Picture this: Visual information captured by a video camera, convert that signal to digital information readable by a computer, then use the stored information to send commands to an assembly line robot. Bar code readers identify an assembly line part, determine its position, direct the robot to pick up and send the part to its next destination. That remarkable concept is called "machine vision."
You say high tech, state of the art technology for the 21st century? Well, you got that part right... The only thing is, it was invented by Jerome H. Lemelson nearly 50 years ago!!
you say, wait a minute! Where did the video camera, computer and bar code reader come from? They didn't have those things in the 50's. Well, actually they did, but not in the sophisticated form we are familiar with today. That's where the Lemelson genius came in. "Jerry" Lemelson looked at the newest, most advanced technology and instead of saying "Wow!, what'll they think of next" he invented an improvement or a new and better application. That's why he was usually working on a solution for something that was not yet a problem. When someone suffered an injury or sickness, Jerry would try to analyze why it happened and what he might have invented to have prevented it.
In machine vision, Jerry Lemelson conceived the idea, reduced it to practice by filing for a patent, then invented or improved the technology to make it work. Which, of course, led to more inventions and more patents. It was this uncanny grasp of applied technology that led him to the concept of automated warehousing where computer operated equipment loads, stacks, and gathers merchandise from bins. That was the first high-tech invention that Jerry licensed. It was a big step up from grinding out a living selling and licensing toy patents. Now with over 500 patents, he is rated among the top inventors in American history.
The machine vision patents became part of assembly line technology used throughout the industrial world by manufacturers of automobiles, electronics and other products. Jerry tried in vain to interest U.S. manufacturers in the technology, but to say they weren't interested is an understatement. They were not only not interested, most didn't even understand it. (Obviously not its value) Eventually Jerry was contacted by an English firm who in turn licensed his technology to Japanese firms who did license more than a score of his machine vision patents.
Jerry Lemelson was a "pure" inventor in the highest sense. He didn't build factories and industries, but rather inventions that created just as many jobs, and just as much economic benefit as if he had. It's probably one of the most satisfying of rewards for a pure inventor.
The phrase "in the highest sense" refers to the fact that unlike the industries and companies that file patents on "changes," Jerry invented "improvements." Changes alone are not always that noble in purpose. Jerry related inventing to improving the quality of life, or the efficiency of motion. A pure inventor is also an inventor with uncommon courage; a man who makes a life decision to not take the path of conformity by working in some corporate cocoon or by starting a business. In his case, it was a tough decision for a young engineer with a Master's degree under his belt and course work completed for a Doctorate. Finding a job wouldn't have been difficult.
That's not to say Jerry never worked. He was as an industrial engineer for several years. But it wasn't long before his agile mind broke free from the structured corporate environment. He kept inventing things in his mind and felt strongly that if he really devoted his energy to inventing full time, he could make a living at it. He saw innovation as a more effective use of his personal assets: a fine engineering education, a true love of inventing, and an understanding that people needed things to make their life safer, more comfortable or more efficient.
Jerry analyzed obvious things. To make safer toys for children. he set about to develop and market the "Velcro" Dart Board. Unable to afford legal or drafting fees, Jerry taught himself to make the required drawings and write his own patent applications. When he discovered he could actually market his inventions, it reaffirmed his belief that inventing could be a vocation.
His home runs came in the form of mostly high-tech breakthrough inventions, but one of his more mundane ideas was one of those things that, until Jerry thought of it, no one knew they needed it: the Sony Walkman. He found U.S. manufacturers couldn't see any value in a portable tape player without a speaker so he was forced to go to foreign buyers.
As with most successful people in our history, they attract opposition of one sort or another. In Jerry Lemelson's case, it was the patent infringer. There has always been, and will be, those who prefer to help themselves to other folk's property, forcing the owners to police their own turf. American history is rife with cases and stories of horse and cattle rustlers. "Patent rustlers" are no different except that it's intellectual property instead of livestock.
One of Jerry's first experiences with rustlers of intellectual property came after he invented a simple face mask toy, for cereal boxes. When he discovered an infringing duplication he sued. That one cereal company spent upwards of $150,000 in legal fees defending their infringement. By their own admission it would have cost them only $15,000 to have dealt fairly with the inventor and paid the royalties, which they ended up doing anyway. The corporate legal sharks just couldn't admit to having rustled the inventor's property. That was one of Jerry's first infringement problems. Many more consumed enormous amounts of his time and money in the years that followed. Some say that had Jerry Lemelson been able to devote those years inventing, instead of fighting infringers, his third place position behind Thomas Edison and Edwin Land might have been reversed. That observation becomes even more incredible when one learns that while Edison and Land employed teams of inventors and engineers, working in well equipped research labs, Jerry Lemelson's lab and team was all between his ears.
The Lemelson mind was a finely tuned instrument and ready to respond to any stimulus. While talking to Jerry, you would have his full attention, but with a vague feeling that he was sort of channeling on another level while simultaneously discussing the subject in which you were interested. He would never be rude, it was just his incredible powers of awareness.
I personally sensed it during an oriental lunch with Jerry. Even though he was using his chopsticks deftly, and the conversation was far removed from that restaurant, Jerry could very easily have been also inventing something like a safer surgical procedure in that other part of his mind. He kept staring at the chopsticks and I recall saying, "Jerry, for Pete's sake chopsticks have been around for a thousand years and they're as simple as they can ever be. Are you trying to improve on them?" He laughed, as if I had caught him plotting a practical joke.
