Charles J. Breitwieser; Engineer and Inventor

Charles J. Breitwieser, 86, engineer and inventor who improved medical equipment, aircraft and elevators. A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Breitwieser grew up in Grand Forks, N.D., and earned engineering degrees from the University of North Dakota and Caltech. As head of research and development for De Forest Laboratories & Engineering, he developed an artificial fever machine, the high-frequency cordless surgical knife and several advances in radiation and X-ray technology. In aerospace, he invented advanced guidance systems for long-range missiles and the radio altimeter for aircraft. Later, he became vice president of engineering and general manager of Lear Inc., chief of the electronics and engineering laboratories at the Convair Division of General Dynamics, and vice president of engineering at Pasadena-based Air Logistics Corp. He founded Metrolog and co-founded Cubic Corp. As chairman of U.S. Elevator Corp., Breitwieser developed the first integrated control system for high-speed elevators. He served on the development and research board of the Defense Department and on the National Aircraft Standards Committee. On Thursday in La Jolla.