Choosing the Right SOM Provider: Compliance and Longevity with Support+

In the competitive SOM market, choosing a provider that offers not only the latest hardware, but also comprehensive support and expertise is crucial. Many SOMs are powered by similar processors, so the critical question is: What kind of provider is your SOM provider? 

In our ongoing series on Ezurio’s Support+ package, we’ve discussed how enhanced support and access to resources address industry challenges. Today, we shift our attention to the crucial “Testing Services and Long Product Lifespan” pillar, highlighting compliance, extending product longevity, and ultimately accelerating your time to market. 

Smooth Sailing Through Regulatory Waters 

Navigating the ever-changing landscape of EMC and RF regulations is like sailing through rough waters; staying compliant is crucial to avoid costly delays. Regulatory bodies such as the FCC, ISED, and ETSI frequently update their requirements, making it a challenge for companies to stay ahead. 

For example, consider a medical device manufacturer developing a state-of-the-art remote patient monitoring system that continuously tracks vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. This device needs to communicate wirelessly with central monitoring stations in hospitals, requiring precise RF performance and strict compliance with EMC regulations to ensure patient safety and avoid interference with other medical equipment. 

As regulatory bodies frequently update their requirements, it’s hard for the manufacturer to keep up with all the changes. This is where Ezurio’s Support+ service can help you stay ahead. We help update RF certifications, test reports, and software updates to support these certifications, including RF power tables and channels so you can focus on what you do best – innovating and improving patient care – without the constant worry of regulatory compliance.

Planting the Seeds for Long-Term Success

Think of final host integration testing as the final dress rehearsal before the big performance. Just as this rehearsal is crucial to have a great show, pre-scans in our EMC and RF certification lab make sure that all radio-related issues are addressed before the final regulatory certification, helping to avoid last-minutes surprises and delays. 

Even with modular RF certification included in our Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled SOMs, final hosting integration testing is mandatory by regulatory bodies such as the FCC, ETSI, and others. Support+ customers benefit from free access to our EMC and RF certification lab for these pre-scans, making sure a smooth and successful final regulatory certification process. This proactive approach helps ensure compliance, minimizes risk, and keeps your project on schedule. 

Let’s continue with our medical OEM example, many are not wireless experts, which makes integrating wireless components into the final product a significant challenge. Making sure the entire system meets regulatory standards and performs reliably under various conditions can be difficult and overwhelming for engineering teams. Overlooking this step can lead to unexpected issues that can disrupt the product launch. 

Solution: Pre-scans go beyond basic checks by simulating real-world scenarios to identify potential radio-related issues early on. For example, pre-scans can reveal specific frequency interference with the hospital’s communication systems that initial tests missed. With guidance from Ezurio’s RF experts, the engineering team can implement antenna design modifications and software fixes to mitigate this interference.

Providing a Solution for Decades

Medical equipment undergoes a lengthy testing and approval process, often taking several years before the device is ready for launch. Once deployed, these devices typically remain in use for 10, 15, or even 20+ years, increasing the likelihood that some components may become unavailable over time. 

To address this, having a partner that guarantees a minimum 10-year product lifetime for standard SOM products is the bare minimum, ensuring your design can stay in the market for over a decade. Think of it as planting a tree that will flourish for years, not just a season. While longevity is common in the embedded components industry, most customers typically only receive a 6-month to 1-year warranty – like planting a tree with a guarantee that it will only survive the first winter. With Support+, Ezurio provides an extended 2-year warranty, giving a piece of mind knowing your investment is protected and your product remains reliable well beyond the initial launch phase. 

Additionally, Support+ offers a special last-time buy program to future-proof your product. If a component becomes discontinued, Ezurio will stock the necessary parts to prevent early redesigns, which is particularly useful given the lengthy testing and approval processes that medical equipment goes through. Access to this program allows long-term medical customers to continue shipping the exact same SOM to fully support your product lifecycle. 

Ready to ensure your device stays compliant, reliable, and future-proof? Visit https://www.ezurio.com/system-on-module/support-plus to learn more and start transforming your product development process today.