SoM3-MPF300T System on Module (SoM), with PolarFire MPF300 FPGA

Simplify complex hardware design and reduce time-to-market by integrating a ready-to-use System-on-Module (SoM) into your product architecture.

SoM3 is a compact and highly integrated System-on-Module based on Microchip’s PolarFire FPGA technology, designed for applications where very low power consumption, strong security, and fast system bring-up are essential. By integrating the FPGA and key system resources on a single, production-ready module, SoM3 significantly reduces board-level complexity and accelerates product development.

The module can be populated with PolarFire MPF100T, MPF200T, or MPF300T devices in the FCVG484 package, allowing designers to scale logic density and cost while keeping the same mechanical footprint, carrier compatibility, and development flow. In addition to the standard T versions, TS versions are also available for applications requiring enhanced security.

SoM3 is compatible with selected Trenz System-on-Modules and can be plugged directly into established carrier platforms such as the SundanceDSP SE215 PCIe carrier, the EMC2-DP-V2 PCIe/104 card, and suitable Trenz SoM carrier boards. This compatibility supports rapid prototyping and smooth integration into existing systems.

With its compact 40 × 50 mm footprint, SoM3 is well-suited to space-constrained designs while still providing access to a large number of FPGA I/Os and multiple high-speed serial interfaces. PolarFire FPGAs are inherently very low power, offering significantly reduced static and dynamic power consumption compared to traditional FPGA technologies. This helps minimize thermal requirements and enables reliable operation in dense or fanless systems.

Security is a fundamental characteristic of the PolarFire architecture, and TS devices extend this capability further. Secure PolarFire devices integrate a hardware-based, DPA-resistant cryptographic accelerator, secure key storage, and encrypted configuration support. These features enable secure boot, protection of FPGA configuration and user data, and strong defense against physical and side-channel attacks, making SoM3 suitable for IP-sensitive and security-critical applications.

The FPGA used on SoM3 is a non-volatile, flash-based PolarFire device, rather than a traditional SRAM-based FPGA. The configuration is stored internally within the FPGA itself, removing the need for any external configuration memory. As a result, the FPGA on SoM3 is instant-on, becoming fully operational immediately at power-up. This architecture improves system reliability and security, reduces component count, and minimizes exposure of configuration data.

Supported by the Libero® SoC PolarFire Design Suite, SoM3 benefits from a mature development environment and a broad range of proven soft IP, enabling faster design bring-up and reduced development risk.

Overall, SoM3 provides a very low-power, secure, and scalable FPGA platform in a compact System-on-Module form factor, making it ideal for advanced embedded, industrial, and security-focused applications where rapid time-to-market is essential.