How to Select SoM: Secrets to High-Efficiency Projects

What is System on Module?

System on Module (SoM) is an integrated circuit board that integrates core computing components (such as processors, memory, storage, and power management) onto a single compact module.

Connection Type of SoM

The system on module is used in conjunction with a carrier board, which provides the I/O interfaces, connectors, and peripherals required for specific applications. This allows for the separation of complex core system designs from relatively simple carrier board designs. 

Therefore, SoMs are available in various packaging forms, including board-to-board, gold finger (edge connector), surface-mount, and half-hole types, to adapt to diverse application scenarios.

• Board-to-Board: By plugging the board into the board, the board-to-board connectors are soldered onto the SoM board and the carrier board, respectively, to achieve stable interconnection between the two boards.
• Gold Finger (Edge Connector): By inserting the PCB into the connector slot of the motherboard and using the connector pins as the external connection outlet, circuit conduction is achieved.
• Surface-Mount Technology (SMT): The components are placed on the corresponding pads on the motherboard using an automatic pick-and-place machine, and then all solder joints are melted and soldered simultaneously in a reflow oven.
• Half-Holes: During assembly, the half-holes machined on the edge of the board are aligned with the corresponding pads on the motherboard, and electrical connection and mechanical fixation are achieved by soldering.

SoM Advantages

• Flexibility and customizability: It allows for high customization through custom carrier boards to meet specific I/O, form factor, and scenario requirements.
• Compact size, easy to deploy: The SoM board's compact size and flexible deployment make it widely applicable to space-constrained embedded applications.
• Reduce long-term costs: For medium to high production volumes, customized carrier boards can optimize costs, and core computing components can be reused in multiple products.
• Improve certification efficiency: Typically, only the carrier board, rather than the entire system, needs to be recertified, thus reducing the complexity and cost of regulatory certification.

The system on module provides greater flexibility and scalability for products with personalized requirements, medium to high production volumes, and long lifecycles, reducing potential overall costs.

Firefly SoM Series

Firefly reduces the development difficulty of tech projects and accelerates product launch cycles by integrating the computing capabilities of different SoM boards. It provides customers with products and solutions that offer powerful performance and excellent energy efficiency, covering a range of applications, including commercial, industrial, and automotive grades, to meet the diverse needs of various industries.

Firefly SoM supports multiple chip platforms, including Rockchip, SOPHGO, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm, covering more than 30 chip models. These models encompass flagship chips such as the RK3588, RK3576, and NVIDIA Jetson Orin.

Key factors for SoM include: chip processing power, memory and storage requirements, power consumption and heat dissipation capabilities, expansion interfaces, software and ecosystem, etc., all of which we can meet customer needs through existing products or customized projects. We also provide reliable hardware and software support for customers in various application scenarios.

Industrial Module

Suitable for industrial applications such as industrial control hosts, industrial gateways, industrial cameras, AGV robots, drone inspection, data acquisition devices, warehouse automation, and remote monitoring.

• CORE-1126BJJD4: AI Vision Industrial SoM Board
• ICORE-3576JQ38: 38mm Mini Industrial SoM Board
• iCore-3588JQ: Industrial AI SoM Board

Commercial Module

Suitable for smart application scenarios in fields such as urban management, finance, transportation, retail, security, and energy.

• ICORE-3576Q38: 38mm Mini SoM Board
• Core-3588SJD4 AI: AI SoM Board
• Core-3576JD4: Low-Power Large Model SoM Board

Computing Module

It is suitable for computing power applications such as large-scale private deployment, edge computing, data security, intelligent monitoring, AI teaching, and computing power services.