The Copenhagen-based start-up was founded in 2010 by Hans Hasselby-Andersen and Mikkel Hoyerby and designs ‘energy-efficient’ integrated audio amplifier solutions.
After the integration of Merus Audio, Infineon says it will be able offer its customers a comprehensive and leading-edge Class-D Audio amplifier portfolio, addressing the most demanding applications.
“The move strengthens our ability to offer customers fully integrated system solutions for smart speakers,” said Andreas Urschitz, division president of power management and multimarket at Infineon. “Merus Audio’s innovative audio amplifier technology very well complements Infineon’s existing sensor and audio processing expertise.”
Infineon believes the fast-growing segment of battery-powered smart speakers will especially benefit from the patented technology, which it says combines extended playback time and smaller designs with improved audio performance.
Based on the so-called cascading converter technology, the Merus Audio solution is said to reduce the total harmonic distortion and noise. In fact, according to a report by SAR Insight, the smart speaker market is expected to grow annually 55% revenue-wise by 2022.
Infineon explains that in line with its strategic approach: ‘From Product to System’, Merus Audio technology will add another piece to its expertise in Human-Machine Interaction.
Infineon adds that its capabilities enable for instance more accurate speech recognition building upon its sensor fusion expertise and using radar and silicon microphone technology.
The start-up is set to be fully integrated into Infineon’s existing audio business and will become part of the power management and multimarket division.
