Tiny SoM featuring NXP’s i.MX 91 targets Linux-based IoT

The Oxfordshire-based integrator says the SoM delivers an “optimised blend of security, features, and energy-efficient performance” for Linux-based IoT and industrial applications.

SoM

Measuring just 27x27mm, with 2.6mm total height in a single-sided assembly, its QFN-style lead style design has a 1mm pitch with 100 pads. The company also highlights EMC-compliant signal routing and that the ground pad on the bottom side is also used for heat transfer, ensuring highly efficient thermal characteristics.

“With the spiralling cost of RAM due to the AI boom driving up the cost of embedded modules,” said David Pashley, co-founder and Managing Director at Direct Insight. “Some applications need more cost-effective and pragmatic solutions – and the QS91’s design offers energy efficiency and reduced cost, in comparison to the i.MX 93-based QS93.”

“As the entry point into NXP’s i.MX 9 series, the single-core i.MX 91 applications processor delivers an optimised blend of security, features, and low-power performance to enable developers to quickly create new Linux-based IoT edge devices – but also provides the extensibility and ease of programming for applications to evolve over time.”

i.MX 91

The i.MX 91 applications processor is powered by a single-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A55, running at 1.4 GHz.

There’s an RGB parallel display interface and a wide range of connectivity, including dual USB, CAN-FD and Gigabit Ethernet.

NXP’s Edgelock provides a silicon root of trust and a security architecture to help protect edge devices against network attacks.

The SoM is manufactured by Direct Insight’s long-standing partner, Aachen-based Ka-Ro Electronics.

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