She is currently serving as the Chief Digital Service Officer with the US Department of Education. This was followed by his 1961 patent for an electrical resistor that was both inexpensive and easy to produce. Yes, he is also working on the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC) which converts heat directly into electricity but its the squirt gun he created that has given us all the most joy. Otis Frank Boykin (August 29, 1920 March 26, 1982) was an American inventor and engineer. She has another 100 patents currently under review. On this day in 1961, an improved version of Boykins electrical resistor was published and caught the attention of the military and one of Americas top computer companies. Otis BoykinAt the time, the field of electronics was very popular among the science community and Boykin took a special interest in working with resistors. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He invented a resistor (a type of electrical device) that has been used in many products, including computers. In due course, he was able to make important inventions that revolutionized how we live. Read on for posts that were previously published here. Otis Boykin, African American engineer and inventor, was born on August 29, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. [8] In the early 1960s, Boykin was a senior project engineer at the Chicago Telephone Supply Corporation, later known as CTS Labs. So the next time youre escaping a hot day inside your cool house, dont forget to thank Lewis Latimer. Otis Boykin is an African American scientist famed for his inventions in the world of microelectronics. Like BlackAmericaWeb.com onFacebook. Beginning in 1946 he briefly ran his own company, Boykin-Fruth, Inc., and began working on various inventions. 2023 InvenTeam Mid-Grant Technical Reviews. His father was a carpenter, and his mother was a homemaker. Additionally, according to U.S. patent No. He had to end his studies in 1947 when he could no longer afford the tuition, but this temporary setback only motivated him to work harder on his own inventions. Over the course of his life he earned over 25 patents, his first issued in 1959 and his last in 1985. The device, which was cheaper and more reliable than others on the market, came in great demand by the United States military for guided missiles and IBM for computers. Boykins inventions included a chemical air filter, a burglar-proof cash register, and an improved electrical resistor. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}contact us! He majored in electronic resistors. Otis Boykin was born in Dallas, Texas on August 29, 1920. Login to BlackFacts.com using your favorite Social Media Login. His venture did not last for long. He gained valuable experience in electronics. Variations of his resistor models are used around the world today in televisions, computers, and radios. Otis Frank Boykin was born on August 29, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. The chip was cheaper and more. In World War II, he played a major role in developing the first large-scale blood banks and blood plasma programs. He collaborated with science greats Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison. Otis Boykin: Improved the Pacemaker. By 1944, he was working for the P.J. His inventions didnt stop there, working with Alexander Graham Bell, Latimer helped draft the patent for Bells design of the telephone. [5] One of his mentors was Dr. Denton Deere, an engineer, and inventor with his own laboratory. Nilsen Research Laboratories, and he eventually founded his own company, Boykin-Fruth Inc. Hal Fruth was his mentor at the time and business partner. Mary and her sister Mildred patented many practical inventions. [15] His most famous invention was likely a control unit for the artificial cardiac pacemaker. On the 29th of August 1920, Otis Frank Boykin was born in Dallas. Due to cost, Philip Emeagwali was forced to drop out of school at age 14. However, this did not deter him, and after graduating as valedictorian from Dallass Booker T. Washington High School in 1938, he earned a scholarship to attend Fisk University. After translating an article, all tools except font up/font down will be disabled. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/otis-boykin, http://www.biography.com/people/otis-boykin-538792, http://www.black-inventor.com/Otis-Boykin.asp, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. He graduated in 1941. Most people in medtech know of Earl Bakken's contributions to pacemakers and cardiac rhythm devices. Did you ever enjoy water gun fights as a kid? Otis Boykin: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. It was here that he did much of his pacemaker research. Nilsen Research Labs. Boykin died of heart failure in Chicago in 1982. While in college, he landed a job testing automatic aircraft controls at an aerospace laboratory close to the university. With technology playing an even greater role in our everyday lives due to our increased need to work and learn remotely, we often take advantage of Boykins contributions to resistor technology without even knowing it. Despite his input, Boykin died of a heart attack himself. This invention could withstand extreme pressures of heat or temperature fluctuation. This is necessary to prevent too much electricity from passing through a component than is necessary or even safe. Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. Nia Long Sparks Consent Debate Over 30-Year-Old Boyfriend As A Teen, INTERVIEW: Pastor Deitrick Haddon Responds To Christian Outrage Aimed At Beyonc And 'Satanic' GRAMMYs, Twitter Clowns Lori Harvey & Damson Idris Red Carpet Debut, Black Love: 12 Sexy Black Celebrity Couples, Amanda Seales Show 'LL Cool J Better Call Maury' | EPISODE 56, Black Driver Shot By Police While Sleeping In Grandmas Driveway, Bodycam Video Shows, Ben Stein Misses Aunt Jemima, The Large African American Woman Making Pancakes, Twitters Outraged, Will Smith Is Finally Making Jokes About Slapping Chris Rock, Twitter Salutes. At the Chicago based firm, Boykin rose from a lab assistant to the post of a supervisor within three years. