Attachment Review


Created a thread
Raspberry Pi HAT PCB Layout
Needs input
View Thread
The HAT geometry and component placement work is still running; I’m letting the same layout engineer continue through routing and DRC rather than interrupting mid-build.
The PCB layout executor completed its resumed build, but ACUs were exhausted before I could retrieve and independently verify its final report.
Remaining verification:
  • Confirm HAT outline, mounting holes, and J6 mating geometry.
  • Check placement, routing, ground pours, and silkscreen.
  • Re-run DRC and confirm zero airwires/blocking violations before manufacturing.
Received notification from "Raspberry Pi HAT PCB Layout" that it finished — picking the work back up.
The Raspberry Pi HAT layout executor has completed, but I cannot retrieve or independently reconcile its output because no ACUs are available. The project may contain the finished placement/routing, but it remains unverified.
Still required:
  • Inspect outline and mounting-hole geometry.
  • Verify connector placement and Raspberry Pi mating alignment.
  • Confirm routing, ground pours, silkscreen, zero airwires, and final DRC status.
Inspect layout and DRC
Check mechanical geometry
Review routing quality
Prepare manufacturing outputs

Waiting for input


Project Specification
Project Overview
  • Device: Raspberry Pi GPIO Distribution Board, Rev 1.0
  • Status: Review
  • Passive GPIO breakout/distribution HAT-compatible PCB for Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Raspberry Pi 4.
Intended Use
Mount directly above a Raspberry Pi using the standard 40-pin header and four M2.5 standoffs, distributing selected GPIO, power, ground, UART, PPS, switch, display, and external LED connections.
What the Device Should Do
  • Directly mate with the Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header.
  • Break out selected BCM GPIO signals to five external headers.
  • Fan out GPIO4 PPS to three outputs.
  • Feed three external LED outputs through independent 330 ohm series resistors.
  • Distribute Raspberry Pi 3.3 V, 5 V, and common ground without conversion.
Main Features
  • J1 DISPLAY: 1x8, GND / 3V3 / GPIO21 / GPIO20 / GPIO27 / GPIO22 / GPIO17 / GND.
  • J2 GPS: 1x5, GPIO4 / GPIO15 / GPIO14 / GND / 5V.
  • J3 SWITCH: 1x2, GND / GPIO23.
  • J4 PPS OUT: 2x3, three GPIO4 pins and three GND pins.
  • J5 LEDS: 2x3, GPIO24/25/26 each through a separate 330 ohm resistor, plus three GND pins.
System Architecture

Diagram


Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO J1 DISPLAY J2 GPS J3 SWITCH J4 PPS OUT R1-R3 330 ohm J5 LEDS
Hardware Subsystems
  • Pi interface: 2x20, 2.54 mm female connector on PCB underside at official Raspberry Pi coordinates.
  • Display distribution: direct passive routing only.
  • GPS/UART distribution: exact specified order; GPIO14 and GPIO15 must not be swapped.
  • Switch input: external normally-open contact to GND; no hardware bias resistor.
  • PPS fanout: GPIO4 directly distributed to three pins with no buffering.
  • LED outputs: R1-R3 = 330 ohm, preferably 0805, each in series with GPIO24/25/26 respectively.
Interfaces and Connections
  • Use BCM names for all GPIO nets.
  • Pi physical mapping: 3V3=1, 5V=2, GPIO4=7, GPIO14=8, GPIO15=10, GPIO17=11, GPIO27=13, GPIO22=15, GPIO23=16, GPIO24=18, GPIO25=22, GPIO26=37, GPIO20=38, GPIO21=40.
  • Tie common GND to multiple Pi ground pins where practical (6, 9, 14, 20, 25, 30, 34, 39).
Power and Runtime Expectations
  • No local power generation or energy storage.
  • 3.3 V and 5 V are distributed from the Raspberry Pi and must remain isolated from each other.
Power Tree and Power Budget

Diagram


Raspberry Pi 3.3 V J1 pin 2 Raspberry Pi 5 V J2 pin 5 Raspberry Pi GND pins Ground plane All external-header GND pins
Power demand depends entirely on external loads; this passive board adds no load except externally connected LEDs through 330 ohm resistors.
Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations
  • 2-layer FR4, 1.6 mm, 1 oz copper, HASL or ENIG.
  • Through-hole headers; 0805 resistors preferred.
  • Four 2.7-2.75 mm non-plated mounting holes for M2.5 standoffs.
  • Ground plane/fill and wider 3V3/5V/GND routing than GPIO traces.
Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements
  • Raspberry Pi software configures GPIO23 input bias.
  • UART uses BCM GPIO14 TX and GPIO15 RX, while preserving the specified connector pin order.
  • No HAT EEPROM is fitted.
Physical Design Expectations
  • Approximate outline: 65 mm x 56.5 mm, standard Raspberry Pi HAT geometry.
  • Header and mounting-hole coordinates must follow official Raspberry Pi mechanical specifications, not estimation.
  • J1-J5 should face accessible board edges and avoid Raspberry Pi connectors, standoffs, CSI/DSI, and GPIO connector interference.
Important Design Decisions
  • Strictly passive architecture.
  • No active circuitry, protection, pull resistors, capacitors, EEPROM, LEDs, or extra connectors.
  • External connector pin assignments are fixed and may not be optimized or reordered.
Assumptions
  • Standard 2.54 mm through-hole headers are acceptable.
  • 0805 resistors are suitable for hand assembly.
  • External loads remain within Raspberry Pi GPIO and rail current limits.
Connectivity Acceptance Criteria
  • Exact pin matrix from the supplied requirements is implemented.
  • No 3V3-to-5V short, GPIO-to-GPIO short, swapped header pins, missing grounds, or resistor bypasses.
  • Schematic must be presented for approval before PCB routing.
Change Notes
  • Initial specification created from the user-provided Rev 1.0 requirements.
  • Project Overview

  • Intended Use

  • What the Device Should Do

  • Main Features

  • System Architecture

  • Hardware Subsystems

  • Interfaces and Connections

  • Power and Runtime Expectations

  • Power Tree and Power Budget

  • Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations

  • Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements

  • Physical Design Expectations

  • Important Design Decisions

  • Assumptions

  • Connectivity Acceptance Criteria

  • Change Notes