Daughter cards support Arduino-compatible EVE boards

27th October 2014

Future Technology Devices International Limited

Nat Bowers

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FTDI Chip has announced a series of daughter cards (or shields) which support the company's previously released VM800P development platforms. Interfacing with the Arduino-compatible VM800P ‘PLUS boards’ via one or two Micro-MaTch miniature connectors, the six daughter cards enhance the boards’ I/O capabilities for implementation into a wider range of application scenarios.

The VM800P ‘PLUS boards’ are based on FTDI's FT800 EVE graphic controller devices and incorporate an 8-bit ATMEGA MCU and a TFT display (3.5, 4.3 and 5.0” sizes are available).

A plug-in accessory for the PLUS boards, the VI800A_TTLU enables the inclusion of a TTL level UART and acts as an SPI-to-UART bridging mechanism. The VI800A-ETH enables an external Ethernet interface to be connected and the VI800A_PoE enhances PoE functionality. The VI800A N485U functions as a SPI-to-RS485 bridge, while the VI800A_232U behaves as an SPI-to-RS232 bridge. Both daughter cards allow interfacing with legacy equipment. These cards all measure 63.50x73.50mm.

The VI800A_RELAY effectively acts as an SPI-to-relay bridge for PLUS boards, with the SPI slave interface converted into a relay interface. This daughter card has dimensions of 68.90x48.75mm.

Paul Huang, Display Product Line Manager, FTDI Chip, comments: “Our PLUS boards merge together the familiarity of Arduino and the ground-breaking technology of EVE, with its novel object-oriented approach to HMI implementation. Now, with the addition of these daughter cards, there are greater opportunities for more comprehensive external interfacing and a higher degree of control. This will unlock the true potential of EVE deployment in all manner of exciting new application environments."

The VM800P daughter cards will be priced from $24.95 each.