As the embedded market continues to grow and evolve, developers are increasingly forced to transition from microcontrollers (MCUs) to microprocessors (MPUs) to optimize product development and address increasing processing requirements.

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) today announced the expansion of its System-On-Module (SOM) portfolio to help with this transition and reduce design complexity with the SAM9X60D1G-SOM ARM926EJ-S™-based embedded MPU running at up to 600 MHz, leveraging its expertise in microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions. Software support is available, with bare metal or RTOS support available through MPLAB® Harmony3 or full Linux® mainline distributions.

The SAM9X60D1G System-in-Package (SiP)-based SOM is a small, hand-solderable module measuring 28 mm x 28 mm that integrates the MPU and DDR in a single package along with power supply, clock and memory storage. The SAM9X60D1G-SOM is Microchip’s first SOM with 4 Gb SLC NAND flash to maximize memory storage of data in application devices. Onboard DDR can reduce memory chip supply risk and price risk, and the small form factor SAM9X60D1G-SOM includes a power management IC (PMIC), MCP16501, which simplifies power design tasks to a single 5V voltage rail to support low-power systems.

To provide the features required for Ethernet-connected systems, the SAM9X60D1G-SOM comes with a 10/100 KSZ8081 Ethernet PHY and a 1Kb serial EEPROM with a pre-programmed MAC address (EUI-48). The design can be further customized to meet the required level of security protection, such as on-chip secure key storage (OTP), hardware cryptographic engines (TDES, AES, and SHA), and secure boot with a True Random Generator (TRNG).

Micron said this release is the latest in its existing portfolio of MPU-based SOMs and is built using Microchip’s proven common component set, reducing design complexity and overall PCB costs. For example, customers can design their products using low-cost, four-layer PCBs, since complex devices are already routed onto the SOM.

Microchip prides itself on its customer-centric discontinuation policy, ensuring availability of SOMs and components for as long as demand exists. These policies are particularly important in today's semiconductor market, where demand is high and supply is limited, he stressed.

The SAM9X60D1G-SOM can be applied to MPU32 end applications in various industries such as △medical equipment △automotive telematics △infotainment systems △electric vehicle chargers △industrial and automation control, and is especially suitable for products designed to provide computing capabilities with multiple communication interfaces customized for individual projects after obtaining a single certification.

“The SAM9X60D1G-SOM enables developers to leverage a mid-performance MPU while significantly reducing design complexity,” said Rod Drake, vice president of Microchip’s 32-bit MPU business unit. “With the introduction of this latest SOM, we can provide customers with a small form factor solution directly in their designs while alleviating the logistical burden of separately sourcing the six active components and several passive components of the SOM.”