I can only assume you don't know anything about MS Research. They've been producing more published CS papers than anyone else for years now. They conducted the user studies that went into region-specific handwriting recognition on their tablets, and the Office Ribbon. They also developed the vision system in the Kinect. http://research.microsoft.com/ They're doing an amazing amount of research there.
But also they have done some really cool stuff. Like they have this device that uses laser to shoot down individual mosquitoes, but not just any mosquitoe, but uses technology to see how the blood is flowing in the mosqitoe (as its flying through the air) to decide which mosqitoes are carrying malaria, and only shoot those.
He also has built a portable refrigeration unit that can store vaccines (and other meds) for long periods of time with no power. Besides the cookbook though, I don't think he's created anything you'd buy at a store. Most of his work is focused on environmental and 3rd world issues.
Yes, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2005-08-21-...
Relevant:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_patent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_H._Lemelson#Patents_and_...
(The USA Today link above was a reference from this WP page)