Patents by Inventor Mark Foltz

Mark Foltz 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).

  • Publication number: 20240102388
    Abstract: A system for controlling a turbine valve is provided. The system includes a hydraulic pilot valve section being moveable in a first direction and a second direction; a main hydraulic valve section being moveable in a first direction to close the turbine valve and a second direction to open the turbine valve; a position demand indicating a desired position of the turbine valve; a first feedback indicating an actual position of the hydraulic pilot valve section; and aa second feedback indicating an actual position of the main hydraulic valve section. The system also includes a pilot valve error; a main valve error; a turbine valve error; and a pilot valve adjustment moving the hydraulic pilot valve section in response to the turbine valve error. The turbine valve error is repeatedly determined and the pilot valve adjustment repeatedly moves the hydraulic pilot valve section to minimize the turbine valve error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11898449
    Abstract: A turbine control system is provided for decreasing the response time between readings of the speed of the turbine and changing a valve position in response thereto. The speed control system includes a speed probe that detects the speed of the turbine and a turbine valve that controls the flow of fluid or gas from or to the turbine. A controller receives a speed signal from the speed probe and sends valve position commands to the turbine valve. The controller also sends support functions to the turbine valve. The controller sends the valve position commands at a faster rate than the support functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller
  • Patent number: 11814964
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a turbine valve. The turbine valve has a first coil and a second coil to control or sense movement of a mechanical valve positioner. Two valve positioners are provided with each valve positioner having two drive circuits to drive the first and second coils. Switches are provided such that only one drive circuit is connected to each coil at a time. The control system may also include a hydraulic pilot valve section and a main hydraulic valve section. Feedbacks are used to determine a pilot valve error and a main valve error which are combined to determine a turbine valve error. The turbine valve error is repeatedly determined to minimize the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11773721
    Abstract: A turbine speed probe diagnostic system is provided. The turbine includes a speed probe and a speed reading circuit. A speed lead connects the speed probe and speed reading circuit together to transmit speed signals from the speed probe to the speed reading circuit. A speed probe diagnostic circuit is also provided for connection to the speed lead. An isolation switch is provided to isolate the speed probe diagnostic circuit during normal operation when the speed reading circuit is receiving speed signals from the speed probe. When no speed signals are being received, the isolation switch closes and the speed probe diagnostic circuit performs a test on the speed probe or speed lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11486251
    Abstract: A speed control system and a power load balance detector for a turbine is provided. The speed control system includes a speed wheel with a plurality of teeth. A timer stores a time stamp when each of the teeth passes by a speed probe. A first speed estimate is determined for overspeed protection, and a second speed estimate is determined for operational speed control. The power load balance detector trips or shuts down the turbine when an unbalance is above a first threshold and the speed of the turbine is above a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors, Xudong Yang
  • Publication number: 20220154602
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a turbine valve. The turbine valve has a first coil and a second coil to control or sense movement of a mechanical valve positioner. Two valve positioners are provided with each valve positioner having two drive circuits to drive the first and second coils. Switches are provided such that only one drive circuit is connected to each coil at a time. The control system may also include a hydraulic pilot valve section and a main hydraulic valve section. Feedbacks are used to determine a pilot valve error and a main valve error which are combined to determine a turbine valve error. The turbine valve error is repeatedly determined to minimize the error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11225867
    Abstract: A breaker between two electrical circuits is provided that is closed when electrical properties in both of the electrical circuits are matching. Two check circuits are provided for comparing electrical properties of the two electrical circuits. Each of the check circuits sets a corresponding authorization to close the breaker. The breaker is only closed if both check circuits set an authorization to close the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Publication number: 20210057917
