COMPUTER-ON-MODULE (COM)

A complete embedded computer built into a single small form factor circuit board. It typically includes a CPU, RAM and I/O controllers. It does not, however, include any input or output connectors. A COM is designed to be socketed into a custom carrier board, which has any I/O and additional controllers that the end user may require. A COM and carrier board solution is intended to be used in a situation where a completely custom motherboard would normally be required. Since the CPU and chipset architecture are designed into the COM, design of the carrier board is considerably easier that designing a complete motherboard from scratch. COMs also have the additional benefit of having standardized sockets among their form factors, which allows for the use of several different COMs on one carrier board. The ease of customization and scalability of COM solutions make for a very attractive solution for some OEMs.