Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
PIM171 Pimoroni	MINI BLACK HAT HACK3R PCB ONLY	0
PIM027 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA MOTION ACCELEROMETER	20
CAM008 Pimoroni	70 NIGHT VISION CAMERA MODULE FO	13
PIM037 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA SLIDER W/ LEDS	13
PIM556 Pimoroni	PICO OMNIBUS (DUAL EXPANDER)	0
PIM030 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA COLOR SENSOR	7
PIM485 Pimoroni	PIRATE AUDIO SPEAKER FOR RASPBER	34
PPMB00113 Pimoroni	MOISTURE SENSOR FOR MICRO:BIT	0
PIM367 Pimoroni	YELLOW/BLACK/WHITE INKY PHAT	0
PIM482 Pimoroni	PIRATE AUDIO HEADPHONE AMP FOR R	25
PIM550 Pimoroni	PICO EXPLORER BASE	0
PIM366 Pimoroni	MLX90640 THERMAL CAMERA BREAKOUT	0
PIM477 Pimoroni	PARTICULATE MATTER SENSOR BREAKO	21
PIM320 Pimoroni	PHAT STACK PCB ONLY	0
PIM036 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA - MOTOR	2
PIM526 Pimoroni	LED DOT MATRIX BREAKOUT RED	16
PIM437 Pimoroni	THERMOCOUPLE AMPLIFIER BREAKOUT	21
PIM026 Pimoroni	FLOTILLA RAINBOW RGB LED STRIP	15
PIM216 Pimoroni	MOTE PHAT	0
MNK00084 Pimoroni	CONNECTOR FOR MICRO:BIT	14

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