System-on-Module (SoM): The Future of Electronic Design
11-05-2021 | By Robin Mitchell
We have all heard of microcontrollers, microprocessors, and System-on-chips. But what is a System-on-Module, how are they different to SoCs, and how can they be helpful in the development of electronic systems?
What is a System-on-Module?
A System-on-Module, or SoM for short, is an electronic circuit that integrates all needed system functions into a single module, including a processor, memory, and I/O controllers. However, unlike an SoC, which combines many of these functions onto a single chip, an SoM typically only requires a source of power to operate.
SoCs are chips that integrate multiple system components into a single device, such as a CPU, GPU, and MMU. However, an SoC still requires external circuitry to enable the device to operate, and this can include memory, I/O controllers, and various other supporting components[^1^].
SoMs are not as common as SoCs, but as semiconductors approach their physical limits, the role of SoMs will become increasingly important[^2^].
GHI Electronics SITCore IoT System-on-Modules
To delve deeper into the technical aspects of SoMs, let's consider their design. A typical SoM integrates digital and analog functions on a single board. It includes at least one microcontroller, microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) core. Memory blocks, including a selection of ROM, RAM, EEPROM and/or flash memory, are also integral parts of an SoM. Timing sources, industry-standard communication interfaces such as USB, FireWire, Ethernet, USART, SPI, I²C, and peripherals including counter-timers, real-time timers and power-on reset generators are also incorporated into the design[^3^]."
SoMs are often built on top of a PCB and can either be enclosed in a metal housing (for EMC compliance) or left exposed with all components showing. Furthermore, SoMs always have a method for connecting to external boards in the form of pins, edge connectors, or solder tabs.
While the Raspberry Pi and Arduino range of boards could be considered SoMs, they fall into different categories. A Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer that has no specific purpose, and the Arduino range of boards are prototyping environments that break out the pins to a microcontroller.
How are System-on-Modules helpful for electronics?
SoMs are not as common as SoCs, but as semiconductors approach their physical limits, the role of SoMs will become increasingly important. SoCs are chips that integrate multiple system components into a single device, such as a CPU, GPU, and MMU. However, an SoC still requires external circuitry to enable the device to operate, and this can include memory, I/O controllers, and various other supporting components.
As such, using SoCs in designs can make the design process complex and tedious. A designer needs to fully understand how to properly use an SoC, including each pin's function, thermal properties of the SoC, and pad design. An SoM, however, creates a module that handles these complexities to produce a device that a designer can essentially drop into a circuit.
As Kenneth A. LaBel, a leading expert at NASA, once said, 'The complexity of SoCs drives all aspects of their design and application. Despite the challenges in radiation tolerance, testability, and fault isolation, the potential savings in size, weight, and power, as well as increased system performance, make SoCs a compelling choice for aerospace technology developers[^4^]
Like the Arduino, the pins of an SoM can be directly connected to whatever hardware the designer wants to use (assuming they are not drawing too much current or using incompatible voltage levels). However, where an Arduino is a prototyping platform, an SoM can be used in the final product with a high degree of reliability (enough for commercial products).
Another major advantage of using an SoM is interchangeability. Assuming that a manufacturer of an SoM keeps the form factor of the module, improvements in technology can be incorporated into updated SoMs, which can easily be interchanged with older units. As such, expensive, complex systems (such as data centres and cellular networks) can be upgraded without completely changing the underlying hardware. Furthermore, the older SoMs can be recycled by using them in older designs at a discount price (assuming that the SoM itself is generic enough to allow for use in another application).
To illustrate the practical application of SoMs, let's consider the case of Sun Microsystems, Motorola, Xerox, DEC, and IBM. These tech giants extensively used SoMs in their blade computers in the mid-1980s, performing specific functions such as compute functions and data acquisition functions[^5^].
What examples of SoMs exist?
If we go with the definition of an SoM as being a device that allows for use in an end-product and combines multiple system functionality into a single PCB, the answer is that System-on-Modules are very common in the industry.
One area of electronics that sees heavy use of SoMs is radio communication, specifically the 2.4GHz band. The ESP32-WROOM-32 is an example of an SoM that integrates a microcontroller, TCP/IP stack, radio circuitry, radio antenna, and memory, all onto a single PCB with a metal enclosure. While there are versions of this module attached to a board with pins for prototyping, the module itself is available for purchase and can be soldered directly onto PCBs in a final product to either act as a Wi-Fi adaptor or to operate as the sole controller.
Another example of an SoM is the SAMA5D27 by Microchip. This SoM integrates an Arm Cortex A5 processor with 1Gb DDR2 DRAM, integrates an onboard power management unit, and requires a single 3.3V input. A variation of this SoM is the SAMA5D27 Wireless SOM, which integrates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity while also offering a larger memory size of 2Gb (256MB). These SoMs are designed to provide designers with an entire ARM platform that can be directly added to a final product and removes the need for the designer to search for appropriate components, correctly route PCBs, and debug hardware.
In a word, the SoM is what the CPU was to computers before introducing the Intel 4004. Sure, you can design a CPU from scratch using discrete transistors, but an off-the-shelf CPU has done the hard work for you already. Thus, next time you need to integrate a complete system into your design, take a look at some SoMs and see if they can save your project time and effort.
References:
- "System on module - Wikipedia." Accessed June 7, 2023. Link
- "System on module - Wikipedia." Accessed June 7, 2023. Link
- "System on module - Wikipedia." Accessed June 7, 2023. Link
- LaBel, Kenneth A. "System on a Chip (SoC) Overview." NASA, 2010. Link
- "System on module - Wikipedia." Accessed June 7, 2023. Link
