FAQ

SoMs and CoMs are two names for the same piece of embedded technology. The terms evolved from different historical sources, but today, different historical sources, but today they are used interchangeably.

The standardized feature set, form factor, and carrier board interface of a System on Module (SoM) provide multiple advantages:

• Accelerated time-to-market– thanks to reduced development and manufacturing effort.
• Lower technical burden- the SoM vendor manages both hardware and embedded firmware issues.
• Technical support– direct access to expert support
• Long-term availability- with longevity commitments that can be extended through next-generation, pin-compatible SoM releases.
• Proven reliability- high-volume SoMs are extensively field-tested and continuously updated.
• Early access to the latest technologies– SoM vendors get priority and early access to the latest embedded technologies like SoC (System on Chip) and thereby offer their customers a competitive advantage.
• Assured component availability– reducing supply chain risks and ensuring stable production
• Simplified inventory management– significant cost savings from reduced purchasing overhead, enabled by using an off-the-shelf solution

Sold under brand names like Arduino, Udoo, Raspberry Pi, and others, low-cost hacker boards have become popular foundations for DIY (do-it-yourself) projects among students and hobbyists, for a wide range of applications. Although hacker boards, which can be had for as little as US$15, are tempting for use in commercial product applications, companies building products for industrial applications simply can’t rely on platforms that lack well-defined longevity commitments as well as robust evidence of factors such as high reliability, extended environmental resilience, component traceability, and industry standards compliance including ISO 13485/9001/14001, etc. For more information on these issues, read this “System on Modules vs. Hacker Boards” blog post.

SoMs is an off-the-shelf solution containing the core components and the peripherals on the carrier board. A chip-down design is a uniquely customized Single Board Computer that includes both the core and the peripheral components, all designed to meet the unique needs of a single company. Because SoMs are available off-the-shelf and have been tested extensively, they have a lower total cost of ownership and cut down on time to market, enabling companies to launch within months. In comparison, chip-down designs are completely customized to meet the hardware needs of a specific company, which creates a higher cost of ownership and requires unique expertise. The lengthy design process and need for rigorous testing significantly delays the time to market. SoMs provide more flexibility and scalability since product designers can migrate to higher or lower computing versions without changing the carrier card design, while chip-down designs must be redesigned. Because they are mass-produced, SoMs come with extended manufacturer support, whereas chip-down designs do not. For most companies, the benefits of a SoM far outweigh those of a chip-down design; however, in some specific cases, and particularly if a company requires non-standard components or features, a chip-down design may be preferred or be the only option. 

System on Module (SoM) is a small form-factor off-the-shelf computing module usually pre-installed with software and used in embedded system designs. The SoM is connected to a carrier board, with each having a different role.

System on Modules contain all core computing components, including the processor, memory, RAM, graphics unit, power management unit, and communication controllers like WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and USB, while peripherals components like power and other physical connectors are integrated into the carrier board and designed based on the end product requirements.

Designing a carrier board for a highly optimized SoM will usually be a simple phase in the project as the SoM contains all the complexity. Therefore, using a SoM as the embedded computing core of a device can significantly reduce development time and cost.

Variscite provides customers with a complete hardware and software reference platform for its System-on-Module solutions. The related reference carrier board design files can be freely used by the customer to develop their own carrier board.Software drivers and BSPs of the evaluation kits are also provided free of charge. Details are available at the Developer Center.

When a particular hardware design is required for a customer’s custom carrier board or a specific driver development/integration for an end product, Variscite can provide paid support services, implemented by an expert team. For further details, please contact us at [email protected].

Variscite provides a very generous longevity commitment, declaring Variscite will continue producing its products as long as the critical components in the design are supplied by the relevant vendors. In addition, Variscite makes every effort to use leading chip vendors for its products to ensure at least 10 years longevity for products – based on the commitment provided by the chip vendors. Visit our product longevity page.

Most documents pertaining to hardware can be found in the documentation section of each product page. This includes the complete SoM datasheet and its carrier board, 2D and 3D mechanical files, carrier’s schematics in PDF form, radiation tests and more. Information regarding software can be found at the Developer Center.

Carrier’s OrCAD schematics, layout files and software source codes are available on Variscite’s FTP. Ask for login details from your account manager.

Most technical details concerning the evaluation or development around Variscite’s solutions can be found at the Developer Center.

If you develop Machine Learning or Multimedia applications, check out Variscite Python API for python users.

For any further technical questions, a customer can submit a ticket at the customer portal which will be promptly supported by Variscite’s engineers.