IPhone X drive 3D sensing applications, market development follow-up period

Although the supply chain vendors came, iPhone X sales below expectations, apple is cut orders. However, iPhone X led 3D application test technology is an indisputable fact. But in 2018, Apple will also expand into 3D sensing applications has become a trend. The Android camp will follow next large-scale mobile phone factory using 3D sensor technology, which makes the key components of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser "; VCSEL) increased capacity demand, causing a new round of supplier strong war card.

3D sensing specific identification of biological characteristics, which is the key component of VCSEL

What is the 3D sensing technology? First, for everyone here to explain. 3D sensor technology is the core of face recognition, through 3D laser scanning (3D sensor) to establish a non-contact, non-destructive technique to capture the physical shape of the digital object. In face recognition, it will create a digital matrix definition of facial appearance. For example, it can make mobile phone users more accurate record of the facial contour, than the recognition from the picture is more accurate.

As for why to use VCSEL? With the maturity of VCSEL technology, VCSEL has the advantages of high precision, miniaturization, low power consumption, reliability and so on, now 3D common lens system generally adopt VCSEL as infrared light source. This is also the current application of VCSEL technology is the most talked about the source of.

IPhone X import 3D sensing, set off to follow the market trend

After the technology source finished 3D sensing system, we look at the iPhone X in the 3D application framework system is how to measure. The first to see iPhone X front at the top of the screen "bangs" section, which is the installation of 3D sensing system and a front camera, from left to right, is the infrared lens lighting device, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, speaker, microphone, 7 million pixel front camera, projector, and the dot matrix. IPhone X 3D sensing operation, is the first use of lattice projector projecting over 30000 laser points to the object, and then by the 30000 laser light reflection to the infrared camera, the object of "depth" and "distance" of Surveying and mapping has been completed, then transferred to face security identification chip. If the sensing face clearance, mobile phone will automatically unlock!

As for other equipment, in the "bangs" in the pan, illumination is aided projection infrared, makes the object can see clearly in the dark, as the important components in the VCSEL system. And the ambient light sensor and proximity sensor is to achieve power saving function of common mobile phone, ambient light sensor can detect ambient light users, automatically adjust the brightness of mobile phone. The proximity sensor is mobile phone users and will automatically detect the distance. If you get too close, like mobile phone users to phone phone, mobile phone screen will automatically shut down.

In the understanding of the iPhone X 3D in the sense of complex application architecture on the measurement system, we may think that Apple's iPhone X is the first VCSEL system actual commercial products. In fact, Apple Corp first use VCSEL transmitter equipment was released last year wireless headset AirPods. Popular in the headset, the laser transmitter is currently being used to detect off or is the use of the equipment. The iPhone X uses 3 VCSEL chips, with shipments of iPhone X gradually higher demand on the chip, Apple also began to increase. The Apple Corp said, compared with 2016, VCSEL chip on purchasing the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 10 times.

Android joins 3D sensing products unveiled the battlefield, 2018

At present, 3D sensing applications has become a new focus of intelligent mobile phone market, while Apple intends to control the key components of the VCSEL production capacity, but its related technology development for over 20 years, and its application in optical communication and optical transceiver market. Moreover, with the application of the market is about to usher in the outbreak period, not only the original laser light component manufacturers, GaAs foundries to join the war, still uses the same MOCVD machine LED epitaxial plant is also eager to.

It is understood that the 3D sensing technology, VCSEL suppliers in addition to Lumentum, Finisar, Princeton and Optronics etc. at present. While the upstream VCSEL epitaxy and chip supply factory including IQE, crystal power, Hua Lijie is waiting for an opportunity to snatch market pie. As for, Qualcomm and HIMAX also work together to get into the 3D sensor market, is expected to grab the Android camp mobile phone customer orders. Among them, the mobile phone millet 3D sensing technology is the technical scheme based on Qualcomm and himax.

In 2017, Apple launched the iPhone X import 3D sensing technology, one of the 3D sensor supplier for Finisar, not long ago, Apple announced that it will provide 3D sensor supplier of Finisar about $390 million, the industry was once rumored to be Apple shares Finisar, now is not to clarify both as orders of prepayments.

According to industry sources, apple Finisar will borrow from the fund, the transformation which is located in Dezhou Sherman factory, is expected the second half of 2018 began to supply VCSEL new capacity, apple after mastering VCSEL huge capacity, help to further positive TrueDepth camera into more iPhone product line, or on the back of new sensor array of second iPhone a, can be used not only for face recognition, can also scan the user's surroundings, apple intends through VCSEL technology to strengthen the augmented reality (AR) layout.

