- Home
What is
System on Module (SoM)?
What is
System on Module (SoM)?
System on Module (SoM) is a small form-factor ready-to-use 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. As the SoM contains all the complexity, designing the carrier board, even for a highly optimized SoM, is usually a simple phase within the project. 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.
As the SoM contains all the complexity, designing the carrier board, even for a highly optimized SoM, is usually a simple phase within the project. 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.
FAQ
System on Modules (SoMs) accelerate time to market by eliminating the complexity of hardware design, allowing engineers to focus on their end product instead of the infrastructure. It reduces development time and costs, minimizes risks with pre-validated, production-ready hardware, and ensures long-term availability.
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.
Why Variscite?
