Mark Bocko

Mark Bocko

  • Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Director, Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS)

PhD, University of Rochester, 1984

709 Computer Studies Building
(585) 275-4879
Fax: (585) 275-7151
mark.bocko@rochester.edu


Short Biography

Professor Bocko earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Rochester in 1984 with research in the field of gravitational wave detectors and the quantum limits of weak force detection in the group of David H. Douglass. After a brief post-doctoral appointment in the same laboratory, he joined the Rochester ECE department in 1985. His research has spanned multiple areas with its current focus on audio and acoustic signal processing.  Previous research has been in the areas of electromechanical transducers, image sensors, non-contact ECG sensors, low-noise electronics, digital superconducting electronics, quantum coherent electronics, quantum computing, and quantum noise. He is also the Director of the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS), a NYSTAR supported Center for Advanced Technology at the University of Rochester with the mission of promoting economic development through joint university-industry research and technology development. Professor Bocko has taught courses on solid state devices, microwaves, circuits and systems, audio signal processing, and acoustics. He was won five teaching awards at the University of Rochester and was named the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University from 2008-2011. He was named Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2013 and served as Chair of the ECE Department from 2004-2010 and again from 2012 to the present time.

Research Overview

Audio and Acoustic Signal Processing

Professor Bocko's current research focus is in the field of audio and acoustic signal processing. Active research projects include the development of flat panel loudspeakers and spatial audio displays, spatial audio characterization and rendering, efficient modeling of room impulse responses and other acoustic systems, characterization of musical vibrato, and musical expression and computer based musical performance style analysis. Previous research projects include audio source separation and computer music transcription, development of empirically based physical models for musical sound synthesis, compact model-based musical sound representations and audio watermarking and steganography.

Sensors

Professor Bocko's earlier research on sensors and transducers began with his PhD thesis on the quantum limits of gravitational wave detectors and back action evasion measurements. Other work in this area includes the development of highly sensitive capacitive displacement sensors and quantum limited electron tunneling displacement sensors. More recent work has been in the areas CMOS image sensors, non-contact electrocardiogram sensors, and micro-power smart sensors for machine health monitoring.

Superconductivity

Previous research projects have employed superconductivity for several applications, including high-frequency digital signal processing circuits and analog circuits for the detection of weak electromagnetic and mechanical signals. In 1996, Professor Bocko's group was the first to propose a realistic design for a quantum computer using superconducting Josephson junction circuits; and subsequently studied quantum coherence in Josephson junction circuits and the use of RSFQ superconducting qubit control electronics and nondestructive readout techniques for superconducting and electromechanical qubits.

Research Interests

  • Audio and acoustic signal processing
  • Computer audition
  • Sensors and transducers

Honors & Awards

  • 2012: University of Rochester, Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
  • 2008-2011: Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor – University of Rochester
  • 2008: University of Rochester Dean’s award for Meritorious Service in Ph.D. Education
  • 2002: University of Rochester Student Association Senate “Professor of the Year”
  • 2002: UR School of Engineering and Applied Sciences “Undergraduate Teaching Award”
  • 1991: Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, SEAS, University of Rochester
  • Member: APS, IEEE, Audio Engineering Society, Acoustical Society of America

