What is the SFF-SIG?

The Small Form Factor Special Interest Group (SFF-SIG) is a new non-profit industry group that develops, promotes, and supports small form factor circuit board specifications and related technologies. The group embraces the latest technologies, but also has a philosophy of maintaining legacy compatibility and enabling smooth transitions to next-generation interfaces. For example, the SFF-SIG is the only industry group with an entire family of form factor specifications with bus expansion optimized for the new sub-10W 2-chip x86 platforms including Intel's Atom™ and VIA's Nano™ CPUs. The expansion connector, SUMIT™, interfaces easily to high and low speed I/O, and board designs are already underway.

Additionally, SFF-SIG seeks to enable practical, mainstream, real-world applications rather than extremely high-performance and high-power dissipation systems. The SIG appreciates the extensive investments in off-the-shelf products made by system OEMs and seeks to preserve those investments while smoothly embracing new technologies. Consolidating suppliers around standards, facilitating cross-platform interoperability, and architecting common expansion schemes are all goals of the SFF-SIG. As history indicates, standards with rich "ecosystems" endure the test of time. The SFF-SIG is concerned about all components of the system-level solution. It doesn't help much to shrink the board if the cabling and thermal issues are problematic.

What is the group's structure?

The SFF-SIG is a worldwide trade group based in Silicon Valley and is run by a president who is not affiliated with any single member company. Working groups are formed to address specific topics and formats in detail. Incubator Groups are spawned rapidly when new or existing voting members have a draft specification or even a rough idea. Other members apply to join the Incubator Group, and broad inputs and reviews are ensured. After approval, specs are published and under strict change control for the long term by the relevant Working Group. Currently the following groups are in session.

Working Groups

SBCs The group is defining the next generation of tiny form factor single board computers with flexible I/O expansion.

Stackables This group's goal is to "bring back the stack" by modernizing off-the-shelf boards and I/O inter-connect technology.

COMs This group is defining Computer-on-Modules (COMs) for mainstream markets instead of high-end niche markets.

Should your company join the SFF-SIG?

If your company wants to participate in or stay abreast of the development of important new standards shaping the evolution of electronics systems you should consider membership. The SFF-SIG is open to parties interested in working together to create specifications that can turn into future industry standards.

The SFF-SIG encourages developer and end user outreach and community for direct exchange of ideas and suggestions. Drop us a line any time!

Last updated June 20, 2008
© 2008 Small Form Factor Special Interest Group, Inc. All rights reserved.