Google has acquired Dysonics, a startup with a focus on 3D audio tech, without much of the usual acquisition fanfare. According to Protocol, the internet search giant has also acquired the intellectual properties of the startup. This includes the latter’s patents, which may help explain the acquisition.
The acquisition itself happened back in December, according to a US Patent and Trademark Office filing. But the filing itself also lists patents that will also have their ownership transferred. Among them are items related to “motion tracked binaural sound conversion of legacy recordings”. Which sounds a lot like 3D spatial audio, something we have in the Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.
This may indicate that Google is considering including 3D spatial audio tech in its next Pixel Buds. The company may also have acquired Dysonics to have its tech power an upcoming AR or VR piece of hardware. Which is quite possible since the company also acquired smart glass maker North last year.
It’s difficult to say for certain what Google is aiming for with the most recent acquisition. But it’s pretty amazing that an acquisition has not showed up in news reports immediately. But ultimately, since Google rarely brings its hardware into Malaysia in an official capacity, we may not actually see the result of this acquisition, even if the company actually makes it.
(Source: USPTO [PDF] via Protocol)
