The latest small-form-factor SOM Eases Design and Manufacturing and Speeds Time to Market
As the embedded market continuesto grow rapidly and evolve, developers are seeking to optimize product development,or they may need to transition from a microcontroller (MCU) to a microprocessor (MPU) to handleincreased processing requirements.To help developers with this transition and reduce design complexities Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces it has expanded its portfolio of microprocessors system-on-modules (SOMs) with the SAM9X60D1G-SOMARM926EJ-S™-based embedded MPU running up to 600MHz.Software for the SAM9X60D1G-SOMis available withbare metal or RTOS support through MPLAB® Harmony3,or complete Linux® mainlined distributions.
The SOM, based on the SAM9X60D1G SysteminPackage (SiP),is a small 28mm × 28mm hand-solderable module thatincludes the MPU and DDR in a single package,along withpower supplies, clocks and memory storage.The SAM9X60D1G-SOMis Microchip’s first SOMequipped with 4Gb SLC NANDFlash to maximize memorystorageof data in application devices, while the on-board DDR reduces the supply and price risks associated with memory chips.The small-form-factor SAM9X60D1G-SOM also includes anMCP16501 power management IC (PMIC), which simplifies the power design effort to a single 5V voltage railto enable lower-power systems.
To offer the features an Ethernet-connected system might require, the SAM9X60D1G-SOM contains a 10/100 KSZ8081 Ethernet PHY and a 1Kb Serial EEPROM with pre-programmed MAC address (EUI-48).Customers can further customize their design based on the level of security protection required 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 SOMprovides 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 SAM9X60D1G-SOM is the newest addition to the existing portfolio of MPU-based SOMs built using a common set of proven Microchip componentsto reduce design complexity and overall PCB costs. For example, because thecomplex devices are already routed on the SOM, customers can design their products using a low-cost,four-layer PCB.
The SOM and its components are backed by Microchip’s client-driven obsolescence practice of continuing to supply a product for as long as possible and while demand for the product exists. This is particularly important in today’s semiconductor climate of highdemand and supply constraints.
The SAM9X60D1G-SOM is designed for many MPU32 end applications across a variety of industriessuch as medical equipment, automotive telematics and infotainment systems, electric vehicles chargers, industrial and automation control and more. It is also particularly well-suitedfor productsdesigned for providing computing capabilities with multiple communication interfaces that are qualified once and then customized for separate projects.
Development Tools
Microchip provides both hardware and software development support for the SAM9X60D1G-SOM including the SAM9X60D1G CuriosityEvaluation Kit (CPN: EV40E67A) featuring 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 Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB XC32 compiler.
Pricing and Availability
The SAM9X60D1G-SOM (PN SAM9X60D1G-I/LZB) is available for $42.96 each in 5,000-unit quantities. To purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, www.microchipDIRECT.com.
