Dialog Semiconductor has scored two smartphone design-wins which reflect the growing significance of the emerging market for next generation mobile phones.
Some observers are saying that there are already signs that the demand for silicon smartphones is beginning to turnaround business prospects in the chip market
Dialog has already had a power management IC designed in to Apple's new iPhone3G S, and now we know that Samsung's smartphone, the SCH-u750 will use Dialog’s DA8531 device for its display based keypad.
Apple iPhone 3G S teardown analysis - iSuppli
“Smartphones are the current growth sector for the cellular market and has been a focus for Dialog,” said Dr Jalal Bagherli, CEO of Dialog Semiconductor.
Samsung's SCH-u750 smartphone incorporates a transparent keypad based on e-ink electronic paper display technology. It will automatically adapts to portrait or landscape mode, depending on the function required; key legends are displayed in portrait mode for phone dialling, and in landscape mode for sending emails, text or web browsing.
Dialog has worked with Samsung to optimise the operation of the keypad display so that it does not consume any power when images are static, an important feature when extending the battery life of the phone.
“This is our first design win at Samsung - a top tier mobile phone supplier and represents an important success for Dialog to be adding Samsung as a new customer,” said Bagherli.
The device has 64 display driver outputs and communicates via a SPI serial interface.
In its recent teardown of the Apple iPhone 3G S, iSuppli revealed that Dialog made its debut in the iPhone line with its power management IC serving the 3G S applications processor.
Other winners from the iPhone 3G S are Broadcom, Marvell and CSR.
According to iSuppli, Apple has used Broadcom's Bluetooth/FM/WLAN device, Marvell Technology's WLAN chip and a Cambridge Silicon Radio Bluetooth IC