2004 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Dr. Corrado Dragone
Dr. Corrado Dragone invented and improved the waveguide grating router, also known as the "Dragone router," a corner stone of modern wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) technology. WDM technology has revolutionized highcapacity long-distance optical fiber transmission, a multibillion dollar industry, allowing for information capacities that are unprecedented. Dragone's invention is commercially used by most of the primary system vendors.
The Dragone router is a key enabling component of WDM, allowing the combining (multiplexing) of several channels carried by different wavelengths onto a single fiber, and the subsequent demultiplexing at the receiving end. Dragone's powerful invention also allows for the integration of several functions, including multiplexing, on a single chip supporting a photonic integrated circuit. The integration leads to important reduction of the packaging cost of optical systems, essential for extending the success of optical transmission technology, from today’s long haul applications to the shorter-range metropolitan and access telecom networks.
With Lucent Technologies/Bell Labs since 1961, Dragone's main areas of research were in the fields of microwave techniques, integrated optics and light wave communications. He has published numerous articles on these subjects and holds over 60 patents with several pending. His Lucent Technologies Wavelength Router won the 1996 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award. He is the co-recipient of the IEEE/LEOS Engineering Achievement Award for the conception, design and reduction to practice of novel waveguide array devices and their applications to WDM networks. He is recipient of the Bell Labs Distinguished Technical Staff Award, and was elected an IEEE Fellow for his contributions to the theory, design and application of microwave antennas.
The Dragone router is a key enabling component of WDM, allowing the combining (multiplexing) of several channels carried by different wavelengths onto a single fiber, and the subsequent demultiplexing at the receiving end. Dragone's powerful invention also allows for the integration of several functions, including multiplexing, on a single chip supporting a photonic integrated circuit. The integration leads to important reduction of the packaging cost of optical systems, essential for extending the success of optical transmission technology, from today’s long haul applications to the shorter-range metropolitan and access telecom networks.
With Lucent Technologies/Bell Labs since 1961, Dragone's main areas of research were in the fields of microwave techniques, integrated optics and light wave communications. He has published numerous articles on these subjects and holds over 60 patents with several pending. His Lucent Technologies Wavelength Router won the 1996 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award. He is the co-recipient of the IEEE/LEOS Engineering Achievement Award for the conception, design and reduction to practice of novel waveguide array devices and their applications to WDM networks. He is recipient of the Bell Labs Distinguished Technical Staff Award, and was elected an IEEE Fellow for his contributions to the theory, design and application of microwave antennas.
Dr. James M. Early
Dr. James Early, an electrical engineering pioneer, gained international respect and recognition for his early research in transistors and semiconductors. During the 1950s, he made theoretical contributions such as discovering an aspect of the behavior of bipolar transistors, known as the "Early Effect." Transistor designers used the effect for faster transistor performance, which was crucial for applications like television, the FM transistor radio, and early military radar.
While working at Bell Labs, he created the oscillator transistor for the first United States satellite, led the development of solar cells and transistors for the Telstar 1 satellite, and participated in the original integrated circuit work at the laboratory. He holds 14 patents, mostly related to transistors and semiconductors.
He remained at Bell Labs for 18 years before joining Fairchild Camera and Instrument in Palo Alto, California in 1969. He became director of the Fairchild Research Center and under his guidance, the company developed commercial charged coupled devices, which were used in early military reconnaissance satellites.
Dr. Early earned his Bachelor of Science in pulp and paper manufacturing in 1943 from the New York State College of Forestry in Syracuse. After serving in the Army, he went on to graduate school at Ohio State where he received his PhD in 1951. After Early retired in 1986, he made audio recordings of technical books so that blind engineers could learn the material, too.
One of Early's eight children went on to earn a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and found herself in the unusual position of listening to lectures about the "Early Effect."
While working at Bell Labs, he created the oscillator transistor for the first United States satellite, led the development of solar cells and transistors for the Telstar 1 satellite, and participated in the original integrated circuit work at the laboratory. He holds 14 patents, mostly related to transistors and semiconductors.
