The rising consumer demand for smartphones and wearable devices in terms of user experience continues to rise, the sensor market has also been boosted.
At the 16th High tech Fair, Epticore Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Epticore) launched a new heart rate detection chip - EM7018, which is suitable for smartphones and wearable devices. "As a sensor chip for heart rate detection, the EM7018 can achieve relatively high accuracy, realize multiple working modes to eliminate interference signals, and provide basic software algorithms for free; Epticore can also provide high-level algorithms with third-party partners to help customers obtain medical certification." The chip, which is suitable for smartphones and wearable devices, is the smallest of its kind in size and is currently in the sample delivery stage and is expected to be ready for mass production shipment by the end of this year, said Dr. Bizhou Li of Epticore in an interview with Mobile News.
The first mass production 3-in-1 optical sensor in China
Epticore was founded in 2011, specializing in the design, production and research and development of integrated circuits for photoelectric sensors. Since its inception, the company has focused on the 3-in-1 (infrared+PS +ALS) optical sensor, and took the lead in mass production in 2012, becoming the first domestic enterprise to mass produce the 3-in-1 optical sensor. In 2013, after being certified by MTK and Spreadtrum, the market received a warm response.
At present, the 3-in-1 optical sensor is still mainly concentrated in the hands of international manufacturers, but the rapid response and service in the domestic market are not good, which gives us an opportunity." Bizhou Li said that Epticore 's monthly production capacity has now reached 1KK and is expected to exceed 10 million revenue target this year. "Although our market share is not large compared to international manufacturers, this is exactly our opportunity."
Compared with the complex product design of international manufacturers, the compatible 3-in-1 optical sensor launched by Epticore only requires changes to the driver software, which has been verified by some major manufacturers with a higher degree of recognition and gradually gained some dominance in the domestic optical sensor.
In terms of product strategy, Epticore still insists on smartphones and tablets as the main intelligent mobile terminals field, and gradually works towards wearable devices. "Although the mobile terminal field is in a red sea era, the market space is large enough. At the same time, we are also seeking some new directions, including mobile phone solution providers who are also looking for new breakthroughs. The greatest possibility is the wearable markets such as smartwatches."
Bizhou Li said that the future application areas of optical sensors will be broader, in addition to smartphones, in smart wear and smart home, lighting, automotive electronics and industrial control can be involved.
The wearable market has huge growth space
In fact, from the perspective of the current wearable device market prospect, it is far from the breaking point and still has a broad development space. According to the analysis of Xuri Mobile Terminal Industry Research Institute, the domestic wearable device market is still in its infancy, and the industrial chain is still under initial construction. On the other hand, it is also the time for industry opportunities when the entire wearable market has not yet formed a scale and the business model is not completely clear.
"It is hard to foresee when the breaking point of smart wearable devices will be, but as a sensor chip manufacturer, we should try to catch the consumer's demand and work with customers to judge the development direction. We now believe that the market outlook for heart rate and blood oxygen detection is relatively good and there is a lot of room for development." Bizhou Li said in his prediction of wearable devices that as consumers' demand for health continues to grow, the market space for heart rate monitoring function will be enlarged in the future in addition to applications such as pedometers and sleep monitoring and gradually become standard configurations. With the gradual maturity of Epticore's EM7018 solution, the power consumption will also be gradually reduced and dynamic monitoring will be achieved.