Computer-on-Module

A 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-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 e-con Systems in St. Louis, Mo; 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; CompuLab in Israel; DAVE Embedded Systems (www.dave.eu) in Italy; Kaynes Technology in New York and India; PHYTEC America in Seattle, WA; Variscite in Israel; Toradex in Switzerland and Seattle, WA; MYIR (www.myirtech.com) in Shenzhen, China; Technologic Systems near Phoenix, AZ.

Computer-on-Module Provider

 * CL-SOM-iMX8 - NXP i.MX 8 System-on-Module by CompuLab, dual/quad core Cortex-A53, 4GB LPDR4, 64GB eMMC, GbE, WiFi 802.11ac, BT 4.1, 2x PCIe, 2x USB3.0, 4x UART, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 42x68x5mm
 * CL-SOM-iMX7 - NXP i.MX 7 System-on-Module by CompuLab, single/dual core Cortex-A7, 2GB DDR3, 32GB eMMC, 2x GbE, WiFi a/b/g/n, BT 4.1, PCIe, 5x USB, 7x UART, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 42x68x5mm
 * CL-SOM-iMX6 - NXP i.MX 6 System-on-Module by CompuLab, single/dual/quad core Cortex-A9, 4GB DDR3, 32GB eMMC, GbE, WiFi b/g/n/ac, BT 4.1, PCIe, SATA, 5x USB, 5x UART, 2x CAN, 75x65x6mm
 * CL-SOM-AM57x - TI AM5728/AM5718 System-on-Module by CompuLab, single/dual core Cortex-A15, 4GB DDR3, 32GB eMMC, 2x GbE, WiFi a/b/g/n, BT 4.1, 2x PCIe, SATA, USB3.0, 3x USB2.0, 9x UART, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 60x68x5mm
 * CL-SOM-iMX6UL - NXP (Freescale) i.MX6 UltraLite System-on-Module by CompuLab, single-core Cortex-A7, 1GB DDR3, 32GB eMMC, Ethernet, WiFi a/b/g/n, BT 4.1, 5x USB, 8x UART, 2x CAN, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 36x68x5mm
 * CM-QS600 – Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 System-on-Module by CompuLab, 1.7GHz quad-core APQ8064 based, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 65x68x5mm
 * CM-T335 – TI AM335x System-on-Module by CompuLab, tiny and very cost effective, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 30x68x5mm
 * CM-T43 – TI AM437x System-on-Module by CompuLab, extensive connectivity, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 36x68x5mm
 * CM-T54 – TI OMAP5432 System-on-Module by CompuLab, dual-core Cortex-A15 based, TMS320DM64 DSP, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 73x68x5mm
 * CM-FX6 – Freescale i.MX6 System-on-Module by CompuLab, single/dual/quad core Cortex-A9 based, 75x65x6mm
 * TS-4900 - Freescale/NXP i.MX6 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, WiFi & Bluetooth enabled 1 GHz i.MX6 Computer Module, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4740 - Marvell PXA168 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, High-End Module w/ High Capacity FPGA and GbEth, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4720 - Marvell PXA168 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, High-End CPU Module with eMMC Flash and Dual Ethernet, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4600 - Freescale/NXP i.MX28 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, Low Cost ARM9 Embedded Computer-on-Module, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4712 - Marvell PXA168 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, 1GHz ARM9 Computer on Module with Dual Ethernet, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4710 - Marvell PXA168 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, 1GHz ARM9 Module with Video and DoubleStore, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4800 - Freescale/NXP i.MX515 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, Video GPU & FPU ARM9 Embedded Computer-on-Module, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4700 - Marvell PXA166 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, High Performance Video ARM9 Computer-on-Module, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * TS-4200 - Atmel AT91SAM9G20 Computer-on-Module by Technologic Systems, Very Low Power Atmel ARM9 Computer-on-Module, approx. credit card sized at 75mm x 55mm
 * KY-iMX6 - by Kaynes Technology, WiFi & Bluetooth enabled 1 GHz i.MX6 Computer Module, single/dual core Cortex-A9 based, 60x50mm
 * eSOMiMX6PLUS - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA, NXP/Freescale i.MX6 QuadPlus/DualPlus Core Processor running up to 1.2GHz, DDR3L SDRAM configurable up to 4GB and supporting 802.11ac network.
