Apple patents audio tech to blend sound across real and virtual spaces
Apple describes a method for combining the sound of two different environments, such as a physical room and a virtual space, into one seamless audio experience. The system creates a digital map of both areas and calculates how sound should change as it moves between them. It then adjusts the audio signal so that sounds from one area play correctly in the other, making the transition feel natural.
In the filing’s own words
Some embodiments described herein may include acoustic joining of two or more physical or virtual environments. In one embodiment, a method may include obtaining at least a first mesh data structure representing a first environment, and a second mesh data structure representing a second environment, and generating a merged mesh data structure. The merged mesh data structure may represent a merged environment that joins the first environment with the second environment at a joined location. The method may also include determining a transfer function between locations of the first environment and the second environment in the merged environment, and modifying an acoustic signal originating at a first location with the transfer function to produce a modified acoustic signal to be played back at a second location. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method for acoustic joining of two or more physical or virtual environments, comprising: obtaining a first mesh data structure representing a first environment and a second mesh data structure representing a second environment; generating a merged mesh data structure based on the first mesh data structure and the second mesh data structure, the merged mesh data structure representing a merged environment that joins the first environment with the second environment at a joined location; determining a transfer function between locations of the first environment and the second environment in the merged environment; and modifying an acoustic signal originating at a first location with the transfer function to produce a modified acoustic signal to be played back at a second location.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Acoustic Joining of Two or More Physical or Virtual Environments
- Publication number
- US20260323239A1
- Application number
- 19531446
- Filed
- Feb 5, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04S 7/305 Electricity & electronicsH04S 7/40 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.