Mavretič, Anton

Anton Mavretič je bil rojen 11. decembra 1934 na Boldražu pri Metliki v Beli krajini. Osnovno šolo je obiskoval v Metliki in nekaj časa v Ljubljani, srednjo pa v Ljubljani. Obiskoval je Srednjo tehnično šolo, oddelek za elektrotehniko, in opravil zaključni izpit 1953. Na Fakulteto za elektrotehniko Univerze v Ljubljani se je vpisal 1954 in študiral do jeseni 1957. Tega leta se je odzval povabilu strica v ZDA in z redno vizo odpotoval ter študij nadaljeval na Univerzi v Denverju. Tu je jeseni 1958 pridobil naziv bakalavra (Bachelor of Science, B. Sc.) in magistrski naziv(M. Sc,) junija 1961.
Po študiju v Denverju, ZDA, se je vrnil v Slovenijo in odslužil redni vojaški rok v Aleksincu v Srbiji. Jeseni 1962 je ponovno odšel v ZDA in se vpisal na doktorski študij na Syracuse University v New Yorku, kjer je v letu in pol opravil vse kvalifikacijske izpite. Takrat je prejel obvestilo jugoslovanskega veleposlaništva, da se mora vrniti v Jugoslavijo, ker bi mu v nasprotnem primeru potekel potni list. Zaradi tega je prekinil študij in se za dve leti zaposlil pri firmi Westinghouse v Pittsburghu, Pennsylvania, kar mu je omogočilo, da je ostal v ZDA. Pri Westinghousu je sodeloval pri razvojnih projektih za implementacijo njihovega patenta za eno-žarkovno podajanje slike pri barvni televiziji.
Jeseni 1965 je na Pennsylvania State University nadaljeval doktorski študij in decembra leta 1968 pridobil doktorski naziv (Ph. D.). Takoj se je zaposlil na M. I. T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge, MA. Tu je raziskovalno razvojno deloval 10 let, v centru za raziskave vesolja (Center for Space Research). Na Harvard University, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Observatory, Cambridge, MA, se je zaposlil septembra 1978 in ostal dve leti, ko se je jeseni leta 1980 zaposlil kot profesor na oddelku za elektrotehniko in računalništvo, Boston University, Boston, MA. Tu je deloval 15 let. Po upokojitvi 1995 se je zaposlil v elektronski industriji, kjer je deloval do 2003. Od 2003 do 2004 je bil svetovalec pri Princeton Power Systems v New Jerseyu. V tem letu je začel s samostojnim svetovanjem v polprevodniški industriji in skoraj dve leti deloval v New Yorku kot svetovalec pri podjetju Veeco, ki je specializirano in znano po ionskih izvorih (Ion Sources) za naparevanje materialov pri izdelavi računalniških pomnilnih ploščkov (Hard Drives).
Na povabilo se je 2005 vrnil na univerzo v Bostonu, Oddelek za Astronomijo, Center za fiziko vesolja. Njegov kolega dr. Theodore Fritz, učenec prof. dr. Van Allena, ki je odkril in poimenoval Van Allenove pasove, zunanjega dela zemljine atmosfere, je dobil velik projekt Obrambnih zračnih sil ZDA, vreden več kot 4 milijone ameriških dolarjev. Raziskave projekta so usmerjene v razvoj in izdelavo naprave za merjenje visokoenergijskih delcev v Van Allenovih pasovih na oddaljenosti od zemlje od 6 000 do 12 000 km. Visokoenergijski delci (do 1 MeV) so ujeti v teh pasovih pod vplivam zemljinega magnetnega polja (okoli 2 Gaussa). Ti delci so problematični in nevarni za potnike v vesolju, na primer na potovanju do drugih planetov. Projekt (Loss Cone Imager, LCI) je namenjen tudi razumevanju fizike pojavov v Van Allenovih obročih in možnosti za kratkotrajno odmaknitev delcev v času, ko vesoljsko plovilo prehaja skozi prostor z visokoenergijskimi delci. Izkušnje in znanje dr. Antona Mavretiča iz prejšnjih podobnih raziskav in projekta za NASA, na primer Voyagerjevi projekti, ko je deloval na M. I. T. v povezavi z Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, so dobra osnova, na kateri bodo izvajali najnovejše razvojne raziskave. Dr. Mavretič je na M. I. T. razvijal merilnike plazme za Voyagerjeve misije in med- planetarne merilne sisteme (Interplanetary Measuring Platform-IMP) in na Harvard University, Centru za astrofiziko. V 90. letih je deloval na projektih NASA z imenom Wind Mission, kar je tudi nadaljeval kot profesor na Univerzi v Bostonu.
V času dela na LCI projektu je v njegovem laboratoriju od 2005 do 2011 doktoriralo pet kandidatov in magistriralo 12 študentov. Projekt je v zaključni fazi in pričakovati je, da bo satelit z izdelano merilno opremo, ki ustreza najstrožjim vojaškim standardom in zahtevam (temperatura v vesolju, brezzračni prostor…) utirjen v letu 2012. Ustrezna testiranja so že v teku. Glede na ustaljena pravila bo po določenem času in utirjanju satelita možno in dovoljeno objavljanje izsledkov.
Omeniti velja, da je bil prof. Mavretič po upokojitvi podpredsednik podjetja RF Power Products v New Jerseyu in je deloval tudi kot glavni inženir. V tem času je bil mentor mnogim raziskovalcem in razvijalcem, hkrati pa deloval kot svetovalec pri različnih podjetjih, najdlje pri podjetju Veeco v New Yorku. V tem času je na povabilo opravljal tudi dela sodnega izvedenca na področju patentnih sporov in pri arbitražah.
Zelo uspešno je deloval tudi kot predavatelj tako na akademskem, kongresnem področju kot tudi v različnih združenjih. Že 12 let je član Slovenskega svetovnega kongresa (SSK). Izkazal se je tudi na področju promocije znanosti v Sloveniji, imel je na primer vrsto predavanj na različnih šolah v okrožju Metlike in Novega Mesta in bil 2010 imenovan za častnega občana Metlike.
Raziskovalno in razvojno delovanje prof. dr. Antona Mavretiča je odlikovano z mnogimi zelo vidnimi publikacijami v znanih revijah, strokovnimi dosežki in več patenti. V času delovanja pri podjetju Advenced Energy Industries je prijavil patente, ki so uporabljeni v tehnologiji izdelave polprevodnikov. Izstopajo štirje patenti, ki zadevajo elektronsko usklajevanje povezav brez gibljivih delov za frekvenčno področje 10 do 60 MHz in moči do 5 kW, procesno optimizacijo RF oddajnih sistemov, izboljšave in algoritme za elektronsko usklajevanje povezav in elektronsko tehtalno napravo za Corporacijo Avitar.
Za dopisnega člana SAZU je bil izvoljen 1. junija 2007.

