How to Make Your Own Open-Source Raspberry Pi HAT

Sep 11, 2026

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This document outlines the process of creating an open-source Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) for the Raspberry Pi, presented by Leon Anavi of Konsulko Group at FOSDEM 2017. The presentation covers the fundamental aspects of Raspberry Pi HATs, including their design principles, software support, and the evolution of Raspberry Pi hardware. It details the specific requirements for a HAT, such as form factor (65x56mm), compatibility with the 40-pin header of Raspberry Pi B+ and newer models, and the necessity of an EEPROM with a device tree fragment for standard HATs. The document also briefly touches upon pHATs, a variation with dimensions suited for the Raspberry Pi Zero, noting that EEPROM is not mandatory for these. Key resources, including the official Raspberry Pi HATs blog post and GitHub repository, are provided for further reference. The agenda includes sections on Raspberry Pi HATs, designing open-source hardware, and software support, aiming to guide attendees through the creation of their own custom hardware expansions for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

Making Your Own Open Source Raspberry Pi HAT

Agenda

Raspberry Pi HAT

Designing an open source hardware

Software support

Raspberry Pi HAT

Hat

HAT (Hardware Attached on Top)

Raspberry Pi

2009-Raspberry Pi Foundation

2012 – The 1st Raspberry Pi

2014 – Raspberry Pi B+

2016 – Raspberry Pi Zero

Raspberry Pi Flavors

Important Change in B+

Raspberry Pi B (2011) pins 40

Raspberry Pi B+ (2014)

FAQs

What are the key requirements for a Raspberry Pi HAT?

A Raspberry Pi HAT must adhere to specific form factor and dimensions (65x56mm), be compatible with the 40-pin header of Raspberry Pi B+ and newer models, and include an EEPROM with a device tree fragment.

What is a pHAT and how does it differ from a HAT?

A pHAT is a variation of a HAT designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero, featuring smaller dimensions (65x30mm) and four mounting holes. While it uses a 40-pin through-hole header, an EEPROM is not mandatory for pHATs, and they are not an official standard of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Where can I find more information about Raspberry Pi HATs?

More detailed information can be found on the Raspberry Pi blog, specifically in the post introducing Raspberry Pi HATs, and on the official Raspberry Pi GitHub repository for hats.

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Ezra