The Standardization Group for Embedded Technologies (SGET) has just released the Open Harmonized FPGA Module (oHFM) specification, promising to shake up the FPGA market and embedded design.
As the world’s first open and vendor-independent FPGA module standard, oHFM brings the proven success of Computer-on-Module (COM) principles to the FPGA ecosystem, offering a new level of flexibility for developers and silicon partners alike.
“The oHFM standard is a major step forward in creating a collaborative ecosystem for FPGA technologies,” says Ansgar Hein, Chairman of SGET. “By harmonizing interfaces and form factors, we are providing the industry with the same modular flexibility and scalability that has driven innovation in the ARM and x86 markets for years.”
Traditionally, FPGA-based designs required highly specialized carrier board layouts, often tailored to a specific silicon architecture. The oHFM standard introduces a harmonized pinout and interface philosophy that complements the offerings of leading silicon vendors. This allows developers to more easily scale their designs across different performance classes and manufacturers, reducing design complexity and accelerating time-to-market.
To meet the diverse requirements of industrial, medical, and other applications, the oHFM standard provides two distinct yet harmonized variants:
- oHFM.c (Connector-based): Optimized for high-performance applications and modularity. Utilizing high-speed board-to-board connectors, it offers four scalable sizes (S to XL) and is ideal for prototyping, high-density I/O, and easy field upgrades.
- oHFM.s (Solderable): Designed for cost-sensitive, high-volume production. This variant, also available in four scalable sizes (S to XL), leverages Solder-on-Module technology for maximum mechanical ruggedness and a low-profile design.
The oHFM specification supports the full breadth of FPGAs, from low-power entry to high-performance SoC-FPGAs featuring 112 Gbps PAM4 SERDES and integrated RF ADC/DACs. With five scaleable module sizes (from Small to Extra Large), oHFM provides a future-proof roadmap for AI-driven edge computing, 5G/6G infrastructure, and advanced signal processing.
The oHFM specification can be downloaded from:
https://sget.org/standards/ohfm/
