AN0031

...the world's most energy friendly microcontrollers
Making Prototyping Boards for
the EFM32 kits
AN0031 - Application Note
Introduction
This application note describes how anyone can make their own custom
prototyping boards that can be connected directly with the EFM32 kits. Both
mechanical dimensions and PCB design files for development kit prototyping board
and starter kit prototyping board are included. This application note is a good
starting point if you want to create your own custom PCB designed to interface
directly with an EFM32 kit.
This application note includes:
• This PDF document
• Source files (zip)
• KiCad library.
• Cadsoft Eagle library.
...the world's most energy friendly microcontrollers
1 Introduction
This application note is intended to help users of one of the Energy Micro EFM32 kits create their
own prototypes around the kit. This document includes drawings with the most important mechanical
dimensions and connector placements. The included zip-file contains PCB (Printed Circuit Board) library
files to help create extension boards that matches the dimensions and connector placement of the kits.
The included libraries are for KiCad and Eagle PCB design software suites. Both libraries are human
readable text-files which can be used as source files for generating libraries for other PCB design
software suites.
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2 Starter Kits
The starter kits has both an expansion connector and a set of header pin rows along the two longest
edges of the kit. If the expansion connector on the right hand side of the kit contains all the pins a
prototype need, this connector can be used to interface with external circuitry. One of the included
PCB-library components have the pinout and footprint of a matching connector that can be used on an
expansion board.
In some cases the pins needed are not included in the expansion connector and the pin-rows must be
used. If many pins must be used it can often be beneficial to design an expansion shield PCB with pin
rows that matches the placement of the pin rows on the starter kit. The included PCB-library contains
schematic symbol and footprint for such an expansion PCB. The pin rows and mechanical holes are
included in the PCB footprint.
2.1 Mechanical Dimensions
The mechanical dimensions of the starter kits are given in Figure 2.1 (p. 3) . These measurements
are the same for the STK G8xx/3300/3600/3700 starter kits.
Figure 2.1. Starter Kit Mechanical Dimensions
55.0
TP J144
TP J146
TPJ145
TP J134
TP J103
TP J104
TP J148
TPJ135
TP J118
TPJ119
T P J120
TPJ121
TP J122
T P J123
T P J137
TP J124
TP J125
TPJ126
TPJ127
TPJ 128
TP J139
52.0
TP J141
D 600
R 409
R 808
R 807
C 905
C660
C 721
C 720
C403
C 200
R 612
R 610
R 815
U 806
U 805
C 805
R 611
R 814
C 804
L801
R809
R810
L900
D 703
R800
C103
RP801
R P800
C 725
Q 100
C 803
C800
C 606
R 781
SW 400
U 100
R 774
L 780
R803
R802
R 801
C 806
C 808
R 608
R 607
R 609
C 802
U 101
U 602
P100
R 804
U 802
R 779
R914
U 800
R 105
R 401
27.5
R 106
R 246
C 917
C 719
C 902
C 903
U 660
R 910
C 911
Q 702
R916
R917
C 718
R 728
U 801
U 706
C 909
R918
R727
R 729
C 907
X900
U 601
R 805
C 605
C 912
U 707
U 900
R 772
C914
C603
R605
R 730
C 732
C916
C 607
C 601 TPJ149
R900
D 800
C 104
U 902
R104
C 890
C 913
C105
C 106
C 891
R 686
C 915
C 604
R 606
R 604
R 915
Q1
R 410
L800
R 891
C 908
C 600
35.0
R 912
R603
R 920