Although in 2017 the first cut apple 3D sensor supply chain of the United States Department of Dachang Lumentum stole the show, while Lumentum was in short supply capacity. Supply chain vendors said, since the fall of 2018 Apple will not only face recognition import from other iPhone new machine, high order size iPad also will use the 3D sensor technology, to extend its AR additional features, therefore, Apple will have to support second suppliers, to ensure that the components of the second half of 2018 after the advent of the new machine supply smoothly.

In addition, according to the supply chain manufacturers revealed that Apple continues to expand 3D sensing face recognition advantage at the same time, the Android camp will also be fully launched mobile phone brand factory import 3D sensing applications flagship model, in order to compete with apple. In fact, in the Android environment, to achieve the 3D sensor hardware module is not difficult, because even if Apple to process patent stuck VCSEL capacity, but still can be measured by using the traditional optical component IR LED or edge emitting laser to achieve the purpose of light emission, the CMOS image sensor has many suppliers.

At present, including HUAWEI, Oppo, millet, Vivo, Samsung and other mobile phone brands are accelerating grab, the recent relevant component manufacturers deliver certified brand customers reached 5 to 10, the fastest expected second quarter of 2018 will see the advent of new products. LEDinside forecast 2020 VCSEL and edge emitting laser composed of infrared laser module market will reach $1 billion 953 million.

3D sensing, popular in Taiwan area China supply chain soared

With the mobile phone manufacturers rushing into the Android camp 3D sensing applications, Taiwan factory supply chain will look pretty. Among them, the use of VCSEL GaAs infrared light source manufacturers, has recently become the focus of market concern. Three in Taiwan Wenmao GaAs, Hongjie science, new photoelectric have been cut into the VCSEL application. Among them, Wenmao will be the main revenue growth momentum in the future VCSEL. Because, VCSEL manufacturers to cut into the market of new application, to formulation technology of epitaxial formation and the 6 inch wafer factory production has, and Wenmao has mastered the OEM market, about half of the global optical fiber, microwave communication, and acceleration amplification new fabs, increase production capacity.

As for Hong Jie Department, the main products from the power amplifier (PA) after expanded to VCSEL, in 2017 revenue situation began to warm. And VCSEL products have been shipped to Europe, and the day before AMS announced the merger of Princeton, its VCSEL factory is a Hong Jie Department, Hong Jie Department of the supply chain, AMS can further cut into the 3D sensor market.

Another supplier of new photoelectric, its VCSEL epitaxy in addition to mobile phone applications, the future includes vehicle and security monitoring and other products are also in the development of the sample in the case. The new PA epitaxial revenue accounted for 80%, in the wireless communication system performance and stability, the application of mobile phone with terminal customers depending on the performance, the market optimistic about the iPhone X sales force will continue until the first quarter of 2018.

In addition, 3D sensing technology the most difficult part, the first is to be able to accurately measure distance, the main application technology including the flight distance and the two main structure light. The second is to the interpretation of ToF or SL ranging parameters, at the same time face or iris matching identification algorithm. The Android camp mobile phone industry pointed out that the biggest problem in the 2018 new mobile phone into 3D sensing in hardware module, but to use the correct and accurate ranging algorithm, and the algorithm is the key in the key.

The application of multi 3D sensing future market development, follow-up period

Supply chain manufacturers pointed out that in the past VCSEL is mainly used in optical fiber communication and data transmission, application, supply chain manufacturers in the steady growth, most of the small and beautiful operating mode, the total amount of the past 20 years sold to various terminal market VCSEL market statistics about 1 billion, and in 2016 is applied to optical transceiver sales of more than VCSEL 30 million. In 2017, iPhone X launched, consumer electronics VCSEL shipment size has exceeded the original optical communication market, is expected to 2019 used in intelligent mobile phone VCSEL will reach 240 million, is nearly 5 times the demand of optical communication applications.

In the long term, due to the development trend of the application of the Internet of things and cloud computing, VCSEL market growth potential is huge. Especially in the data center, car night vision and automatic driving field will be more extensive. In recent years, China, actively supported by GaAs and communication components industry, will also be accelerated into the VCSEL field, industry competition will become increasingly fierce.

Supply chain manufacturers, consumer electronics products, rapid development has brought about changes to the VCSEL industry. 2018 mobile phone brand factory with upstream supply chain cooperation will be on the table, but Apple has for the VCSEL algorithm and technology layout of patents, how to eat the cake market in the industry to avoid patent infringement concerns, improve 3D sensing accuracy and cost, is probably more critical factor than expand capacity.

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