Touch screen module revenue forecast to reach $14bn by 2016

SANTA CLARA, USA: In its recently released 2010 Touch Panel Market Analysis, DisplaySearch reported that total touch screen module revenue will grow from $4.3 billion in 2009 to nearly $14 billion by 2016, a CAGR of 18 percent.

“Touch screen penetration is rapidly increasing in portable devices like mobile phones, media players and navigation units.Over the next several years, touch screens will undergo strong growth in large-size applications such as all-in-one PCs, mini-note/slate PCs, education/training, and kiosks for point of information and self-check in,” noted Jennifer Colegrove, Director of Display Technologies at DisplaySearch.“The touch screen industry is already a multi-billion dollar industry, and still has great growth momentum. This is what makes it so attractive.”

Fig. 1: Touch Screen Module Revenue ForecastSource: DisplaySearch 2010 Touch Panel Market Analysis.

Touch technologies
Resistive touch is still the leading technology in terms of unit shipments, and currently 90 companies manufacture it. However, projected capacitive technology has attracted numerous suppliers, with 56 companies currently supplying it, nearly twice as many as last year.

These two technologies are forecast to represent nearly 98 percent of touch screen unit share in 2010, and will continue to dominate unit shipments with 82 percent of unit shipments in 2016.

The touch screen industry is extremely diverse, with over a dozen touch screen technologies. About 200 companies are pursuing these technologies, and some of them, like Elo/Tyco Electronics and 3M, manufacture several different touch technologies.

In addition, some companies only produce controller ICs, such as Atmel and Cypress, while others manufacture entire modules, including the touch sensor and controller IC such as Elo/Tyco Electronics and 3M.

In-cell touch, which was commercialized in May 2009, is experiencing high growth and penetration into large size displays, is expected to take off in 2011 once the technology can achieve higher yield rates. The technology is forecast to grow to more than $600 million by 2016.

On-cell projected capacitive touch, which was also commercialized in 2009, is experiencing good growth, but yield rates remain a concern and need to be closely watched to control costs. This segment is forecast to reach $1.7 billion by 2016.

As DisplaySearch previously forecasted, projected capacitive shipments have increased substantially. Projected capacitive touch has been popularized by Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch since 2007. With the iPad and iPhone 4 adopting it in 2010, DisplaySearch forecasts that projected capacitive touch will surpass resistive touch technology for the first time to become the leading touch technology on a revenue basis.

Touch applications
Mobile phones are the biggest application for touch screens in terms of unit shipments, with two-thirds of units shipped in 2010. DisplaySearch forecasts that 531 million touch screens will ship for mobile phone applications in 2010, up 41 percent Y/Y. DisplaySearch forecasts that the penetration rate of touch in mobile phones will double from 25.6 percent in 2009 to more than 50 percent in 2016.

The next two largest applications—portable navigation devices and handheld games—are losing share of the touch market as smartphones and other touch-enabled mobile phones take on more functionality.

DisplaySearch forecasts that touch functionality in mini-note/slate PCs will take off after 2010, growing from 1 million units shipped to 50 million units in 2016. Touch penetration in digital still cameras and camcorders is expected to increase over the next several years as well.

Touch screens are also moving into new applications, such as e-readers and casino gaming. Touch technologies with high transmittance, low power consumption, multi-touch or gesture recognition will benefit the most.

Callpod’s Chargepod, a 6-in-1 mobile device charger now available

USA: The Chargepod, the most versatile charger for cell phones and mobile devices, is now available in over 2,500 Verizon stores in the United States. Verizon is offering a specially designed and customized value-pack for only $49.95.

The value pack includes a base unit, wall charger, carrying pouch, micro-USB adapter plus a voucher which allows consumers to get Three Free device adapters of their choice.

This allows the Chargepod to charge every mobile device in Verizon stores in addition to most of the mobile devices which people use every day, including cell phones, smartphones, Bluetooth headsets, NAV units, portable game systems, MP3 players, digital cameras and digital readers.

The Chargepod can charge more than 3,000 mobile devices across all major brands including: LG, RIM/Blackberry, Motorola, HTC, Samsung, Apple, Sony, Nokia, Kyocera, Garmin, TomTom, Nintendo, Kodak and many others.

