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 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 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; PHYTEC America in Seattle, WA; Variscite in Israel; Toradex in Switzerland and Seattle, WA.

Computer-on-Module Provider

 * CM-QS600 by Compulab, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 1.7GHz quad-core APQ8064 based, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 65x68x5mm
 * CM-T335 by Compulab, TI AM335x based, tiny and very cost effective, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 30x68x5mm
 * CM-T43 by Compulab, TI AM4379 based, extensive connectivity, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 36x68x5mm
 * CM-T54 by Compulab, TI OMAP5432 dual-core Cortex-A15 based, TMS320DM64 DSP, 204-pin SO-DIMM, 73x68x5mm
 * CM-FX6 by Compulab, Freescale i.MX6 single/dual/quad core Cortex-A9 based, 75x65x6mm
 * MCC-AM335X-Y by MYIR, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 65mm*35mm, stamp hole expansion interface
 * MCC-AM335X-J by MYIR, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 67.6mm*45mm, goldfinger expansion interface
 * 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-AM335X by MYIR, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 50mm*70mm, pin header expansion interface
 * MCC-AM335X-Y by MYIR, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 65mm*35mm, stamp hole expansion interface
 * MCC-AM335X-J by MYIR, TI AM335x (AM3352/3354/3356/3357/3358/3359) ARM Cortex-A8, 67.6mm*45mm, goldfinger expansion interface
 * MYC-IMX28X by MYIR, Freescale i.MX28 (i.MX283/287) ARM926EJ-S, 62mm*38mm
 * MYC-SAMA5D3X by MYIR, Atmel SAMA5D3 (SAMA5D31/33/34/35/36) ARM Cortex-A5, 45mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAM9X5 by MYIR, Atmel SAM9X5 (SAM9G15/G25/G35/X25/X35) ARM926EJ-S, 35mm*67.6mm
 * MYC-SAM9X5-V2 by MYIR, Atmel SAM9X5 (SAM9G15/G25/G35/X25/X35) ARM926EJ-S, 35mm*67.6mm
 * 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
 * Colibri PXA270 by Toradex of Switzerland, Marvell PXA270, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri PXA3xx by Toradex of Switzerland, Marvell PXA320, PXA310, PXA300, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri VF50 by Toradex of Switzerland, Freescale VF 50, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri VF61 by Toradex of Switzerland, Freescale VF 61, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri iMX6 by Toradex of Switzerland, Freescale i.MX 6, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Colibri Tegra by Toradex of Switzerland, Nvidia Tegra 2, Tegra 3, 67.6 x 36.7mm
 * Apalis T30 by Toradex of Switzerland, Nvidia Tegra 3, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * Apalis iMX6 by Toradex of Switzerland, Freescale i.MX 6, 82.0 x 45.0mm
 * eSOM3730 - by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,ARM Cortex A8 DM3730/AM3703, 55 x 35 mm
 * eSOM300 by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,XScale®/ARM PXA300 application processor, 67.6mm x 41mm
 * eSOM270 by e-con Systems, Inc. of USA,XScale®/ARM PXA270 application processor, 67.5 x 31 x 4 mm
 * OMAPMOD by Magniel Inc., TI OMAP3503 / OMAP3530 CORTEX A8, 67mm x 44mm, stand-alone system in a 144-pin SO-DIMM format.