Optoelectronic devices can be divided into bulk optoelectronic devices, forward and reverse junction optoelectronic devices, heterojunctions, and multi-junction optoelectronic devices. Based on their functional purposes, they are mainly subdivided into optical communication devices and display lighting devices. As functional devices based on the photoelectric conversion effect, their capabilities encompass a diverse range of functions including the generation, modulation, detection, connection, energy distribution and adjustment, signal amplification, and photoelectric and electro-optical conversion of optical signals.

Optoelectronic devices are widely used in fields such as optical communications, displays, mobile phone cameras, night vision, low-light imaging, optoelectronic sights, infrared detection and guidance, as well as medical detection. Whether in 5G, data centers, metropolitan networks, backbone networks, or future optical interconnect networks, optoelectronic devices are indispensable.

I. Development Status

With continuous technological innovation and market demand growth, China's optoelectronic device industry is showing unprecedented development potential. The rapid expansion of the optical chip and connector market, along with significant advancements in laser technology, is jointly driving technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the industry. According to the "2024-2029 Analysis of the Development Status and Investment Prospects of China's Optoelectronic Device Industry" report released by the China Business Industry Research Institute, the output of optoelectronic components in China reached 1.43805 trillion units in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 33.11%. From January to March 2024, the output reached 396.58 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 24.6%.

Among them, modern optical communication systems use optical signals as the core information carrier and achieve long-distance and high-speed signal transmission through efficient fiber optic technology. The transmitting end uses lasers to convert electrical signals into optical signals, while the receiving end uses detectors to convert optical signals back into electrical signals for efficient and stable information transmission. Optical communication devices can be classified into four categories based on their physical forms: chips, active optical devices, passive optical devices, and optical modules and subsystems. Optoelectronic chips are the core components of optical devices and can be categorized into optical chips (laser chips and detector chips) and electrical chips.

Another important application scenario for optoelectronic devices is display lighting. Among them, LED products are widely popular due to their excellent performance, with the core being LED chips. In the LED industry chain, it starts with sapphire substrates and forms epitaxial wafers through precise epitaxial growth technology before being processed into LED chips. These chips undergo meticulous packaging processes to ultimately form the LED lighting and display devices we use daily. However, despite the core position of LED chips in display lighting, in optical communication systems, the key devices for converting electrical signals to optical signals are lasers and photodetectors, which are regarded as core components of optical transmission systems. Both have their own focus in technology and application fields while jointly promoting continuous advancements in optoelectronic technology.

II. Industry Chain Analysis

The optoelectronic device industry chain is clearly structured with closely connected links. The upstream focuses on raw material supply covering electronic components, PCBs, optical chips, special glass, optical crystals, high-power fiber optic cables, optical components, precision connectors as well as acousto-optic devices; the midstream is centered on the manufacturing of optoelectronic devices focusing on producing active and passive optical devices; while the downstream extends to diversified application markets including optical communication, satellite communication, optical display technology, mobile camera modules, automotive electronic systems, security monitoring, infrared detection as well as medical detection fields. The demand for optoelectronic devices in these areas continues to grow driving overall development of the industry chain.

In recent years, against the backdrop of global PCB production capacity shifting to China and the booming development of downstream electronic terminal products, China's PCB industry has shown a rapid development trend overall; Asia especially China has become the most important production base for printed circuit boards globally. According to the "2024-2029 Development Trends and Forecast Report of China's Printed Circuit Board Industry" released by the China Business Industry Research Institute, China's PCB market size reached 307.816 billion yuan in 2022 with a year-on-year increase of 2.56%, approximately reaching 309.663 billion yuan in 2023. Analysts from the China Business Industry Research Institute predict that China's PCB market size will further grow to 346.902 billion yuan in 2024.

In the consumer sector, optical chips occupy a core position in 3D sensing technology especially in automotive laser radar where they determine key performance metrics such as detection distance and resolution. With continuous improvement in automotive electronics integration levels automotive electronics will usher in a long prosperity cycle. According to the "2024-2029 Development Status and Investment Strategy Research Report of China's Automotive Electronics Industry" released by the China Business Industry Research Institute in 2023 China's automotive electronics market size exceeded one trillion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 12%. Analysts from the China Business Industry Research Institute predict that China's automotive electronics market size will increase to 1.1585 trillion yuan in 2024.

III. Future Trends

The application fields of optoelectronic devices are extremely broad covering everything from home cameras and mobile phone cameras to night vision goggles and low-light cameras as well as high-precision optoelectronic sights infrared detection guidance and remote sensing technologies. Additionally they also play an important role in fingerprint detection missile detection as well as medical testing and imaging.

In recent years with continuous development of internet technology the optoelectronic device industry has also developed rapidly continuously adopting new technologies utilizing new materials researching new principles and developing new products with various new types of devices emerging constantly while device performance continues to improve. As of November 2023 there were a total of 3266 patent applications in China's optoelectronic device field. In terms of patent types there were 2651 invention patents for optoelectronic devices accounting for 81% of total applications with 1431 invention patents granted and 1220 invention patents published. The number of adaptive new patent applications was 591 accounting for 18% of total applications while design patent applications numbered at 24 accounting for only 1% of total applications. In terms of patent application trends from 2015 to 2021 patent applications for optoelectronic devices steadily increased; although there was a decline in patent applications from 2022 to 2023 compared to previous years it still maintained over 90 applications.