Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DEV-13116 SparkFun	SPARKFUN SPECTRUM SHIELD	11
PIM321 Pimoroni	PHAT STACK SOLDER YOURSELF KIT	0
COM-14968 SparkFun	SPARKFUN GATOR:CONTROL PROTOSNAP	0
MOPI003 Pimoroni	MOPI 2: HOT-SWAP MOBILE POWER FO	5
6002-410-015 Digilent, Inc.	PMOD ADAPTER FOR NI ROBORIO	0
MIKROE-1386 MikroElektronika	BOARD ADD-ON COMPASS CLICK	0
MIKROE-2786 MikroElektronika	WATER DETECT CLICK	1
T001 M5Stack	ATOM TAILBAT 190MAH BATTERY	85
MIKROE-1627 MikroElektronika	BOARD THUMBSTICK CLICK JOYSTICK	0
101020593 Seeed	GROVE - COULOMB COUNTER 3.3V TO	29
5651 Kitronik	TERMINAL BLOCK BREAKOUT FOR MICR	26
DFR0356 DFRobot	BLUNO BEETLE SHIELD	6
BOB-13709 SparkFun	MYOWARE PROTO SHIELD	0
GEN4-4DCAPE-70T 4D Systems	LCD CAPE 7.0" RES TOUCH	113
MIKROE-2728 MikroElektronika	EERAM 3.3V CLICK	0
1419 Pololu Corporation	ZUMO REFLECTANCE SENSOR ARRAY	91
EVAL-ADF7242-PMDZ Analog Devices, Inc.	PMOD BOARD 2.4GHZ XCVR ADF7242	5
MIKROE-945 MikroElektronika	BOARD ACCT BUZZ CLICK MIKROBUS	7
MIKROE-3446 MikroElektronika	ECG 5 CLICK	4
MIKROE-2521 MikroElektronika	ENOCEAN 2 CLICK	3

Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

1. Overview

Evaluation Boards (EVBs), Expansion Boards, and Daughter Cards are essential hardware tools for embedded system development, prototyping, and testing. These platforms enable engineers to assess processor capabilities, interface peripherals, and validate designs before mass production. Their modular architecture supports rapid innovation in IoT, automotive, industrial automation, and consumer electronics sectors.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Microcontroller EVBs	ARM/FPGA SoC integration, onboard sensors, debug interfaces	IoT edge devices, smart sensors
Expansion Boards	Standard interfaces (PCIe, USB-C), protocol converters	Industrial gateways, communication modules
Daughter Cards	Specialized functionality modules (ADC/DAC, RF transceivers)	Medical imaging equipment, test instruments
Programmer Kits	Flash programming, JTAG/SWD debugging, voltage monitoring	Automotive ECUs, aerospace controllers

3. Structure and Components

Typical architecture includes:

Multi-layer PCB with high-speed traces
Processor sockets or soldered-down SoCs
Standardized connectors (2.54mm headers, M.2)
Onboard memory (RAM, Flash storage)
Power management ICs and voltage regulators
Debug interfaces (SWD, JTAG, UART)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description
Clock Speed	Determines processing capability (1MHz-2GHz range)
Bus Width	Memory bandwidth (8/16/32-bit configurations)
Interface Support	USB 3.0, Ethernet, CAN, SPI/I2C compatibility
Power Consumption	Typical range: 0.5W-25W (varies with workload)
Operating Temperature	Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) or commercial grade

5. Application Areas

Major industries include:

Telecommunications (5G base stations, optical transceivers)
Medical equipment (MRI scanners, patient monitors)
Industrial automation (PLC controllers, robotics)
Consumer electronics (smart home devices, wearables)
Automotive (ADAS systems, V2X communication)

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Vendor	Product Series
Xilinx	Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Evaluation Kit
Intel	Stratix 10 GX FPGA Development Board
STMicroelectronics	STM32 Nucleo Expansion Boards
Texas Instruments	Processor DKx Daughter Cards

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match SoC architecture to target application requirements
Verify interface compatibility with existing systems
Evaluate available ecosystem (IDE support, middleware)
Consider power budget and thermal management needs
Assess long-term availability and RoHS compliance

8. Industry Trends

Future developments include:

Integration of AI accelerators (NPU modules)
Adoption of 5nm/3nm process technologies
Expansion of RISC-V based evaluation platforms
Increased focus on functional safety (ISO 26262 compliance)
Growing adoption of modular "Lego-style" prototyping systems