Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
2901 Adafruit	HIFIBERRY DAC+ HAT STD RCA	0
MIKROE-3148 MikroElektronika	PWM 2 CLICK	33
103990057 Seeed	CAMERA SHIELD	0
AC243009 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SQI SUPERFLASH KIT 1	13
DEV-17723 SparkFun	SPARKFUN MICROMOD QWIIC CARRIER	0
MIKROE-1825 MikroElektronika	BOARD ROTARY Y CLICK	0
MIKROE-3297 MikroElektronika	LED DRIVER 5 CLICK	9
PIS-1569 Pi Supply	PI SUPPLY MICRO:BIT BREAKOUT BOA	49
103020312 Seeed	GROVE SHIELD FOR SEEEDUINO XIAO	74
MIKROE-1885 MikroElektronika	DEV BOARD THERMO 3 CLICK	6
111020048 Seeed	GROVE 5WAY SWITCH	26
ASD2831-R TinyCircuits	REALTIMECLOCKTINYSHIELD	13
MIKROE-2274 MikroElektronika	WIFI 5 CLICK	0
DFR0558 DFRobot	GRAVITY DIGITAL HIGH TEMP SENSOR	13
EA PCBARDDOG7036 Electronic Assembly (Display Visions)	ARDUINOSHIELD / PCB 7036	1
WRL-14597 SparkFun	SPARKFUN AST-CAN485 WIFI SHIELD	2
MIKROE-1798 MikroElektronika	DHT22 CLICK	5
MIKROE-2374 MikroElektronika	FLASH 3 CLICK	9
MIKROE-2799 MikroElektronika	QI RECEIVER CLICK	7
AST1014 TinyCircuits	0.69" OLED SCREEN WIRELING	1

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