Abstract: Subsonic turbofan engines with variable outer guide vanes (OGVs) and associated methods. A subsonic turbofan engine includes an engine core configured to generate a torque, a fan configured to accelerate an air flow, an engine nacelle, and a plurality of OGVs positioned downstream of the fan. Each OGV is configured to transition among a plurality of OGV configurations defined between and including a nominal configuration and a reduced-drag configuration. The subsonic turbofan engine is configured to operate only at subsonic speeds. In examples, methods of operating a subsonic turbofan engine include transitioning each of a plurality of OGVs from a nominal configuration to a reduced-drag configuration. Transitioning each OGV from the nominal configuration to the reduced-drag configuration is performed while the subsonic engine operates at subsonic speeds.

Abstract: Method of throttling a pilot tone for thermal monitoring of an electro-mechanical actuator starts by computing a power estimate based on a driving signal. A first temperature estimate is then computed based on the power estimate. The pilot tone may be generated by adjusting a level of the pilot tone based on at least one of the power estimate or the first temperature estimate. The pilot tone is injected into the driving signal to generate a driving output signal that is outputted by an electro-mechanical actuator. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Method to perform thermal monitoring of an electro-mechanical actuator included in a device starts by receiving an in-field calibration temperature from a temperature sensor included in the device. The device may also receive an in-field calibration resistance from a resistance calculator included in the device. A calculated thermal coefficient of resistivity of the electro-mechanical actuator is then computed using an equation that relates the calculated thermal coefficient of resistivity to the in-field calibration temperature. The calculated thermal coefficient of resistivity changes based on the in-field calibration temperature. The equation includes parameters that are stored in the device. A temperature estimate of the electro-mechanical actuator is them computed based on the calculated thermal coefficient of resistivity. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of monitoring speaker temperature for speaker protection starts by generating a low level inaudible noise signal and injecting the low level inaudible noise signal in an audio signal. The voice coil resistance estimate that estimates a resistance of a voice coil of a speaker is then computed. The voice coil resistance estimate changes while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal that includes the low level inaudible noise signal. The temperature estimate is then computed based on the voice coil resistance estimate. The level of the audio signal may be adjusted based on the temperature estimate. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of monitoring speaker temperature for speaker protection starts by generating a low level inaudible noise signal and injecting the low level inaudible noise signal in an audio signal. The voice coil resistance estimate that estimates a resistance of a voice coil of a speaker is then computed. The voice coil resistance estimate changes while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal that includes the low level inaudible noise signal. The temperature estimate is then computed based on the voice coil resistance estimate. The level of the audio signal may be adjusted based on the temperature estimate. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the operating condition of multiple microphones of an electronic device are disclosed. A system can include a plurality of microphones operative to receive signals, a microphone condition detector, and a plurality of microphone condition determination sources. The microphone condition detector can determine a condition for each of the plurality of microphones by using the received signals and accessing at least one microphone condition determination source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the operating condition of multiple microphones of an electronic device are disclosed. A system can include a plurality of microphones operative to receive signals, a microphone condition detector, and a plurality of microphone condition determination sources. The microphone condition detector can determine a condition for each of the plurality of microphones by using the received signals and accessing at least one microphone condition determination source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the operating condition of multiple microphones of an electronic device are disclosed. A system can include a plurality of microphones operative to receive signals, a microphone condition detector, and a plurality of microphone condition determination sources. The microphone condition detector can determine a condition for each of the plurality of microphones by using the received signals and accessing at least one microphone condition determination source.

Abstract: Digital signal processing microphone occlusion detection is described that can be used with a noise suppression system that uses two types of noise estimators, including a more aggressive one based on two audio signals (such as for non-stationary noises) and a less aggressive one based on one audio signal (such as for stationary noises). Decisions are made on how to select or combine the outputs of the noise estimators into a usable noise estimate, based on an occlusion function. The occlusion detection may alternatively be used to trigger an alert to users of multi-microphone audio processing systems, such as smart phones, headsets, laptops and tablet computers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the operating condition of multiple microphones of an electronic device are disclosed. A system can include a plurality of microphones operative to receive signals, a microphone condition detector, and a plurality of microphone condition determination sources. The microphone condition detector can determine a condition for each of the plurality of microphones by using the received signals and accessing at least one microphone condition determination source.

Abstract: Digital signal processing microphone occlusion detection is described that can be used with a noise suppression system that uses two types of noise estimators, including a more aggressive one based on two audio signals (such as for non-stationary noises) and a less aggressive one based on one audio signal (such as for stationary noises). Decisions are made on how to select or combine the outputs of the noise estimators into a usable noise estimate, based on an occlusion function. The occlusion detection may alternatively be used to trigger an alert to users of multi-microphone audio processing systems, such as smart phones, headsets, laptops and tablet computers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling flow disturbances emanating from a protrusion, such as a beam propagating device. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a flow control element at least partially around a base portion of a protrusion, wherein the flow control element includes at least one flow expanding feature. A reduced pressure zone is generated proximate an aft portion of the protrusion by expanding at least a portion of a flowfield. One or more flow disturbances emanating downstream from the protrusion are deflected using the at least one reduced pressure zone.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling flow disturbances emanating from a protrusion, such as a beam propagating device. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a flow control element at least partially around a base portion of a protrusion, wherein the flow control element includes at least one flow expanding feature. A reduced pressure zone is generated proximate an aft portion of the protrusion by expanding at least a portion of a flowfield. One or more flow disturbances emanating downstream from the protrusion are deflected using the at least one reduced pressure zone.