Abstract: August 6 news, according to South Korean media recently reportedApple Inc Ltd.We are investigating the potential supply of TOF modules for camera parts in Korea, and are in contact with a number of Korean camera parts manufacturers, and may prepare for the new iPhone machine to be equipped with TOF lens modules. Apple Inc has sent a request for quotation (RFI) to South Korean suppliers for the TOF module, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to recent South Korean media reports, Apple Inc is investigating the potential supply of camera parts TOF modules in South Korea and is in contact with a number of Korean camera parts manufacturers. It may prepare for the new iPhone machine to be equipped with TOF lens modules. Apple Inc has sent a request for quotation (RFI) to South Korean suppliers for the TOF module, according to a person familiar with the matter.

At present, the mainstream 3D vision technologies on mobile phones are structured light and ToF. As early as 2017, Apple Inc was the first to equip the iPhone X with a front-end 3D structured light module to replace Touch ID fingerprint recognition with Face ID face recognition. Since then, many Android phone manufacturers have also begun to follow suit. Since last year, more and more Android phone manufacturers have begun to equip their phones with rear ToF modules. Because ToF has an advantage over structured light in recognition distance, it also makes it more widely used. This year, Apple Inc's new iPad Pro adopts ToF technology.

According to industry information, Apple Inc has previously delineated the list of suppliers for the new iPhone launched in the second half of this year, and some parts are already in production. The industry speculates that South Korea's LG Innotek is the only supplier of 3D TOF modules for the upcoming iPhone new machine. The reason why we began to contact more Korean lens parts manufacturers this week is to ensure that the supply of parts will remain stable if sales of new iPhone phones rise next year.

In May this year, there was news in the industry that orders for iPhone 12 series camera modules were shared by three suppliers, namely: LG Innotek,SharpAndOufeiguang. However, in July this year, the United States added Ofeiguang, a supplier of camera modules, to the entity list, and the move may impose certain restrictions on its production. Apple Inc also began to consider increasing module suppliers from other countries.

In addition, the news also shows that Samsung Electronic Machinery Company (Samsung Electro-Mechanics) has begun to supply lens modules to Apple Inc for the first time.

Editor: core Zhixun-Lin Zi