Digi-Key and Bridgelux sign global distribution agreement

THIEF RIVER FALLS & LIVERMORE, USA: Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corp. and Bridgelux, a leading developer and manufacturer of LED lighting technologies and solutions, today announced the two companies have entered into an agreement in which Digi-Key will distribute Bridgelux products to customers worldwide.

The agreement gives Digi-Key’s customers ready access to Bridgelux’s entire portfolio of LED array products, including the recently introduced neutral white color temperature (4100K) LED arrays.

Bridgelux offers one of the industry’s widest ranges of solid-state light sources, delivering 240 to 4500 “hot” lumens across a broad range of color temperatures. This expansive portfolio of UL-recognized arrays provides designers with wide-ranging options as they develop high quality replacement lamps and luminaires for a market rapidly transitioning to energy efficient lighting.

Bridgelux products are now available for purchase on Digi-Key's global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs.

“We are very pleased to announce this distribution agreement with Bridgelux,” said Dave Doherty, Digi-Key’s vice president of semiconductor product. “The demands of an emerging customer base vary greatly between discrete HBLEDs, arrays to fully turn-key solutions. The Bridgelux relationship is keeping with Digi-Key’s commitment to provide its customers with the latest and most innovative range of products.”

“Digi-Key’s exceptionally broad range of products and its world-class customer service have made it an industry leader. We are proud to partner with Digi-Key and look forward to working with them to serve our customers,” said Dave Barnby, Bridgelux vice president of worldwide sales. “We are impressed with Digi-Key’s Lighting Solutions Technology Zone approach, consolidating solid-state lighting products on their website, simplifying component selection for lamp and luminaire design engineers.”

IXYS intros super low noise pHEMT devices for microwave apps up to 38 GHz

FREMONT, USA: MicroWave Technology Inc. (MwT), a wholly owned subsidiary of IXYS Corp., has introduced a family of three AlGaAs/InGaAs based low noise pHEMT devices with extremely low noise figures with operational frequency up to 38 GHz.

These low noise devices are MwT-LN240, MwT-LN300 and MwT-LN600. The super low noise devices are fabricated using high reliability AlGaAs/InGaAs pHEMT (pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistor) process with a nominal 0.15 micron gate length and gate widths of 240 um, 300 um, and 600 um, respectively. These devices are equally effective for wideband (e.g. 6-18 GHz or 18-26 GHz) and narrow band applications up to 38 GHz.

With minimum noise figure as low as 0.5 dB at 12 GHz with 2.5V drain bias, these low noise devices are ideally suited for commercial wireless and military applications requiring very low noise figure and high associated gain. These devices are targeted at wide range applications including broadband military EW and defense communications, wireless communication infrastructures, point-to-point microwave radios, space/high rel, instrumentation and medical equipment.

This new family of MwT low noise device is an ideal choice to replace low noise pHEMT devices from NEC, Eudyna/Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, etc. The wafer can be screened to meet high quality and reliability requirements for military and space applications. These devices are also available in surface mount packages such as MwT-71 package.

The complete noise models such as “gamma opt” and noise parameters over frequency range are available for these devices to aid circuit design simulations. An application note on active bias circuitry for setting and stabilizing the gate bias is also available.

As an application support vehicle, MwT has developed 11 to 13 GHz hybrid modules using an MwT-LN240 (a 240 micrometer device) with a noise figure as low as 0.7 dB. A 6 to 18 GHz balanced amplifier module using a pair of MwT-LN240 devices has achieved noise figure between 1.5 and 1.7 dB across the band.

The exceptionally good RF performances from these hybrid amplifiers have convincingly demonstrated the state-of-the-art noise performance for the MwT-LN series low noise devices, as well as the superior design capability for low noise amplifiers at MwT.

NanoBusiness Alliance issues statement on sustainable development of nanotech

NanoBusiness 2010, CHICAGO, USA: The NanoBusiness Alliance has issued a Position Statement on Nanomaterials Product Sustainability, which reflects NanoBusiness Alliance members’ enduring commitment to managing effectively the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) implications of nanotechnology.

“The NanoBusiness Alliance is committed to being the leader in the sustainable development of nanomaterials around the world," said Vincent Caprio, President of the NanoBusiness Alliance. "We are committed to working with governments and nanomaterials stakeholders to manage the sustainable development and use of nanomaterials in a responsible way."