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. This inspired him to help improve the pacemaker. He was a creative inventor, living his life during a time when African-Americans were segregated. After graduating high school, he attended Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee. Marc Zorn. [5] He attended Fisk University[3] on a scholarship, worked as a laboratory assistant at the university's nearby aerospace laboratory, and left in 1941. The computer manufacturer IBM also used it to strengthen its hardware. The construction of the honeycombed inspired him to rethink computer processing. He is also known to have created a range of consumer innovations including a burglar-proof cash register and a chemical air filter. Age AintWhat?! In 1872 he developed a lubricating cup that could automatically drip oil when and where needed vital in avoiding sticking to the track. Lonnie wasnt a toymaker, he was actually an Aerospace Engineer for NASA with a resume boasting a stint with the US Air Force, work on the Galileo Jupiter probe and Mars Observer project, and more than 40 patents. That same year, he took a job as a lab assistant with the Majestic Radio and TV Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. Boykin, who took a special interest in working with resistors, began researching and inventing on his own. Boykin was born on August 29, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. Student Fellows Research Program: Recruitment Open! Two years later, he came up with a resistor-capacitor. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. As a mathematician for the American Optical Company in Buffalo, N.Y., he perfected lens design for microscopes and ophthalmologic uses. Over the course of his career, Boykin would go on to earn a total of 12 U.S. patents relating to resistors and similar electronic components. [10], After the suit was eventually dismissed, and his career at CTS had ended, he opened his own consulting and research company, with offices in both the US and Paris, France. He also invented the, and get ready because this name is pretty charming bloodmobiles. When he died in 1982, he had 26 patents in his name. The finishing touch was an alarm button that, when pressed, would immediately contact the police. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Jesse Ernest Wilkins, Jr. is one of Americas most important contemporary mathematicians. It was 1950 before the Red Cross finally recognized all blood as being equal. Gelobter was integrally involved with the advent of Shockwave, a technology that formed the beginning of web animation. Otis F. Boykin was born on August 29, 1920 in Dallas, Texas. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Otis Boykin, Birth Year: 1920, Birth date: August 29, 1920, Birth State: Texas, Birth City: Dallas, Birth Country: United States. They didnt have technical education, but they were both exceptional at spotting ways to make peoples lives better. Updated: Mar 24, 2021 (1920-1982) In 1959, one of his resistors made was patented and produced by companies. They insisted on the authentic device, calling it the Real McCoy.. On this day in 1961, an improved version of Boykin's electrical resistor was published and caught the attention of the military and one of America's top computer companies. He sought and received a patent for a wire precision resistor on June 16, 1959. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. A resistor is an electronic component that slows the flow of an electrical current. His father served as the pastor of the Old Primitive Baptist Church in Dallas. Otis Redding, (born September 9, 1941, Dawson, Georgia, U.S.died December 10, 1967, near Madison, Wisconsin), American singer-songwriter, one of the great soul stylists of the 1960s. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. Celebrate 50 Years of Innovation With the National Inventors Hall of Fame! 15025. "Black Inventors Have a Patent on Obscurity. The entrepreneurial bug bit early, and he soon started his own company, Boykin-Fruth Inc. In 1944, he moved to P.J Nilsen Research Laboratory in Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/otis-boykin-biography-1991373. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Orville Wright, Biography: You Need to Know: Garrett Morgan, Alexander Graham Bell: 5 Facts on the Father of the Telephone. There and at other companies, he gained . He graduated in 1941 and took a job as a laboratory assistant with the Majestic Radio and TV Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. She is known for her independent films and documentaries, including one about Alexander Graham Bell. ThoughtCo. Her original invention consisted of peepholes, a camera, monitors, and a two-way microphone. Perhaps most importantly, his work was used to create the first successful 0pacemaker. He patented more than 25electronic devices, and hisinventions greatly assisted him in overcoming the obstacles that society placed in front of himduring that era of segregation. Electrical resistors and its technology was transformed due to the inventions of Otis Boykin. Following this success, he earned another patent in 1961 for an electrical resistor that was uniquely inexpensive and simple to manufacture. Typically, a resistors value is denoted by tiny, colored bands for identification. In addition, a version of his resistor made possible the precise regulation necessary for the success of the pacemaker, which has helped to save and lengthen the lives of thousands of men and women around the world. But, did you know that many of the products we use every day were created by black people? His mother was a homemaker and his father was a carpenter. