Evaluation Boards

Evaluation Boards - Sensors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
4206 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-06A REF ARRAY 6CHNL	69
4453 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-13A REF ARRAY 13CHNL	18
4313 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-13RC REF ARRAY 13CHNL	56
1133 Pololu Corporation	CARRIER FOR SHARP SENSORS	83
4345 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-05RC REF ARRAY 5CHNL	125
4113 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-13RC REF ARRAY 13CHNL	52
4443 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-03A REF ARRAY 3CHNL	133
4243 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-03A REF ARRAY 3CHNL	75
4244 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-04A REF ARRAY 4CHNL	100
4207 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-07A REF ARRAY 7CHNL	113
4101 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-01RC REF SENSOR 1CHNL	218
4415 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-15A REF ARRAY 15CHNL	41
4311 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-11RC REF ARRAY 11CHNL	65
4353 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-13RC REF ARRAY 13CHNL	26
2763 Pololu Corporation	UM7-LT ORIENTATION SENSOR	34
2739 Pololu Corporation	ALTIMU-10 GYRO ACCEL COMPASS ALT	185
4143 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-03RC REF ARRAY 3CHNL	161
4348 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-08RC REF ARRAY 8CHNL	72
4046 Pololu Corporation	ACS724 CURRENT SENSOR 0-30A	43
4601 Pololu Corporation	QTRXL-HD-01A REF SENSOR 1CHNL	196

Evaluation Boards - Sensors

1. Overview

Evaluation boards for sensors are specialized hardware platforms designed to test, validate, and develop sensor-based applications. These boards integrate sensor elements with processing units, communication interfaces, and power management modules. They play a critical role in accelerating product development cycles in industries such as IoT, industrial automation, healthcare, and consumer electronics by enabling rapid prototyping and performance characterization.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Temperature Sensor Boards	High-precision thermal sensing with digital/analog outputs	Climate control systems, medical devices
Accelerometer Boards	3-axis motion detection with programmable sensitivity	Vibration monitoring, fitness trackers
Pressure Sensor Boards	Atmospheric/differential pressure measurement	Weather stations, automotive systems
Environmental Sensor Boards	Multi-parameter detection (humidity, gas, light)	Smart agriculture, air quality monitors
Image Sensor Boards	High-resolution optical sensing with ISP integration	Surveillance cameras, machine vision

3. Structure and Components

Typical evaluation boards consist of: - Sensor element (MEMS, CMOS, or discrete transducers) - Microcontroller/SoC with ADC/DAC interfaces - Communication modules (I2C, SPI, UART, BLE/Wi-Fi) - Power management ICs and voltage regulators - Debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD) - Auxiliary components (LED indicators, potentiometers) The PCB layout optimizes signal integrity while minimizing electromagnetic interference.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Measurement Range	Minimum/maximum detectable values	Determines application suitability
Accuracy	Error margin vs. reference values	Impacts system reliability
Sampling Rate	Data acquisition frequency	Defines dynamic response capability
Power Consumption	Operating current/voltage requirements	Affects battery life and thermal design
Interface Type	Communication protocol compatibility	Dictates system integration complexity

5. Application Areas

Industrial Automation: Predictive maintenance systems, process control
Healthcare: Wearable vital sign monitors, diagnostic equipment
Consumer Electronics: Smart home devices, mobile accessories
Automotive: Tire pressure monitoring, ADAS sensors
Aerospace: Structural health monitoring, navigation systems

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
STMicroelectronics	STEVAL-MKI187V1	6-axis IMU with advanced calibration
Texas Instruments	BOOSTXL-ULTRASONIC	Ultrasonic sensing for distance measurement
Analog Devices	EVAL-ADICUP3029	Low-power Cortex-M4F based platform
NXP Semiconductors	FRDM-FXS-MULTI-B	Multi-sensor fusion for IoT applications

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations include: - Match sensor specifications to target application requirements - Verify compatibility with existing development ecosystems - Evaluate power budget and form factor constraints - Consider available software support (drivers, SDKs) - Assess calibration and certification requirements Example: For a wearable health monitor, prioritize low-power accelerometers with medical-grade accuracy.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging trends include: - Integration of AI accelerators for edge computing - Development of wireless sensor nodes with energy harvesting - Advancements in MEMS fabrication for higher sensitivity - Standardization of sensor fusion algorithms - Growth of open-source hardware ecosystems Market projections indicate a 12% CAGR through 2027 driven by IoT and Industry 4.0 adoption.