Power management needs are so tight that TSMC buys machines to sprint GaN fast charging ? Publication time: 2020/11/29 09:30 Update time: 2020/11/29 16:52
Power management needs are so tight that TSMC buys machines to sprint GaN fast charging Image source: Apple News
The power management chip (PMIC) is too tight, the news of the supply chain came out, TSMC (2330) decided to go out in person, from the third-generation semiconductor new material GaN (gallium nitride), expand production capacity, and even adopt a patent authorization method, from GaN fast In addition to the need to solve the shortage of power chip management, the market may also show that Apple is considering switching to GaN fast charging solutions in the future.
Faced with the epidemic this year, Huawei is hoarding goods, 8-inch wafer foundry and packaging and testing production capacity is tight, coupled with the rebound in downstream electronics demand, multiple factors have made it impossible to alleviate the shortage of power management chips.
In order to expand the PMIC product line, IC design company MediaTek, through its subsidiary Richtek, acquired Intel's Enpirion power management chip product line for US$85 million. The American analog IC manufacturer ADI has also spent US$21 billion to acquire Maxim Integrated.
The strong demand for power management chips has become an urgent need for the industry in the near future. The most upstream foundry leaders have also responded. Supply chain sources pointed out that TSMC recently bought Aixtron machines and placed them in Epistar?s Zhunan factory in the form of patent authorization. Fast charging products for Epistar foundry GaN.
TSMC started to provide 6 -inch GaN foundry services in a small amount this year , but the current TSMC GaN production line is fully loaded, and now the power-related demand is too strong, and urgent orders cannot be added.
Power management is ushering in the industry peak season, which will also drive the rise of fast charging technology. In order to improve battery life in 5G smart phones, gallium nitride (GaN) technology with light, thin, short, high conversion efficiency is mostly used in Type-C interface fast charging Chargers, the market is expected to gradually become the mainstream market next year.
The supply chain also pointed out that GaN fast charging technology is currently being used by Chinese mobile phone brands, because this year Apple iPhone 12 will no longer come with a random charger, and it may drive more ODM/OEM factories to follow up. Some heard that Apple also In considering the plan to switch to GaN, the fast charging market is expected to take off quickly. (Reported by Chen Liyu/Taipei)
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