The semiconductor universe consists of integrated circuits (ICs) and optoelectronic, sensor, and discrete (O-S-D) components. Although often overlooked in the past, the O-S-D market segments now command more attention due to a number of high-growth product categories that have consistently outperformed ICs and several "hot" emerging technologies that have moved into volume production.  Among these technologies are microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for sensors and actuators and high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LEDs) for solid-state lighting applications.

The 2011 O-S-D Report covers all the product categories of the optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes markets, which together accounted for nearly 17% of total semiconductor sales in 2010 compared to about 14% in 2000.

Key Findings Include:

• In the extremely strong semiconductor recovery, combined sales of optoelectronic, sensor/actuator, and discrete products surged 37% in 2010—the greatest one-year increase on record for the entire O-S-D marketplace.
• After being hit the hardest by the 2009 downturn, the discretes market recorded its largest annual increase in more than 30 years, rising 42% in 2010.  Power transistor sales were up 44% in 2010 to a record $12.0 billion.
• LED sales continued to shine, growing 41% in 2010, thanks to strong demand for high-brightness devices in LCD TVs and new room-lighting applications.  While LED sales are expected to exceed $16.5 billion in 2015, concerns about too much new fab capacity in China and Asia have suppliers on edge.
• Gyroscope devices are joining low-cost accelerometers in fueling the boom of MEMS-based sensors in smartphones, consumer electronics, and portable systems.  Annual sales of motion sensors are on pace to reach $4.0 billion in five years.
• CMOS image sensor sales lagged other optoelectronic products in 2010, but stronger growth is expected from new applications outside of cameras and camera phones in the next five years.

OPTOELECTRONICS
• CCD AND CMOS IMAGE SENSORS
• HIGH-BRIGHTNESS AND STANDARD LEDs
• LASER TRANSMITTERS AND PICK-UPS
• INFRARED DEVICES
• COUPLERS, ISOLATORS, AND OPTICAL SWITCHES
• DIGITAL CHARACTER DISPLAYS
• OTHER OPTO DEVICES

Historically, optoelectronics was considered a small but fast-growing branch of the “greater” discretes marketplace, but that is no longer the case. Consistently higher growth rates enabled optoelectronics sales to exceed discretes by more than $2.0 billion in 2010. With optoelectronics being less impacted by the 2008-2009 downturn, growth rates in this segment were below the discretes and sensor/actuator markets in 2010, but new record-high sales were reached in solid-state lamps (LEDs), optocouplers, isolators, and optical switches. Image sensor sales grew just 20% in 2010, but are now forecast to set a new peak of $8.5 billion in 2011. By 2015, optoelectronics annual sales are expected to reach $40.3 billion, with the strongest growth coming from laser transmitters for fiber-optic networks and high-power LEDs for solid-state lighting applications.

SENSORS/ACTUATORS
• PRESSURE SENSORS (INCLUDING MEMS-BASED MICROPHONE DEVICES)
• ACCELERATION/YAW SENSORS (FOR CONSUMER, CELLPHONES,
AUTOMOTIVE, AND OTHER SYSTEMS)
• MEMS-BASED ACTUATORS
• OTHER SENSORS (e.g., TEMPERATURE SENSORS AND FINGERPRINT ID CHIPS)



Solid-state sensors have been around for decades, often performing real-time measurements in embedded-control applications. But, it was not until 2001 that sensors were fully recognized as a fast-growing product segment within the semiconductor industry. Actuators were added to this market segment in 2003. In the 2010 recovery, sensors/actuators sales surged 45% after falling 7% in 2009. MEMS-based products now account for 83% of this segment's revenues. With more devices being used in consumer electronics and cellphones, MEMS-based unit shipments are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 17% per year in the 2010-2015 timeframe.

