`
`Ralph V. Wilhelm, Jr.
`Ph.D.
`Curriculum Vitae
`
`
`Professional Summary
`
`
`
`Dr. Wilhelm has over forty-three years of industry experience in the automotive industry beginning
`his career at General Motors Research Laboratory, eventually holding positions of increasing
`responsibility with Delphi Delco Electronics Corporation, and currently running an automotive
`electronics consultancy. Dr. Wilhelm is familiar with automotive electronic component technology
`and the supply-line management required not only producing suitable automotive components, but
`supervising the R&D, advanced engineering, forward technology development, sales, and product
`line management process from automotive suppliers to OEM vehicle manufacturer. He has worked in
`various technical and leadership roles to develop new products and complex systems from invention
`to production using both internal invention/development and external partnerships to achieve world-
`class automotive electronic systems worldwide. In 2001, Dr. Wilhelm founded and established an
`automotive electronics consultancy focused both on automotive electronics suppliers doing business
`in North America and also support for intellectual property litigation as an expert witness.
`
`His firm, Wilhelm Associates (www.wilhelmassoc.com) has supported suppliers whose “home”
`countries have included Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea, Canada, United States, Germany, and France
`as they do business in North America.
`
`
`Expert Witness Summary:
`
`Recent Expert Witness work has included:
`
`
` Litigation areas such as:
`o Expert witness reports for invalidity, non-infringement, and obviousness
`o Claim Construction and Markman hearings
`o Reviewing and searching for appropriate prior art
`o
`IPR documentation (Petitions & Declarations)
`o Depositions
`
`
`
` Technical Automotive Areas such as:
`o
`Instrument Clusters
`o Automotive primary and secondary displays
`o Center Stack Displays and subassemblies
`o Human Factor Design and guidelines
`o Automotive User Interfaces
`o Automotive sensors & transducers
`o Vehicle Telematics
`o
`Infotainment systems
`o GPS Systems
`o On-board & Off-Board diagnostics and prognostics
`o Complex safety systems
`o Automotive Cameras & multi-camera vision systems
`
`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`SL-1020
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`Expertise
`
`Advanced Mobile Multi Media
`Automotive Systems
`
`Automotive Electrical & Electronic
`Systems
`
`Automotive ADAS & Safety
`Systems
`
`Design, Manufacturing &
`Distribution of Automotive
`Components
`
`Electric Vehicle components and
`systems
`
`Expert Witness in Automotive
`Electronics
`
`Human Machine Interface issues (HMI) for Automotive
`Electronics, displays, and Touch, Appearance, Lighting
`(TAL) devices
`
`Display Technology for Automotive Applications
`
`Integrated Circuits for Automotive Applications
`
`Navigation & Real Time Traffic Automotive applications
`
`Telematics and TSPs (call centers)
`
`Component and Sub-system development
`
`Education
`
`Year
`1985
`1987
`1972
`1967
`
`College or University
`University of Illinois
`University of Michigan
`Rutgers University
`Cornell University
`
`Degree
`Executive Management Program
`MBA, Operations & Strategy
`Ph.D., Material Science/Ceramic Engineering
`B.S. (Electrical Engineering)
`
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`Professional Experience
`
`2001
`From:
`Present
`To:
`Organization: Wilhelm Associates, LLC
`Title:
`President/Founder
`Summary:
`Consulting firm concentrating in automotive electronics, telematics, infotainment,
`safety systems, systems engineering, and data communications between systems
`and devices, product/market & international business strategies
` Developing and using methodologies for market assessment,
`requirements definition, product design, strategy, and
`implementation
` Firm includes five part-time highly experienced Senior
`Associates plus other individuals as needed to support
`customers as needed
` Diverse client base: Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean,
`French, German, Canadian, & US based
` Expert Witness in Automotive Electronics
`
`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`
`From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
`Summary:
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`
`From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
`
`Summary:
`
`1997
`2001
`Delphi Delco Electronics Corporation
`Product Line Mgr., Mobile Multi Media NA
`Responsible for all deliverables for product line: strategy, tactics, technology
`planning, design, manufacturing, sales and delivery of product to OEM customers
` Responsible for revenue, cost management, profit margin and on-time
`delivery of products within budget and at required quality
` Won $2.2 Billion revenue new business over 18 months, across
`three major product lines and five Vehicle OEMs
` Customers headquartered in Japan, Europe and North America,
`including GM, Ford, Toyota (Lexus), and Honda (Acura)
` Typical programs done on commercial development cycle of 6
`to 15 months from specification to start of production
`
`1994
`1997
`Delco Electronics Corp (living in Singapore)
`VP Engineering, Delco Electronics Asia/Pacific
`
`Responsible for all application & design center engineering in seven Asian
`countries to support worldwide customers.