 * eSOMiMX7 - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA, NXP/Freescale i.MX7 Solo/Dual ARM® Cortex™ A7 @ 1GHz with Single core ARM® Cortex™ M4 MCU @ 200 MHz.
 * eSOMiMX6-micro - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA, NXP/Freescale i.MX6 Quad/Dual ARM™ Cortex-A9 based CPU @ 800MHz Core, comes with a very small form factor of 54mm x 20mm with 10mA in suspend current.
 * eSOMTK1 - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,nVIDIA Tegra K1 4-Plus-1 ARM™ Cortex-A15 Quad core, 70 x 55mm
 * eSOMiMX6 - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA, Freescale i.MX6 single/dual/quad core Cortex-A9 based, 70 x 45 mm
 * eSOM3730 - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,ARM Cortex A8 DM3730/AM3703, 55 x 35 mm
 * eSOM270 by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,XScale®/ARM PXA270 application processor, 67.5 x 31 x 4 mm
 * CIP - by tinayeit, That provide series of 40x40x3.5mm Size, Weight about 10g, the smallest and lightest Computer-In-Package in the World!
 * CIP30x - by Tinaye, TI 720MHz AM335x based cost effective Applicattiion Processor,LQA188, 40x40x3.5mm
 * CIP31x - by Tinaye,TI 600/800/1G DM3730/OMAP3530/AM3715 based cost effective Application Processor,LQA242, 40x40x3.5mm
 * CIP41x - by Tinaye,TI 1G/1.2G/1.5G OMAP4430/4460/4470 based Dual Core Contetex-A9 Powerful Computer In Package,LQA242, 40x40x3.5mm
 * SOM - by TECHOR.COM of China, series of 40x40x4mm Size, Weight about 10g, the smallest and lightest System-on-Module in the World!
 * SOM2416 - by TECHOR.COM of China, Samsung 400MHz ARM926EJ-S based cost effective Application Processor,120pin out, 40x40x3.5mm
 * SOM6410 - by TECHOR.COM of China,Samsung 667Hz ARM1176JFZ-S based cost effective Application Processor,120pin out,40x40x3.5mm
 * SOM3530 - by TECHOR.COM of China, TI 600MHz CORETEX-A8 + 430MHz TMS320C64x+ dual core SOC/AP,120pin out, 40x40x3.5mm
 * Mini8100 - by Timll of China, TI 600MHz CORETEX-A8 + 430MHz TMS320DM64x+ dual core,67 mm * 37 mm
 * Mini8100 by Embest, TI OMAP3530 ARM Cortex-A8, 67mm*37mm
 * Mini6045 by Embest, Atmel SAM9G45, 82mm*67mm
 * Mini6245 by Embest, Atmel SAM9G45 ARM926EJ-S, 70mm*49.9mm
 * Mini6300 by Embest, Atmel SAM9263 ARM926EJ-S, 52mm*52mm
 * Mini9261-I by Embest, Atmel SAM9261S ARM926EJ-S, 67.6mm*47mm
 * Mini3250 by Embest, NXP LPC3250 ARM926EJ-S, 75mm*55mm
 * MYC-IMX28X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, NXP (freescale) i.MX28 (i.MX283/287) ARM926EJ-S, 62mm*38mm
 * MYC-Y6ULX by MYIR Tech Limited of China, NXP i.MX 6UL/6ULL ARM Cortex-A7, 37mm*39mm
 * MYC-AM335X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 50mm*70mm
 * MCC-AM335X-Y by MYIR Tech Limited of China, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 65mm*35mm
 * MCC-AM335X-J by MYIR Tech Limited of China, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 67.6mm*45mm
 * MYC-JA5D4X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Atmel SAMA5D4 (SAMA5D42/44) ARM Cortex-A5, 45mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAMA5D3X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Atmel SAMA5D3 (SAMA5D31/33/34/35/36) ARM Cortex-A5, 45mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAMA5D2X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Atmel SAMA5D2 (SAMA5D27) ARM Cortex-A5, 45mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAM9X5 by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Atmel SAM9X5 (SAM9G15/G25/G35/X25/X35) ARM926EJ-S, 35mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAM9X5-V2 by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Atmel SAM9X5 (SAM9G15/G25/G35/X25/X35) ARM926EJ-S, 35mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-C7Z010/20 by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Xilinx Zynq-7010/7020 ARM Cortex-A9 + FPGA
