Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DFR0029-R DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL PUSH BUTTON (RE	5
DFR0554 DFRobot	GRAVITY: I2C 16X2 ARDUINO LCD WI	30
SEN0376 DFRobot	GRAVITY: ALCOHOL SENSOR (0-5PPM)	7
DFR0021-R DFRobot	GRAVITY:DIGITAL RED LED LIGHT MO	0
SEN0365 DFRobot	DFROBOT AS7341 11-CHANNEL VISIBL	33
DFR0224 DFRobot	SCREWLESS TERMINAL SHIELD	2
DFR0382 DFRobot	7 SEGMENT LED KEYPAD SHIELD FOR	14
DFR0472 DFRobot	32X32 RGB LED MATRIX PANEL (4MM	2
SEN0240 DFRobot	GRAVITY ANALOG EMG SENSOR BY OYM	4
SEN0193 DFRobot	GRAVITY: ANALOG CAPACITIVE SOIL	36
DFR0259 DFRobot	RS485 SHIELD	115
SEN0192 DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL MICROWAVE SENSO	25
DFR0660 DFRobot	CM65 QR & BARCODE SCANNER MODULE	0
SEN0311 DFRobot	A02YYUW WATERPROOF ULTRASONIC SE	79
SEN0231 DFRobot	GRAVITY: FORMALDEHYDE (HCHO) SEN	11
DFR0052 DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL PIEZO DISK VIBR	6
SEN0185 DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL HALL SENSOR	17
DFR0468 DFRobot	FIREBEETLE LED MATRIX GREEN	0
DFR0528 DFRobot	UPS HAT FOR RASPBERRY PI ZERO	6
DFR0502 DFRobot	GRAVITY: IO EXPANSION MOTOR CTRL	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