LED903
C910
R602
U 600
R901
LED 900
C 807
U 803
R 806
LE D 901
R903
R 919
C 904
C 602
R 600
LE D904
P800
LCD1
R890
R 680
TP999
R601
U695
L730
R 681
C 900
R904
C901
C680
R902
R 687
P601
R 682
L600
U804
SW 100
SW 101
SW 700
TPJ143
TP J100
R 1010
TPJ101
R1009
C1004
TP J102
R 1008
R 731
C 724
C 501
TP J138
TP J129
T P J130
TP J131
R 103
R 102
C 101
R100
R 101
C 100
C 402
C 401
C 412
C 400
C409
C 199
R 198
R 199
C 404
C 411
L402
LE D 100
C 500
C 1003
C729
J100
R196
C 198
C421
R750
LE D 101
L1001
R242
C422
X401
U 1000
R718
R 709
U1
R241
C423
TP J132
L400
C 405
C 406
R403
X400
L401
C 420
R405
R 704
C 410
C 920
R792
R 1004
Q 703
ST700
C 731
U 703
R 1003
C 730
C710
C1001
C728
R 1002
C703
C 702
R710
C 1002
R1007
R 702
R701
C705
R700
C701
R 703
U 701
R1005
C 714
C 706
L700
R717
C 415
R 107
C 700
P700
R 108
R406
C 704
R 707
R705
R 760
R 708
R 706
R 732
C408
U 700
C707
U 702
T1
D 400
L100
C419
R407
TPJ136
U 400
C 418
R 408
TP J105
TP J106
C 417
TP J107
TP J112
TP J133
TP J115
TP J117
TP J140
TP J142
TP 811
TP815
TP812
TP813
3.0
TP 814
P 400
0
0
0
3.0
107.0 110.0
All dimensions in millimeters
2.2 Custom STK Expansion Board
The pinout of the expansion connector varies slightly between the different starter kits. Make sure you
select the correct schematic symbol. Power connections and ground do have the same pinout and are
named and connected accordingly in the included library. The footprint of the expansion connector on
the expansion board is intended for a through hole, female, right angle 2*10 connector.
A suitable connector is: Sullins Connector Solutions PPPC102LJBN-RC, digikey# S5563-ND.
2.3 Custom STK Shield Board
The STK has many pins that are not routed to the expansion connector. The additional pins are organized
in two rows, one at the top and one at the bottom long edge of the kit. The pin rows are the standard
0.1" (inch) ~ 2.54 mm spaced type.
The included library contains a skeleton footprint and schematic symbol for a starter kit shield
(efm32_stk_full_protoboard). It is intended to ease the design of a prototyping shield that can be plugged
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into the header pin rows of the starter kits. Power and ground have the same pinout for all of the STK
G8xx/3300/3600/3700 kits. Please check the pin out of your specific starter kit for other pins. Not all the
starter kits have the same EFM32 pins at the same header pin location.
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3 Development Kits
The development kits have two plugin module boards, one for the EFM32 MCU and one for a prototyping
board. If the included prototyping board is unsuitable for a prototyping task, creating a custom plugin
board for the prototype-connectors is possible. The lower connector (named EXP32_A) contains both
power, ground and all EFM32 pins up to and including port E. The top connector (named EXP32_B)
contains power, ground and some of the pins of port F.
The included PCB-library has a prototyping board skeleton component to simplify the design of a custom
prototyping board. It consists of a schematic symbol with pin-names for the two connectors and a footprint
with the correct placement of the connectors and the mechanical holes.
3.1 Mechanical Dimensions
The mechanical dimensions of the development kits are given in Figure 3.1 (p. 5) . These
measurements are the same for the DK 3550/3650/3750 kits.