It's a little scary, almost a religious experience, to know we had a real American hero of his stature living among us. Like the book heroes of an earlier time, he was willing to face down the thieves and corporate criminals (dragons) so the little guys of the world could feel a bit safer. He should have been doing more of what he loved -- inventing, instead of fighting those dragons for us.
What an honorable and selfless thing he did: putting America's welfare ahead of his own.
Was he revered and recognized as he should have been? By American inventors and those who knew him, yes, very much so. And he is our inspiration to take up his standard and continue to fight arrogance and greed, wherever and whenever we can, for as long as we can.
Jerome H. Lemelson was an honest and courageous man -- light years ahead in his vision and desires for a safer, more friendly world. A much loved book hero from another age.
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The Second Annual Independent Inventors Conference was held this month in Chicago on October 9th and 10th. It was attended by approximately 200 inventors, service providers and those with special interests concerning inventors. About 170 of those were from Chicago or within a short driving distance. It was sponsored by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and co-hosted by the very large and very beautiful Chicago Patent and Trademark Depository library, where it was held.
The staff at the PTO obviously worked their buns off to produce this year's affair because the scheduling for everything went smoothly and efficiently and the material presented was almost entirely top quality. Only those who have participated in producing a conference can really know the amount of effort and attention to detail needed to make it work.
The speakers, with a couple of exceptions, were totally professional and sincere in their effort to be informative and helpful. This is remarkable, considering they originally planned for only 100 people. It confirms my experiences with the PTO that only a couple or three bureaucrats and a small handful of employees are not our friends. The other 99.5% of the PTO staff are dedicated, knowledgeable folks who take pride in their work and strive for professionalism. I think it's important for us to keep that in mind.
The purpose of the conference: To continue to improve communications and information sharing between the independent inventors and the PTO.
OK, that sounds pretty much like boring bureaucratic stuff, but it is actually the best description of what went on there. Those folks really did communicate with us about the type of information we needed to hear. The future of patent fees -- Electronic filing and processing -- The consideration of an ombudsman for us -- Improved telephone access -- Regular conferences -- New search products -- Expiration of surcharges in 1998 -- Improved website information.
This is stuff learned from last year's conference and by talking to inventors. It may sound a little like business as usual, or normal evolution of modernization, but what is different about it is the fact that from last year to this, the communication has improved.
As the moderator and M.C., Don Kelly said, "When you consider that in the 200 years of the patent office operation, there have been only two conferences for inventors and both have been in the last two years, it is remarkable." There is a general feeling at the PTO that the government bureaucracy and its customers really can talk to each other. And nothing but good can come of it.
There were only two instances of discord during the entire conference: one was that a Chicago patent attorney who spoke to us turned out to be a mistake. Instead of an attorney who wanted to bring a helpful message, and get feedback from inventors, they got a guy who was such an arrogant snob that he talked down to us and even made the remark that "He didn't mind talking to an inventor or two in the afternoons." The audience didn't walk out, and there were no comments about lynching, but he sure shot himself in the foot. He made it worse by openly lobbying for passage of S507, which his audience has been fighting to stop. I'm sure the PTO won't make that mistake again. We inventors did not bring politics to the conference; we showed more class than he did.
Then the other negative, though not so bad, was the address by the Commissioner himself, Bruce Lehman. It was a perfect opportunity for him to acknowledge that the purpose of the conference was to communicate with the inventor community and then mention the recent death of Jerry Lemelson. If he had said one respectful thing and acknowledged the loss of an American hero, he could have gained a lot of respect from all of us. Instead he chose to ignore it. He told of how the economy has improved since he was appointed Commissioner. He also spoke of his childhood and schooling around the Chicago area, which was intended to convey the impression that he was "One of us." He still just doesn't get it.
The opinions and comments of the conference will be published, probably on he internet, so I'll be updating information as I receive it.
Something will be happening when the surcharges on our patent fees expire after 1998, but as yet no one knows just what. Congress has appropriated $141.5 million of those fees for use in other (non-patent) federal spending. We may be in for a serious battle with Congress over where those monies are going to come from in the future. If alternate sources of funding for the PTO don't surface during this next year, inventors are going to be pretty upset. We can't take another hit like that 69% raise in 1990 due to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
That's what these conferences are all about; to get some input from inventors, partly regarding the fiscal management of our fees. Sure, we are aware that inventors are an eclectic lot, mostly folks with no more than a high school education like me, seldom exposed to financial crises of any magnitude, and certainly not sophisticated in the political fancy dancing of top bureaucrats. But it is very revealing that perhaps inventors' ability to think might be recognized by some. And who knows... when a group of inventors pool their abilities, they might come up with something that works for all. We haven't done too badly for America for the last 200 years.
It's no secret that some Congressmen are looking at our fees like an ice cream cone to be shared before the idea of a year 2002 balanced budget melts. We do have ideas about where PTO funding should come from, but getting Congress to listen may be a lot tougher than just brainstorming the ideas with the PTO. Stay tuned.
Page done by Vince Chemist.
Created on Nov. 21, 1997
Updated on November 29, 2005