` Responsible for deliverables for all Asia/Pacific customers
`worldwide
` Charged with growing employee skill sets available near A/P
`customer locations to meet their worldwide requirements
` Revenue grew at 30 to 40% CAGR with revenue at $250
`Million in 1996 across 6 product lines, 8 customers, and OEMs
`in six countries
`
`
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
` From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
`
`Summary:
`
`
`
`From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
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`Summary:
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`From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
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`Summary:
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`1989
`1994
`Delco Electronics Corporation
`Director, Advanced Development & Systems Integration (AD/SI)
`
`Responsible for creating & leading AD/SI staff, aimed at all R&D and product
`development for $5 Billion automotive electronics business worldwide.
` AD/SI grew to 7 departments covering integrated circuit
`development & fabrication through automotive safety,
`infotainment, and communication products/systems
` Budget in 1994 of $50 Million with over 450 technical
`personnel worldwide
` New products/systems in that period included: forward looking
`radar, obstacle detection, solid state YAW sensors, advanced
`airbag electronics & sensors, head up displays, RDS audio for
`North America, infrared based night vision, and telematics
`systems.
`
`1984
`1989
`Delco Electronics Corporation
`Dept. Head, Advanced Instrumentation & Display
`
`Responsible for leading an Advanced Engineering Department focused on
`developing new & creative uses of instrument cluster displays and center stack
`display assemblies.
` Significant developments included numerous head up displays
`(HUDs) that included the world’s first commercial factory
`installed HUD for a production vehicle (1989).
` Other technology and advanced product areas included three
`dimensional instrument clusters, full instrument clusters made
`totally of plastic LCDs, and the first production CRT installed in
`a North American factory installed vehicle.
`
`
`1978
`1984
`AC Spark Plug Division of General Motors
`Supervisor & Department Head, Materials Development
`
`Responsible for staffing and leading a technical department that created and
`produced world class coatings and processes for catalytic converters, exhaust
`oxygen sensors (EOS), and various metallic substrates for catalysis.
` Coating development done with physical vapor deposition
`(PVD) resulted in three unique patents for precious metal
`coatings, driving unique and market-leading EOS performance
`in the automotive market for closed loop emission control in NA
` Lead team to scale-up production for thin film sputtering
`process for EOS sensor coatings
`
`
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`From:
`To:
`Organization:
`Title:
`Summary:
`
`1971
`1978
`General Motors Research Labs (GMR)
`Senior Research Scientist
`Participated in research and development targeted at a variety of electronic
`sensors, transducers, coatings, and smart sensors that included integrated silicon
`devices for signal processing.
` Effort in the laboratory focused on bulk, thick film, and thin
`film devices to sense various operating parameters that were of
`importance in the monitoring & control of internal combustion
`engines, e.g. temperature, humidity, fuel flow, oxygen partial
`pressure, etc.
` Basic modeling and process development done at GMR on
`sputtered platinum/palladium thin film electrodes resulted in
`materials and process being transferred to GM operating
`division for successful product launch across all GM vehicles.
`
`
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`U.S. Patents Granted:
`
`Exhaust Electrode Process for Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor
`Title:
`Patent Number: 4,244,798
`Publication date: January 13, 1981
`Inventors:
`Terry J. Gold, Frederick L. Kennard III, Paul C. Kikuchi, Ralph V. Wilhelm, Jr.
`
`Summary:
`
`A method of sputtering a platinum exhaust gas electrode onto a vitrified zirconia
`thimble for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Porous high surface
`area platinum films are deposited that have more consistent properties. A platinum
`target is spaced about 3.0-4.5 cm from the thimble and more than 6 cm from the
`sputtering anode. A pressure of about 10-20 millitorr is used during sputtering at a
`DC power of about 13-22 watts/cm2 of target area.
