Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DFR0488 DFRobot	FIREBEETLE LED MATRIX RED	0
DFR0505 DFRobot	SIM7000C ARDUINO NB-IOT/LTE/GPRS	26
SEN0213 DFRobot	GRAVITY: HEART RATE MONITOR SENS	86
DFR0684 DFRobot	RS485 CONNECTOR EXPANSION SHIELD	0
DFR0745 DFRobot	VOICE RECORDER MODULE-BREAKOUT	7
DFR0019 DFRobot	PROTOTYPING SHIELD FOR ARDUINO	3
DFR0450 DFRobot	EXPANSION SHIELD X600 FOR RASPBE	0
DFR0077 DFRobot	MAX202 RS232 TO TTL CONVERTER FO	67
SEN0305 DFRobot	GRAVITY: HUSKYLENS - AN EASY-TO-	16
DFR0348 DFRobot	3.5&QUOT TFT RESISTIVE TOUCH SH	0
SEN0198 DFRobot	GRAVITY: ANALOG HIGH TEMPERATURE	10
DFR0034 DFRobot	GRAVITY:ANALOG SOUND SENSOR	30
FIT0730 DFRobot	2 MEGAPIXELS USB NIGHT CAMERA (W	0
DFR0439 DFRobot	ADDRESS LED STRIP 4M	0
DFR0131 DFRobot	PROTO SCREW SHIELD-ASSEMBLED (AR	2
DFR0534 DFRobot	GRAVITY: UART MP3 VOICE MODULE	112
DFR0675-EN DFRobot	STEREOBLUETOOTHAMPLIFIERBOARD	69
DFR0117 DFRobot	EEPROM DATA STORAGE MODULE FOR A	10
DFR0028 DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL TILT SENSOR FOR	8
DFR0627 DFRobot	GRAVITY I2C TO DUAL UART MODULE	40

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