He remained at Bell Labs for 18 years before joining Fairchild Camera and Instrument in Palo Alto, California in 1969. He became director of the Fairchild Research Center and under his guidance, the company developed commercial charged coupled devices, which were used in early military reconnaissance satellites.
Dr. Early earned his Bachelor of Science in pulp and paper manufacturing in 1943 from the New York State College of Forestry in Syracuse. After serving in the Army, he went on to graduate school at Ohio State where he received his PhD in 1951. After Early retired in 1986, he made audio recordings of technical books so that blind engineers could learn the material, too.
One of Early's eight children went on to earn a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and found herself in the unusual position of listening to lectures about the "Early Effect."
Mr. Samuel Leeds Allen
Samuel Leeds Allen has been awarded almost 300 patents for farming machinery, including the fertilizer drill, seed drill, potato digger, cultivator, furrower, pulverizer , grass edger, and numerous other farm implements. He was also a pioneer employer in that he was one of the first to provide death and disability insurance and a retirement plan for his employees. In fact, it was out of concern for his employees that his best-known and most successful invention came about.
Because the production of farm equipment was seasonal, many of Allen's employees were laid off during the winter. He wanted to invent a product that could be sold during the winter so that he could provide his employees with year-round work. His passion for sledding led him to develop a series of sleds and sled improvements.
Allen invented the Flexible Flyer, a sled with flexible runners that could be steered with ease, accuracy and safety, without shifting body weight. Curiously, when it first came out in 1889, this legendary piece of Americana did not sell. He was urged by his salespeople to sell his patent to an established sled manufacturer, but he refused.
Years later, when leisure outdoor sports became more popular, sales of the Flexible Flyer finally took off. In 1915, about 250,000 were sold and with very few changes, continued to be a best seller for over one hundred years.
Flexible Flyer sleds have become synonymous with snow, happy children, and wintertime fun. The most famous brand of sled ever made, it is has been commemorated on holiday greeting cards, TV. in the movies, \and even has a place in the Smithsonian Institution.
Because the production of farm equipment was seasonal, many of Allen's employees were laid off during the winter. He wanted to invent a product that could be sold during the winter so that he could provide his employees with year-round work. His passion for sledding led him to develop a series of sleds and sled improvements.
Allen invented the Flexible Flyer, a sled with flexible runners that could be steered with ease, accuracy and safety, without shifting body weight. Curiously, when it first came out in 1889, this legendary piece of Americana did not sell. He was urged by his salespeople to sell his patent to an established sled manufacturer, but he refused.
Years later, when leisure outdoor sports became more popular, sales of the Flexible Flyer finally took off. In 1915, about 250,000 were sold and with very few changes, continued to be a best seller for over one hundred years.
Flexible Flyer sleds have become synonymous with snow, happy children, and wintertime fun. The most famous brand of sled ever made, it is has been commemorated on holiday greeting cards, TV. in the movies, \and even has a place in the Smithsonian Institution.
Mr. Walter J. Krupick
Walter J. Krupick invented the two-axis, dynamically tuned gyroscopes (Gyroflex and Conex Gyro) which provided a new, low-cost, highly reliable solution to gyroscopic sensors for navigation. This versatile device has guided aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, the gunner's line of sight in tanks, and has been used in Air Force, Navy, and Army equipment. It has been the most widely used gyroscope for inertial navigation during the 1970s and 1980s.
The unique feature of the dynamically tuned rotor gyroscope is a frictionless two-axis flexure suspension, which serves to support the inertia wheel, drive it up to synchronous speed, and provides an isoelastic support. Over 50,000 two-axis dynamically tuned gyros have been constructed at Kearfott. They have been used extensively over the last 35 years and will continue to be used until the year 2030. The revenue Kearfott enjoyed as a result of this product is estimated at more than several billion dollars.
Krupick has been with Kearfott Guidance & Navigation Corp. for over 51 years, and has designed most of the sensor products manufactured there. He has been issued 22 patents related to inertial sensor products, including floated gyros, two-axis flexure suspended gyros, accelerometers, torque motors. synchros, flexure suspensions, and the Gyroflex Gyro. He has served as Vice President and General Manager of the Gyrodynamics Division and was honored as "Engineer of the Year" in 1988 for his outstanding technical contributions in the development of inertial navigation sensors.