`
`
`
`
`Summary:
`
`Exhaust Sputtering Process for Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor
`Title:
`Patent Number: 4,253,931
`Publication date: March 3, 1981
`Inventors:
`Terry J. Gold, Kurt D. Humphrey, Keith A. Penney, Robert J. Smith, Randy L.
`Voto, Ralph V. Wilhelm, Jr.
`
` A method of sputtering platinum onto a vitrified zirconia thimble to form an exhaust
`electrode for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The electrode is
`sputtered under an atmosphere consisting essentially of more than about 50% oxygen
`and/or nitrogen by volume. Sensors having low symmetrical transition times are
`produced.
`
`Exhaust Electrode Process for Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor
`Title:
`Patent Number: 4,303,490
`Publication date: December 1, 1981
`Inventors:
`Terry J. Gold, Frederick L. Kennard III, Paul C. Kikuchi, Ralph V. Wilhelm, Jr.
`
`Summary:
`
`A method of sputtering a palladium or palladium-platinum exhaust gas electrode onto a
`vitrified zirconia thimble for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor.
`Porous high surface area films are deposited that have more consistent properties. A
`sputtering target is spaced about 3.0-4.5 cm from the thimble and more than 6 cm from
`the sputtering anode. A pressure of about 10-20 millitorr is used during sputtering at a
`DC power of about 13-22 watts/cm2 of target area.
`
`
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`Litigation Support/Expert Witness Experience
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity and non-infringement with
`multiple patent claims; areas of interest deal with closed loop feedback
`control of an automotive electronics system using sensors, data processing,
`and actuators
`
`International IP Law Firm
`Investigation on behalf of Defendants
`Output will include literature and prior art searches & expert
`reports in support of Court filings.
`
`2015 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity and non-infringement with
`multiple patent claims; areas of interest deal with navigation/infotainment,
`telematics systems, radio data systems (RDS), traffic message channel
`communication (RDS-TMC), etc.
`
`International IP Law Firm
`Investigation on behalf of multiple Defendants
`Output will include literature and prior art searches & expert
`reports in support of Court filings.
`
`2015 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity and non-infringement, four
`patents with multiple claims; areas of interest center on technical/system
`areas such as infotainment, telematics, communication and supporting
`technologies such as satellite audio & BlueTooth.
`
`
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
`
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Expert Focus:
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`Date:
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Expert Focus:
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`Date:
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Expert Focus:
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`International IP Law Firm
`Investigation on behalf of Defendant
`Output will include literature and prior art searches & expert
`reports and depositions
`2015 to present
`
`Date:
`
`
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Expert Focus:
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`Date:
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity and non-infringement across
`eleven patents with multiple patent claims; areas of interest include
`infotainment, wireless interfaces, displays, touch screens, voice
`recognition, routing algorithms, telematics, and supporting technologies.
`
`International IP Law Firm
`Investigation on behalf of Defendant
`Output will include literature and prior art searches & expert
`declaration in support of an IPR Petition
`2015 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity and non-infringement with
`multiple patent claims; areas of interest include design and implementation
`of engine control strategies
`
`International IP Law Firm
`Investigation on behalf of Defendant
`Output will include expert reports and depositions; expect IPR
`and District Court filings
`2015 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity with multiple patent
`claims; areas of interest include design of critical electronic subsystem for
`automotive infotainment and telematics systems
`
`Bryan Cave LLP
`M/A-COM Technologies Solutions Holdings, Inc. v Laird
`Technologies, Inc.
`Case Number: C.A. No. 14-181-LPS
`Expert report. Deposition prior to Markman hearing. Court
`testimony during Markman Hearing.
`Case completed.
`2014 to 2015
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Expert Focus:
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`Date:
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
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`Expert Focus:
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`Disposition:
`Date:
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
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`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity with multiple patent
`claims; areas of interest include automotive cameras, multi-camera vision
`and reconfigurable displays for the automotive marketplace
`
`Osha Liang, LLP
`Magna Electronics v Valeo North America
`Case IPR2015-00250, Case IPR2015-00251, Case IPR2015-
`00252, Case IPR2015-00253, Case IPR2015-01410, Case
`IPR2015-01413, Case IPR2015-01414, Case IPR2015-01415
`Eight sets of IPR Petitions and Declarations. Provided
`investigation & analysis of prior art.
