Since the early 1990s, power transistor applications have steadily expanded in automotive electronics, personal computers, cell phones, industrial equipment, home appliances, consumer electronics, and many battery-operated portable products. From 1990 to 2010, the power transistor market is expected to increase at a cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) of 8% per year to $10.5 billion in 2010, based on IC Insights' forecast. During this 21-year time span, the entire discrete semiconductor market will increase at a CAGR of 5%, according to the new O-S-D Report.

Power transistors accounted for about half of the $15.7 billion discrete semiconductor market in 2005. By 2010, power transistors are forecast to represent about 54% of the projected $19.6 billion in discrete semiconductor sales, says the O-S-D Report, which provides full analysis of optoelectronics, sensor/actuator devices, and discretes based on industry standard WSTS definitions.

In the discrete semiconductor market, both power field-effect transistors—mostly power MOSFETs—and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are fueling growth. While integration trends continue to move more transistor functions onto ICs, the number of discrete power devices is actually increasing in many systems applications because of a growing need to conserve, control, and condition electricity from wall plugs and batteries. Consequently, more power MOSFETs are needed in desktop PCs, notebook computers, cell phones, portable systems, and consumer products to enable microprocessors and other ICs to run at top speeds but at low operating voltages.

Low-voltage power MOSFET revenues are expected to increase at a CAGR of 6% between 2005 and 2010 to reach $4.3 billion in 2010, predicts the O-S-D Report. High-voltage power MOSFETs (above 200V) are forecast to increase at a CAGR of more than 9% to $1.7 billion in 2010.

Meanwhile, IGBTs are forecast to be the fastest growing power transistor group in the 2005-2010 timeperiod with a CAGR of about 12% for transistor products and nearly 11% for modules. IGBTs—which typically serve rugged, slower-switching power applications in automobiles, industrial systems, lighting, and many home appliances—posted sales of $1.4 billion for transistor and module products combined in 2005. IC Insights is forecasting a 14% increase in total IGBT sales to $1.6 billion in 2006.

The new 2006 O-S-D Report expands IC Insights' coverage of the semiconductor industry with detailed analysis of trends and growth rates in the optoelectronics, sensor/actuator, and discrete market segments. The report is available for $1,990 in either a three-ring binder or CD-ROM format. Additional individual copies of the CD-ROM or binder sell for $495 each. The report is also available under a multi-user corporate license for $5,290. Special discount rates for the O-S-D Report are available to current subscribers to IC Insights' McClean Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of the IC portion of the semiconductor industry.

About IC Insights

IC Insights, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective market research for the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1997, IC Insights offers coverage of global economic trends, semiconductor market forecasts, capital spending and fab capacity trends, product market details, and technology trends, as well as complete IC company profiles and evaluations of end-use applications driving demand for ICs.