February marks Black History Month which honors the important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, as well as American history. Each year, we create a list of 5 African-American inventors and patent holders,honor the achievements of this community.
1) Gerald “Jerry” Lawson
An engineer for Fairchild Semiconductor’s gaming division in the ’70s, Lawson “developed the first home gaming console that utilized interchangeable cartridges, the Fairchild Channel F,” according to an article in Engadget. Lawson developed the mechanism that allowed for swapping game cartridges without damaging the semiconductors. In 2011, Lawson was honored by the International Game Developers Association.
2) Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green holds a patent for “photothermal nanonstructures in tumor therapy.” Green’s work uses a combination of laser technology and nanotech to identify, target and treat cancer cells.
3) Ivan Yaeger
Ivan Yaeger’s first patent was for an artificial arm in 1987. Since then he has had a few more prosthetic-based patents, which aim to improve the functionality of prosthetic arms and hands for everyday use.
4) Garrett Morgan
The son of freed slaves, Garrett Morgan held a variety of patents in his lifetime. He is famously known for his safety hoods, which he sold to the U.S. Navy.
5) Lisa Ascolese
Known as “The Inventress,” Lisa Ascolese has patents on home-goods products such as hangers and luggage accessories. She’s also the founder of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs & Inventors, or AOWIE.