The unique feature of the dynamically tuned rotor gyroscope is a frictionless two-axis flexure suspension, which serves to support the inertia wheel, drive it up to synchronous speed, and provides an isoelastic support. Over 50,000 two-axis dynamically tuned gyros have been constructed at Kearfott. They have been used extensively over the last 35 years and will continue to be used until the year 2030. The revenue Kearfott enjoyed as a result of this product is estimated at more than several billion dollars.
Krupick has been with Kearfott Guidance & Navigation Corp. for over 51 years, and has designed most of the sensor products manufactured there. He has been issued 22 patents related to inertial sensor products, including floated gyros, two-axis flexure suspended gyros, accelerometers, torque motors. synchros, flexure suspensions, and the Gyroflex Gyro. He has served as Vice President and General Manager of the Gyrodynamics Division and was honored as "Engineer of the Year" in 1988 for his outstanding technical contributions in the development of inertial navigation sensors.
Col. William Blair
Col. William R. Blair is the well-known inventor and "father" of radar in the United States. Radar is the method by which the position of distant and "invisible" objects, such as enemy aircraft, are detected by reflected radio waves with enough speed and accuracy to be able to use immediate intervention, such as by anti-aircraft gunners.
Col. Blair conceived and developed his radar theory during the 1920s and 1930s while the Director of the Research and Engineering Division of the Signal Corps. But because it was invented during World War II, it was important to maintain the secrecy of such a weapon. Therefore, the government ordered that the patent not be applied for until after the war was over.
When Col. Blair applied for the patent in 1945, it was challenged by two parties and took a special legislative act, patent office hearings and a great deal of research, before it was determined that Col. Blair was, indeed, the inventor, and he finally received his patent in 1957. The Army called the patent "as important and far reaching in its military application as the first U.S. patent issued on the telephone was to commercial communications."
Before entering the government services, Col. Blair was a high school principal and an associate in mathematics. He entered the University of Chicago as a student and assistant instructor. He graduated in 1906 with a doctorate in Philosophy and entered the government services with the U.S. Weather Bureau the same year. Following the entry of the U.S. into World War 1, Blair was commissioned a major , first assigned to the Aviation Corps in France, but then transferred to the Signal Corps in 1918 . He remained in the service after the war as a career officer and scientist. He retired in 1938.
Col. Blair conceived and developed his radar theory during the 1920s and 1930s while the Director of the Research and Engineering Division of the Signal Corps. But because it was invented during World War II, it was important to maintain the secrecy of such a weapon. Therefore, the government ordered that the patent not be applied for until after the war was over.
When Col. Blair applied for the patent in 1945, it was challenged by two parties and took a special legislative act, patent office hearings and a great deal of research, before it was determined that Col. Blair was, indeed, the inventor, and he finally received his patent in 1957. The Army called the patent "as important and far reaching in its military application as the first U.S. patent issued on the telephone was to commercial communications."
Before entering the government services, Col. Blair was a high school principal and an associate in mathematics. He entered the University of Chicago as a student and assistant instructor. He graduated in 1906 with a doctorate in Philosophy and entered the government services with the U.S. Weather Bureau the same year. Following the entry of the U.S. into World War 1, Blair was commissioned a major , first assigned to the Aviation Corps in France, but then transferred to the Signal Corps in 1918 . He remained in the service after the war as a career officer and scientist. He retired in 1938.
Dr. Meredith C. Gourdine
Physicist and engineer, Dr. Meredith C. Gourdine, is best known for his ground breaking work in the research of electrogasdynamics and for his invention of various electrostatic precipitator systems including the engineering technique called "Incineraid;' which aids in the removal of smoke from burning buildings, and a method used to disperse fog from airport runways. These systems clear the air by introducing a negative charge to airborne particles. Once negatively charged, the particles are electromagnetically attracted down to the ground to have their former place taken by fresh air.
