Power Electronics Technology September 2004 www ...

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
mathematics, Lidow gravitated
York penniless with no knowl-
toward a technical career.
edge of English. To make mat-
Following graduation from
ters worse, he soon discovered
gymnasium in 1931, Lidow
that his master’s degree in elec-
moved to Germany and entrical
engineering would be of
rolled in the Berlin Technical
no help in landing one of the
University, where his engi-
available jobs as a busboy or
neering studies focused on
dishwasher.
heavy electric power. Although
However, the young im-
his parents had only a vague
migrant’s first break came
conception of electrical engi-
when he learned of an openneering,
they trusted their
ing for a foreman at Automatic
son’s judgment. Still, Lidow
Winding (which later became
recalls that his father offered
part of General Instruments)
him two memorable admoni-
in Newark, N.J. While waiting
tions when he left home.
for an interview at the com-
“He said, ‘Remember that
pany, a secretary ran into the
your life will depend on your
office where Lidow sat and
contribution to society.’ And
inquired frantically whether
‘Don’t marry a rich woman.’”
anyone there spoke German.
Despite the humor of the lat-
As the secretary explained, the
ter advice, Lidow understood
chairman of the company
the serious message underly-
was meeting with important
ing both of his father’s instruc-
German-speaking visitors and
tions. In the second instance,
desperately needed a translator
the father wanted to warn his Under Lidow’s guidance, IR has developed and commercialized to facilitate the meeting.
son that a wealthy mate would numerous power semiconductor technologies.
Lidow, who by then had
expect a lavish lifestyle. How-
learned English, informed the
ever, notes Lidow, his father also wanted him to under- secretary that he spoke German. He was promptly hired
stand that “wealth is so transient, while knowledge is not.” on a temporary basis as an interpreter. But Lidow so
The value of knowledge would be made real to Lidow impressed his bosses that they offered him a manager’s
by a fortuitous mishap he experienced as an engineering position. Initially put in charge of nine workers, Lidow had
student. Lidow recalls, “I decided to go into semiconduc- 120 people reporting to him after just one year. Given that
tors because of a very strange incident. In our school, if increase in responsibilities, Lidow was fully expecting a raise
you ruined a piece of equipment, you had to pay for it. when his boss asked to meet with him.
So, when I ruined a light meter—a very fancy exposure Unfortunately, his boss had other expectations. “You
meter—I had to pay my monthly allowance for it, which know, I’ve had very good reports on you,” said the boss,
was equivalent to $1300 now.
“and you have just about my build.” His boss then opened
“Then a professor gave me the piece that I had ruined. a closet, removed a dirty white suit and said, “There’s noth-
It was a photocell made of copper oxide, the size of a dollar ing wrong with this suit that the cleaner can’t fix.”
and about one-eighth of an inch thick. Not too heavy, only Unimpressed with his reward, Lidow left the meeting
about 40 cents worth of copper, mostly know how. And I at Automatic Winding and discarded the suit. But he came
had to pay $1300! I looked at it and realized that this was away from this encounter feeling that his talents would be
value added. This is what I should be producing.”
put to better use elsewhere. To that end, Lidow withdrew
That experience prompted Lidow to focus his studies $34 from his savings account—his complete savings—and
on all things relating to photoelectric cells. Later, Lidow’s placed an advertisement in the New York Times announc-
extensive knowledge of these devices would provide his ing his availability for work as a “photoelectric expert.” This
entry into the semiconductor field.
led Lidow to his first promising position in Los Angeles,
Though he completed his electrical engineering studies where he was hired by Carl Laemmle of Universal Studios
in 1937, his opportunities for further education in Ger- to develop photoelectric control for printing film.
many were limited by the country’s buildup to war. As time That opportunity fell through, however, because
went by, one technical lecture after another was being closed Laemmle died before Lidow arrived on the job. Never-
off to foreign students because of “military implications.” theless, the trip to California was not in vain as one of
With his opportunities in Germany dwindling, Lidow Laemmle’s employees suggested to Lidow that they start
immigrated to the United States soon after graduation. their own venture to develop photoelectric cells. He
Although he spoke four languages, Lidow arrived in New approached Lidow with $2000, providing the seed money
Power Electronics Technology September 2004 72
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