Apple has again injected $410 million into II-VI, a key supplier of its laser technology, for iPhone and iPad Face ID cameras and LiDAR scanners. This is Apple's second investment in II-VI, the company said, which would allow it to acquire earlier components for next-generation devices.
As early as 2017, Apple invested $390 million in the company from its advanced manufacturing fund, also known as Finisar. At the time, apple said the cash would help VCSELs (vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) make mass production and raise research and development costs.
VCSEL was already part of TrueDepth camera array in the iPhoneX. They help sensors track distances, in which apple uses to Face ID, power functions such as Animoji and Memoji, and recently introduced LiDAR Scanner depth sensing cameras. The camera was first introduced on the iPadPro, but later also on some iPhone models. The technology will not only help apple's camera operations, but also help apple's augmented reality product launch.
In November 2018 , Finisar was acquired by II-VI , which specializes in businesses such as optoelectronic components. Although it makes parts for consumer electronics and communications equipment , it also develops automotive and semiconductor capital equipment. This could have a particular appeal to Apple. As part of its Titan project division, apple is not only quietly developing its autonomous driving cars , but also increasingly making its own chips as its Mac line turns to adopt Apple processors .
Apple's first cash portion was used to restart parts manufacturing in Sherman, Texas. Apple said the new money from the $5 billion advanced manufacturing fund would add additional capacity and bring 700 jobs in Sherman, Texas, Warren, New Jersey, Easton, Pennsylvania, and Champagne, Illinois.
