods, Link margin, Propagation, Multipath, MTBF, failure modes FMECA
• Designing range boosters for low cost 900 MHz/2.4 GHz links
• 1 W TX amps, RX LNA, bandpass/harmonic filters, antenna switches
• improved efficiency antenna, shielding
• FCC prequalification testing, ISM band
• Design sub-millmeter microwave positioning, robot assisted surgery system
• 1 us real-time sample rate, multichannel, multi-antenna
• Design, system test, RF position-locating consumer product
• Develop system and subsystem designs for XM Satellite Radio (Worldspace)
• Design 20/30 GHz antenna, and low cost Astrolink satcom terminal
• Redesign military radar warning receiver to reduce cost by 70%
• Design and test 1 watt transmitter for a shopping cart-handle info system
• Develop, field test wireless underground tank level sensor system
• Solved interference, dynamic range issues, FM broadcast band audio stereo link for backseat DVD players
• Develop ultra-low phase noise frequency synthesizers and sources
• Missile radar to -135 dBc/Hz at 10kHz offset, Xband, millimeter
• QAM communication systems, Xband
• ATE test equipment, 0.01 to 6 GHz
• EW/ECM, ultra broadband, fast tuning
• Develop frequency hopping low integrated phase noise synthesizers
• reduced cost by 3x in manportable application
• Numerous PLL, DDS, and Direct Synthesizer frequency source designs
• FSK military communications exciter, 70% cost reduction achieved
• FCC type acceptance support.  FCC, EU, International regulatory studies
• Unique oscillator designs, XTAL, SAW, VCO, GUNN, IMPATT
• Phase Noise optimized
• PIN Diode based switch matrix, distribution systems
• Ultrabroadband, high isolation, low loss
• Switched filter, amplifier, detector, level control
• High power
• Filter designs
• Suspended substrate multiplexers, diplexer, quintaplexer
• Bandpass, stopband, lowpass, highpass, equalizer, linear phase
• Absorptive 2 KW lowpass
• Frequency Multipliers, Varactor, FET, Schottky to 94 GHz
• QAM transmitters, IF predistorters
• Manufacturing support, Radar, ECM, Communications, Industrial products
• Able to propose numerous and innovative solutions to tough problems
• Failure analysis, corrective action, ECO control
• Technician and Engineering in-house training courses
• Provide local system support to fix Pacific rim production problems
• Thorough understanding of component qualification, hybrid assembly techniques, metallurgy and processes, RF testing, yield improvement, environmental and qualification testing issue
• System analysis: Link budgets, sneak path, spurious, frequency planning, cascade noise figure/intermods, reliability, failure modes FMECA
• Unique ability to blend off the shelf components with crafty system design to achieve state of spectacular performance
• High Power Microwave Retort design
• Low Cost Guided Wave Radar for liquid level measuring

Management Capabilities

• Project Management
• System Design
• Team Building
• Design Reviews
• Proposals
• Customer Meetings
• Early stage company "Virtual" Engineering Manager
• Design to cost
• Proven record of manufacturing cost reductions for legacy production
• 31 Years microwave experience
  

Engineering/Management experience

FOUNDER & OWNER, Maguffin Microwave LLC
Design, development, test, and manufacturing for a variety of components and systems with a focus on Microwave and RF.  Long history of cost effectively solving problems in existing designs.

VP of ENGINEERING, Stanford Telecom
Designed, developed, and manufactured a wide range of commercial communications and military subsystems. XM satellite radio system and components, Rockwell Scamp spread spectrum communications system, Astrolink satellite, and various synthesizers and communications components.

RF ENGINEERING MANAGER, Advanced Techcom
Engineering manager for a wireless telecom backhaul hardware provider.  Performed link budget analysis for microwave backhaul applications.  Developed complete RF outdoor unit designs, FCC and international qualification. Designs spanned 6 to 38 GHz, FSK and QAM.  

RECEIVERS & SOURCES GROUP LEADER, Raytheon Company, Missile Systems Div.
Led engineers developing state of the art microwave and millimeter wave military missile radar systems and components. Receiver and Exciter for 30 GHz AAAM missile radar. 90 GHz Receiver and Transmitter for munitions round (BAT), microwave exciter for the PAC-3 Patriot missile, telemetry links, Brilliant pebbles space comm system design, R&D project management. 

CONTROL COMPONENTS ENGINEERING MANAGER, Raytheon Company, SMDO
Led development of over 20 signal distribution/PIN Diode switching components, microwave radar exciter for the JSTARS radar system prototypes, proposal efforts for microwave multifunction modules.

MANUFACTURING TEST MANAGER, Raytheon Company, SMDO
Led manufacturing engineers, foremen, and 65 unionized test technicians for missile radar, electronic countermeasures, and communications military sub-systems. 

ENGINEERING MANAGER, Wincom Corp.
Developed high power microwave filters, high power PIN diode switches, and ultra low-loss multiplexer filters.  Led all engineering and efforts through an Initial Public Offering.

SUBSYSTEMS MANAGER, Frequency Sources
Developed DRO oscillators and microwave frequency synthesizers.  

RESEARCH STAFF MEMBER, MIT Lincoln Lab
R&D for microwave satellite communications, millimeter wave frequency multiplier chains, phase modulators, and frequency synthesizers. 

TEST ENGINEER, General Electric Co, Semiconductor Products Division
Developed automated test protocols for silicon transistor product line.

Education:
MASTER OF ENGINEERING, Cornell University
Studied communications systems and microwave engineering.

BS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Research assistant on TOKOMAK project.  Analog, RF, and control theory. 

Continuing education: microwave circuit design, LAN/WAN data networking, project management, SMT circuit assembly, and microwave CAD training.

Raytheon Engineering Management Program. 
Diversity training at MIT and Raytheon.

Taught in-house microwave circuit design courses at MIT Lincoln Lab, Frequency Sources Inc., and Advanced Techcom.

Former IEEE Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology chapter leader.

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