Trigence

About Trigence

Trigence Semiconductor, Inc. was an audio integrated circuit design and solution provider that developed 'pure digital' audio products for the consumer electronics and IT markets. The company was founded in February 2006 as a spin-off from Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan. Trigence's core technology, Dnote®, was a patented, fully digital system for driving speakers. This technology was designed to transmit high-resolution digital signals directly to the speakers, aiming to produce clear, high-quality audio while consuming significantly less power, reportedly as little as one-third of traditional audio output systems.

The company's business model focused on inventing, developing, and deploying semiconductor solutions tailored for digital audio equipment. Trigence provided its technology to consumer electronics OEMs, ODMs, and systems integrators for use in products like computers, headphones, soundbars, smart speakers, and car audio systems. Its client roster included notable names such as Intel, Audio-Technica, Sharp, and Clarion. The technology's potential was recognized early, leading to a seed investment from Intel Capital in May 2012 to expand the use of Dnote in computers with Intel processors. Subsequent funding rounds included a Series B in 2014 and a Series C in 2018, with investors such as the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Nittoku Engineering Group, and TDK Corporation.

Trigence's technology received several accolades. For its Dnote technology, the company was given the Award for Excellence at the Tokyo Venture Technology Awards in 2013. In 2017, products incorporating Dnote technology, such as an Audio-Technica digital Bluetooth headset and a Clarion Bluetooth headset, won a CES Innovation Honoree Award and an iF Design Award, respectively. The company also developed a 3D sound technology to enhance the listening experience on smaller devices. Despite its technological advancements and industry partnerships, Trigence Semiconductor concluded its liquidation on May 23, 2022.