Fast-charging chip business booming, say IC vendors

The market of fast-charging chips is likely to reach one billion units a year soon due to a comprehensive adoption of fast charging technology by smartphones, tablets, notebooks, digital cameras, drones, wearable devices and other mobile power supply devices, according to an estimate of industry sources.

Following the steps of Apple and Samsung Electronics, China-based smartphone vendors have been eager to develop their fast-charging interfaces, mostly complying with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express fast-charging platforms, said sources from Taiwan-based IC design houses.

Judging from new products being developed by mobile device makers for 2017, the adoption of fast-charging technology will shift rampantly from high-end mobile devices to entry-level and mid-range products in 2017, pushing demand for fast-charging chips, noted the sources.

To cope with rising demand, Taiwan-based analog IC design houses have been focusing either on development of USB Type-C power delivery (PD) controller chips or power management (PWM) ICs and protective components for Quick Charge- or Pump Express-enabled chargers, said the sources.

PD controller suppliers including Etron Technology, ASMedia Technology and Weltrend Semiconductor have managed to land orders from first-tier notebook vendors, with shipments already beginning in August or September.

Richtek Technology, Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), Leadtrend Technology and On-Bright Electronics have been developing chips supporting Quick Charge and Pump Express technologies, and all have seen their monthly revenues ramp up significantly from the second half of 2016, indicated the sources, adding that On-Bright and Leadtrend are also ready to roll out their PD chips.

Categories: Bits + chips IC design, distribution

Tags: ASMedia Etron GMT IC Leadtrend Technology MediaTek On-Bright Electronics RichTek Technology Weltrend

Companies: Etron Technology Global Mixed-mode Technology Leadtrend Technology MediaTek Weltrend Semiconductor

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