Mr. Robert Donofrio was born in Brooklyn, NY and received degrees from Hofstra University (BS Applied Physics), New York University (MS Physics) and Rochester Institute of Technology (ME General Engineering/ Management). Mr. Donofrio has over thirty-five years of experience in display device technology. He has worked for the Radiation and Solid State Labs of NYU and for Philips Display Components at their facilities in Seneca Falls NY, Ottawa Ohio and Ann Arbor Michigan. While at NYU he was involved in the field of EPR Studies in ZnS Phosphors. At Philips his CRT activity was specifically engaged in phosphor evaluation, phosphor screening, optical processes, exposure tables, optical measurements, surface roughness and thin film optical filters. He is an inventor and/or co-inventor with thirteen US patents and ten Philips Proprietary awards. He has written over sixty five papers and articles in display technology and also was a co-author / co-editor of six books in the field of displays. He was also on the Editorial Board of the Elsevier's 2005 Encyclopedia of Modern Optics and author of their section on "Displays".
In 1996, he started his own Ann Arbor based company "Display Device Consultants". DDC specializes in consulting on phosphor screening, exposure systems, photo-lithography and color measurement for both Flat Panel and CRT manufacturers. DDC is a manufacturers representative/distributor for Western Quartz (Medium Pressure Hg Lamps), CXI. Distributers representation on arc lamps for Micro-electronics, photo-lithography and search lights. Konica Minolta Instruments Systems Division (Display Measurement Equipment), Avian Technologies (Integrating Spheres and Reflectance Material) and Data Optics (Optical Measurement Fixtures).
Mr. Donofrio was the 1998 & 99 Regional Vice President of the Americas for the SID. The 2003, 2000 and 1997 Director for the Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the SID. Prior to being elected Director, he had served as Chairperson of the Metro-Detroit Chapter for two years. He was a member of the Metro-Detroit Chapter's 1998 SID Scholarship Committee and served in similar capacity in the 1997 SID/OIS Scholarship Committee. In 2000, he is serving as the Program Chair of the "7th Annual Vehicle Display" Symposium. This event is a co-sponsored with IEEE ITS & IV2000 and the Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the SID. He has been 1999 & 1998 Co-Chair Vehicle Display Session at the annual SID International Symposia. He was a member of the CRT Program Subcommittee for the 1995 SID International Symposium and was also a member of the Applications Subcommittee for 2001-2009. For his work on behalf of the SID, he received SID President's Certificates of Commendation in 2009, 2000, 1998 & 1996. He was a member of the International Advisory Committees for SID International Symposia in the Ukraine (2005), Belarus (1998, 2000 & 2004)) and Russia. He is a Senior Member of the SID, and a member of the SAE & OSA.. In 2006 he was nominated by the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the SID to be the Chapter's Treasurer. Starting 2009 he was named Membership Chair for the Ann Ar bor Chapter of the American Optical Society.