IC designers Elan Microelectronics, Egalax-empia Technology (EETI) and ITE Tech expect their shipments of touch-panel controllers to start expanding in second-half 2011, according to industry sources.

EETI has managed to add several new clients from the tablet PC segment into its client list for touch controllers in January, during which revenues from large-size touch panel ICs recorded a 75% sequential growth, the company said.

In addition to shipping touch panel ICs for notebook applications, Elan has begun mass production of touch-panel solutions for smartphones, and is eyeing a shipment volume of 500,000 units a month in the third quarter of 2011, the company indicated.

Elan also looks to an over 50% on-year growth in shipments of notebook panel controller ICs in 2011 and sales of related touch controllers to account for over 40% its total revenues for the year.

ITE revealed that it has started producing controller ICs for medium-size tablet PCs and its total shipment touch controller ICs, including button sensors, have reached one million units a month.

Although ITE's handset touch solutions have been verified by MediaTek, some software and firmware issues still need to be resolved. The company expects its shipments of handset touch controllers to take off in second-half 2011.