VCSEL vs edge emitting laser (EEL)
According to Digitimes, both II-VI and Sony are eyeing business opportunities related to Apple’s vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chips for 3D sensing modules. Lumentum and its partners, including epitaxial wafer supplier IQE and Taiwan foundry Win Semiconductors, were once Apple’s only VCSEL chip supplier, but II-VI has already got a small piece of the share after cutting into the iPhone supply chain. US-based II-VI sources some of its epitaxial wafers from Taiwan-based LandMark Optoelectronics for Apple’s orders. II-VI is seeking more VCSEL chip orders for Apple’s iPhone front-facing 3D sensor. (Digitimes, Laoyaoba)