Sigetronics, a specialized semiconductor company, announced on Tuesday that it has begun mass production of silicon (Si) avalanche photodiodes (APDs) designed for short-range distance measurement at visible-light wavelengths of 540 nm and 660 nm.

According to the company, an APD is a high-sensitivity photosemiconductor capable of detecting very weak light signals and internally amplifying them. APDs are widely used as key light-receiving components in laser rangefinders, robots, drones, 3D scanners, and other sensing applications.

While the optical sensor market has traditionally focused on short-range measurement, demand for more precise distance sensing between objects has been rapidly increasing as artificial intelligence (AI) technologies expand into areas such as robotics, autonomous driving, and smart factories.

To proactively respond to this market trend, Sigetronics aims to begin mass production of a 905 nm infrared APD, widely used in industrial and automotive LiDAR applications, by the end of this year.

During the initial stage of the business, the company plans to focus on supplying its currently mass-produced 540 nm and 660 nm APDs to selected customers and industrial applications, with the goal of establishing a stable supply base capable of delivering several million units annually.

“APDs are essential optical sensors that enable AI systems to perceive and understand the physical world,” said Kyu-hwan Shim, CEO of Sigetronics. “With the launch of 905 nm APD mass production by the end of this year, we plan to expand into the LiDAR market and establish APDs as a new growth engine for the company.”