How is the prototyping area on a development kit supposed to be used?

[matrixofdynamism]

I have often come across something called as prototyping area on developing kits of MCUs and FPGAs. It is a set of holes as one would find on verboard. I am not sure as to how this area is to be used.

Does one have to solder components to this area? If one would solder componenets than how can they be removed properly such that new components can be put in later on also. How does one connect the MCU/FPGA to the components on the prototyping area, do we have to solder wires to it?

 

[betwixt]

It is free for you do do with as you wish but yes, in most cases you will have to use wires to connect to it. You can use sockets if appropriate. The area is there because in many cases the development kit will interface with the outside World through other components and this gives you the convenience of not having to use seperate board to build the remainder of your prototype on.

Brian.

 

[matrixofdynamism]

OK, but there 1 thing which I do not understand still. Is this prototyping area just like a veroboard having vertical tracks? and am I supposed to solder things to it in order to use it?

 

[Darkcobra]

Yes, you have to solder things to it in order to use it. Here's three examples of ways in which I use the prototyping area:

1) I may find myself wishing the dev board had something extra, that may come in handy in a wide variety of circumstances. Like an extra LED or two. The proto area is an ideal place to put these. I'll solder the LEDs, current limiting resistors, and a male pin header in. The LEDs can then be quickly connected to any MCU pins I want via wire jumpers. It's more convenient and neater than doing the same thing on a separate breadboard.

2) I have a variety of small modules I've built, that communicate via standard protocols like I2C or SPI. I use a standard pinout for these. For I2C, it's GND/3.3V/SCL/SDA. I also have a number of four-wire jumpers premade. By soldering a header in the proto area that brings these signals together and adjacent in the proper order, I can use these existing jumpers, instead of connecting four separate single-wire jumpers; which keeps things neater and easier to connect or disconnect.

3) Occasionally I'll want to make a project permanent. If any additional components will fit in the proto area, I have the option of just soldering them in there, then getting a new dev board if needed. May not always be the most cost-effective way to do things, but it's a time saver.