Taiwan-based touchscreen controller IC vendors are expanding their product lines to include other IC parts such as LCD driver ICs, ambient light sensors, fingerprint recognition chips and analog ICs as a means to fend off the adverse impacts of declining prices of touch modules and touch controller chips, according to industry sources.
Touch controller ICs were priced at over US$5 on average two years ago, but now prices for notebook-use controller ICs have dropped to below US$2 per unit, while those for smartphone applications have dipped to US$1, the sources noted.
To sustain future growth, FocalTech Systems, the largest touchscreen controller IC vendor in China, has initiated a deal to acquire LCD driver IC vendor Orise Technology in order to step into the TDDI (touch with display driver) chip market, said the sources.
Elan Microelectronics has ventured into the production of fingerprint recognition chips to ramp up its penetration in the smartphone and tablet segments, while Egalax-empia Technology (EETI) has added stylus functions into its touch-enabled chips, revealed the sources.
In addition to investments in touch IC maker Goodix Technology, MediaTek has further strengthened its capability in the development touch controller ICs by integrating the touch-controller IC unit of MStar Semiconductor following the completion of a merger deal between the two companies, said the sources.
