Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
ZERO4U_V1.3 Pimoroni	ZERO4U	26
PIM301 Pimoroni	BUTTON SHIM	26
SHU_A_BLKFSZZZV100 Pimoroni	SHUTTLE	40
IQA002 Pimoroni	PI-DIGIAMP+	3
PIM544 Pimoroni	PICO AUDIO PACK (LINE-OUT AND HE	0
PIM413 Pimoroni	LTR-559 LIGHT & PROXIMITY SENSOR	0
PIM250 Pimoroni	PAN-TILT HAT (WITHOUT PAN-TILT)	0
4TR-PWRBIT Pimoroni	POWER:BIT BATTERY POWER FOR MICR	28
PIM169 Pimoroni	MINI BLACK HAT HACK3R ASSEMBLED	473
PIM475 Pimoroni	HYPERPIXEL 4.0 SQUARE - HI-RES D	0
PIM502 Pimoroni	ENVIRO+ FEATHERWING	19
MNK00064 Pimoroni	RGB LED FOR MICRO:BIT	0
PIM479 Pimoroni	DRV8830 DC MOTOR DRIVER BREAKOUT	31
PIM462 Pimoroni	PICADE X HAT USB-C	5
PIM455 Pimoroni	HT0740 40V / 10A SWITCH BREAKOUT	31
STA___BLKBSRDRV100 Pimoroni	STATION	40
MNK00074 Pimoroni	POWER FOR MICRO:BIT	0
RPI-031 Pimoroni	RASPBERRY PI TV HAT	0
4TR-CUBE5 Pimoroni	5X5X5-CUBE:BIT MAGICAL RGB CUB	0
PIM476 Pimoroni	1.3" SPI COLOUR LCD (240X240) BR	17

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