    Abstract: A breaker between two electrical circuits is provided that is closed when electrical properties in both of the electrical circuits are matching. Two check circuits are provided for comparing electrical properties of the two electrical circuits. Each of the check circuits sets a corresponding authorization to close the breaker. The breaker is only closed if both check circuits set an authorization to close the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Allan Majors
  • Publication number: 20210054765
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a turbine valve. The turbine valve has a first coil and a second coil to control or sense movement of a mechanical valve positioner. Two valve positioners are provided with each valve positioner having two drive circuits to drive the first and second coils. Switches are provided such that only one drive circuit is connected to each coil at a time. The control system may also include a hydraulic pilot valve section and a main hydraulic valve section. Feedbacks are used to determine a pilot valve error and a main valve error which are combined to determine a turbine valve error. The turbine valve error is repeatedly determined to minimize the error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Publication number: 20210054741
    Abstract: A turbine speed probe diagnostic system is provided. The turbine includes a speed probe and a speed reading circuit. A speed lead connects the speed probe and speed reading circuit together to transmit speed signals from the speed probe to the speed reading circuit. A speed probe diagnostic circuit is also provided for connection to the speed lead. An isolation switch is provided to isolate the speed probe diagnostic circuit during normal operation when the speed reading circuit is receiving speed signals from the speed probe. When no speed signals are being received, the isolation switch closes and the speed probe diagnostic circuit performs a test on the speed probe or speed lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Publication number: 20210054790
    Abstract: A speed control system and a power load balance detector for a turbine is provided. The speed control system includes a speed wheel with a plurality of teeth. A timer stores a time stamp when each of the teeth passes by a speed probe. A first speed estimate is determined for overspeed protection, and a second speed estimate is determined for operational speed control. The power load balance detector trips or shuts down the turbine when an unbalance is above a first threshold and the speed of the turbine is above a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Weland, Alan Majors, Xudong Yang
  • Publication number: 20210054789
    Abstract: A turbine control system is provided for decreasing the response time between readings of the speed of the turbine and changing a valve position in response thereto. The speed control system includes a speed probe that detects the speed of the turbine and a turbine valve that controls the flow of fluid or gas from or to the turbine. A controller receives a speed signal from the speed probe and sends valve position commands to the turbine valve. The controller also sends support functions to the turbine valve. The controller sends the valve position commands at a faster rate than the support functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller
  • Patent number: 9836437
    Abstract: A method includes determining, by a local computing device, a portion of a web page to render for display via a remote display of a remote device, generating rendered presentation information by rendering the portion of the web page based upon at least one characteristic of the remote device and transmitting the rendered presentation information to the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Yuri James Wiitala, Hin-Chung Lam, Jiao Yang Lin, Mark Foltz, Nicholas Carter, Mark David Scott
  • Publication number: 20150262250
    Abstract: Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramaswamy, Angela Chunwah Lai, Mark A. Foltz, Ariel H. Bardin, Julie A. Black, Joerg Heilig, Thomas R. Stanis
  • Patent number: 9058613
    Abstract: Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramaswamy, Angela Chunwah Lai, Mark A. Foltz, Ariel H. Bardin, Julie Black, Joerg Heilig, Thomas R. Stanis
  • Publication number: 20140281896
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, a method may include determining, by a processor of a local computing device, a portion of a web page to render for display via a remote display of a remote device. The method may also include generating rendered presentation information by rendering the portion of the web page based upon at least one characteristic of the remote device. The method may include transmitting the rendered presentation information to the remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yuri James Wiitala, Hin-Chung Lam, Jiao Yang Lin, Mark Foltz, Nicholas Carter, Mark David Scott
  • Publication number: 20120089459
    Abstract: Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramaswamy, Angela Chunwah Lai, Mark A. Foltz, Ariel H. Bardin, Julie Black, Joerg Heilig, Thomas R. Stanis
  • Patent number: 8036936
    Abstract: Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramaswamy, Angela Chunwah Lai, Mark A. Foltz, Ariel H. Bardin, Julie Black, Joerg Heilig, Thomas R. Stanis
  • Publication number: 20090210385
    Abstract: Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Sridhar Ramaswamy, Angela Chunwah Lai, Mark A. Foltz, Ariel H. Bardin, Julie Black, Joerg Heilig, Thomas R. Stanis