The NanoBusiness Alliance has long advocated on a wide variety of business issues pertinent to the development and commercialization of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products, including securing funding for nano enterprises, the elimination of trade barriers, and encouraging and supporting nano innovations and their successful transition from research into sustainable commercial enterprises that create jobs and revitalize the US economy.

Recognizing that successfully managing EHS issues is an essential component of the commercialization of nano innovations, the NanoBusiness Alliance has redoubled its commitment to and its focus on these EHS issues. “The NanoBusiness Alliance has consistently supported its members’ commitment to EHS excellence and our Position Statement embodies this long-standing commitment. The NanoBusiness Alliance will continue its leadership in this essential area.”

Position statement on Nanomaterial product sustainability
As an enabling technology applicable to diverse fields, including alternative energy, medicine, and electronics, among many others, nanotechnology offers tremendous value to society. As with any emerging technology, nanotechnology and nanoscale materials must be managed in a responsible way to identify and minimize any potential adverse effect on human health or the environment.

The Alliance is committed to fostering the responsible and sustainable development of nanotechnology, to working with governmental and related nanotechnology stakeholders to develop appropriate scientific testing tools, methodologies and data to characterize nanoscale materials, and to developing informed, science-based governance policies, laws, standards, practices, and regulations pertinent to nanoscale materials.

Diodes Inc. announces MOSFET controller that raises AC-DC converter efficiency

DALLAS, USA: Diodes Inc., a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within the broad discrete, logic and analog semiconductor markets, has introduced a synchronous MOSFET controller for driving a MOSFET in place of a Schottky diode in the secondary side of flyback and resonant converters.

Designed to maximize circuit efficiency and help achieve Energy Star product ratings, ZXGD3103N8 enables designers to reduce rectifier losses by up to 70 percent and increase power supply efficiency by up to 3.5 percent.

Comprising a differential amplifier detector and high current driver, the ZXGD3103N8 monitors MOSFET reverse voltage and applies a positive turn-on voltage to the gate if body diode conduction is detected. Being proportional to the MOSFET drain-source reverse voltage, the gate-drive voltage can guard against premature turn-off of the MOSFET; thereby, maximizing circuit efficiency.

To further improve efficiency, the MOSFET controller’s low detector threshold voltage, typically 10mV, means that body diode conduction is kept to an absolute minimum. In addition, very fast turn-off propagation and fall times, respectively 15ns and 20ns, ensure shoot-through or reverse current conduction is minimized, helping to maximize power supply circuit efficiency.

With its wide operating voltage range, the SO8 packaged ZXGD3103N8 can be powered directly from supply rails between 5V and 15V or higher via external regulator. Its ability to block drain voltages up to 180V means no external clamping circuit is required, and its low standby current, typically 5mA, enables compliance with the Energy Star standby rating.

America II Electronics delivers passive capacitors despite market shortage

ST. PETERSBURG, USA: America II Electronics, Inc., one of the world’s largest independent distributors of semiconductors and passive components, announced its inventory position on passive capacitors.

While industry experts are reporting shortage conditions, America II Electronics is positioned to meet customer demand. The electronics distributor currently has over 600 million capacitors in stock, available for sale and ready to ship.

According to industry sources, supplies of tantalum and aluminum capacitors from manufacturers such as AVX, Kemet, Murata and Vishay will continue to be short of demand in quarters three and four due to peak season effects and the limited supply of tantalum raw materials.

In fact, factory deliveries are currently being quoted at 24 weeks or longer. Even more concerning, many manufacturers are booked for the remainder of 2010 and are now accepting orders for delivery in Q1 2011. However, America II Electronics has immediate capacitor availability for over 200 manufacturers, including the top lines in high demand.

“America II is poised to meet our customers’ needs regardless of market conditions,” said Executive Vice President Chuck Magee at America II Electronics. “Our inventory on passive capacitors stands at 600 million, representing almost 13,000 individual SKUs. So while there may be growing concerns of a shortage in the channel, our customers have not felt the effects due to our current stock position. We’re able to supply our customers with the product they need, when they need it.”

Specializing in hard-to-find and allocated products, as well as stocking long lead-time semiconductors from the top manufacturers, America II Electronics has one of the largest passive inventories in the industry.