Figure 3.1. Development Kit Mechanical Dimensions
ST3
R 389
R297
C153
R 410
R 413
R409
R 415
C 308
R408
R407
R406
L32
C315
C 318
C 317
C 321
C 320
C2
L3
TP 99
P1
C240
ST1
R 234
C 232
R 499
R500
C 92
R94
LED95
C 238
R P40
TP111
C 371
R 263
R35
C 11
R 16
C 35
C 36
R41
U 56
R29
TP110
C21
C17
U2
C16
J2
R 30
C26
R28
R 21
R 295
TP 104
R19
R 22
C9
R20
C 12
L2
L33
C13
TP 105
R 435
R 438
R262
U57
R 38
R36
R93
U18
C 262
C 25
R92
R P27
R43
C 370
C 37
C 235
C7
LE D 129
R P13
C227
R4
C3
C6
TP102
R 294
C 233
R1
C1
U1
R7
U92
R P26
R 472
R6
R11
C8
R 13
C241
L36
U 91
C 230
R P 31
C 311
C 193
C 192
C 307
R414
X1
C 245
C 314
R 386
C 302
C 32
TP101
TP82
R 446
U 97
C 386
R 412
R 411
C 159
C 158
C157
C 187
R163
R 168
R368
R367
C 146
RP34
R P25
R 331
R 281
C 255
R42
C34
C 239
R8
R 430
C 384
LE D 94
TP153
R3
C 229
C380
103.2
R233
P13
C385
P2
R5
U 98
L35
R 443
R 444
C 382
C296
R385
R296
L10
D5
C 237
ST2
R2
TP81
C 33
R434
C 383
R159
R160
RP41
R 197
R 289
R98
R 100
C105
U78
C 254
U7
C102
C 106
R490
R 300
C 345
C103
R 280
RP36
C96
C 342
C344
C 359
TP100
C366
R P 30
C 381
R161
R 162
R 304
R307
R 306
R 335
C91
C 99
C 263
RP42
R 445
78.7
D10
L31
C89
C97
C40
C343
C 88
C 101
R 57
C 357
C325
R79
U 17
C 95
C 347
C348
R53
C 346
C340
R 72
C 312
C 324
R12
C 363
C 319
R 416
C 323
C 322
C 408
C 362
U82
R462
L17
R10
C 373
C 355
R 418
C 244
R80
R 200
C 360
C 231
R 359
C 100
R P14
R81
C 409
C 339
TP116
C145
C 272
R298
R54
R 199
C 353
C 354
C349
C 356
U88
C 338
RP39
C 390
C 389
R383
C 365
C 358
R 498
R 437
C351
U6
C 228
C372
D7
L12
U 99
U 111
R 436
C335
C 336
U 95
U70
C 294
R 209
R336
C 341
C367
C364
C 116
C 117
U52
C 295
Q9
P5
R73
C 80
U 108
C 417
LE D 128
C79
C333
C337
C379
C 377
P19
C 375
C361
R 433
U96
R 334
R 491
C378
C 376
R104
LED 123
C374
R 366
C 110
L25
C352
R56
R101
R 105
C 334
U 90
RP38
C388
84.5 (P13)
U109
C 76
C410
C 119
R P23
R 447
R 208
R311
C75
R 117
U21
C 280
C 411
C 118
U25
L30
R 365
R97
R55
LED 99
C 191
C 185
C 181
C 112
U61
U 13
C273
U9
U 107
C 180
C168
132.5 (P12)
R246
U 41
U 42
C169
C 407
LED 79
R 439
R 448
U20
L26
R 501
R 502
R37
LED81
Q7
R 211
R P19
C 78
R 492
R103
R 118
D11
R P20
C 77
R P37
U102
P12
R107
R 432
R 431
R102
R310
R241
C 135
R133
R 379
R 382
RP3
C87
R P 21
C74
R239
LED 87
142.2
C 111
RP22
U15
C 82
R P15
R P 17
C73
R68
LED 80
R71
R 205
U 54
C 248
R106
R206
RP18
R P28 RP29
U 58
LE D 86
C81
RP16
C 264
D8
C 83
C350
C 247
R 204
U53
C86
C309
U14
C 225
C 369
C 234
C 316
U12
U11
C 189
C183
C 217
R364
R 405
C 310
C 190
C313
U 10
LED 126
TP85
C 152
R 248
C184
U36
C 188
C 84
C179
C182
R 381
C221
C 222
C186
R376
C204
LED 101
R 380
C 210
U 75
D2
L6
L27
C 291
C223
U8
C 368
L4
R 91
R 127
C 278
TP137
C224
R 371
U 94
R 217
C260
R 396
R 404
C 215
C 213
LE D 120
C 303
R391
LE D125
LE D 98
LED 124
TP138
R 361
C 194
R 303
U93
C 211
C156
R 247
