The internet has made circuit development from home easier than ever before. This benefits engineers in a huge way by offering a venue for them to turn their ideas into physical working reality. Regardless of whether you are independent or employed by a company, there are many advantages to developing a prototype on your own.
Did you ever have that idea that your employer scuffed about however you saw the value enough to pursue it externally? Realize that you may have signed an agreement which forfeits patent rights to your employer. If you use their software or a license that they pay for or even a work computer then you may lose all rights to the patent. For employees who want to branch out with an idea, there are many software packages that allow you to capture a schematic and then transition it into a board layout and physical prototype. Unlike the days of old where you would invest thousands for design software, many website now offer free or low cost packages for developing physical circuitry.
Having recently created prototypes, I have decided to write a series of blogs that reveal the options for development as well as to guide you through the process. This first blog introduces the subject of developing prototype circuits from home. Future blogs will elaborate on the subjects introduced in this writing.
The story is told from the power circuit point of view however it is applicable to many types of circuits. Power is typically more intense from a physical aspect as well as for heat dissipation thus making layout a bit more challenging. Also, power often requires the development of custom magnetics. These complications make power a good subject for turning the virtual into the physical.
As an independent engineer or hobbyist who desires to create a working prototype, your options are not limited as much as they once were. The industry has provided flexibility in development software as well as physical prototype board development. This allows you to develop a concept into a patentable product. You can also produce working prototypes for clients who purchase your engineering skills. This process can all be completed via your keyboard over an internet connection.
Prototype development breaks down into several different sections. There is the schematic layout, board layout, and physical production.
