The embedded systems hardware ‘make or buy’ dilemma
Ready-made CPU modules are making increasing sense for handling technology complexity and unpredictable market conditions.
Today’s 16 and 32-bit microcontrollers have become so complicated that growing numbers of embedded developers are questioning whether it’s worthwhile building a system from scratch or whether they’d be better off buying-in the more tricky bits ready-made. The continuing unpredictable market conditions are adding further pressures to examine what makes sense to do in-house.
One option is to just buy all the hardware off-the-shelf and concentrate on the application. Another idea is to extend the life of a design by adopting a standard platform that you can re-use for various different projects. Particularly interesting is the rise of high-density CPU modules. These are CPUs plus sub-systems that come on a tiny board or, for higher volumes, a multi chip module (MCM) that can be treated like a big chip. The advantage is that someone else has done the difficult part of the design and so you can often get away with a relatively simple PCB for the rest of the system.
Related Semiconductor IP
- 1.8V/3.3V I/O library with ODIO and 5V HPD in TSMC 16nm
- 1.8V/3.3V I/O Library with ODIO and 5V HPD in TSMC 12nm
- 1.8V to 5V GPIO, 1.8V to 5V Analog in TSMC 180nm BCD
- 1.8V/3.3V GPIO Library with HDMI, Aanlog & LVDS Cells in TSMC 22nm
- Specialed 20V Analog I/O in TSMC 55nm
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