ams’ consumer business once more provided the largest contribution to its overall results. As the leader in optical sensing ams’ unmatched portfolio spans high performance solutions for 3D sensing including VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser)-based illumination, high quality display management including behind-OLED and TrueColor technologies, micro-scale proximity sensing, bio- and spectral sensing, and other optical applications.
ams is a leading provider of 3D sensing technology supplying significant volumes of 3D sensing solutions to consumer OEMs. ams leverages its extensive 3D sensing portfolio and system know-how including 3D hard- and software for all three approaches structured light (SL), time-of-flight (iToF), and active stereo vision (ASV). With a current focus on 3D illumination, ams supports both front-facing and world-facing 3D systems. As previously indicated, the market is moving along a multi-year adoption timeline for front-facing as well as world-facing 3D sensing where the adoption of front-facing 3D is expanding at a good pace, and world-facing 3D sensing, as anticipated, is seeing instances of early adoption.
ams is experiencing the anticipated positive momentum for wider adoption of 3D sensing this year. In line with previous comments ams saw the start of expected Android smartphone launches that include ams 3D technology in the first quarter. The previously mentioned illumination solution for a world-facing 3D sensing system at a major Android OEM has started volume shipments as expected. As anticipated, ams expects additional 3D sensing-enabled Android devices with ams 3D illumination to be launched over the course of 2019. The range of ams’ 3D solutions across Android devices either already launched or expected to be launched in 2019 comprises several front-facing 3D illumination systems including iToF solutions, the first world-facing illumination solution mentioned above and a first use of ASV. These successes are creating an expanded customer base for ams’ 3D sensing portfolio that includes the world’s leading smartphone OEMs. At the same time, they underscore ams’ position as a leading provider of 3D sensing across technologies.