 * MYC-C7Z015 by MYIR Tech Limited of China, Xilinx Zynq-7015 ARM Cortex-A9 + FPGA
 * MYC-C437X by MYIR Tech Limited of China, TI AM437x Sitara ARM Cortex-A9
 * VAR-SOM-OM54 by Variscite, TI OMAP 5 (OMAP5432)
 * VAR-SOM-OM44 by Variscite, TI OMAP 4 (OMAP4460)
 * VAR-SOM-MX6 by Variscite, Freescale iMX6 Quad,Dual,Single core
 * VAR-SOM-AM33 by Variscite, TI Sitara AM335x (AM3354, AM3352)
 * CSB7xx - by Cogent Computer Systems, Inc. of USA
 * CM-XXX - by CompuLab of Italia
 * STM32F7-SOM by Emcraft Systems, STMicroelectronics STM32 F7, 30 x 46mm, Linux BSP
 * STM32F4-SOM by Emcraft Systems, STMicroelectronics STM32 F4, 30 x 46mm, Linux BSP
 * K70-SOM by Emcraft Systems, Freescale Kinetis K70, 30 x 57mm, Linux BSP
 * VF6-SOM by Emcraft Systems, Freescale Vybrid VF6, 30 x 57mm, Linux BSP
 * M2S-SOM by Emcraft Systems, Microsemi SmartFusion2, 30 x 57mm, Linux BSP
 * Apalis iMX8QuadMax Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP® i.MX 8, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * Apalis TK1 Computer on Module by Toradex, NVIDIA® Tegra™ K1, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * Apalis iMX6 Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP®/Freescale i.MX 6, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * Apalis T30 Computer on Module by Toradex, NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * Colibri iMX8QXP Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP® i.MX 8X, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri iMX6ULL Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP® i.MX 6ULL, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri iMX7 Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP®/Freescale i.MX 7, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri iMX6 Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP®/Freescale i.MX 6, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri VF50 Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP®/Freescale VF50, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri VF61 Computer on Module by Toradex, NXP®/Freescale VF61, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri T30 Computer on Module by Toradex, NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri T20 Computer on Module by Toradex, NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri PXA270 Computer on Module by Toradex, Marvell® PXA270, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri PXA310 Computer on Module by Toradex, Marvell® PXA310, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri PXA320 Computer on Module by Toradex, Marvell® PXA320, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Inforce 6401™ Micro System-on-Module (SOM) by Inforce Computing, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor, ARM®v7 ISA compatible, ultra-small form factor of 28mm x 50mm and weighs less than 8 grams
 * Inforce 6501™ Micro System-on-Module (SOM) by Inforce Computing, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 805 processor, ARM®v7 ISA compatible, ultra-small form factor of 28mm x 50mm and weighs less than 8 grams
 * OMAPMOD by Magniel Inc., TI OMAP3503 / OMAP3530 CORTEX A8, 67mm x 44mm, stand-alone system in a 144-pin SO-DIMM format.
 * i.MX6 Nano SOM by Mistral Solutions, Freescale/NXP i.MX6, 44mm x 26mm, System-on-Module weighing just 7 gms.
 * VISE Board by Mistral Solutions, Freescale/NXP i.MX6 based development platform.
 * AM437x POM by Mistral Solutions, based on Sitara AM437x SoC from Texas Instruments.
 * Rico Board by MYIR Tech Limited of China, based on Sitara AM437x SoC from Texas Instruments.
 * Z-turn Board by MYIR Tech Limited of China, based on ZYNQ-7010/7020 SoC from Xilinx.
 * Z-turn Lite by MYIR Tech Limited of China, based on ZYNQ-7007S/7010 SoC from Xilinx.
 * MYS-6ULX by MYIR Tech Limited of China, based on i.MX 6UL/6ULL processor from NXP.