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James Lee FergasonAmerican inventor and entrepreneur
Date of Birth: 12.01.1934
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of James Lee Ferguson
James Lee Ferguson was an American inventor and entrepreneur, best known for his work on advanced versions of liquid crystal displays. He was born on a farm near Wakenda, Missouri. From an early age, Ferguson's family placed a strong emphasis on education, which clearly paid off as he went on to create numerous innovative inventions.
Early Life and Education
Ferguson attended a small local school until the 7th grade, which was held in a single room. His family later moved to Carrollton, where he continued his education in a larger educational institution. The Ferguson family always had a radical approach to education, with James' grandfather graduating from college at the age of 15. His two brothers studied chemical technology and electrical engineering, respectively, while one of his cousins was an agricultural engineer with over 100 patents for various technical devices.
After completing high school, Ferguson enrolled at the University of Missouri and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1956. Just two weeks after finishing university, he got married and then joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a second lieutenant for some time.
Career
Following his military service, Ferguson joined the Westinghouse Research Laboratories in Pennsylvania. It was there that he became fascinated with the use of cholesteric liquid crystals, a technology considered incredible at the time. He became a member of the first industrial group actively researching practical applications for this new technology and obtained his first patent in 1963. The technologies described in his patent formed the basis for a range of inventions, including liquid crystal thermometers and popular 1970s "mood rings."
In June 1966, Ferguson was hired as the deputy director of the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University. It was here, in 1969, that he created the first LCD display based on twisted nematic liquid crystals. He also worked extensively on using cholesteric liquid crystals for thermal analysis, particularly in diagnosing breast cancer. Additionally, Ferguson played a significant role in the discovery of smectic S-crystals.
The displays developed by Ferguson based on his technologies surpassed existing models in almost every aspect, leading to widespread adoption. In 1971, he obtained a patent for his new technology, and by that time, his company, ILIXCO, had been producing such displays for almost three years. The first customers for Ferguson's displays were watch companies Bulova and Gruen, who decided to use LCDs in their watches. By the end of the decade, the majority of electronic watches used LCD displays.
Throughout his career, Ferguson received over 150 patents in the United States and more than 500 patents internationally. He was honored with a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, an honorary doctorate from the University of Missouri, and the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize. In 2007, he was awarded the David Richardson Medal by the Optical Society, and in 2008, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers presented him with the Jun-Ichi Nishizawa Medal.
