Dongbu HiTek penetrates Chinese smart phone market

KOREA: Dongbu HiTek announced that it has scored two big wins in the Chinese smart phone market, naming Beijing-based Tianyu Communication Equipment Company and Shenzen-based Skyworth Group as new customers. The Korean provider of specialty ICs confirmed that it has initiated volume shipments of advanced touch-screen controller chips to both companies.

The touch-screen controllers destined for China specify a 300 Hz frame rate, some three times faster than previous generation smart phones. This faster rate facilitates touch-drawing of continuous figures on screen without interruption. The controllers also enable 10-finger multi-touch capability for playing on-screen instruments such as a piano. Moreover, the controllers conserve power as they draw only 2.5 mA compared to 10 mA for previous generation phones (based on 80 Hz frame rate). These advanced chips are ideal for use with 4.3-, 5.0- and 7.0-inch smart-phone screens.

According to Dongbu HiTek, the two wins disclosed today are significant as they mark the Korean company’s major penetration into serving the broader Chinese market. While continuing product development efforts with both Tianyu and Skyworth in the smart phone segment, the company aims to expand its business in China with advanced touch-screen controllers now under development for tablet PCs and laptops.
     
Dongbu HiTek’s touch-screen controllers deploy a projected capacitive (pro-cap) technology as opposed to a resistive type. Pro-cap technology yields significant benefits, the most significant being: high durability for long product life; high transmissivity for excellent optical performance; and “unlimited touch” for discerning and processing simultaneous touches.

According to iSuppli, the pro-cap type of touch-screen controllers will command 70 percent of a $1.5 billion market in 2012 and continue to maintain this lion’s share as the market reaches $1.6 billion in 2015.