Largan Cameras

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Following previous moves away from relying on Apple, Largan Precision is believed to have agreed an order for VCMs (Voice Coil Motors) for the ' iPhone 13.' Previously, Largan has been best known. It's worth mentioning that orders for the 7-element lens for the main camera of iPhones are split between Largan, Yujingguang, and Kantatsu. These supply the lens to LG Innotek for incorporation into the camera module. However, now, Sunny Optical is set to be approved as the additional supplier for these lenses. Like all Panasonic Lumix digital cameras, the DMC-LC70 is equipped with a lens made by Leica, manufacturer of precision optical technologies. The top compact lens in the world-renowned Leica family, the DC Vario-Elmarit lens combines comfortably small size with superb image rendering.

Largan Precision has reportedly secured an order from Apple to provide voice coil motors for the focusing of cameras in the next iPhone.

Largan Cameras

Following previous moves away from relying on Apple, Largan Precision is believed to have agreed an order for VCMs (Voice Coil Motors) for the 'iPhone 13.' Previously, Largan has been best known for producing fingerprint recognition and 3D-sensing lenses, but VCMs are part of the iPhone camera system's focusing mechanism.

Largan Camera Manual

According to Digitimes, unspecified industry sources say that Largan Precision is to become a supplier 'for iPhones to be unveiled in 2021, with shipments to begin in second-half 2021.'

It's not known whether Largan Precision is contributing any new design to the focusing VCM mechanism. The company simply be joining or replacing the existing VCM suppliers, Mitsumi and ALPS.

However, the new report also comes after Ming-Chi Kuo's prediction that Apple would tap Largan, and others, for a new 'periscope' lens. Main production of that lens was said to be Semco, with Largan, ALPS, and more, providing parts.

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Kuo claimed that Apple would introduce the 'periscope' lens in 2022. Alongside a regular VCM for controlling the physical movement of the lens in focusing, periscope ones add prisms and mirrors to effectively extend the focal length of the camera.

Note that Digitimes has an excellent track record with sources within the supply chain, though a much poorer one at extrapolating Apple's plans.

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Largan Digital Camera

Rokon Zaman

A lens making company among Forbes top 100 digital companies in 2018 is intriguing indeed. High density, sharp images of iPhone or other high-end smartphone shines over Largan’s aspherical plastic lens. Among 17.5 billion optical components produced by Largan in 2017, Apple bought a lion share. Although it splits orders for iPhone lenses with Genius and Kantatsu, Largan is the succeeds supplier of microlens assembly for smartphones and dominates the high-value wide-angle lens for iPhone main and rear cameras. Apple is known to be frugal in paying component suppliers. But, while Apple’s 25 percent net profit margin creates headline news, its relatively unknown component supplier Lagan’s net profit quietly rises over 40 percent, with $1.7 billion sales. Steve’s magical creativity is credited for iPhone’s success, but where is the magic in Largan’s lens making? How has this company created a unique edge in an age-old industry supporting high-tech innovation is a question worth investigating.

Smartphones usage micro assembly of plastic aspherical lenses forproducing mega pixel, stunning images. An aspheric lens or asphere is a lens whosesurface profiles are not portions of a sphere or cylinder.In photography, a lens assembly that includes an aspheric element isoften called an aspherical lens. The asphere’s morecomplex surface profile can reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and also reduce other optical aberrations such as astigmatism, compared to a simple lens. A single aspheric lenscan often replace a much more complex multi-lens system. The resulting deviceis smaller and lighter, and sometimes cheaper than the multi-lens design–makingit very suitable for space constraint smartphone cameras.

Lens making is an age old industry

Lens making is one of the oldest industries of the world,so does the making of aspherical lens. Early attempts atmaking aspheric lenses to correct spherical aberration were made by RenéDescartes in the 1620s, and by ChristiaanHuygens in the 1670s; the cross-section ofthe shape devised by Descartes for this purpose is known as a Cartesianoval. And plastic is widely availablecheap material. Scientific knowledge of material and geometry in shapingoptical properties of glass as well as plastic is quite established. Technologyfor cutting, processing and finishing plastic in giving desired shape is alsovery established as well as widely available. Moreover, there has been immensecompetition among large number of firms in producing lens. In the edge of high-tech,creating sharp competitive edge in generating as high as 70 percent grossmargin in such material centric production appears to be a significantchallenge. Despite high cost of labor and dominance of high-tech firms inAsia’s Silicon island, Largan succeeded in reporting the highest earning pershare among all listed companies in Taiwan—by producing labor and martialcentric components.