R377
U40
P14
C 214
L16
P6
C 151
LED 102
R242
R 126
C219
U79
C 126
U 29
R 128
R 398
C 121
R 125
R 292
C122
C286
DK3650/3750
DK3550
U44
P20
R397
R 375
U37
R293
U39
U5
J3
Q5
L22
U 35
U26
R378
U4
C165
P9
P8
C391
TP114
R390
U 16
C 166
C 216
R 240
LED 89
R121
R 215
R 166
R291
C160
C261
C 154
C125
C155
R 203
137.0 (P14)
R 123
C 283
L28
R253
C39
R48
R47
C 38
R46
C 98
R 99
R 266
Q8
R358
TP 112
R45
C85
R 395
R 348
R152
R 312
C 218
C212
R 265
R357
R124
R 238
R 120
R 174
R 237
TP 158
U30
C120
U 27
C 299
L15
TP 121
C 123
C 282
U 68
R 332
R 402
R 392
C 142
C 138
L18
C 298
C 287
C136
R 232
SW 8
R 355
R 374
C304
U 101
C 140
L23
C306
Q 10
R 333
L29
R 369
R 151
R 139
C 143
L19
R 231
R 258
D9
C141
L13
R 372
TP119
C 139
Q3
146.7
142.7
U 72
U73
R 138
L8
R 230
R373
L7
C 137
R 393
LED 121
LE D 122
155.0
C 297
160.0
R15
R 474
R 427
R 470
R 471
C 331
R 236
C 327
R 473
R 483
R64
R59
R 458
C 403
R58
R 459
C 404
R425
R 426
C 27
U3
C 14
R23
C10
C18
R25
J1
C 28
TP107
TP106
R 132
C 132
U 31
R 276
R 33
P11
44.0 (P11)
R235
R131
R277
R279
R 278
C 250
TP120
R32
C332
R24
C22
C329
R428
C15
C 205
C 23
C206
C 199
R 419
C 200
C 196
U85
C 197
C19
C 328
R39
C 31
LED 96
R440
C195
C 207
C 201
38.2
LED 127
C208
C 395
R63
R 460
C 405
R 457
R 461
C 406
TP108
C 30
C 202
R 477
R 482
R273
C 396
R 362
R 476
R 478
R 480
C29
R 17
C 293
R 481
R 484
R 487
C134
R 485
R 486
R272
P16
R40
TP109
R 363
D1
C 251
C292
R 475
C 133
P18
R 479
D6
C 416
R 488
L1
L34
C 392
R257
R255
R422
R421
C198
R 454
R 286
C203
L11
R 456
R 287
C 249
R 420
R 423
C 397
C 402
C 259
C 401
R 453
C 257
R 455
R 282
R 283
C 258
R 284
U 103
L5
R442
R 274
LED 97
C 326
U 86
R26
C209
R 497
R 96
R 254
R441
R341
C 144
R 114
C 129
C 131
C400
C90
R 493
C 398
R 452
C 399
U 106
U19
R 285
C 413
U110
P15
R 115
TP86
R 494
C415
LED92
C 412
C414
R495
C20
C 330
R95
R496
R27
R 469
LED93
R 250
R 424
R 249
TP84
R467
R 275
R468
R 489
C 394
U 104
SW 11
C301
R387
R388
R175
R176
R178
R177
LE D 130
C 393
LED 119
LED 131
R216
TP87
C 178
C 173
R 195
LE D 118
R 330
LE D 117
LE D 116
LE D 115
LE D 114
LE D 113
LE D 106
LE D 105
LE D 104
LE D 103
C 176
R 329
S W 10
R 193
C 175
LE D 112
C 177
LE D 111
R 194
SW 7
R 192
R 328
R 191
C 174
C 246
R 327
SW 6
R 190
SW 5
R 189
SW 4
R 188
R 187
R 196
SW 3
5
R219
LE D 110
R186
C 172
LE D 109
R185
C 171
LE D 108
R 184
C 170
LE D 107
R 183
R 220
SW 2
0
0
0
5
17.0
44.5 (P13/14)
72.0
89.0
97.0
133.0 (P11/P12)
169.0 177.0
195.0 200.0
All dimensions in millimeters
3.2 Custom DK Protoboard
To make a custom prototype board, start with importing the prototype board skeleton symbol in the
schematic view. Connect the pins of the connector symbols to other components in the design. Then
add the protoboard skeleton footprint in the layout and place and route other components within the
protoboard area.