Dr. Gourdine held 70 patents that deal with thermal management and the conversion of gas to electricity. He applied his work in electrogasdynamics to circuit breakers, acoustic imaging, air monitors and coating systems, as well as the focus Flow Heat Sink, which is used to cool computer chips.
In the 1960s, Dr. Gourdine founded the research and development firm, Gourdine Systems, in Livingston, New Jersey, and in 1973, he established Energy Innovations in Houston, Texas, to produce direct energy conversion devices. The companies he founded worked on purifying the air and converting low-grade coal into inexpensive, transportable, and high-voltage electrical energy. They produced a commercial air-pollution deterrent, a high powered industrial paint spray, and a device to eliminate fog above airports.
Before becoming a physicist and engineer, Dr. Gourdine was a gifted athlete, and won the 1952 Olympic silver medal for the long jump. He received a Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University in 1953 and a PhD in Engineering Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1960.
Dr. Gourdine held 70 patents that deal with thermal management and the conversion of gas to electricity. He applied his work in electrogasdynamics to circuit breakers, acoustic imaging, air monitors and coating systems, as well as the focus Flow Heat Sink, which is used to cool computer chips.
In the 1960s, Dr. Gourdine founded the research and development firm, Gourdine Systems, in Livingston, New Jersey, and in 1973, he established Energy Innovations in Houston, Texas, to produce direct energy conversion devices. The companies he founded worked on purifying the air and converting low-grade coal into inexpensive, transportable, and high-voltage electrical energy. They produced a commercial air-pollution deterrent, a high powered industrial paint spray, and a device to eliminate fog above airports.
Before becoming a physicist and engineer, Dr. Gourdine was a gifted athlete, and won the 1952 Olympic silver medal for the long jump. He received a Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University in 1953 and a PhD in Engineering Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1960.
INVENTOR OF THE YEAR
Mr. Robert H. Morris
Robert Morris' high performance, low air flow, stable vortex fume hood is the first major advancement in fume hood technology in the last 50 years. It succeeded in solving the problems of high energy consumption and poor containment found in conventional hoods. The stable hood challenged the widely held concept that 100 FPM fume hood face velocity was required to make a fume hood safe. Morris' company, Flow Safe, a small company with limited resources, was faced with creating a worldwide paradigm shift in a mature industry, which was initially unwilling to accept new concepts.
But today, the stable vortex fume hood is widely accepted and acknowledged as the safest and most energy-efficient fume hood in the industry. Government studies indicate that if only half of the existing fume hoods were replaced with high performance, low air flow fume hoods, our nation would save 235 trillion BTU's of energy per year. This is equivalent to the energy used by 6.2 million U.S. households. Also, for every unit of energy saved, the unit of pollution that would be producing this energy is also saved.
To give an example of the potential financial benefits, the Elizabeth Water Company in Bridgewater, NJ, recently replaced ten conventional hoods with ten high performance, low air flow, stable vortex fume hoods. The company received $112,000 back from New Jersey's Smart Start Energy Program, which is more money than it spent for the new fume hoods.
Robert Morris' desire to design a safer, more efficient fume hood grew out of his interest in solving indoor air quality issues. He has been designing "Green Laboratories” since before it was popular, and donated his time to teach other engineers how to build technology that will help sustain, and not harm, the environment.
But today, the stable vortex fume hood is widely accepted and acknowledged as the safest and most energy-efficient fume hood in the industry. Government studies indicate that if only half of the existing fume hoods were replaced with high performance, low air flow fume hoods, our nation would save 235 trillion BTU's of energy per year. This is equivalent to the energy used by 6.2 million U.S. households. Also, for every unit of energy saved, the unit of pollution that would be producing this energy is also saved.
To give an example of the potential financial benefits, the Elizabeth Water Company in Bridgewater, NJ, recently replaced ten conventional hoods with ten high performance, low air flow, stable vortex fume hoods. The company received $112,000 back from New Jersey's Smart Start Energy Program, which is more money than it spent for the new fume hoods.
