Bell Labs DSP Pioneer Jim Boddie Leaves Lasting Legacy

James R. Jim BodyA pioneer in a single -segment that can be programmed Digital signal processorHe died on December 2 at his home in Canton, Georgia, after a long illness. IEEE member was a large 74.
While working as an architect and designed in AT & T Bell Labs In Holmell, New Jersey, Body applied his experience in Signaling Algorithms To develop a new type of semiconductor: DSP. The integrated circle, which Bell laboratory It is called DSP1, announced in 1980 International solid status circles conference ((ISSCC). DSP1 has become one of the first successful DSPS in this field.
Jim led the development of five generations of DSP, which economically provides many applications, and many of them for the first time, from AT & T giant phone exchange systems to small digital Hearing devices.
For his contributions as captain of the team as well as his technical innovations, Jim was raised to Bell laboratory peer. In 1988, a senior member of IEEE Richard A. PedersenAnd it receives the development of a DSP code IEEE LIEBMANN Award.
The first digital signal processor
Jim was born in Talasi, a small city in Alabama. He got a bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering In 1971 from Oborn UniversityIn Alabama. After obtaining a master’s degree in EE two years after Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyHe returned to Oborn to follow his doctorate in 1976, obtained a doctorate and began a year post Fellowship in the Bell Labs audio research department in Holmell.
There he programmed the DSP system the size of the refrigerator to remove the words in actual time and eliminate echoes in the loudspeakers in the conference room.
During his fellowship, Iee Life Fellow met Dan StanisThe BELL LALS Group collection recruited to join the company’s first DSP design team in 1977. The oral history project for the Computer History Museum His first meeting with Jim was “a lucky day for me.” Jim arrived during the Bell Labs days, when the algorithms, semiconductor experts and system designers worked in one company, often in the hall of each other.
Before 1980, most signal processing applications were implemented with representative components. Advanced algorithms such as low -supporting speech coding and Learn about speech The health of the digital field has been validated using The super computer The simulation was very complex so that it could not be implemented with representative designs. On the contrary, digital designs used ingredients that exceed commercial feasibility. The dream of an inexpensive and high -performance digital signal processor seemed far away, as the DSP structure will not work on all algorithms. So Texas tools Similar companies to comprehensive digital building blocks such as complications and file registration were sold.
Stanza’s goal was to create a widely applicable DSP that can replace analog filter designs for his ministry. In a timely manner, the team entered a specific liquidation app: DTMF (multi -frequency with dual tone), which decomposes the phone connection tones in the phone in the call number to direct calls. It will be published by new digital systems in sufficient size to justify the cost of DSP development.
The team assembled the filters and found that through a smart structure, increased semiconductor 4.5 microns, the performance requirements can meet. Other relevant applications will be ice on the cake.
Jim made critical contributions to DSP1. Among them was the design of the new account unit.
After announcing DSP1 in 1980, it was not a commercial available outside AT & T. It has achieved a great production in AT & T systems.
Jim was upgraded to the director of the DSP Architecture team in 1980 to determine the direction of subsequent versions.
Commander and businessman
Soon DSP1 DSP2 followed, with faster performance and larger memory capacity to meet large size demand and increase the range of applications that can use technology.
Parallel to the development of DSP2, driving Jim new structure, DSP32, which used the floating separator account. to Digital signal processingThe floating point account extends the task of maintaining accuracy, which is a semi -deserved burden in the most demanding algorithms.
Jim and his team announced the DSP32 in the 1985 ISSCC Document, which won the Best Paper Award.
After that, his team returned to the drawing board and developed the DSP16, which used the fixed point account. DSP16 was announced in 1987, DSP16 became the fastest DSP in the world, a title kept for several years.
In 1998, Jim left AT & T and helped find Starcore, a DSP design center in Atlanta. It was funded by Agere systemsThat gained Bill Labs Small electronics; Motorola; And then, Infineon. The startups have received exclusive rights to integrate the Starcore DSP designs into their IC products. Jim held the position of CEO of Starcore until his retirement in 2006.
Starcore structure has used a long educational word structure coding multiple and independent processes in one instructions in order to take advantage of the parallel in the DSP code.
In 2002, after the issuance of the first Starcor designs, Will Strauss, head of the Market Research Company, said, “The new company’s business model and global technology shows are a major change in The landscape in the industry“
Life after DSP
Jim was early for home computers, as he bought almost every model apple Separate. along with Midi keyboardUse computers to synthesize music as well as flight simulation games. It was thirsty birds, not only from simulation devices but also for private aircraft.
It was dedicated Pork radio Call Sign Ng2j – Participated in the competitions. It was his favorite field day. The annual weekend event in June Pork radio Lovers all over the world to work in remote locations to simulate emergency conditions and exchange simulation emergency messages.
After retirement, programming Jim A. The 3D virtual round in AlamoA historical site in San Antonio. The program allows users to display the previous Spanish mission from any direction in both the present and the past. The tour, which was launched in 2022, is available in Alamo And on the Internet.
Today, digital signals are widespread. Support of algorithms and applications is a basic requirement for almost all of the programmers Semiconductor. Jim’s contributions to DSP technology will be remembered. On an equal footing, we and hundreds of others will remember Jim because of his generous guidance and clear vision.
From your site articles
Related articles about the web