MikroElektronika Launches 1,000th Click Board – EtherCAT Click Adds Low‑Cost EtherCAT to SPI‑Based Systems

MikroElektronika (MIKROE), the pioneer behind the 16‑pin mikroBUS standard, has just released its 1,000^th Click board: the EtherCAT Click. The board brings low‑cost, full‑featured EtherCAT capability to a wide range of processors through a standard SPI interface.

The mikroBUS standard, introduced a decade ago by CEO Nebojsa Matic, has become the de‑facto socket format for compact development boards. By keeping the core board architecture—microcontroller, power supply, LEDs, switches—identical, engineers can swap peripheral modules—UARTs, displays, RTCs, relays, ADCs, EPROMs—without redesigning the entire board, slashing development time from months to weeks.

Today MIKROE releases a new Click board almost every day. Major MCU manufacturers such as Microchip, NXP, Infineon, Dialog Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, Renesas and Toshiba, along with distributors like Future Electronics and Avnet, have adopted the mikroBUS socket for their own development kits.

Microchip was among the first large vendors to embrace the mikroBUS standard in 2016. “Microchip’s 8‑bit division VP, Steve Drehobl, recognized the mikroBUS concept and that’s when the momentum started,” Matic said. “Since then every Microchip dev board carries at least one mikroBUS socket—over 70 boards to date—and the overall count of mikroBUS‑equipped boards across all vendors exceeds 400, with new releases arriving daily.”

Matic added, “Engineers need to prioritize time wisely. Instead of spending two months on a custom peripheral, why not spend under $50 on a ready‑made Click board that lets you focus on code and proof‑of‑concept?”

The mikroBUS socket is a pair of 1×8 female headers with a proprietary pinout and silkscreen labels. The fixed pin order groups communications (SPI, UART, I²C), six function pins (PWM, interrupt, analog input, reset, chip select), and two power rails (+3.3 V and +5 V).

The EtherCAT Click is built around Microchip’s LAN9252, a dual‑port EtherCAT controller featuring two integrated 100BASE‑TX PHYs. Each PHY supports full‑duplex, 100 Mbps operation and connects to the host MCU via a synchronous SPI/SQI interface. The module can also be operated in digital I/O mode, allowing the master to control or monitor signals. The board is ideal for industrial control, process and factory automation, hydraulic and pneumatic valve systems, power electronics, and more.