VPEC reportedly enters supply chain for Samsung mobile devices

Epitaxial wafer supplier Visual Photonics Epitaxy Company (VPEC) has entered the supply chain for Samsung’s new mobile devices featuring biometric technology slated for launch in the second half of 2019, according to industry sources. VPEC has obtained orders to provide epi-wafers for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) components enabling biometric identification in Samsung’s upcoming smartphones and tablets, with production in small volume having already started in the first quarter of 2019, the sources indicated.

VPEC is already in the supply chain of major Android smartphone vendors by providing VCSEL wafers, the sources said.

VPEC has responded saying it does not comment on specific orders and customers.

VPEC is among the beneficiaries of an anticipated boom in demand for VCSEL-based 3D sensing modules for smartphones and other mobile devices. According to Digitimes Research, worldwide shipments of smartphones featuring 3D sensing technology are set to enjoy robust growth in 2019 with shipments of those from the Android camp likely topping 20 million units.