(junij 2011)

He came to USA upon the invitation of his uncle who lived in Denver, Colorado. He went to study to America on a regular visa in the fall of 1957. Started to continue his studies at the University of Denver in the spring of 1958. Finished his B.S. degree in December 1959. Continued the studies at the Univ. of Denver in the MS program. Graduated with MS in June 1961.

After the graduation from DU he returned back to Slovenia and served the mandatory military service in Aleksinac, Serbia. After the service went back to USA in the fall of 1962 to Syracuse University, New York where he entered the graduate school to pursue the Ph.D. degree. Passed all the qualification exams. After one year and half at S.U. the Yugoslavian consulate in New York asked him to return back to Slovenia. They did not want to extend his passport!. He stopped his studies at SU and went to work for Westinghouse Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There he worked on a special project called a single electron gun color TV. Stayed there for two years.
In the fall of 1965 went to Pennsylvania State University to continue his Ph.D. studies. Finished his Ph.D. degree in September 1968. In November 1968 went to work to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Center for Space Research. Work there for 10 years.

In September 1978 went to work to Harvard University, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Observatory, Cambridge MA. Stayed there for two years. Leaves Harvard University in the fall of 1980 and becomes professor at Boston University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Stays at that department for 15 years. Retires from B.U. in 1995 and accepts the job in industry. In the electronics industry he works from 1995 to 2003.
From 2003 to 2005 consults again in the Semiconductor industry. Spends almost two years consulting at Veeco Corporation on Long Island, NY. The company designs and sells Ion Sources for the semiconductor industry.

The Latest Work.
In 2005 he was called back to Boston University to Astronomy Department, Center for Space Physics. His colleague Dr. Theodore Fritz obtained a substantial grant from US government, Air force, in the range of $ 4 Million to design the instrument to measure the highly energetic particles in the Van Allen Belts region (6 000km to 12 000 km). This trapped energy is held by the earth magnetic field. It is utmost important to understand that region if the mankind will travel to other planets in the future. A passage through that region of heavy radiation is inevitable. His experience on previous NASA missions such as Voyager I and II missions was a plus for this new mission. Previously he designed the plasma measurement instruments while at MIT for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA missions to the outer planets. He also designed, at MIT, for the Interplanetary Measuring Platform (IMP), the Explorer sequence of missions, and the NASA’s Wind experiment. All those large and lengthy projects, he accomplished previously, before coming back to BU became very important experiences he brought to the Astronomy Department and the Center for Space Physics at Boston University.
At his present work at Boston University, Center for Space Physics he is an Associate at Center for Space Physics, and Project engineer on the LCI experiment (Loss Cone Imager). The Loss Cone for the energetic particles is formed by the interaction of energetic particles with the magnetic field of the earth. Here he supervises five Ph.D. candidates and 12 MS candidates and eight upper class undergraduate students working on the project. He is writing progress reports and discussions with the granting agency, Attending all scientific and engineering meeting on the space craft. This work will continue until 2012 when the satellite will be put into the orbit. Most of the publications will come at about that time. The students working on the project will get their thesis done and receive the degrees before the mission will be completed.
At Advanced Energy Corp. he held a position of Vice President and Technical Fellow. There were only two such positions at the company that had about 300 million dollars of annual budget. At this company he held many seminars and wrote again numerous internal technical write-ups about technical subject that company had most difficulty. Such write- ups were then presented to the R&D vice president and technical staff engineers. As a fellow one plays the role of technical problem solver for the whole company. Sometimes he participated at the arbitration of patent infringement by opposing company. This work was taking place from 1998 to 2003 in Voorhees N.J.

