
What is SMARC?
SMARC is a small form factor module standard. Developed by SGET, of which SECO is a founding member, the standard defines modules that are ideal for embedded applications requiring low power consumption, low costs, and high performance. It offers a rich set of standard peripheral interfaces for both Arm and x86 processor technologies, providing a ready-to-use core computing engine that can be adapted to application-specific carrier boards.

Modular
Being an electromechanical standard, SMARC’s 314-signal standard facilitates module swappability across SMARC vendors and processor platforms.

Low power
Power consumption is typically under 6W, while supporting a relatively high number of interfaces.

Compact
Its small size (about the size of a credit card) and low profile mounted on a carrier board enable thin designs – especially useful for portable or handheld devices.

Versatile
Arm or x86 processor architecture, with standard interfaces including USB, display, Ethernet, serial, and GPIO.
SMARC Ecosystem
Our SMARC ecosystem includes off-the-shelf modules, accompanying OS, SMARC development kits, including a carrier board, etc. Our SMARC products support compatibility with our IoT software suite Clea.

Featured SMARC Modules

SOM-SMARC-MX8M Plus
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM featuring NXP's i.MX 8M Plus Arm processor with Cortex-A53 CPU and NPU for machine learning

SOM-SMARC-QCS6490
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM powered by Qualcomm's QCS6490 Arm processor based on Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores.

SOM-SMARC-Genio700
SMARC® Rel. 2.1.1 Computer on Module (CoM) with the MediaTek Genio 700 Arm processor 2x Cortex-A78 and 6x Cortex-A55 CPU.

SOM-SMARC-ASL
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM with the Intel Atom processor x7000RE series (formerly called Amston Lake).

Carrier Board Design
A SMARC module must be mounted to a carrier board in an electronic product. The carrier is usually designed with application-specific interfaces and mechanicals. SGET publishes a carrier design guide which provides design guidance.
SECO offers comprehensive design services for custom carrier boards, leveraging our expertise to accelerate time-to-market. We collaborate with our clients to define their product requirements and develop a product-specific carrier board with an accompanying board support package (BSP). The SMARC standard, in particular, is meant to be future-proof, with standard pinouts and resources for board designers.
Standardised & customised designs
Based on SECO’s commercial off-the-shelf HMI products, we can develop a customised product-optimised HMI solution. Add an interface, update mounting provisions, implement your company’s logo, customise the bezel, and more. Our proven modular system enables us to easily update the HMI according to your specifications with minimised cost, schedule, and risk.


Manufacturing
SECO manufacturers its SMARC, carrier, and other boards and products in its world-class, in-house production facilities in Italy, Germany and China. With ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certifications and circuit board and device level assembly, SECO provides low cost, high quality, one-stop production backed by global supply chain excellence.
SMARC Applications
SMARC modules, with their compact size, versatility, and energy efficiency, are well-suited for low-power, cost-effective embedded applications that leverage Arm or x86 processor technology. They provide developers with a flexible platform for creating innovative solutions across a variety of industries and use cases, including:
- Embedded vision: Enabling advanced image processing and AI capabilities in compact systems, with up to 4x camera inputs and 4x graphics outputs.
- Handheld and portable devices: Compact size supports lightweight designs with efficient performance.
- Battery-operated devices: Optimized for extended battery life without compromising functionality.
- Low-power, connected IoT applications: Offering diverse connectivity options for seamless integration into IoT ecosystems.
- Functional safety (FuSa) applications: SECO offers the SOM-SMARC-EHL, which is designed to facilitate IEC 61508 and ISO 13849 certification.