Tiny solder-down NXP i.MX 93 System-on-Module powers credit card-sized evaluation board

Ka-Ro Electronics’ QS93 is a tiny solder-down NXP i.MX 93 System-on-Module (SoM) running Linux and designed for edge processing. The company also offers a credit card-sized evaluation board that may remind some of the Raspberry Pi with its GPIO header and general layout, but it comes with two Fast Ethernet ports and one USB 2.0 port.

We’ve already covered several system-on-modules based on the NXP i.MX 93 Cortex-A55/M33 AI processor including some with high-density board-to-board connectors such as the Compulab UCM-IMX93 and Forlinx FET-MX9352-C, others with a SO-DIMM connector like the VAR-SOM-MX93, and finally some designed to be soldered on the carrier board such as the OSM-L compatible iW-RainboW-G50M, and the QS93 adds to the latter category in a tiny 27×27 mm form factor.

Ka-Ro electronics QS93 specifications:

• SoC – NXP i.MX 93 with
  • CPU – Up to dual-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.5 GHz
  • Real-time core – Arm Cortex-M33 @ 250 MHz
  • GPU – 2D GPU
  • AI accelerator – 0.5 TOPS Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU
  • Security – NXP EdgeLock secure enclave
• System Memory – 1GB LPDDR4
• Storage – 4GB eMMC flash
• 100 pads (QFN type lead style) with 1mm pitch
  • Storage – 1x eMMC/SD
  • Display – LVDS
  • Camera – 2-lane MIPI CSI
  • Audio – SAI
  • Networking – 2x Gigabit Ethernet (RGMII)
  • USB – 2x USB 2.0
  • Serial – 2x FlexCAN, up to 5x UART
  • Other I/Os – 4x SPI, 7x I2C, up to 60x GPIOs
• Misc – Ground pads acting as thermal pads
• Power Input – 3.3V DC
• Dimensions – 27 x 27 x 2.3 mm
• Temperature Range – -40°C to +85°C (industrial)

The company provides documentation to get started with the module and evaluation kit and a Yocto Linux BSP can be found on GitHub.

The QSBASE93 Evalkit is probably the best way to get with the 85x56mm credit card-sized SBC fitted with a Q93-5210 NXP i.MX 9352 soldered-down system-on-module, and exposing most of the interfaces from the module with dual 10/100M Ethernet, one USB 2.0 port, an LVDS display connector, a MIPI camera connector, a 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header, and a USB Type-C port.

Ka-Ro electronics does not provide pricing information on the product page for the NXP i.MX 93 system-on-module instead inviting interested parties to request a quote. But I could notice the module is sold on ARIES Embedded for 69 Euros per unit, while Mouser and DirectInsight (UK) sells the QSBASE93 evaluation kit for $159.15 and 145 GBP respectively.

Via Softei

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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