From 2003 to 2004 he was consultant to Princeton Power Systems, Princeton, NJ. Here he was analyzing the control loop complexities of a power converter for the US Navy applications. Those power converters work on a patented principle where the DC power is converted to a variable AC power source so that regular AC motors could have speed control. This system may eliminate heavy metallic gear boxes between the propeller and the power train.

In 1995 he retired from Boston University and went to private industry in the semiconductor sector. He became a Vice president and Chief Technical Officer at Radio Frequency Power Products. The company was designing sophisticated computer driven generators at a frequency from 10 MHz to 120 MHz and at power levels from 600W to 30kW for driving the plasma chambers in the semiconductor industry. As a chief technologist he was suggesting brand new ideas and approaches to the solutions of radio frequency generators that are used to drive, with super precision, the plasma chambers. Inside the chambers are typical semiconductor wafers loaded with expensive chip designs. RF generators must work 24 per day with great reliability and precision.

Patents:
Here at AEI he invented several new electronics process control techniques that are presently in use at Advanced Energy Industries. The patents were assigned to AEI. The fallowing US patents were his inventions.
Patent No.5,654,679, dated 5.8.1997. “Electronics matching network with no moving parts at frequencies from 10MHz to 60 MHz, .and power levels to5kW”.
Patent No.6,046,594, dated 4.4.2000. ”Process optimization with RF delivery system.”
Patent No. 6,424232 B1, dated 23.7.2002. “ Improvements and the algorithms for electronic matching network”.
Patent No. 4,350,216 dated 9.21, 1982, “Electronic weighing device”. Patent assigned to Avitar corporation.

Latest Publications:
A High Sensitivity Telescope for Measurements of Energetic Particles in the Earth’s radiation Belts”, C.W. Parker, J.D. Sullivan,J. Coombs,D.L. Voss, D.B. Carssow, A. Mavretic, T.A. Fritz, J.A. Finnelly, Proceedings of S.P.I.E. 7438-28, 2009.
“Design of a Mechanical Housing for the LCI Energetic Particle Instrumentation Package in a Medium Erath Orbit”, J.Coombs,D.L. Voss,C.W.Parker, T.A. Fritz,A. Mavretic, J.D. Sullivan, J.A. Finnelly, Proceedings of S.P.I.E. 7438- 26, 2009..
“Overview of the Demonstration and Science Experiments Loss Cone Imagining Fixed Sensor Head Instrument”, D.L. Voss, A. Gunda,D.B. Carssow, T.A. Fritz,A. Mavretic, J.A. Finnelly, Proceedings of S.P.I.E. 7438-25, 2009.
“Loss Cone Imager Digital system Design”, D.B. Carssow, J.D. Sullivan, D.L.Voss,C.W. Parker, A. Mavretic, T.A. Fritz, A.E. Hubbard, J.A. Finnelly. Proceedings of S.P.I.E.7438-27, 2009.
“Overview of GSE as a Multifunctional GUI”, B. Kurtovich, F. Malangone, D.L. Voss, D.B. Carssow, T.A. Fritz, A. Mavretic, Proceedings of S.P.I.E. 7438-29, 2009.
“Voyager, IMP, Wind and DSX Missions”. A. Mavretic. Slovenia and Space Workshop, Editors: A. Gomboc and T. Zwitter, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, 69-73, 2009.
“CUBESATS” , David L. Voss, A. Mavretic, Slovenia and Space Workshop, Editors A. Gomboc, T. Zwitter, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, 31-34, 2009.
“Designing Inductors for Frequency Dependent Q-Factor”. M. Jenko, A. Mavretic,
Journal of Microelctronics, Electronics Components and Materials, 34, No.2 June 2004, page 83-87. Indexed by ISI, Research Alert.
“Optimal Dimensioning of Components for High Voltage Feedthrough”. M.Jenko, A. Mavretic, Journal of Microelectronics, Electronic Components and Materials, 34, No.3, Sept.2004, page 155 - 159. Indexed by ISI, Research Alert.
BOOK CHAPTER:
“VLSI HANDBOOK” Edited by J. DiGiacomo, Chapter 24, “Analog Circuits,” by Anton Mavretic, 29.03 to 29.30, McGraw-Hill Book Publishing, 1989.

(January 2011)