Patents by Inventor Scott A. Mollema
Scott A. Mollema has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7170200Abstract: The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Roy W. Kuennen
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Patent number: 7145342Abstract: A system for automated testing of the lamp filaments has an ohm meter. The ohm meter is used to determine the resistance of the lamp filament prior to energizing the lamp. A multiplexer switches the ohm meter from one lamp filament to the next so that the lamp filaments are quickly and accurately tested. After the cold resistance of the lamp filaments is measured, a power supply energizes the lamp filaments.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Ernest T. Wendt, Scott A. Mollema, Karlis Vecziedins
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Publication number: 20060006814Abstract: A system for automated testing of the lamp filaments has an ohm meter. The ohm meter is used to determine the resistance of the lamp filament prior to energizing the lamp. A multiplexer switches the ohm meter from one lamp filament to the next so that the lamp filaments are quickly and accurately tested. After the cold resistance of the lamp filaments is measured, a power supply energizes the lamp filaments.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Ernest Wendt, Scott Mollema, Karlis Vecziedins
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Publication number: 20050093475Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: Roy Kuennen, David Baarman, Scott Mollema, Ronald Markham, Dennis Denen
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Patent number: 6825620Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Ronald C. Markham, Dennis J. Denen
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Publication number: 20040222751Abstract: The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Roy W. Kuennen
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Patent number: 6806649Abstract: The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Roy W. Kuennen
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Publication number: 20040182761Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). A filter assembly (26) is used which has a filter block (90) and an inner sleeve (92) which extends inside filter block (90). Inner sleeve (92) defines a chamber in which the secondary treatment device (24) may be disposed. First and second valves and seals may be interposed between the filter assembly (26), secondary treatment device (24) and base unit (22) to allow the filter assembly (26) and secondary treatment device (24) to be independently replaceable. Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Access Business Group International LLC f/k/a Amway CorporationInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Snyder, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6793817Abstract: The present invention is directed to a replaceable lamp assembly for a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS). The lamp assembly includes first and second ends with respective sealed inlet and outlet openings associated with the ends. One or more conduits extend between the openings. A bulb assembly is positioned adjacent the conduit to irradiate liquid transferred in the conduit. A reflector assembly in the lamp assembly focuses radiation on the conduit. An enclosure surrounds the bulb and reflector assemblies such that lamp assembly becomes a generally closed pressure vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Snyder, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6673250Abstract: A fluid treatment system is disclosed that includes a control unit that controls the overall operation of the fluid treatment system. A ballast circuit is coupled with an electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly. In the preferred fluid treatment system, the ballast circuit is inductively coupled with the electromagnetic radiation assembly. The inductively coupled ballast circuit inductively energizes an electromagnetic radiation emitting device that is located in the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly in response to a predetermined electric signal from the control unit. In addition, the fluid treatment system includes a radio frequency identification system that is used to monitor various functional and operational aspects of the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly and a filter assembly used in the fluid treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Scott A. Mollema, Ronald C. Markham, Terry L. Lautzenheiser
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Publication number: 20030155869Abstract: The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Roy W. Kuennen
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Patent number: 6569319Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light monitoring system used in a water treatment system. The monitoring system includes a light pipe and a light intensity detector. The light pipe is impregenated with a florescent dye that converts ultraviolet light into visible light. The light pipe includes a plurality of internal facets that focus light incident on the light pipe toward the light intensity detector. The light intensity detector monitors the visible light transmitted to the detector by the light pipe and determines the relative ultraviolet light output intensity of a lamp assembly within the water treatment system based on the monitored visible light.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6514420Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lamp assembly for use in a point-of-use water treatment system or other device. The lamp assembly includes a condensing element to condense mercury in a bulb within the arc path of opposing filaments when the bulb is de-energized. In one embodiment, the time required for the lamp assembly to produce light upon subsequent re-energization of the bulb is significantly reduced because the mercury is in the intermediate portion of the bulb, within the filament arc path.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Scott A. Mollema
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Publication number: 20030015478Abstract: A fluid treatment system is disclosed that includes a control unit that controls the overall operation of the fluid treatment system. A ballast circuit is coupled with an electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly. In the preferred fluid treatment system, the ballast circuit is inductively coupled with the electromagnetic radiation assembly. The inductively coupled ballast circuit inductively energizes an electromagnetic radiation emitting device that is located in the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly in response to a predetermined electric signal from the control unit. In addition, the fluid treatment system includes a radio frequency identification system that is used to monitor various functional and operational aspects of the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly and a filter assembly used in the fluid treatment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Scott A. Mollema, Ronald C. Markham, Terry L. Lautzenheiser
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Publication number: 20030015479Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Scott A. Mollema, David W. Baarman, Ronald C. Markham, Dennis J. Denen
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Publication number: 20020189986Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). A filter assembly (26) is used which has a filter block (90) and an inner sleeve (92) which extends inside filter block (90). Inner sleeve (92) defines a chamber in which the secondary treatment device (24) may be disposed. First and second valves and seals may be interposed between the filter assembly (26), secondary treatment device (24) and base unit (22) to allow the filter assembly (26) and secondary treatment device (24) to be independently replaceable. Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Amway CorporationInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema, Eric K. Bartkus, Kenneth E. Conrad, Greg Snyder
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Patent number: 6491868Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444). Maintaining the condensed mercury between filaments (444) serves to reduce the time needed for lamp assembly (24) to produce light emissions of a predetermined intensity upon subsequent energization as compared to allowing the mercury to condense outside the arc path. A reflector assembly (402) may be used in lamp assembly (24) to focus radiation upon conduits (80) carrying water therethrough and away from returning to a bulb assembly (82) from which the radiation was originally emitted.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema
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Publication number: 20020162779Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). A filter assembly (26) is used which has a filter block (90) and an inner sleeve (92) which extends inside filter block (90). Inner sleeve (92) defines a chamber in which the secondary treatment device (24) may be disposed. First and second valves and seals may be interposed between the filter assembly (26), secondary treatment device (24) and base unit (22) to allow the filter assembly (26) and secondary treatment device (24) to be independently replaceable. Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Applicant: Amway CorporationInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6451202Abstract: A water treatment system 20 for filtering and treating contaminants in water includes a UV lamp assembly 24 coaxially received within a filter assembly 26. A valve system prevents water from being spilled from the filter assembly when the filter assembly is removed from the base unit 22 and the lamp assembly so that the lamp and filter assemblies are independently replaceable. The valve system includes a check valve 102 controlling flow between the lamp and filter assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Synder, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6436299Abstract: A fluid treatment system is disclosed that includes a control unit that controls the overall operation of the fluid treatment system. A ballast circuit is coupled with an electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly. In the preferred fluid treatment system, the ballast circuit is inductively coupled with the electromagnetic radiation assembly. The inductively coupled ballast circuit inductively energizes an electromagnetic radiation emitting device that is located in the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly in response to a predetermined electric signal from the control unit. In addition, the fluid treatment system includes a radio frequency identification system that is used to monitor various functional and operational aspects of the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly and a filter assembly used in the fluid treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Amway CorporationInventors: David W. Baarman, Roy W. Kuennen, Dennis J. Denen, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Ronald C. Markham, Scott A. Mollema