Robert Morris' desire to design a safer, more efficient fume hood grew out of his interest in solving indoor air quality issues. He has been designing "Green Laboratories” since before it was popular, and donated his time to teach other engineers how to build technology that will help sustain, and not harm, the environment.
Dr. Igor Palley
Dr. Igor Palley is a key co-inventor and technology developer of SpectraShield®, a high strength organic fiber that can be incorporated into protective clothing or body armor to protect the wearer from firearm blasts and explosion fragmentation.
The development of SpectraShield® utilizes several novel concepts in advancing the state of the art in body armor. The proposed design contains a number of counterintuitive elements including a special nonwoven structure using highly oriented polyolefin fibers and a soft matrix. The patents on blast containment describe a novel concept for the blast containment structure, which includes three-band boxes that maximize the properties of the high strength fibers.
These patents and associated products have been incorporated into bulletproof vests, helmets, and armored vehicles for military personnel, homeland security and law enforcement agents. The blast containment technology may also play a significant role in mitigating risks associated with munitions transportation and storage used by bomb squads to contain explosive devices in an urban environment or at air terminals, or for storage containers on board aircrafts, sea vessels, trains, etc.
Dr. Palley is the author / co-author of 100 technical publications and currently holds 20 U.S. patents, 12 of which are for the SpectraShield® concept and material.
The development of SpectraShield® utilizes several novel concepts in advancing the state of the art in body armor. The proposed design contains a number of counterintuitive elements including a special nonwoven structure using highly oriented polyolefin fibers and a soft matrix. The patents on blast containment describe a novel concept for the blast containment structure, which includes three-band boxes that maximize the properties of the high strength fibers.
These patents and associated products have been incorporated into bulletproof vests, helmets, and armored vehicles for military personnel, homeland security and law enforcement agents. The blast containment technology may also play a significant role in mitigating risks associated with munitions transportation and storage used by bomb squads to contain explosive devices in an urban environment or at air terminals, or for storage containers on board aircrafts, sea vessels, trains, etc.
Dr. Palley is the author / co-author of 100 technical publications and currently holds 20 U.S. patents, 12 of which are for the SpectraShield® concept and material.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Dr. Phillip J. Petillo
Dr. Phillip Petillo holds patents on everything from hand-held surgical devices to guitar accessories and improvements to battery powered hand tools to sensor technology used in motion pictures to high security military projects.
As Chairman and Chief Engineer of Science & Technology for Phil-Lu, Inc., he is responsible for all the company patents and products currently under development. He has also been a consultant for Johnson & Johnson, Arthur D. Little, Inc., and Lopat Enterprises and worked in association with renowned surgeons on the development of microsurgical instruments. He has won awards too numerous to mention and appeared on television on such shows as ABC World News with Peter Jennings, CBS News with Morey Alter, NBC Nightly News, as well as on many cable television network programs.
One of Dr. Petillo's most high profile inventions is an improved guitar fret. A fret is a metal bar placed at intervals along the neck of a guitar. The note created depends on which fret the musician presses the string onto when the string is plucked. The conventional fret is rhombus-shaped which allows for compression from the fret edge to the center and any place in between. Dr. Petillo's fret design is triangular in shape for a cleaner, smoother sound and effortless playing. Also, due to a "space age" metal alloy, the frets and strings last longer.
In addition to holding a number of instrument patents, Dr. Petillo has been constructing, repairing, and restoring guitars for over thirty years. His list of clients includes: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, Sting, Michael Jackson, Dave Mason, June Carter, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Waylon Jennings, the late Johnny Cash, and the legendary Elvis Presley.
As Chairman and Chief Engineer of Science & Technology for Phil-Lu, Inc., he is responsible for all the company patents and products currently under development. He has also been a consultant for Johnson & Johnson, Arthur D. Little, Inc., and Lopat Enterprises and worked in association with renowned surgeons on the development of microsurgical instruments. He has won awards too numerous to mention and appeared on television on such shows as ABC World News with Peter Jennings, CBS News with Morey Alter, NBC Nightly News, as well as on many cable television network programs.
