$15 Microchip Curiosity Development Board Supports 8-bit PIC Microcontrollers

I’ve just found out Microchip had introduced Curiosity development board a little while ago, in order to let students and others experiment with their 8-bit PIC DIP MCUs, and including MikroElectronika Mikrobus footprint, an interface for Microchip RN4020 module to add Bluetooth Low Energy, as well as other headers and some extra features like buttons, and a potentiometer.

Microchip Curiosity board specifications:

• MCU – PIC MCU socket for 8, 14, and 20-pin micro-controllers with PIC16F1619 pre-installed.
• Expansion
  • mikroBUS Click Board footprint
  • Microchip RN4020 Bluetooth Module Footprint
• USB – USB mini-B connector
• Misc – Master Clear Reset button, potentiometer, LEDs, mTouch button, push button
• Power Supply
  • 5V via USB
  • 9V using an external power supply (footprints only)
  • 3.3V to 5V external power supply via TP3 and TP4 pins
• Dimensions – N/A

There are over 160 MikroElektronika Click boars on the market now, but only seven are listed with code samples for Curiosity board. Documentation includes a Quick Start Guide, product brief, and user’s manual. MPLAB Code Configurator and MPLAB X v3.05 or later can be used to program the board and develop your project, with the free graphical tools available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Microchip Curiosity board normally sells for $20, but the coupon EOY2015DT will bring that down to $15 + shipping and taxes. More details can be found on the development board’s product page.

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