O-S-D market 'back on track'

This year, IC Insights says sales should reach a record $68.9billion. Optoelectronics is expected to continue to be the most consistent growth segment in the overall O-S-D marketplace during the next several years, primarily due to strong demand for CMOS image sensors in embedded applications and automotive systems. However, optoelectronics growth has been dampened in recent years by price erosion in lamp devices due to the build up of worldwide capacity for high brightness LEDs, which are becoming cheaper for solid state lighting applications. During the past several years, sensors and actuators have been the fastest growing semiconductor market segment, but double digit percentage sales increases in this category came to a screeching halt in 2012 when high flying demand for acceleration and yaw rate sensors slowed and average selling prices fell by 10%. Looking ahead, accelerometers and gyroscopes are expected to remain the largest sensor product category through 2018, but faster growing pressure and magnetic field sensors are forecast to gain market share over the next four years.