Technologist of the Year: Markus Loose
Markus Loose is recognized for inventing and leading the successful development and space qualification of the SIDECAR ASIC chip as well as other key focal plane array components. Originally developed for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the SIDECAR ASIC replaces discrete imaging camera electronics with a single chip that has become the new standard for space-based focal plane electronics. Markus' contributions included the original design of the SIDECAR ASIC, packaging and space qualification, development of the flight assembly code, and in the last 12 months, the demonstration of all critical performance requirements in a flight-like environment.

In January of 2007, NASA granted TLR-6 status to the SIDECAR ASIC, the highest technology readiness level achievable before flight. Also in 2007, Markus convinced the Hubble Space Telescope management team to use the SIDECAR ASIC for repairing the broken Advanced Camera for Survey’s (ACS) camera electronics as part of an upcoming service mission. As a member of the NASA ACS repair team, Markus developed the operational concept, led the effort of integrating the ASIC into the new electronics boards, and demonstrated, for the first time, the successful operation of a CCD using the SIDECAR ASIC. Because of the increased capabilities combined with the lower power and lower volume of the SIDECAR ASIC, ACS will not only be repaired but may also perform better than ever before. The project has passed its critical design review, with a scheduled shuttle launch in August 2008 (HST Servicing Mission 4). For these accomplishments, Markus received NASA’s JWST Significant Achievement Award.

The success of the SIDECAR ASIC and other camera readout products developed through Markus’ efforts positions TIS for major roles in many future space imaging systems.

Technologist of the Year: David Marshall
David Marshall is recognized for his contributions and leadership in the field of ceramic matrix composite materials for applications in extreme environments. 2007 was a critical year in demonstrating the maturity of this long-term materials development thrust, initiated with David’s leadership in the early1990s. David’s efforts have been crucial to securing major long-term R&D support for TS&I, and to enabling a potential niche business for Teledyne.

Recent demonstrations of integral textile ceramic heat exchangers have clearly validated the readiness of this new technology for commercial and military applications. These milestones included long duration tests of nozzle liners for conventional rocket engines, high heat flux tests of heat exchangers for hypersonic vehicles, and fabrication demonstrations for the complete set of features needed to meet the difficult design challenges of turbine engine combustor liners. David’s personal contributions to this field include design and realization of novel 3D fiber architectures meeting complex and simultaneous geometrical, structural, and thermal constraints. David's innovations in ceramic processing science led to the achievement of mechanically robust, and environmentally stable ceramic composite matrices with tailored porosity for efficient transpiration cooling.

These demonstrations have caught the attention of both government systems designers and numerous companies engaged in engine or component production. In recognition of his major contributions to the field of structural ceramics and composites, David was elected in 2007 to the National Academy of Engineering.

Team of the Year: MicroCam Team
The MicroCam team is recognized for developing, evolving, and sustaining a profitable camera product for TIS. The primary application of this product has been for use in emission microscopes that are used to perform diagnostics of and locate defects in semiconductor circuits for chip manufacturers and failure analysis laboratories. Initial camera products were based on HgCdTe focal plane arrays. Responding to a market preference for InGaAs detectors, TIS shipped its first InGaAs MicroCam in August 2005. In 2006, TIS was challenged by a new customer, Credence Systems, to deliver both InGaAs and HgCdTe MicroCams at a much compressed schedule. The MicroCam team rose to the challenge and increased throughput from 1 camera per quarter to 1 every two weeks, securing Credence as a customer.

In 2007, the team expanded our product offering by developing a high resolution (1K x 1K) InGaAs MicroCam and a new “inverted dewar” configuration. Three 1K x 1K camera units have been shipped to Credence and inverted dewar cameras will begin shipping in 2008. Since May 2006, TIS has booked >$7M of orders from Credence and shipped 40 MicroCams to date with high profit margins.

Operations Excellence: Cash Management Team
The “Cash Management Team,” is recognized with TS&I’s Operational Excellence Award for outstanding improvements to TS&I’s financial performance. In 2007 the team was challenged to improve several TS&I financial metrics including Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), Managed Working Capital turnover (MWC) and Accounts Receivable and Inventory divided by Sales (ARIS). ARIS is the metric which Corporate uses to measure our management of assets and it is a component of TS&I’s AIP and Results Sharing.

Through various actions and changes to business processes throughout the company, and with the cooperation of the Technical Divisions, Contracts, Purchasing and other business operations personnel, the team was able to achieve remarkable results. The improvement in ARIS from 23.9% to 20.1% significantly surpassed our metric. DSO was reduced by 43%. Finally, average MWC as a percentage of sales beat our plan by 29%. These improvements in company operations will have a sustained impact on our performance.

Operations Excellence Team members in alphabetical order are: Neelam Duggal, Lynne Lovasco, Jack Robinson, Suzanne Scott, Jenny Wang, and Yvonne Williams.

Technology Partner of the Year: Professor Mark Rodwell
OceanScience Group, a world leader in high quality and innovative oceanographic equipment and buoys, is recognized for their critical role in the success of TS&I’s Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting DARPA contract. The objective was to demonstrate a wave energy harvesting technology to generate 3-20 watts of power in a wide range of sea conditions. Because of its commercial potential and high visibility (both at DARPA and Teledyne), this was one of the most critical programs for TS&I in 2007. This program had an extraordinarily aggressive 9-month schedule with a major field validation test at Monterey Bay, scheduled for 5 months after program start.

OceanScience Group had full responsibility for mechanical and electrical design of the buoy, generators, and all associated data acquisition hardware. OceanScience went well above and beyond the call of duty to ensure program success, designing and building a 3-watt demonstration device for sea test in just 10 days. Preparation for the 20-watt buoy that was the main DARPA deliverable was valiantly performed against the backdrop of the 2007 San Diego County wildfires. In addition, OceanScience trained and sent staff to Monterey on extremely short notice in place of the Teledyne Program Manager who could not attend because of the wildfire threat. With the DARPA program concluded successfully, Teledyne now has the opportunity to exploit the technology for its product potential. None of this would have been possible without the contribution and dedication of OceanScience Group.