“Here we go again!”
Yes, it is another blog on FPGA-based system-on-modules (SoMs). Why, you, dear reader, may wonder? Simply, embedded computing engineers love the versatility, flexibility and scalability that SoMs offer in system architecture design. Secondly, so many SoMs use Samtec high-speed board-to-boardconnectors.
Here we go again, indeed! 😉
UltraSOM! – New Artix UltraScale+SoM Family
Embedded computing is global in nature, but there seems to be a lot of SoM design and FPGA design services companies in Germany. Two examples are AVT Ilmenau and senTec Elektronik. Both firms offer unique, application specific R+D and design services for FPGA, MCU and SoC hardware and software.
Recently, AVT Ilmenau and senTec Elektronik have joined forces to create a new SoM platform AMD Artix and Kintex UltraScale+FPGA devices – UltraSOM, The Universal FPGA Platform. These modules offer a number of advantages for FPGA and SoC developers
UltraSOM comes in two different options. The UltraSOM A variant targets applications using Artix UltraScale+ devices supporting between 96-308k logic cells. Similarly, the UltraSOM K variant targets applications using Kintex UltraScale+ devices supporting between 356-475k logic cells.
Key highlights of the UltraSOMs include:
- System on Module for development and series products
- World’s only SOM board for 4 types of Artix UltraScale+ and 2 types of Kintex UltraScale+ FPGAs.
- World’s only SOM board for low-cost PCIe 4.0 solutions with AMD FPGAs
- Mutiple High-Speed Gigabit Transceivers
- UltraSOM A: 12x XCVRs up to 16 Gbps
- UltraSOM K: 16x XCVRs up to 32 Gbps
- PCI Express® support
- 2500 Mbit/s MIPI Support
- DDR4 RAM 2400 Mbit/s onboard
- 2x 128 Mbit SPI-Flash onboard (config and general purpose)
- up to 220 GPIOs (max. 148 HP, 64 HD, 8 Pmod IOs)
- small SOM board size (80 mm x 50 mm)
- Design support including schematics, PCBs layouts, IP cores and more
Samtec High-Speed Board-to-Board Interconnect
Samtec offers the largest variety of high-speed board-to-board connectors in the industry. Samtec’s High-Speed Board-to-Board Solutionator® provides users with mated connector sets in seconds. The UltraSOM uses several Samtec solutions to attach the SoM to a customer-design carrier card.
As noted, UltraSOM routes up to 220 GPIOs from the SoC to the connector. Samtec Edge Rate® rugged high cycle connectors feature contact systems optimized for SI. The smooth, milled surface reduces wear and tear while lowering insertion and withdrawal forces.
UltraSOM also features several high-speed multigigabit transceivers, so a higher performance solution is needed. That’s where the AcceleRate® HP High-Performance Arrays come in. The dense 0.635 mm pitch and configurable open-pin-field design support 112 Gbps PAM4 performance.
UltraSOM use the following connectors on the SoM itself.
Custom-designed UltraSOM carrier cards can leverage the following mated connectors.
Stay tuned to the Samtec blog for more detail on this and related platforms.
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