The HaneSOM module, designed by the Belgium-based DAB-Embedded is the tiniest Linux module. The module includes all of the essential components for running Linux on the same PCB. HaneSOM is a Microchip-based Arm Linux module with dimensions as 20 x 20 mm.
There are 69 I/O pins on the MPU. In addition, the module includes a 32 MB QSPI which is bootable and a MIC2800 PMIC. The PMIC is an LDO that allows the HaneSOM module to operate on a single 3.3V voltage rail. SD card I/Os, camera I/Os, and the RTC all have their own power rails on the board.
Let’s take a look at HaneSOM’s technical specifications
Using Linux and many digital interfaces such as LCD 24-bit RGB bus, 5MPix RGB camera interface, CAN 2.0/FD bus, Wi-Fi module, Google Coral AI modules, and more, the HaneSOM module lets the user construct as compact a device as possible. The module is ultra-compact, basing on the Microchip SAMA5D2 MPU with ARM Cortex-A5 (ARMv7 32-bit) architecture, which is widely supportive.
The display interface of 24-bit RGB LCD TFT features a capacitive touch controller. Furthermore, the module’s camera supports up to 5MP CMOS sensor support. For bare-metal applications and as a Linux-based system, the Microchip SAMA5D2 has excellent software support (Yocto, Buildroot and OpenWRT). Moreover, the QT can be used as a graphical user interface framework. The module attributes 128 MBytes DDR2 as its system memory. In addition, the DAB-Embedded HaneSOM provides 4 MB of QSPI flash as storage.
“Microchip has a long-term support plan for the SAMA5D2 family, and it guarantees stable delivery for long-life products. SAMA5D2 is a highly integrated MPU with various industrial and consumer protocols.” says the DAB-Embedded team about the MPU.
Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications such as edge computing, IoT gateways, smart cameras, are some of the applications for the System-on-Module. Furthermore, pricing at $37.00 you can avail your smallest Linux module. More details about the compact module, its block diagram, and the pin structure can be availed at Tindie’s product page for HaneSOM.

Jennifer James is a graduate student in Computer Science Engineering who is passionate about front-end development. She is a content-writer inquisitive about technology. A rising enthusiast in search for optimum knowledge through learning and experiences of the everyday fast-growing Digital Industry through organizational exposure.
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