Direct Insight offers i.MX8 SoM by Ka-Ro Electronics
System on modules (SoMs) from Direct Insight now include the QS8M solder-down module from Ka-Ro Electronics. The solder-down QS8M increases miniaturisation, thermal efficiency and EMI performance, says the UK-based, technical systems integrator and embedded system reseller.
The QS8M solder-down module is manufactured by Ka-Ro Electronics using an NXP i.MX8M quad- or dual-core Cortex-A53 64-bit processor, RAM, flash memory and power management. The module features a QFN-style pin-out with 100 edge-located pads on a 1mm pitch providing miniaturisation, thermal efficiency and EMI performance, says Direct Insight.
Contact pads around the edge of the QS module aids inspection and enables easy routing, even permitting a two-layer baseboard including a base plane. A special ground plane layout means that the modules effectively ‘float’ into position during reflow, says Direct Insight. This gives them an advantage over a ball grid array (BGA) which sits on its bumps and may require x-ray inspection.
The QS8M module measures 27 x 27mm, meaning that it is small enough to avoid warping which can be an issue with larger packages.
The QS8M module’s i.MX8M Mini/Nano family processors provide a dual-core (i.MX8M Nano) or quad-core (i.MX8M Mini) 1400/1600MHz ARM Cortex-A53 processor and a separate graphics processor unit (GPU) and video codec (Mini only). Modules have up to 1Gbyte of DDR3L RAM and 4Gbyte eMMC flash memory, with a range of interfaces including CANbus, UARTs, SPI, I²C, audio, Ethernet, SD, USB host and client and MIPI-DSI display.
The i.MX8M Nano and Mini combine low-energy operation with features such as an MIPI-DSI display up to 1080 pixels. Both modules offer an industrial temperature range of -25 to +85 degrees C.
The QS8M series is supported by a dedicated development system, equipped with Linux board support package (BSP). Windows 10 IoT and QNX also available.
A dedicated development kit, QSBASE2, is also available. This comes with the QS8M module soldered down, but with all the contacts accessible via header locations. The kit features a Raspberry Pi-compatible expansion and display connectors for Raspberry Pi ‘hats’ and displays to be used for development. There are also five USB ports (one client) and Gigabit Ethernet, UART and MIPI-CSI camera connectors.
