PCB Simplicity and Cost Reduction, Multiple Module Use

PCB simplicity and cost reduction are the primary benefits of the SAMA5D27-SOM1 as the product removes potentially complex component connections, simplifies design rules and so reduces the PCB complexity, risk and cost.

The SAMA5D27-SOM1 simplifies PCB design by embedding ten active components and more than 150 passive components. These include the power management unit, Ethernet PHY, QSPI, EEPROM and their circuitry.

If additional components are required, they can be connected using the 103 available I/Os. Each I/O of the SAMA5D27-SOM1 is configurable, as either a general-purpose I/O line only, or as an I/O line multiplexed with up to six peripheral I/Os.

With one 3.3V power input that is easy to implement, the SAMA5D27-SOM1 also removes the complexity of power sequencing inherent to multi-power MPU devices.

The SOM implementation is simple enough that the motherboard for some applications, for example basic control applications, can be a single-sided/one-layer PCB, providing a very economical platform. Most other applications can be covered by a two-layer PCB.

The SAMA5D27 SOM1 has multiple uses:

The SOM itself is a 40 mm x 38 mm module, pitch 0.8mm, designed to be directly soldered on the final application PCB. Therefore, no connector is needed between the SOM and the motherboard, thus removing any potential provisioning and/or reliability issues associated with this connector.

An example of PCB simplification is the power supply circuit. The comparison of PCB circuitry necessary to power the SAMA5D27-SOM1 and the SAMA5D2 device is illustrated below. In this figure, the simplest configuration is illustrated. The SAMA5D27-SOM1 configuration uses only one regulator. The SAMA5D2 configuration requires three regulators and discrete components or a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) to sequence the regulators and generate the reset signal.

Figure 1. Power Supply for the SAMA5D27-SOM1 and SAMA5D2