`Case ongoing.
`2014 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; invalidity & non-infringement with multiple patent
`claims; area of interest covers automotive user interface issues.
`
`Erise IP, P.A.
`Vehicle Interface Technologies, LLC v Ford Motor Company
`Case No: 1:12-cv-01284-RGA
`Expert reports. Depositions. Summary Judgment submitted.
`Case ongoing.
`2014 to present
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity with multiple patent
`claims; area of interest covers automotive sensors and instrumentation.
`
`Erise IP, P.A., Finnegan LLP, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Jenner & Block
`LLP.
`Vehicle Operation Technologies, LLC v Ford Motor
`Company, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., BMW of North
`America LLC, and Nissan North America Inc.
`Case IPR2014-00594, Case IPR2014-00600, Case IPR2014-
`00601, Case IPR2014-00602, Case IPR2014-00603
`Five sets of IPR Petitions & Declarations. Depositions.
`Case ongoing.
`2014 to present
`
`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
`
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
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`Expert Focus:
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`Disposition:
`Date:
`
`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`
`Expert Focus:
`Disposition:
`Date:
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
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`Case Name:
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`Expert Focus:
`Disposition:
`Date:
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`Expert Engagement:
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
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`
`
`Type of Matter:
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity with multiple patent
`claims; area of interest covers vehicle telematics, automotive sensors, on
`board and off board diagnostics, prognostics, displays and instrumentation.
`
`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`
`
`Expert Focus:
`Disposition:
`Date:
`
`Kenyon & Kenyon LLP
`American Vehicular Sciences LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp
`Case IPR2013-00414, Case IPR2013-00415, Case IPR2013-
`00417
`Three sets of IPR Petitions & Declarations. Depositions.
`Case completed.
`2013 to 2015
`
`Patent Litigation; potential issues of invalidity with multiple patent
`claims; area of interest covers automotive user interface issues
`
`Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP
`Vehicle Interface Technologies, LLC v Porsche Cars NA
`Case IPR2014-00014
`IPR Petition & Declaration.
`Case completed
`2013 to 2014
`
`Expert Focus:
`Disposition:
`Date:
`
`
`
`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
`Patent Litigation; potential combination of invalidity and
`infringement with multiple patent claims
`Large US based law firm focused on intellectual property/commercial
`law
`Investigation on behalf of defendant (information covered by Protective
`Order)
`Expert report.
`Case completed
`2009 to 2010
`
`Law Firm:
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`Case Name:
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`Expert Focus:
`Disposition:
`Date:
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
` Case Name:
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
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`Expert Engagement:
`Type of Matter:
`
`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`
`Services Provided:
`
`Multiple litigation; Very Large Vehicle Manufacturer versus key
`supplier; claims of improper design of automotive component in a
`complex safety system.
`Large US based law firm focused on commercial litigation
`Investigation on behalf of defendant (information covered by Protective
`Order)
`Consultation on design standards, analysis of test data and methods;
`review of public literature; conversations with firm legal staff;
`discussions with industry experts on system design; comparison to
`various similar complex safety systems with criteria for design
`responsibilities and process control in manufacturing; expert opinions
`offered on system design by automotive group and inherent roles and
`responsibilities in that effort.
`
`
`Disposition:
`
`Date:
`
`Case completed
`
`2005 to 2008.
`
`Fact Witness:
`Type of Matter:
`
`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Services Provided:
`Disposition:
`Date:
`
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`
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`Fact Witness:
`Type of Matter:
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`Law Firm:
`Case Name:
`Services Provided:
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`Disposition:
`Date:
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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`Multiple litigation; former employee versus Delphi Delco Electronics
`Systems; employee claims of improper and prejudicial grounds for
`releasing him from the company.
`Baker and Daniels (Indianapolis, Indiana)
`Deposed on behalf of defendant (employee name is confidential)
`Testified in court re: grounds for dismissal of employee
`Case completed
`Approximately 1992.