One of Dr. Petillo's most high profile inventions is an improved guitar fret. A fret is a metal bar placed at intervals along the neck of a guitar. The note created depends on which fret the musician presses the string onto when the string is plucked. The conventional fret is rhombus-shaped which allows for compression from the fret edge to the center and any place in between. Dr. Petillo's fret design is triangular in shape for a cleaner, smoother sound and effortless playing. Also, due to a "space age" metal alloy, the frets and strings last longer.
In addition to holding a number of instrument patents, Dr. Petillo has been constructing, repairing, and restoring guitars for over thirty years. His list of clients includes: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, Sting, Michael Jackson, Dave Mason, June Carter, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Waylon Jennings, the late Johnny Cash, and the legendary Elvis Presley.
Dr. Majid Abou-Gharbia
Since 1982, Dr. Abou-Gharbia has been working at the Wyeth Corporation as a medicinal chemist to conceptualize, design, synthesize, characterize, and evaluate new and novel compounds for their potential therapeutic value. He holds 95 U.S. patents, and 300 worldwide patents, for the discovery of novel agents for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, such as stroke and other cognitive deficits, anti-histamines, cardiovascular agents, anti-cancer agents, immunosuppressants, and compounds for the treatment of osteoporosis.
One of Dr. Abou-Gharbia's discoveries is the immunosuppressant, Rapamycin, one of Wyeth's flagship products for the treatment of transplantation rejection, without the renal toxicity observed in current cyclosporine therapy. Due to his group's findings, many safe and effective carbunates of Rapamycin were identified and advanced for development. These efforts resulted in an issuance of 25 U.S. patents, 23 of which were issued in 1996 alone, which is an unprecedented accomplishment in this industry.
In the area of CNS research, Dr. Abou-Gharbia's research efforts led to the discovery of anti-psychotic agents, gevotroline and carvotroline, and anxiolytic agents, salospirone and adatanserin. He also discovered and developed Effexor, the first of a unique, new class of antidepressants, which is prescribed worldwide.
Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s superior leadership and creative abilities have resulted in the most significant discoveries and advancements that have come from Wyeth during the last 20 years. As head of the Chemical and Screening Sciences of Wyeth Research, Dr. Abou-Gharbia has demonstrated the ability to stimulate innovation, encourage scientific excellence and rigor, to move research vigorously to completion, to invigorate colleagues and peers, and overcome all obstacles. His current responsibilities include direction of the research activities of over 500 scientists at several corporate research centers dedicated to the drug discovery process.
In addition to his sizeable responsibilities at Wyeth, Dr. Abou-Gharbia is an adjunct professor at Temple University's School of Pharmacy.
One of Dr. Abou-Gharbia's discoveries is the immunosuppressant, Rapamycin, one of Wyeth's flagship products for the treatment of transplantation rejection, without the renal toxicity observed in current cyclosporine therapy. Due to his group's findings, many safe and effective carbunates of Rapamycin were identified and advanced for development. These efforts resulted in an issuance of 25 U.S. patents, 23 of which were issued in 1996 alone, which is an unprecedented accomplishment in this industry.
In the area of CNS research, Dr. Abou-Gharbia's research efforts led to the discovery of anti-psychotic agents, gevotroline and carvotroline, and anxiolytic agents, salospirone and adatanserin. He also discovered and developed Effexor, the first of a unique, new class of antidepressants, which is prescribed worldwide.
Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s superior leadership and creative abilities have resulted in the most significant discoveries and advancements that have come from Wyeth during the last 20 years. As head of the Chemical and Screening Sciences of Wyeth Research, Dr. Abou-Gharbia has demonstrated the ability to stimulate innovation, encourage scientific excellence and rigor, to move research vigorously to completion, to invigorate colleagues and peers, and overcome all obstacles. His current responsibilities include direction of the research activities of over 500 scientists at several corporate research centers dedicated to the drug discovery process.
In addition to his sizeable responsibilities at Wyeth, Dr. Abou-Gharbia is an adjunct professor at Temple University's School of Pharmacy.