The correct connector for the prototyping board is: Samtec BSE-060-01-L-D-A.
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3.3 References on Using the PCB Libraries
To open and use the libraries in their respective software suites, please refer to the manual for the pcb
design software:
Cadsoft Eagle manuals:
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/training/manuals/
KiCad manuals:
http://www.kicad-pcb.org/display/KICAD/KiCad+Documentation
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4 Revision History
4.1 Revision 1.01
2013-09-03
New cover layout
4.2 Revision 1.00
2012-10-18
Initial revision.
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A Disclaimer and Trademarks
A.1 Disclaimer
Silicon Laboratories intends to provide customers with the latest, accurate, and in-depth documentation
of all peripherals and modules available for system and software implementers using or intending to use
the Silicon Laboratories products. Characterization data, available modules and peripherals, memory
sizes and memory addresses refer to each specific device, and "Typical" parameters provided can and
do vary in different applications. Application examples described herein are for illustrative purposes
only. Silicon Laboratories reserves the right to make changes without further notice and limitation to
product information, specifications, and descriptions herein, and does not give warranties as to the
accuracy or completeness of the included information. Silicon Laboratories shall have no liability for
the consequences of use of the information supplied herein. This document does not imply or express
copyright licenses granted hereunder to design or fabricate any integrated circuits. The products must
not be used within any Life Support System without the specific written consent of Silicon Laboratories.
A "Life Support System" is any product or system intended to support or sustain life and/or health, which,
if it fails, can be reasonably expected to result in significant personal injury or death. Silicon Laboratories
products are generally not intended for military applications. Silicon Laboratories products shall under no
circumstances be used in weapons of mass destruction including (but not limited to) nuclear, biological
or chemical weapons, or missiles capable of delivering such weapons.
A.2 Trademark Information
Silicon Laboratories Inc., Silicon Laboratories, the Silicon Labs logo, Energy Micro, EFM, EFM32, EFR,
logo and combinations thereof, and others are the registered trademarks or trademarks of Silicon
Laboratories Inc. ARM, CORTEX, Cortex-M3 and THUMB are trademarks or registered trademarks
of ARM Holdings. Keil is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. All other products or brand names
mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.
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B Contact Information
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
400 West Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78701
Please visit the Silicon Labs Technical Support web page:
http://www.silabs.com/support/pages/contacttechnicalsupport.aspx
and register to submit a technical support request.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................
2. Starter Kits ...............................................................................................................................................
2.1. Mechanical Dimensions ...................................................................................................................
2.2. Custom STK Expansion Board ..........................................................................................................
2.3. Custom STK Shield Board ................................................................................................................
3. Development Kits ......................................................................................................................................
3.1. Mechanical Dimensions ...................................................................................................................
3.2. Custom DK Protoboard ....................................................................................................................
3.3. References on Using the PCB Libraries ..............................................................................................
4. Revision History ........................................................................................................................................
4.1. Revision 1.01 .................................................................................................................................
4.2. Revision 1.00 .................................................................................................................................
A. Disclaimer and Trademarks ........................................................................................................................
A.1. Disclaimer .....................................................................................................................................
A.2. Trademark Information ....................................................................................................................
B. Contact Information ...................................................................................................................................
B.1. ...................................................................................................................................................
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List of Figures
2.1. Starter Kit Mechanical Dimensions ............................................................................................................. 3
3.1. Development Kit Mechanical Dimensions .................................................................................................... 5
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