`
`Lead off (and only) witness, Clean Room Manufacturing Company
`versus AC Spark Plug Division of General Motors; third party company
`claims of improper and inadequate compensation in the construction of a
`semiconductor grade Clean Room complex.
`Large law firm based in Michigan
`Deposed on behalf of defendant
`Provided deposition regarding the expectations, dates, process, and
`the documentation used to judge the fulfillment of the contract and the
`consequent payment for services.
`Case completed
`Approximately 1983.
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`Awards, Achievements & Affiliations
`
`
`
`AWARDS:
` Vincent Bendix Automotive Electronics Engineering Award for Outstanding Society of
`Automotive Engineers Paper, 1978
` Arch T. Colwell Merit Award for Outstanding Society of Automotive Engineers
`Technical Presentation, 1978
`“Boss” Kettering Technical Award (internal GM, 3 to 5 given per year for patents that
`demonstrate considerable financial advantage to the company) 1979
` Elected Fellow, American Ceramic Society, 1984
` Delphi Innovation Hall of Fame, 1997
` Cornell University, Commitment to Community Service Award, 2009
` Lambda Chi Alpha National Fraternity, Distinguished Service Award, 2010
`
`Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Board Volunteer of the Year Award, 2012
`
`James H. McLaughlin Interfraternity Service Award, 2015 (by Zeta Psi Fraternity)
`
`
`
`
`
`ACHIEVEMENTS and AFFILIATIONS:
`
`Inventor, Thin Film processes and materials for automotive sensors, three US patents
`granted.
` Member/Fellow, numerous technical societies. (PREVIOUS: Accreditation Board for
`Engineering and Technology, American Ceramic Society, Society for Information
`Display; CURRENT: Sigma Xi, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Institute for
`Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).)
` Member, Board of Directors, Mecel AB, Amal, Sweden.
` Member, Industrial Advisory Board, Department of Electrical Engineering, Northwestern
`University.
` Team Director, Cornell University – General Motors Corp. University relations.
` Served as Board Member, Delphi Delco & Kokomo Center Schools Educational
`Partnership.
` Director, Educational Foundation Board, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
` Board Member, General Fraternity Board & Exec Committee, Lambda Chi Alpha
`Fraternity.
` Served on numerous Cornell University committees & activities, including the Cornell
`University Council, Fraternity/Sorority Advisory Council chair, Student & Campus Life
`Advisory Council, numerous reunion committees.
` Teaching (2003 to 2007) a single module of a one-semester course in Technical
`Management (400/500 level) in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, Ithaca,
`New York.
` Served as accredited member for Ceramic Engineering Education for the Accreditation
`Board for Engineering & Technology.
` Registered Consultant, Society of Automotive Engineers – Automotive Resources
`Institute (SAE- ARi)
` Board Member for Finance, Planning, & Steering Committee, Capital Campaign,
`Nominating, and Personnel at the First Presbyterian Church, Noblesville, Indiana.
` Board Member, Indiana Symphony Society, parent of the Indianapolis Symphony
`Orchestra. Currently on Executive Committee and other Board operating committees.
` Advisory Board for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
` Board Member, Board of Advisors for an Active Safety Institute Consortium.
` Board of Advisors, North American Start-Up with Automotive Safety Systems Products
`
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`For example, invited keynote addresses of merit:
`
`Invited Keynote speaker (lead off for international meeting), Society for Information
`Display, San Diego, California, 1990, “The Vision of Future Automotive Display
`Technology.”
`Invited Keynote (sole speaker), Japanese Designers and Manufacturers of LCD Flat Panel
`Displays, Kobe, Japan, 1992 (approximate), “The Future of Flat Panel Displays in the
`Automotive Industry”. (Simultaneous translation into Japanese.)
`Invited Keynote speaker (one of four), European Automotive Manufacturing Organization,
`Bern, Switzerland, 1993 (approximate), “World Wide Demand for Commonly designed
`Automotive Electronic System Platforms.” (Simultaneously translated into four
`languages)
`
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`R.V. Wilhelm Curriculum Vitae
`
`
`Publications and Presentations
`
`Author of dozens of technical papers and invited presentations.
`
`
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`CV Ralph V Wilhelm Sept 23 2015.docx
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