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Thanks to the, Perhaps Boykins greatest contribution came in 1964, when he created a, Otiss work was instrumental in making the components of the pacemaker longer-lasting and manufacturable at a lower cost, which in turn helped increase access to the therapy to improve patient care,, To discover our many amazing NIHF Inductees, we invite you to, Learn the February Star Signs of Great Hall of Famers, 2023 NIHF Inductee James A. Parsons Jr.: Metallurgist and Educator, 2023 NIHF Inductee Marjorie Stewart Joyner: A Trailblazer in the Beauty Industry, National Inventors Hall of Fame Instagram, Leadership Intern Program (High School & College Students), Apply for the Collegiate Inventors Competition. Otis Boykin was born on Aug. 29, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. After graduating high school, he attended Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee. The lubricating cup met with enormous success and orders for it came in from railroad companies all over the country. Otis Boykins most notable contribution to science was likely the circuit improvements he made to pacemakers after losing his mother to heart failure a contribution that has saved countless lives since. Weve been busy, working hard to bring you new features and an updated design. And thanks to the Academy Award nominated film, Hidden Figures, were now all familiar with the amazing contributions of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. He attended classes in 1946 and 1947 but was forced to drop out because he lacked the funds to pay the next years tuition. But this didnt stop him from becoming one of the greatest computer pioneers of our time. Otis Boykin was an African American electrical engineer and inventor. Well, meet Lonnie Johnson, the man that gave us the most famous water gun the Super Soaker. Dr. Shirley Jackson is an American physicist who received her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973. Otis Boykin is best known for inventing an improved electrical resistor used in computers, radios, television sets and a variety of electronic devices. This is the inspiration that drove him to help improve the pacemaker. Boykin earned his first patent in 1959 for a wire precision resistor, which allowed for the designation of a precise amount of resistance for a specific purpose. Boykin, while working as a consultant in Chicago, came up with several variations on the resistors that were commercially successful. He later became a research engineer with the P.J. ThinkGrowth.org is no longer accepting guest post submissions. Otis Boykin - Birthday. Aside from the resistor, Boykins most notable invention might be circuit improvements made to the pacemaker. Heres a list of 14 of them that, until now, you probably didnt know about. Others are familiar with the story of Sarah Breedlove, aka Madam C. J. Walker, the inventor of beauty products and the first woman to become a self-made millionaire in America. 2,972,726, this resistor had the ability to withstand extreme accelerations and shocks and great temperature changes without danger of breakage of the fine resistance wire or other detrimental effects. His designs are still in use in nearly all aspects of electronic gadgets. Boykin also created consumer innovations, including a "burglar-proof cash register and a chemical air filter.". Nilsen Research Labs. Boykin then moved around to various companies. Otis Boykin continued with his researches eventually coming up with various inventions. It was mounted on several ammunitions, including remote-guided missiles. Additionally, Boykins device would enable the development of the control unit for the artificial heart pacemaker, a device created to produce electrical shocks to the heart to maintain a healthy heart rate. [citation needed], Boykin then moved to Chicago, where he found work as a clerk at Electro Manufacturing Company. His most famous invention was a control unit for the pacemaker. Boykin died of heart failure in Chicago in 1982. Though some of the inventions were done in Europe, all of his patents were registered in the US. After graduating high school, he attended Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee. The advances incorporated into Boykins resistor meant that many electronic devices, including consumer goods and military equipment, could be made more cheaply and with greater reliability than provided by earlier options. In 1961, he earned another patent for an improved version of this concept. By the time of his death in 1982 from heart failure, Boykin had presented several inventions, including a burglar-proof cash register and a chemical air filter. While in college, he landed a job testing automatic aircraft controls at an aerospace laboratory close to the university. His designs are still in use in nearly all aspects of electronic gadgets. In an interview with Medical Design & Outsourcing, Gabriel Mouchawar, divisional VP of product development at Abbott, explained that Boykins early technological contributions proved essential to making pacemakers accessible for many more people. His father was a carpenter who later became a preacher. In 1965, he produced an electrical capacitor. In fact, hes often called The Bill Gates of Africa.. [11], Boykin patented as many as 26 devices. "Otis Boykin." [4] The two men later went into business, opening an electronics research lab in the late 1940s. Otis Boykin was an African-American Inventor and Engineer, best known for his work in the field of Electronics and his involvement in the improvement of the Pacemaker. In 1989, he put this idea to work, using 65,000 processes to invent the worlds first massively parallel processing supercomputer able to perform 3.1 billion calculations per second. In some accounts, it was said that Boykin was moved to work on the device after losing his mother to heart failure. Did you know that the first home security system was invented by a Black nurse? One of Latimers greatest inventions was the carbon filament, a vital component of the light bulb. 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