Apple has just won a patent for spatial audio technology, presumably to be used within the recently-announced Apple Spatial Audio Format, or ASAF. As reported by Patently Apple, the patent deals with near-field and far-field spatial audio processing, allowing a device to distinguish between audio sources closer to and further away from the device. The technology makes use of filters that mimic how “human anatomy shapes perceived sound,” called head-related transfer functions (HRTFs).
Apple reportedly working on several new headsets
The patent covers mixed reality, augmented reality, and virtual reality applications, in which the technology will respond to head movement, device orientation, and voice commands. ASAF will be utilized across Apple platforms, including tvOS, iOS, and macOS, though it was specifically designed for visionOS. As such, the technology distinguishing near-field and far-field audio sources will be of particular use for the Vision Pro line, allowing users to receive a different experience based on their physical location as well as their head position.
