Microchip Technology ATWINC3400-XSTK

Overview

ATWINC3400-XSTK from Microchip Technology is an Xplained Pro evaluation kit designed to integrate the ATWINC3400-MR210CA Wi-Fi®/Bluetooth® Low Energy 4.0 module with Xplained Pro MCU boards via standardized 20-pin extension headers. It delivers IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (20 MHz, 1×1, up to 72 Mbps) and BLE 4.0 connectivity in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, featuring on-chip network stack offload, integrated flash, and hardware crypto support via ATECC508A.

For engineers reviewing the ATWINC3400-XSTK datasheet, ATWINC3400-XSTK pinout, ATWINC3400-XSTK application, or ATWINC3400-XSTK equivalent, this board enables rapid prototyping of secure IoT edge nodes requiring concurrent Wi-Fi and BLE connectivity, host interface flexibility (SPI for Wi-Fi, UART for BLE), and power-aware design validation using on-board current measurement headers.

Technical Context

The ATWINC3400-XSTK serves as a carrier board for the ATWINC3400-MR210CA module and interfaces exclusively through the Xplained Pro Standard Extension Header (20-pin, 100-mil dual-row). It routes dedicated SPI signals (SCK/MOSI/MISO/SSN) for Wi-Fi, high-speed UART (TXD/RXD/RTS/CTS) for BLE HCI, and I2C (SDA/SCL) to the ATECC508A crypto device.

Hardware identification uses an ATSHA204A chip on the ID line (Pin 1), while real-time clock synchronization supports low-power operation via RTC_MCU input. The board provides debug access through separate I2C (J104) and UART (J103) headers, and includes test points for GPIOs (TP107–TP110) and alternate interfaces like PCM or SDIO with rework.

Key Specifications

Availability

ATWINC3400-XSTK is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for IoT gateway development, smart sensor node validation, and secure wireless firmware integration requiring stable component supply, traceable sourcing, and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for ATWINC3400-XSTK includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology Inc. is a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, security ICs, and development tools for embedded systems.

The ATWINC3400-XSTK belongs to Microchip's Xplained Pro evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate secure Wi-Fi/BLE IoT application development by providing standardized, software-ready hardware interfaces and integrated cryptographic trust anchors.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the ATWINC3400-XSTK?

The ATWINC3400-XSTK is an Xplained Pro extension board that enables rapid evaluation and integration of the ATWINC3400-MR210CA Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Low Energy module with Microchip Xplained Pro MCU boards. It provides full hardware access to Wi-Fi (via SPI), BLE (via UART), crypto (via I2C), and power monitoring features - all aligned to the standardized 20-pin extension header interface. The ATWINC3400-XSTK does not contain a standalone IC but serves as a validated carrier and interface bridge for system-level prototyping.

Does the ATWINC3400-XSTK include the ATWINC3400-MR210CA module onboard?

Yes, the ATWINC3400-XSTK integrates the ATWINC3400-MR210CA module as its core wireless engine. This module combines IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 functionality in a single surface-mount package with integrated PA, T/R switch, and chip antenna. All ATWINC3400-XSTK documentation, pin mappings, and feature descriptions assume the presence and operation of this specific module.

Which host interfaces does the ATWINC3400-XSTK expose for connecting to an MCU?

The ATWINC3400-XSTK exposes SPI (for Wi-Fi control), UART (for BLE Host Controller Interface), and I2C (for ATECC508A crypto authentication) to the host MCU via the Xplained Pro extension header. Additional control signals include IRQN (interrupt), RESET_N, HOST_WAKEUP, CHIP_EN (dual options), and RTC_MCU. These are mapped to defined pins on the 20-pin header per Table 4-1 in the official user guide.

How is security implemented on the ATWINC3400-XSTK?

Security on the ATWINC3400-XSTK is implemented via a pre-mounted ATECC508A-MAHDA-T CryptoAuthentication device, connected to the ATWINC3400-MR210CA module through dedicated I2C lines (SDA_S/SCL_S). It provides hardware-based secure key storage, FIPS-compliant random number generation, and ECC-based cryptographic operations - enabling robust device authentication and secure firmware provisioning for IoT deployments using the ATWINC3400-XSTK.

Can the ATWINC3400-XSTK be used with non-Microchip MCUs?

Yes, the ATWINC3400-XSTK can be used with non-Microchip MCUs provided they implement compatible host interfaces: SPI (mode 0, 10 MHz max), UART (115.2 kbps BLE HCI), and I2C (100 kHz or 400 kHz). The board's pinout follows the open Xplained Pro Standard Extension Header specification, and all signal names (e.g., SPI_SSN_WiFi, BT_UART1_TXD) are electrically accessible via solder pads or headers - allowing custom wiring or adapter solutions beyond native Xplained Pro platforms.