ams, a high performance sensor solutions provider, has cooperated with Qualcomm Technologies to focus on the development of a 3D depth sensing camera solution for mobile phone applications such as 3D imaging and scanning and biometric face authentication. The two companies aim to dedicate their technology expertise and engineering force to design a 3D stereo camera solution for Android-based mobile phones. ams provides its VCSEL light sources and optical IR pattern technology on the base of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ Mobile Platforms to suppourt various applicati...

Philips Photonics announced that the company has reached a milestone of shipping one billion VCSELs thanks to strong growth in smartphone 3D sensing applications. With strong drives from the trends of proximity sensing and 3D facial recognition technology in consumer smartphones, the company also unveiled its plan to increase production capacity. According to Philips Photonics, it has doubled its production capacity by early 2018, which was in line with the company’s plan. Now Phiilips Photonics plans to further expand its production at the facility in Ulm, Germany...

FitTech, a Taiwanese LED chip and wafer probers provider, has increased its product portfolio for the production of Mini LED and VCSEL and has been providing its equipment to the top three Chinese LED companies. FitTech has continued to extend its product lines in the optoelectronic field with a focus on system integration. Its products include LED/wafer probers, automatic solar sorters, laser micromachining systems and others. With its products, the company has successfully become a supplier for the top three Chinese LED companies. Its LED prober takes...

Lextar has announced that it is going to launch a series of VCSEL products for 3D sensing applications including facial and gesture recognition, people detection, and driver fatigue detection. Lextar’s VCSEL products include the PV88M component series which emit light for 3D depth-sensing module. The series provides various wavelengths, different levels of brightness and package sizes while offering a beam angle selection from 45 to 100 degrees. According to Lextar, the product can also be customized to meet the needs of its clients. (Image: Lextar) The ...

LITE-ON Technology, a leading global provider of optoelectronic semiconductors, showcases its comprehensive products and solutions for Smart Home & Appliances, Automotive, Mobile Devices, Security & Surveillance, Smart Industrial at electronica 2018.  (Nov 13-16, Hall B4, Booth 121).

Optoelectronic component producer II-VI Inc. announced on November 9th that it is going to acquire Finisar, the supplier of optical communication products for Apple with a deal worth US$3.2 billion cash and stock.

Osram has announced the financial results of fiscal 2018 and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 and addressed that it will focus on digitalization and high-growth markets.

GCS Holdings reported that it has delivered its VCSEL sample products to clients in the U.S. including Google and Facebook for data transmitting applications. The validation of the products would be completed soon and mass production and shipment will start next year, reported Economic Daily News, a Taiwanese media. According to the report, GCS has provided its receiver (Rx) radio frequency (RF) for Facebook and it will begin to supply the transmitter products from next year. 3D sensing has been the field most of the VCSEL companies focus on. To differenti...

AIXTRON, the Germany-based semiconductor equipment provider, has announced its financial results for the nine months and the third quarter 2018. The equipment company has reported growing profit with continuous demands for MOCVD systems for the production of power electronics and lasers such as VCSEL or EEL lasers for applications in 3D sensing or optical data transmission as well as red, orange and yellow (ROY) LEDs.

Laser Taiwan 2018 launched its opening today (October 17th) and exhibitors from all over the world are participating in the event to showcase their cutting edge technologies and equipment. VCSEL is the focal point of the event following the trend of 3D sensing applications.

Semiconductor equipment provider AIXTRON announced that the company has received an order for an AIX 2800G4-TM MOCVD system from Chinese chipmaker Sino-Semiconductor for the production of laser diodes.

Osram is introducing its first Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) product, Bidos PLPVQ 940A, to its product portfolio, reinforcing its position as a high technology company.

SEMICON Taiwan 2018 was held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center on September 5 -7. Many leading equipment manufacturers have joined the event including Aixtron, Veeco, Kulicke & Soffa, MPI Corporation and Toray. These equipment makers have introduced the latest trends of power components and optoelectronic. 

