SonicEdge Ltd., established in November 2018 and headquartered in Binyamina, Israel, is in the process of developing an innovative audio speaker based on MEMS ultrasound technology. This advancement is designed to deliver superior audio performance within compact form factors, catering to both low and high frequencies, with operational capabilities extending beyond 20KHz. The primary target applications for this ultrasound-based system are familiar ones: hearables like earbuds, augmented reality and virtual reality headsets, headphones, and hearing aids.

Among the asserted benefits associated with SonicEdge’s speakers are their reduced size, absence of vibrations, and minimized back cavity dimensions. The company’s initial focus lies in the True Wireless System (TWS) headphone/earbud market. By incorporating SonicEdge speakers, these devices could achieve a combination of smaller form factor and improved sound quality.

The core principle underlying this technology involves the modulation of an ultrasound carrier to generate traditional audio output, a method well-known for its capacity to produce directional and positionally-targeted audio. A technique within this framework involves utilizing the heterodyne interference of two ultrasound beams to create conventional audio solely at the intersection point of these beams.

SonicEdge’s speaker design leverages monolithically integrated MEMS speakers that produce a modulated ultrasound signal through an array of approximately 200 ultrasound generators within a compact die measuring around 3.5mm by 3.5mm. An acousto-mechanical frequency transformer, essentially a metal grill, then transforms the ultrasound into audible sound. This mechanism ensures a consistent volume of air velocity regardless of the frequency, resulting in a higher sound pressure level at lower frequencies and a broader overall frequency range compared to traditional MEMS speakers.

The company’s flagship offering, the SE1000, comprises a two-chip package. One chip contains the MEMS ultrasound transducer and demodulator responsible for sound generation, while the other chip houses an ASIC that encodes the ultrasound signals and drives the MEMS chip.

Recent reports indicate that SonicEdge is considering the possibility of scaling up its MEMS chip configuration, with the SE2000 housing two chips, and subsequent models like the SE3000, SE4000, and SE5000 potentially accommodating four or eight chips. These advancements are aimed at addressing applications such as headsets.

SonicEdge was co-founded by Azi Mizrachi, who currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, and the company’s CEO, Moti Margalit.

Since 2021, the company has been actively recruiting in Denmark and has established an R&D facility in Struer, Denmark.