Taiwan Asia Semiconductor expanding Si-based sensor production capacity

LED chip and Si-based sensor maker Taiwan Asia Semiconductor (formerly from Opto Tech) is setting aside NT$800 million (US$28.6 million) for production capacity expansions.

It said it is looking to expanding capacity for Si-based sensors by at least 30%.

The additional production capacity will gradually come into operation beginning first-half of 2022, Taiwan Asia Semiconductor said. There is strong demand for Si-based sensors used in smart wearable devices and physiological measurement instruments, and Taiwan Asia Semiconductor has obtained orders with shipments scheduled until second-quarter 2022 based on existing production capacity, the company noted.

Taiwan Asia Semiconductor has shipped 850nm-wavelength Si-based sensors used in SpO2 oximetry to Apple Watch supply chain makers, industry sources disclosed.

The company said Si-based sensors have taken up 60-70% of consolidated revenues and R&D of 1,000nm-wavelength technology and high-end VCSEL will be operational focus in 2022.

With a global market share of over 50% for Si-based sensors used in smart wearable devices, Taiwan Asia Semiconductor has been in talks with US- and China-based vendors of smart wearable devices about long-term orders for Si-based sensors with shipments in 2022-2023, a main reason for its expanding production capacity.

The change in corporate name from Opto Tech to Taiwan Asia Semiconductor was called for by Japan-based Nichia in a bid to shift Taiwan Asia Semiconductor’s operational focus from LED chips, devices and products to optoelectronic semiconductors, according to industry sources.

Nichia made initial stake investment in Opto Tech in 2005 and has transferred advanced technologies to the latter in the capacity of a main shareholder, the sources said, adding that Nichia has increased its stake in Taiwan Asia Semiconductor to 22.76% to become the largest single shareholder. DigiTimes