SEMICON Taiwan 2018 International Semiconductor Exhibition was held during September 5 to 7 at TWTC Nankang Exhibition Hall. As the second largest SEMICON exhibition worldwide, it gathered 680 manufacturers with more than 2000 booths, reaching a new record high. Major equipment manufacturers were present, including Aixtron, VEECO, Kulicke & Soffa and MPI Corporation. 

HLJ Technology Co, a Taiwanese VCSEL epitaxy and chip producer has ordered AIXTRON’s MOCVD sets to increase its wafer capacity and its epitaxial wafer size production line for VCSEL. 

In the beginning of 3Q18, Epistar’s revenue report did not match its expectation. The company registered a revenue of NT$ 1.81 billion (US$ 58.87 million) for July, down by 0.1% MoM and 19.36% YoY.

After Apple introduced 3D sensing technology in iPhone X last year, the technology has caught the eye of the market as well as its key component, VCSEL. The suppliers have been boosting the manufacturing of VCSEL since then but as the sale of iPhone X did not meet expectations, the in-stock 3D sensing component also influenced the revenue of suppliers. 

LED chip maker Epistar reported the company’s decision to establish a spin-off to focus on VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) and GaN on Si components production. This spin-off will be named Epistar Semiconductor. M.J. Chou, the current president of Epistar, will become the president of the new subsidiary.

According to LEDinside’s 2018 Infrared Sensing Application Market Report, pulse oximeter heart rate sensors have been widely introduced into smartwatch and wristband markets, pushing the demand for infrared optical components. Apple is expected to increase the accuracy of pulse oximeter heart rate sensors in its new-generation Apple Watch, thus may double the amount of green LEDs and infrared LEDs used in the products. The amount of photodiode needed for the new products may be four to five times more than in previous models, and the photodiode will also be larger in size.

Osram has added to its expertise in semiconductor-based optical security technology by acquiring US-based Vixar Inc. Already a technology leader in infrared LEDs and infrared laser diodes, Osram will have a unique breadth of technological expertise and an expanded product portfolio after bringing on board Vixar’s specialist capabilities in the field of VCSEL.

“The first half of the fiscal year was challenging due to various factors. However, the long-term growth trend remains intact, while the reorganization and the technological shift are continuing,” said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG.

AIXTRON SE will deliver high-end MOCVD technology to long-standing customer Visual Photonics Epitaxy Co. Ltd. (VPEC). The Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, mainly specialized in solutions for wireless and optical device epi wafers, plans to ramp-up its epitaxy production with multiple AIX 2800G4 MOCVD cluster systems to meet the globally growing demand for various photonic and electronic applications.

The oversupply in the LED chip market continues in 2018. The market demand is estimated to recuperate in the second quarter; however, it will still need new technologies such as Mini LED to ease the oversupply, according to Biing-Jye Lee, Chairman of Epistar

Photonics product provider Lumentum and Oclaro, specializing in optical components and modules, announced that the two companies have signed a definitive agreement, unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, pursuant to which Lumentum will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Oclaro.

AIXTRON SE has a number of stock option programs in place that grant employees the right to purchase AIXTRON shares under certain conditions. The company in February announced its financial results for fiscal year 2017 and the fourth quarter 2017.

Apple’s launch of iPhone X has led to a wave of 3D sensing technology, bringing its key component—vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)—into the spotlight. However, the number of VCSEL suppliers with mass production capacity is very limited due to technical barriers, leading to short supply of VCSELs and thus delaying Android camp’s plan to follow suit. TrendForce estimates the penetration rate of 3D sensing in smartphones will grow from 2.1% in 2017 to 13.1% in 2018, while Apple remains the major adopter.

Taiwan-based LED chip manufacturer Epistar reported a decrease of 8.59% MoM and a growth of 11.52% YoY in its revenue for January 2018. The slow season and the price decline of LED are factored in for the decrease.

Chinese LED maker HC Semitek announced it has signed an investment framework agreement to establish projects of advanced semiconductors and devices in the Yiwu Information and Optoelectronics Hi-Tech Industrial Park. The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Yiwu Municipal People’s Government.

LEDinside would like to thank everyone for your support and regular visit to our online magazine. As Chinese New Year is approaching, we will temporarily stop updating industry news until February 21.

Lumentum reported results for its fiscal second quarter ended December 30, 2017.