Problem Solver

Kim Clark

Nearly any problem can be solved with enough resources, the challenge is finding the right problems to solve. Whether it's a business trying to make a profit or a humanitarian mission there are limited resources so make the best of them.

Areas Kim Clark is Knowledgeable in:

Green Technologies including but not limited to transportation, solar heating, wind.
Power drive systems.
Electro and Optical Mechanical devices.
Bicycles and accessories.
Telescope optics and mechanics
Mechanical Manufacturing processes.
Lighting devices.

Techniques Kim Clark Uses:

Thoroughly understand the problem and parameters within it must be solved.
Ask lots of questions: i.e. Are we trying to solve the right problem?
Look at existing solutions and trials. Don't reinvent the wheel.
Look at all possible solutions regardless of expertise.
Run through possible success and failure scenarios.
Build prototype and test. Re-evaluate the solution and look at other possibilities no that you've learned something.

Kim Clark's Problem Solving Skills:

  1. Developing tools and jigs for woodworking
  2. quickly analyze others input and improve upon that idea
  3. designing products for streamlined production
  4. Developing tools and jigs for manufacturing
  5. Ability to spot and troubleshoot worker safety issues
  6. Expert in the physics of moving large or heavy items
  7. Develop optics and mechanical solutions for telescopes and other optical mechanical devices
  8. finding marketable products for the amature astronomy community
  9. quickly get a mechanical product to prototype
  10. quickly brainstorm through many ideas to narrow down a solutions

Kim Clark's Problem Solving Experience:

  1. Point source projection laser collimator for telescope optics alignment. I used a 2um laser diode projected through a telescope and focused on a target to look at an enhanced view of optics diffraction rings to aid in collimation.
  2. Invented the EZTelescope laser collimator. While using the same principal of collimated laser beam to adjust newtonian telescope optics as other inventors I took this product one step further by allowing the user to view the returned laser dot while standing at the rear of the telescope rather than having to look in the end of the scope. This meant that a large telescope could be collimated while pointing up, because the optics shift when pointed horizontal, and the user could adjust the primary mirror call screws while watching the optics come into adjustment.
  3. Provided a mechanical solution for a high-end audio volume knob by using a large sealed bearing to dampen the movement and increase tactile pleasure of knob turning.
  4. Developed several red led night lights for astronomers to use while viewing star charts.
  5. Artificial star for telescope collimation. I used a 100um laser cut aperture and focused a white led on it. Placed some distance away this allows the telescope user to use the device as an artificial star for collimation. This provides a steady reference free from atmospheric abberations. The use also does not have to have tracking ability on their telescope.
  6. Developed moving techniques for rigging and transporting University of Kansas museum collections from building to building.
  7. Invented mass mounting system for audio loudspeaker drivers wherein the individual driver is mounted to a large mass supported by internal infrastructure but mechanically disconnected from the outside cabinet. This reduced the problem known as cabinet talk where the cabinet produces unwanted audible coloration.
  8. Developed the Scope Sentry for telescopes. This vibration detection device is attached to a telescope during long exposure astro-photography. Once a vibration threshold is set the user will know if there has been unacceptable vibration so they can retake the image. It used a mass loaded piezo-electric film with simple electronics and an ability to hold the highest vibration encountered.
  9. Developed telescope focuser using two parallel round plates with counter-rotating threads along their edges. A large ring with mating counter-rotating threads was used to rotate and move the plates in and out at twice the speed of the thread/inch.
  10. Reworked telescope focuser mechanism for Meade Telescopes using thrust bearings with a spring loaded assembly. Eliminated backlash in the focuser mechanism while improving tactile consistancy.