Recent Publications

  1. Anderson, David A., Michael C. Heilemann, and Mark F. Bocko. "Optimized Driver Placement for Array-Driven Flat-Panel Loudspeakers." Archives of Acoustics 42.1 (2017): 93-104.
  2. Heilemann, Michael C., David Anderson, and Mark F. Bocko. "Sound-Source Localization on Flat-Panel Loudspeakers." Journal of the Audio Engineering Society 65.3 (2017): 168-177.
  3. Smith, Sarah R., and Mark F. Bocko. "Preserving Reverberation in a Sinusoidally Modeled Pitch Shifter." Audio Engineering Society Convention 141. Audio Engineering Society, 2016.
  4. Anderson, David, and Mark F. Bocko. "Modal Crossover Networks for Flat-Panel Loudspeakers." Journal of the Audio Engineering Society 64.4 (2016): 229-240.
  5. Gao, Zhe, John C. Liobe, Mark Balon, Zeljko Ignjatovic, Mark Fiscella, and Mark F. Bocko. "Indirect-feedback Sigma-Delta CMOS image sensors with SAR-based startup." In Electrical, Electronic and Information Sciences (eStream), 2015 Open Conference of, pp. 1-5. IEEE, 2015.
  6. Sacco, Andrew P., J. Daniel Newman, Paul PK Lee, Kenneth D. Fourspring, John H. Osborn, Robert D. Fiete, Mark F. Bocko et al. "Transmission imaging measurements at 188 GHz with 0.35 μm CMOS technology." In SPIE Sensing Technology+ Applications, pp. 94830U-94830U. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2015.
  7. Dayalu, J. B., Ignjatovic, Z., Bocko, M. F., McMurtry, C. W., Pipher, J. L., Ninkov, Z., ... & Lee, P. P. (2015, November). Terahertz detection in Si MOSFET based on thermionic emission. In Microwaves, Communications, Antennas and Electronic Systems (COMCAS), 2015 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 1-4). IEEE.
  8. Anderson, David, and Mark F. Bocko. "Measuring Speech Intelligibility Loss in Single-Driver Panel Loudspeakers." Audio Engineering Society Convention 139. Audio Engineering Society, 2015.
  9. George, Swetha S., Mark F. Bocko, and Zeljko Ignjatovic. "Current Sensing-Assisted Active Pixel Sensor for High-Speed CMOS Image Sensors."Sensors Journal, IEEE 15.8 (2015): 4365-4372.
  10. Smith, Sarah R., and Mark F. Bocko. "Effect of Reverberation on Overtone Correlations in Speech and Music." Audio Engineering Society Convention 139. Audio Engineering Society, 2015.
  11. Anderson, David, and Mark F. Bocko. "A Model for the Impulse Response of Distributed-Mode Loudspeakers and Multi-Actuator Panels." Audio Engineering Society Convention 139. Audio Engineering Society, 2015.
  12. Heilemann, Michael, David Anderson, and Mark F. Bocko. "Vibrational Analysis of Vintage Planar Loudspeakers." Audio Engineering Society Convention 139. Audio Engineering Society, 2015.
  13. Rhee, Hyekyun, Michael J. Belyea, Mark Sterling, and Mark F. Bocko. "Evaluating the Validity of an Automated Device for Asthma Monitoring for Adolescents: Correlational Design." Journal of Medical Internet Research 17, no. 10 (2015).
  14. Sterling, Mark, Hyekyun Rhee, and Mark Bocko. "Automated Cough Assessment on a Mobile Platform." Journal of Medical Engineering 2014 (2014).
  15. Zhang, Mingfeng, John Granzow, Gang Ren, and Mark F. Bocko. "Timbre Imitation and Adaptation for Experimental Music Instruments: An interactive Approach Using a Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Framework." In Audio Engineering Society Convention 137. Audio Engineering Society, 2014.
  16. Zhe Gao, John C. Liobe, Mark F. Bocko, and Zeljko Ignjatovic. "Indirect-Feedback Sigma-Delta Image Sensors: Theory, Modeling and Design", IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I, Vol. 61, Issue 1, pp 1-13 (2014).
  17. Guochen Peng, Mark Sterling, and Mark Bocko. "Non-contact, capacitive biosensor electrodes for electrostatic charge reduction." In Sensors, 2013 IEEE, pp. 1-4. IEEE, 2013.
  18. Gang Ren, Samarth H. Shivaswamy, Stephen Roessner, Mark F. Bocko, and Dave Headlam. "An additional “Depth” of reverberation helps content stand out: Media content emphasis using audio reverberation effect." In Consumer Electronics (ICCE), 2013 IEEE International Conference on, pp. 98-99. IEEE, 2013.
  19. Guochen Peng, and Mark F. Bocko. "Non-contact ECG employing signal compensation." In Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), 2013 IEEE, pp. 57-60. IEEE, 2013.
  20. GuoChen Peng, and Mark F. Bocko. "Non-contact ECG sensing employing gradiometer electrodes." Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on 60, no. 1 (2013): 179-183.

Patents and Patent Applications

  • "Transducer In-situ Testing Apparatus and Method", Isaak Baber, Mark F. Bocko, Jpseph E. Pegg, William Simmons, US Patent 6,698,269.
  • "Sigma-Delta Analog to Digital Converter Architecture Based Upon a Novel Modulator Design Employing a "Mirrored Integrator", Zeljko Ignjatovic, Mark F. Bocko, US Patent 6,707,409.
  • "Autonomous sensor system for remote sensing and signal transmission", Mark F. Bocko, Richard W. Lally, US Patent 6,747,572.
  • "Data Hiding via Phase Manipulation of Audio Signals", Mark F. Bocko, Zeljko Ignjatovic, 2004 pending.
  • "Multiplexed-input-separated sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter design for pixel-level analog-to-digital conversion", Zeljko Ignjatovic, Mark F. Bocko, 2004, pending.
  • "A method and apparatus for the efficient computation of the discrete cosine transform of an image", Zeljko Ignjatovic, Mark F. Bocko, 2003, pending.

Current PhD Students

David Anderson: Flat panel loudspeakers (Graduated January 2017)

Stephen Roessner: Musical trend analysis of Billboard Top 100 hits   

Michael Heilemann: Flat panel loudspeakers, audio displays

Smith: Musical vibrato and interaction of modulated musical sound with acoustic spaces

Sarah Hashemgeloogerdi: Modeling of acoustic systems 

Steven Crawford: Quantitative models of binaural hearing

Madhu Ashok: Spatial audio rendering