System-On-Module

From Texas Instruments Embedded Processors Wiki

• A System-On-Module/computer-on-module(COM) is a type of single-board computer(SBC), a subtype of an embedded computer system. It is also called System on ModuleSystem-on-Module as an extension of the concept of System on Chip (SoC) and lying between a full-up computer and a microcontroller in nature.

• Today's COM/SOM modules are complete computers built on a single circuit board. The design is centered on a single microprocessor with RAM, input/output controllers and all other features needed to be a functional computer on the one board. However, unlike a single-board computer, the COM module will usually lack the standard connectors for any input/output peripherals to be attached directly to the board. Instead, the wiring for these peripherals are bussed out to connectors on the board.

• The module will usually need to be mounted on a carrier board (or "baseboard") which breaks the bus out to standard peripheral connectors. Some COMs also include peripheral connectors and/or can be used without a carrier.

• A COM/SOM solution offers a dense package computer system for use in small or specialized applications requiring low power consumption or small physical size as is needed in embedded systems.

• Some devices also incorporate Field Programmable Gate Arrays.

• The terms "Computer-on-Module" and "COM" were coined by Venture Development Corporation (Natick, MA, USA) to describe this class of embedded computer boards. The term became more notable upon industry standardization of the COM Express format.

• A number of manufacturers offer products which are defined as system-on-module or computer-on-module. Among those are China 'TECHNIQUE INNOVATOR INC. http://www.techor.com SOMxxx series such as SOM2416,SOM6410,SOM3530, SOM3517, SOM35, SOM168 etc, Advanced Knowledge Associates (www.a-k-a.net) in Santa Clara, CA; BCM Advanced Research (www.bcmcom.com) in Irvine, CA; Embedded Systems (www.embedded-systems.net); MEN Micro (www.menmicro.com) in Ambler, PA; DAVE Embedded Systems (www.dave.eu) in Italy.

Techor in progress designing/manufacturing/Mass supplying All of the TI's Coretex-A8 based System-On-Module]

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