During National Inventors Month, we not only pay tribute to the inventors who were the first to create breakthrough lighting technologies, but also those whose inventive spirit created practical devices to use and control light. One of those individuals, Joel Spira, gave us the ability to easily control the light intensity in our homes.
Spira wasn’t the first person to build a dimming device that could control the intensity of light, but he did revolutionize the way we control light in our homes with a special solid state semiconductor switch that could fit in an electrical box to be practical, safe and easy to operate.
It started in the 1950s when Spira worked for an aerospace company where he was assigned to create a reliable trigger switch for atomic weapons. He started to build his design around the thyristor, a solid state semiconductor switch. During his research he discovered that the device could also be employed to vary the intensity of light powered by alternating current.
Dimming devices existed at the time, but they were expensive and complicated to operate. They also required the use of large rheostats that were about 10-12 inches in size. All of this made them fine for large commercial buildings such as theaters, but they were very impractical for homes.
Spira’s breakthrough design would be small enough to fit in a standard wall box that houses a standard light switch.
Realizing the commercial potential of this light dimmer, Spira resigned from the aerospace company and began working day and night on his invention inside his New York City apartment on a ping pong table converted to a work bench.
The result was the first successful solid state electronic light dimmer, and Spira filed a U.S patent for the device on July 15, 1959.
In 1961, Joel, along with his wife Ruth Rodale Spira, founded the Lutron Electronics Company in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. Joel Spira headed Lutron for 54 years—overseeing his one invention giving rise to the entire modern dimming and controls industry we see today.
Spira passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on as his invention continues to be a staple in homes, offices, and commercial spaces around the globe.
Perhaps his biggest contribution wasn’t the device itself, but rather allowing us to see the ability we have to interact with light to create environments that can control our moods and emotions. This, along with the many inventors and designers who were inspired by him, exemplify Spira’s lasting impact on our lighting industry.
So, as we celebrate National Inventors Month let’s take a moment to recognize the bright work in dimming Joel Spira has created.
UP NEXT: Narinder Singh Kapany – The Father of Fiber Optic Lighting
Featured Image Courtesy of the New York Times.
