Boston, MA 02/11/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Rumor has it that Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) has asked the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to manufacture Touch ID fingerprint sensors for the iPhone 6 using the very same method that had been used for the iPhone 5. There had been some news that much higher 12” wafer-level packaging had been cited as an option for the next-gen handset fingerprint scanner. Apparently, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) has now asked TSMC to maintain 8” production to ensure higher yield rates. Previously, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) had decided to ask TSMC to produce the fingerprint sensors for the company’s next-gen iPhone at its 12” facilities making use of the 65nm process, said sources.
The technology
However, keeping in mind, the risks that are associated with 12” WLP technologies, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) finally opted for TSMC’s 8” processing that enables mature yield-rates for WLP to effectively produce these fingerprint sensors. It must be remembered that Touch ID production had been one of the main problems behind the constraints that the company faced with iPhone 5s supplies in 2013. It’s not much of a surprise that Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is moving forth with caution on this front when it comes to its next flagship launch. The yield rates for 8”WLP are around 95 %, while the much larger 12” production-process results are in the yield rate range of 70- 80%
Changes to come?
There is a possibility that in 2014, the Touch ID technology will be used not just on iPhones but on iPads as well. There had been some expectation that the company was going to launch its 2013 iPads and iPad Mini’s with this technology last year itself. However, that did not happen and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) decided to hold onto the Fingerprint ID and maintained it as an exclusive feature for the flagship phones. However, things might change this year and if that happens, the production of fingerprint sensors becomes even more important.
