Optoelectronics Market Sales and Demand Expected to Grow Strongly Through 2017

MONTREAL, April 27, 2012 /  ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, announces the availability of a new report entitled "Optoelectronics Market Tracker. Quarterly Report".

The diverse optoelectronics segment includes both integrated and discrete products that use optical and electronic means to, source, detect, or otherwise control light. The need for increased integration of image sensors and LEDs is occurring in very high volume application designs and the opportunity for growth will continue to surpass many digital IC product markets.

The emerging areas that are driving new growth channels include applications like LCD televisions, lighting fixtures, and OLED displays in the short term. Meanwhile, developments in optoelectronic technology over the medium to long term will be driven by advancements in medical applications, and in “green” photonic applications.

For its latest optoelectronics product release, Sharp continued its transition away from CCFL-based LCD products into all-LED Backlight technology with a 10.1 inch WXGA LED-backlit LCD, specifically designed for use in tablet PC applications.

Panasonic brought to market a 1.3 megapixel MOS type image sensor for use in applications related to security cameras or networked cameras. Sony announced that it had developed a next generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensor.

Recent LTE Implementation for Europe

LTE smartphone availability in Europe is going slower than it was in the U.S. as European operators are not “as aggressive” as in the U.S. Two operators in Germany, Vodafone and Deutsche Telecom, have rolled out a few LTE smartphones. They started with LTE-enabled network in rural areas, moving to enabling cities later, a pre-condition upon getting required spectrum licenses.

In March 2012, Vodafone has launched the HTC Velocity 4G phone, the first LTE smartphone on the German market. Following this, there are a number of further launches of smartphones and tablets, including one by Asus. Sweden has also started selling the Samsung Galaxy LTE smartphone, with LTE services being made available in most northern European countries.

Market Trends

The consumer and communications application segments continue to account for the majority of optoelectronics revenue, coming from increased demand and high product volumes, which have resulted in new product innovations.

Led by LEDs, sales and unit shipments of optoelectronics are expected grow strongly for this year and for the duration of the forecast period through 2017. Demand for LEDs and OLEDs is growing due to new products ranging from television displays to general lighting applications. LEDs, including Organic LEDs or OLEDs, high brightness white LEDs, and others, will remain the largest and fastest growing individual product within the optoelectronics market

Another major product in the optoelectronics market is image sensors. Demand for image sensors primarily depends upon the health of its major application segments such as mobile communications, computers, and consumer electronics markets. Growth in the short term will result from increased demand for camera-enabled phones and consumer electronics such as camcorders and PC-based cameras. In terms of application consumption, the communications market, which is mainly composed of mobile phones and wireless infrastructure, accounts for the majority of optoelectronics revenue.

The automotive market will likely remain one of the smallest application areas for optoelectronics, but products are increasingly being used in lighting, cruise control, instrumentation, and infotainment systems. Industrial will remain the third largest market, due to the inclusion of the general and factory lighting segments which are major growth applications for high brightness white LEDs, and because of the significant growth seen in medical and in some mil/aero applications.

Current Trends

• China's Huawei and ZTE growing market share in smartphones
• Recent LTE implementation for Europe
• Positive U.S. auto sales update
• Apple's prediction for the future of tablets
• Sony's 3D and OLED television strategies
• Mobile phone trends from Mobile World Congress
• Nokia introduces 41-Megapixel smartphone camera
• Samsung reveals ambitious medical strategy
• Stacked CMOS image sensor design for back illumination
• LED efficiency now exceeds 100 percent

Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications' website. View the report: Optoelectronics Market Tracker. Quarterly Report