Expanded portfolio of MPU-based SOMs eases design and manufacturing

08-08-2022 | Microchip Technology | Semiconductors

Microchip Technology Inc has extended its portfolio of microprocessors SOMs with the SAM9X60D1G-SOM ARM926EJ-S-based embedded MPU running up to 600MHz. Software for the SAM9X60D1G-SOM is offered with bare metal, or RTOS support through MPLAB Harmony3 or complete Linux mainlined distributions.

The SiP is a small 28mm x 28mm hand-solderable module that incorporates the MPU and DDR in a single package, with power supplies, clocks and memory storage. The device is the company's first SOM equipped with 4Gb SLC NAND Flash to maximise memory storage of data in application devices, while the onboard DDR decreases the supply and price risks associated with memory chips. The small-form-factor device also includes an MCP16501 PMIC, simplifying the power design effort to a single 5V voltage rail to enable lower-power systems.

To deliver the features an Ethernet-connected system might need, the device includes a 10/100 KSZ8081 Ethernet PHY and a 1Kb Serial EEPROM with pre-programmed MAC address (EUI-48). Customers may customise their design further based on the level of security protection needed, such as secure boot with on-chip secure key storage (OTP), hardware encryption engine (TDES, AES and SHA) and True Random Generator (TRNG).

"With the SAM9X60D1G-SOM, designers can take advantage of a mid-level performance microprocessor and significantly reduce design complexities," said Rod Drake, vice president of Microchip's 32-bit MPU business unit. "This latest SOM provides customers a small-form-factor solution directly from Microchip and eases the logistics burden of separately procuring each of the six active components and numerous passives on the SOM."

The device is created for many MPU32 end applications across various industries, such as medical equipment, electric vehicles chargers, automotive telematics and infotainment systems, industrial and automation control and more. It is also ideal for products developed for providing computing capabilities with multiple communication interfaces that are qualified once and then customised for separate projects.

The company provides hardware and software development support for the device, including the SAM9X60D1G Curiosity Evaluation Kit providing three Linux distributions: BuildRoot, Yocto and OpenWRT. The bare-metal or RTOS-based systems are supported by MPLAB Harmony 3 embedded software framework, MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB XC32 compiler.

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By Seb Springall

Seb Springall is a seasoned editor at Electropages, specialising in the product news sections. With a keen eye for the latest advancements in the tech industry, Seb curates and oversees content that highlights cutting-edge technologies and market trends.