Microchip CURIOSITY Development Boards: Selection Guide

Embedded Development Boards, Kits, Programmers
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The Microchip CURIOSITY development board series is a technical platform for embedded system development, education, and prototype verification, covering 8-bit/16-bit/32-bit PIC® MCUs and 16-bit dsPIC® digital signal controllers (DSCs). Its design core lies in hardware modularity and software compatibility, aiming to lower the development threshold while maintaining technical expandability.

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Key Technical Features

On-Board Debugging and Programming Integration

  • Built-in PICkit On-Board (PKOB) debugger supports code burning and real-time debugging (ICD mode) directly via USB, eliminating the need for additional hardware tools.
  • Supports Low Voltage Programming (LVP) and is compatible with chips enabled for High Voltage Programming, which can be repaired by external tools (note the configuration word settings).

Standardized Expansion Interfaces

  • mikroBUS™ socket: Compatible with over 500 Click modules from MikroElektronika, covering sensors (e.g., barometric pressure, TOF), communication (Wi-Fi, LoRa), actuators (motor drivers, relays), etc. Interface definitions include common protocols like UART/SPI/I2C/PWM.
  • Full-pin header: Exposes all I/O pins of the MCU, supporting custom circuit design (e.g., connecting external FPGAs or dedicated chips).

Cross-Platform Software Support

  • MPLAB X IDE: A full-featured development environment supporting C language, assembly, and graphical configuration tools (MCC), which can automatically generate peripheral driver code.
  • Open-source toolchain compatibility: Development in VS Code via PlatformIO, supporting Git version management for cross-platform collaboration.
  • Real-time operating system (RTOS) support: 32-bit models (e.g., PIC32MZ) come pre-integrated with FreeRTOS for multi-task scheduling.

Model Classification and Technical Parameters

1. 8-bit PIC MCU Development Boards

Positioning: Basic control and educational scenarios, suitable for entry-level embedded system design.

  • Curiosity LPC (DM164137)
    • Supports 8-bit MCUs with 20 pins or fewer (e.g., PIC16F18446), with on-board potentiometer, LED, and mTouch capacitive buttons.
    • Advantages: Low cost (approx. 200 RMB), full-pin visual layout, ideal for learning basic peripherals like GPIO, ADC, and USART.
  • Curiosity HPC (DM164136)
    • Dual DIP sockets support 28/40-pin MCUs (e.g., PIC18F47Q43), expanding I/O resources (e.g., LCD drivers, multi-channel ADC).
    • Typical applications: Small instruments, simple industrial control (e.g., temperature acquisition systems).

2. 16-bit PIC24F/dsPIC33 Development Boards

Positioning: High-performance digital signal processing and real-time control.

  • dsPIC33CH/CK Curiosity Board (DM330028/DM330030)
    • Equipped with dual-core dsPIC33CH or single-core dsPIC33CK, supporting up to 120MHz clock speed, 2ns resolution PWM, and integrating ADC/DAC and motor control-specific peripherals (e.g., quadrature encoder interface).
    • Typical applications: Motor Field-Oriented Control (FOC), digital power supplies (SMPS), audio processing (e.g., equalizer algorithms).
  • PIC24FJ256GA7 Curiosity Board (DM240016)
    • Based on the ultra-low-power (XLP) PIC24FJ series, with a sleep current as low as 50nA, suitable for battery-powered portable devices (e.g., blood glucose meters).

3. 32-bit PIC32 Series Development Boards

Positioning: Internet of Things (IoT), complex applications, and high-performance computing.

  • PIC32MZEF Curiosity Board (DM320104)
    • Features PIC32MZ EF series MCUs (2MB Flash/512KB RAM), integrates MRF24WN0MA Wi-Fi module and hardware encryption accelerator (AES/DES), supporting IEEE 802.11n protocol.
    • Typical applications: Industrial IoT gateways, secure data transmission devices (e.g., encrypted sensor nodes).
  • PIC32MM Curiosity Board (DM320101)
    • Based on XLP technology for the PIC32MM series, with a sleep current <1μA and support for USB low-power mode, suitable for wearable devices (e.g., smart bracelets) and environmental monitoring sensors.
  • PIC32MX470 Curiosity Board (DM320103)
    • 120MHz clock speed + full-speed USB interface, supports external BM64 Bluetooth module, suitable for developing Bluetooth audio devices (e.g., wireless headphones) or industrial human-machine interfaces (HMI).

DigiKey Selection Guide

DigiKey provides rich parameter filtering options to help engineers quickly find suitable Microchip CURIOSITY development boards in the embedded MCU/DSP evaluation board category.

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