HAT (Raspberry Pi)

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A Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) is a specification for add-on modules for the Raspberry Pi computer, designed for consistent electrical and mechanical interfacing.

expanded

The HAT specification defines a standardized hardware module format that ensures compatibility with Raspberry Pi boards. HATs simplify adding functionality like sensors, motor controllers, or displays by using the GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins. They also often include an EEPROM that communicates the board's properties to the Raspberry Pi, facilitating plug-and-play capability.

examples

A Raspberry Pi Sense HAT, measuring 65 mm x 56 mm, includes sensors for temperature, pressure, and humidity, and an 8x8 LED matrix.

Commonly used in education and for prototyping IoT solutions, the Sense HAT is frequently employed in projects requiring environmental monitoring.

The PiCAN2 HAT, 65 mm x 56 mm, provides Controller Area Network (CAN) bus capabilities with a 40-pin GPIO connector, suitable for automotive networks.

This HAT is used in automotive diagnostics and builds communication systems in vehicles that require CAN bus interfaces.

related terms

Raspberry Pi

A compact, single-board computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Header pins

Header pins are electrical connectors used for creating solderless or soldered connections between circuit boards and other components.

Development Board

A development board is a printed circuit board containing a microcontroller or microprocessor with integrated peripherals and interfaces to facilitate prototyping and development of electronic projects.

Prototyping board

A prototyping board is a platform used to assemble electronic circuits without soldering.

Shield (Arduino)

An add-on board that extends the functionality of an Arduino microcontroller.