Humble startupwith focus on knowledge for edge

With an investment of NT$1 million, in 1987, Scott Linalong with his son Adam Lin Established a small plastic lens making company,Largan Precision Co. Ltd. in Nantun District, Taichung City of Taiwan. The two,father and son, had, and still have, passion for technology; the father fortechnology itself in pursuit of excellence, the son for manufacturing processes,meticulous in his approach. They followed simple principles–no contracting, nopurchasing of technology (intellectual properties, patents), and no poaching oftalent from other companies.

At the age of 47, after quitting public sector job, ScottLin started learning optics with the aspiration of building a business of lensmaking. He studied books on optical lenses and immersed himself in lens designtechnology, starting by drawing designs on paper. During the initial phase ofhis career journey, he carried four suitcases with him touring camera factoriesaround Taiwan and global optics shows to show Largan’s products and learn thebusiness. His patience of waiting for seven years in getting his first orderfrom Kodak helped build Largan’s foundation. Instead of looking for generousgovernment subsidy or contract lens manufacturing opportunity, from the dayone, Lin was after acquiring the knowledge and building competitive edge inlens making through proprietary knowledge by captivating in learning and R&D.

Glasslens making did not offer knowledge base new edge

In earlier days, Lin’s insistence onhome-grown R&D in developing competitive edge was arduous as technology inmaking glass lens was already matured. While he eventually received his firstorder, most patents for glass lenses remained in the hands of the Japanese asalways, representing a huge obstacle that seemed unconquerable. Knowledgebase competitive edge development scenario started to change, while smartphonesstarted demanding high-resolution, but very compact as well as low cost lensassembly. Lin made the bold move inabandoning glass and throwing everything into plastic lenses—in developing thecompetitive edge through R&D in offering plastic camera lenses forsmartphones.

Microlens assembly for smartphone opened the new wave of patents

Largan Chameleon Mega Camera

Despite the maturity of knowledge and technology in glass lens making for conventional cameras, the growing of demand of mega-pixel, very compact lens assembly of smartphone was stretching the limit of lens making know-how. The gap of lens making knowledge and growing of demand higher mega-pixel smartphone cameras opened the opportunity to Lin’s in-house R&D to acquire unique competence. Largan’s R&D in plastic aspherical micro lens assembly started showing dominance in new line of lens making patents. To develop the competitive edge through in house R&D, making plastic lens for smartphone was the only opportunity for Lin as a matter of fact. Although perceived as the audacious or reckless move by the competitors, abandoning the past and developing plastic lens technology from nothing was the only success path opened to Lin’s philosophical strategy. Like Steve Job’s focus on details, Lin’s seemed overly demanding obsession with technology and insistence on quality appear to be the underpinning supporting the growth of unique competitive edge of Largan.

Largan Camera

Focuson details and attaining the edge through in-house R&D is the key

And Largan succeeds out of Lin’s passion and focus on details. Largan eventually rode its home-grown technology and high yield rates to become the dominant player in Taiwan’s optical lens field. According to Nikkei, the company has established itself as the global leader in smartphone camera lenses with a global market share exceeding 30 percent and more than 460 technology patents (as of 2016). With the saturation of developing competitive edge with new knowledge and patents in microlens assembly making for a smartphone, Largen is looking into repeating the success of microlens making for dual camera smartphone to multiple-lens systems, automotive lenses and contact lenses—new engines for future growth. Much like three glimmers of light next to two glistening light beams, these engines are slowly unveiling themselves, hoping to extend Largan’s legendary aura as Taiwan’s stock market king.

Largan has many lessons for start-ups anddeveloping countries aspiring to increase per capita income through innovation.It’s not about tossing great ideas, the success in innovation depends on thecontinued generation of knowledge and turning it into product and processfeatures—so that quality keeps increasing, while cost falling–increasing bothconsumer and producer surpluses. Instead of just looking for volume and easyramp up through subsidies and tax incentives, meticulous focus on details and creatingknowledge for perfection is the key. Predicting the unfolding future demand andbuilding the competence through in-house continued knowledge creation, andtechnology invention, and innovation of product and process features aroundthem is a key area to focus in turning mental capacity into wealth—corecompetence in building knowledge economy.