IQE qualified for VCSEL epiwafers by Asian OEM

Epiwafer foundry and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK has announced the successful device and module qualification for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) epiwafers for a major Asian OEM. The firm reckons that this represents an important development in the adoption of 3D sensing technology by Android smartphones, with production volumes anticipated in 2020.

VCSELs are key components in multiple existing and future 3D sensor systems, using both structured light and time-of-flight (ToF) technologies. Applications range from 3D facial identification (front facing) systems and world-facing cameras on mobile handsets to light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and in-cabin sensing for autonomous drive vehicles.

Production volumes are expected to ramp strongly over the next few years as adoption across multiple mobile platforms and other use cases proliferate. IQE says that, in anticipation of this strong growth, over the last two years it has invested in building the world’s largest VCSEL epiwafer facility in Newport, UK (IQE’s ‘mega epi foundry’).

Tags: IQE

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