Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1954 [PAGE 611]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 20

EXECUTIVE SESSION BUSINESS PRESENTED BY T H E PRESIDENT O F T H E UNIVERSITY

The Board convened in Executive Session to consider the following reports and recommendations from the President of the University.

PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES ( i ) T h e University Patent Committee submits the following recommendations relating to potentially patentable discoveries: a. Thomas R. O'Meara, Research Associate in Electrical Engineering, and Harold D. Webb, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, have developed a method for recording bearings from a Watson-watt or dual-channel type direction finder. This invention is the result of research under a contract with the Office of Naval Research. The invention is of primary interest to various government agencies and has only limited commercial possibilities. The Committee recommends the release of the invention to the United States Navy. b. Arthur L. Samuel, formerly Professor of Electrical Engineering and now on the staff of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, has developed an electrostatic storage system for high-speed computers. The basic idea was formulated by him at the University of Illinois and the Board of Trustees authorized the filing of a patent application. Subsequently the University's patent attorney discovered a possible interference with this patent and it was decided, with the approval of the Board, not to prosecute the application. Dr. Samuel has now offered to reimburse the University for expenses (approximately $1,000) incurred in this patent application if the University will release to him all rights it may have. The Committee recommends that all rights be released to Dr. Samuel under this condition. I concur in these recommendations.

On motion of Mr. Johnston, these recommendations were approved.

PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES DISCLOSED BY GRANT FAIRBANKS AND WILLIAM L. EVER1TT (2) T h e Board of Trustees has authorized patent applications covering an invention by Professor Grant Fairbanks of the Department of Speech, Dean William L. Everitt of the College of Engineering, and Mr. Robert P. Jaeger, formerly Electronic Engineer in the Department of Speech and now on the staff of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, of an electro-mechanical machine for time compression of acoustical signals and its use in various types of communications systems. The device makes possible reproduction of connected speech or music in less or more than the original time with retention of intelligibility and fidelity of reproduction. Professor Fairbanks disclosed on March 22, 1953, as the sole inventor, a device for effecting time or frequency compression, or time or frequency expansion, by electronic means. H e and Dean Everitt also disclosed on March 31, 1953, a control device for automatic and variable time compression and expansion. This permits playback of a recorded signal in shorter or longer time than the original recorded time, or in the same time, without substantial alteration of the original recorded frequencies, reproduced pitch, or intelligibility in the case of speech. It is based on the essential principles of a feature of the original time compressor. It offers possibilities of being incorporated, at comparatively low cost, in various types of communications equipment, a conspicuous example being office dictating equipment in which the control unit could be operated by foot, elbow, or finger and the operator transcribing recorded dictation could select a speed of reproduction appropriate to typing speed, varying such speed according to variations in the speed of dictation. T h e original, signed and witnessed, disclosures of these two additional devices were filed on the dates indicated with the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Because of the commercial possibilities inherent in these two devices, the patent attorneys for the University and the University of Illinois Foundation have been requested, through the Foundation, to institute patent applica-