Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
BOB-15932 SparkFun	SPARKFUN QWIIC BUTTON - RED LED	162
DEV-14034 SparkFun	SPECTACLE AUDIO BOARD	0
SEN-15892 SparkFun	ZIO QWIIC LOUDNESS SENSOR	14
DEV-14356 SparkFun	PI-TOPPROTO	0
SEN-14571 SparkFun	TRIPLE AXIS MAGNETOMETER BREAKOU	39
DEV-14109 SparkFun	MYOWARE CABLE SHIELD	35
DEV-17163 SparkFun	ARGON40 FAN HAT FOR RASPBERRY PI	40
DEV-14155 SparkFun	SPARKFUN ESP32 THING POWER CONTR	0
SPX-17353 SparkFun	BMI270 BREAKOUT	0
DEV-13993 SparkFun	SPECTACLE MOTION BOARD	0
GPS-13750 SparkFun	SPARKFUN GPS LOGGER SHIELD	0
SPX-17718 SparkFun	MICROMOD BIG DISPLAY CARRIER BOA	0
SEN-15577 SparkFun	PULSED RADAR BREAKOUT - A111	13
SEN-15242 SparkFun	SPARKFUN QWIIC SCALE - NAU7802	153
DEV-12085 SparkFun	BEAGLEBONE BLACK CAPE - LCD (4.3	0
DEV-13262 SparkFun	SHIELD CAN-BUS 13262	76
DEV-15270 SparkFun	GATOR:LOG - MICRO:BIT ACCESSORY	8
DEV-17156 SparkFun	SPARKFUN QWIIC SHIELD FOR TEENSY	61
SEN-14587 SparkFun	SPARKFUN TRIPLE AXIS ACCELEROMET	28
SPX-17115 SparkFun	SERIAL FLASH BREAKOUT - ASSEMBLE	0

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