26 / 84
Definition of challenge -
Should we make anymore?
The System on Module, which is
sometimes referred to as a Computer
on Module (CoM) or SBC (Small Board
Computer), is designed to plug into a
carrier, or base board, and is generally
a small processor module with a
CPU and standard I/O capability.
The complex effort associated with
designing a CPU subsystem is avoided
by using SoM functionality and a
custom base board.
What’s inside the SoM (System On
Module)?
• Application Processor from leading
semiconductors companies such as
Freescale, Texas Instruments, Atmel,
Qualcomm, Altera
• Memories, both Flash (NAND/NOR)
and RAM (DDR2/3)
• WiFi/Bluetooth
• Gigabit Phy
• Audio Codec
• PMIC (Power Management IC)
• Touch Controller
And if you think about it, the SoM
Block Diagram is very similar to
(perhaps 70% the same as) a mobile
phone or tablet.
Today this type of question is raised
again and again in most of the
development companies because
the “Need for Speed” and the “Need
for IoT” is part of every discussion.
Almost every segment wants to add
a “mobile phone” to its application
and there are few companies in the
world that know how to develop a
good mobile phone (Apple , Samsung,
LG etc.) so the customers need to
understand that they don’t need to
“Invent the Wheel” again.
A couple of years ago it was very
popular to use this solution in low
quantity projects - 100pcs to 500pcs
per year - but lately, where the prices
of processors based on ARM cores
have become very cheap (because
of the mobile and tablet market that
made the core so cost competitive),
customers are using the SoMs in 5000
and even 10000pcs per year projects
or higher.
In this example, the calculation is for
a microprocessor based design with
a two Man Year NRE for hardware,
software, and production test
development, prototypes and debug
and software maintenance for another
System On Modules and Small Board
Computer Make or Buy
Amir Sherman, Arrow Central Europe GmbH
26 l New-Tech Magazine Europe