UK-based wafer supplier IQE announced that it has started initial VCSEL production for a second major customer at its Newport Mega Foundry. The products will serve the Android supply chains and several more in advanced stages of qualification.

The company noted that performance data from the Newport Foundry has exceeded previously attained performance levels, and several new qualifications are now in long term reliability testing.

As a result, IQE has signed a contract extension with one of its largest VCSEL customers, extending the current contract until the end of 2021. In addition, two other existing contracts have also been extended with several other new contracts in final negotiations.

(Image: IQE)

VCSELs are a key component in multiple current and future 3D sensor systems, using both structured light (SL) and Time of Flight (ToF) technologies. Applications range from 3D Facial Identification (front facing) systems and world facing cameras on mobile handsets to LiDAR and in cabin sensing for autonomous drive vehicles, range-finding and 3D sensing systems for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. Production volumes are expected to ramp strongly over the next few years as adoption across multiple mobile platforms and other use cases proliferate. In anticipation of such strong growth, IQE has invested heavily over the last two years in building the worlds’ largest VCSEL epi-wafer facility in Newport, UK (IQE’s Mega Epi Foundry). IQE is involved in multiple engagements across all of the aforementioned applications, and is currently qualifying more than a dozen volume customers at the Newport Mega Foundry.