Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
PIM321 Pimoroni	PHAT STACK SOLDER YOURSELF KIT	0
MOPI003 Pimoroni	MOPI 2: HOT-SWAP MOBILE POWER FO	5
PIM058 Pimoroni	SKYWRITER HAT (INDIVIDUAL)	4
PIM371 Pimoroni	AUTOMATION:BIT	33
PIM365 Pimoroni	MLX90640 THERMAL CAMERA BREAKOUT	0
PIM266 Pimoroni	FOUR LETTER PHAT	0
PIM484 Pimoroni	PIRATE AUDIO 3W STEREO AMP FOR R	20
PIM377 Pimoroni	BREAKOUT GARDEN HAT	0
MNK00062 Pimoroni	SENSOR FOR MICRO:BIT	6
PIM412 Pimoroni	AS7262 6-CHANNEL SPECTRAL SENSOR	4
PIM438 Pimoroni	MAX30105 BREAKOUT - HEART, SMOKE	21
PPMB00130 Pimoroni	AMP:BIT CLASS D AMPLIFIER FOR MI	0
KIT-5601B Pimoroni	EDGE CONNECTOR BREAKOUT BOARD FO	0
CAM009 Pimoroni	160 (FISHEYE) NIGHT VISION CAMER	30
PIM436 Pimoroni	0.96" SPI COLOUR LCD (160X80)	22
PIM555 Pimoroni	PICO DECKER (QUAD EXPANDER)	0
PIM483 Pimoroni	PIRATE AUDIO LINE-OUT FOR RASPBE	19
4TR-PICONZ Pimoroni	PICON ZERO - INTELLIGENT ROBOTIC	7
PIM033 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR	11
RASPIO-001 Pimoroni	RASPIOA DUINO	12

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