Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DEV-13116 SparkFun	SPARKFUN SPECTRUM SHIELD	11
COM-14968 SparkFun	SPARKFUN GATOR:CONTROL PROTOSNAP	0
BOB-13709 SparkFun	MYOWARE PROTO SHIELD	0
DEV-14446 SparkFun	GPS BOARD FOR ONION OMEGA	0
BOB-13311 SparkFun	TEENSY 3.1 XBEE ADAPTER	18
DEV-14441 SparkFun	ETHERNET BOARD FOR ONION OMEGA	0
COM-15290 SparkFun	QWIIC KEYPAD - 12 BUTTON	33
SEN-15335 SparkFun	9DOF IMU BREAKOUT - ICM-20948 (Q	421
DEV-14052 SparkFun	SPECTACLE LIGHT BOARD	0
SEN-17770 SparkFun	LUXONIS OAK-D DEPTHAI HARDWARE	5
DEV-13628 SparkFun	PHOTON MICRO OLED SHIELD 13628	1
SEN-16466 SparkFun	ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR BREAKOUT -	112
BOB-16842 SparkFun	SPARKFUN QWIIC BUTTON - GREEN LE	71
SEN-15440 SparkFun	ATMOSPHERIC SENSOR BREAKOUT - BM	112
COM-14890 SparkFun	SPARKFUN GATOR COLOR PROTOSNAP	0
DEV-16885 SparkFun	MICROMOD ATP CARRIER BOARD	29
LCD-16397 SparkFun	SPARKFUN 16X2 SERLCD - RGB TEXT	34
DEV-17723 SparkFun	SPARKFUN MICROMOD QWIIC CARRIER	0
WRL-14597 SparkFun	SPARKFUN AST-CAN485 WIFI SHIELD	2
SEN-16476 SparkFun	SPARKFUN QWIIC MICROPRESSURE SEN	132

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