DISCRETES
• POWER TRANSISTORS/MODULES
• SMALL-SIGNAL TRANSISTORS
• SWITCHING TRANSISTORS
• DIODES, RECTIFIERS, AND THYRISTORS
• RF/MICROWAVE TRANSISTORS/MODULES



A half-century ago, transistors began as small-signal devices, aimed primarily at replacing bulky vacuum tubes in switching and amplification applications. Ten years later, transistors developed into integrated circuits, which then began to eliminate the need for many small-signal discrete devices. However, with 404 billion discretes shipped in 2010, the advent of ICs certainly has not stopped the growth of transistor products and other commodity solid-state discretes. In fact, discretes are seeing increased use in portable electronics applications such as laptop and tablet PCs and cellphones, which need more power transistors and other discretes in power management, switching power supplies, and battery-charging systems. In power discretes, a revolution is underway with GaN and SiC wafer materials replacing silicon technology for higher performance.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1. Executive Summary

Challenges Ahead

Seven Sales Records Set in 2010 Recovery

Section 2. Semiconductor Market Outlook

The Electronic System/Semiconductor Relationship

Emergence and Evolution of O-S-D

Semiconductor Content

Macroeconomics

Worldwide GDP Trends and Impact on Semiconductor Growth

A Perspective on the Impact of Japan's Disaster

Worldwide Electronic System Production

The Global Semiconductor Market

Semiconductor Market History and Forecast

Semiconductor Industry Cycles

Introduction

Semiconductor Market Forecast Assumptions

2011 Industry Forecast

2012-2015 Industry Forecast

2005-2015 Unit, Dollar, and ASP Analysis

Semiconductor Unit Shipments

Market Forecast by Region

Top Suppliers of Opto, Sensor/Actuator, and Discrete Devices

Section 3. O-S-D Market Overview by Device Type

Section 4. Optoelectronics Market

Overview

Optoelectronics Forecast

Laser Recovery Resets

Optoelectronics Market by Region and End-Use

Top Optoelectronics Suppliers

Image Sensors

CMOS Image Sensor Supplier Consolidation and Expansion

CMOS Image Sensor Resolution and Price Trends

High-Brightness LEDs

LED Oversupply Risk Grows

LED Supplier Base Swells

Section 5. Sensors and Actuators Market

Overview

Sensor/Actuator Forecast

Sensor/Actuator Applications and Regional Use Marketshare

Top Suppliers

MEMS-based Product Growth

Sensors Segment Outlook

Pressure Sensors

Acceleration & Yaw Sensors

Magnetic-Field Sensors

Temperature Sensors

Application-Specific Sensor Trends

MEMS-based Microphone Devices

Fingerprint Sensor Growth

Actuators

Section 6. Discretes Market

Overview

Discretes Forecast

Regional Discretes Markets

Top Discretes Suppliers

Power Transistor Outlook

Automotive Applications

RF/Microwave Devices

Section 7. Optoelectronics Technology

Overview

Advancements in Silicon Optoelectronics

Optical Communications

Laser Transmitter Trends

Optical Storage

Blue Laser Challenges

Optocouplers and Optical Isolation

CCD vs. CMOS Image Sensors

How CCDs and CMOS Devices Work

CMOS Imaging Challenges and New Solutions

CCD Advancements

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Solid-State Lighting Progress

Low-Power and High-Power LEDs

White LED Challenges

Display Backlighting

High-Power LEDs Drive R&D

White LEDs Keep Setting Output Records

Section 8. Sensors and Actuators Technology

Overview

Cutting Manufacturing Costs

MEMS-based Transducers

Inertial Sensors (Acceleration and Yaw-Rate Measurements)

Inertial Sensors Invade Volume Applications

Hooking Accelerometers with Gyroscopes

Pressure Sensors

Tire-Pressure Measurement Systems

Magnetic, Temperature, and Proximity Sensors

Magnetometer Electronic Compasses

Electric-Field Sensing

Fingerprint Sensors

MEMS-based Actuators

Microfluidic Devices

Micro-Mirrors and Spatial Light Modulation

MEMS-based RF Filters and Silicon Oscillators

Section 9. Discretes Technology

Overview

60 Years of Proliferation and Specialization

Tiny Diodes with Big Surge Protection

Transistor Improvements

Power Transistor Evolution

High- and Low-Voltage MOSFETs

Power MOSFET Package Trends

IGBTs

Bipolar Power Transistors

RF and Microwave Transistors

Silicon RF vs. Compound Semiconductors

Will GaN & SiC Replace Silicon Power Discretes?

GaN Versus SiC Power Discretes

Experimental and Next-Generation Discretes