Coasia considers entering OIS actuator market

Camera module and system chip firm Coasia is considering entering the optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator market, TheElec has learned.

The actuators are used in camera modules of smartphones.

Coasia is considering the move as customer Samsung, which buys its camera modules, is expanding applying OIS to more of its mid-tier smartphones.

The component firm already has a production line that can produce OIS actuator samples, sources said.

OIS prevents shaky photos from being taken. A gyro sensor moves the lens to the opposite direction of where the smartphone is moving.

OIS was previously mostly on cameras in flagship smartphones but now the feature is more widespread, being also sued in mid-tier smartphones. Apple’s iPhone SE that launched earlier this year had OIS and wireless charging.

A camera module costs around US$10 __ the image sensor and lens account for 70% of the price and OIS/actuator around 20%. OIS and actuator are conventionally combined. OIS is also over 15% more expensive than actuators for auto-focus.

So adopting OIS can increase the margins for Coasia.

Meanwhile, Haesung Optics and Jaeyoung Solutec are also expanding their respective OIS businesses.

Jaeyoung Solutec, a secondary supplier to Samsung, had announced back in September that it plans to enter the OIS camera module market. It has so far spent 23 billion won on this business.

It began supplying Samsung with the modules during the fourth quarter. 

Haesung Optics, meanwhile, exited the camera module and lens module businesses but had said earlier this month that it plans to focus on OIS actuators.