Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DFR0274 DFRobot	RGB LED STRIP DRIVER SHIELD V1.0	3
107020007 Seeed	GROVE -RECORDER V2.0	0
MIKROE-3915 MikroElektronika	SECURE 7 CLICK	4
103020136 Seeed	GROVE 8CHANNEL SOLID STATE RELAY	3
IWR1642BOOST Texas Instruments	IWR1642 BOOSTER PACK	17
102110497 Seeed	DUAL GIGABIT ETHERNET CARRIER BO	0
MIKROE-3195 MikroElektronika	VACUUM CLICK	10
SEN0303 DFRobot	GRAVITY VEML6075 UV SENSOR MODUL	4
MIKROE-1194 MikroElektronika	BOARD ACCEL CLICK	6
LCD-15143 SparkFun	SPARKFUN TFT LCD BREAKOUT - 1.8	9
101020037 Seeed	GROVE TOUCH SENSOR	0
DFR0033 DFRobot	GRAVITY:DIGITAL MAGNETIC SENSOR	84
MIKROE-3657 MikroElektronika	MAGNETO 7 CLICK	17
AWR1642BOOST Texas Instruments	AWR1642 BOOSTER PACK	24
101020586 Seeed	GROVE - VIBRATION SENSOR (SW-420	0
MIKROE-4440 MikroElektronika	FLASH 7 CLICK	0
U030 M5Stack	MINI WEIGHT UNIT (HX711)	11
MIKROE-1200 MikroElektronika	BOARD EEPROM CLICK	13
PIS-0264 Pi Supply	PAPIRUS MEDIUM (2.0")	25
MIKROE-1203 MikroElektronika	BOARD USB UART CLICK	152

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