Any techies here build prototype USB or other hardware devices?

[Ichinisan]

I have an idea for a really innovative (in my opinion) and universally-compatible piece of hardware. There is definitely an unrecognized market demand / need for this. I can cobble together a crude prototype and modify some open-source software, but a final product would require knowledge of hardware prototyping and development...which I don't currently have the skill set for.

Without revealing too much, I'm wondering how I should proceed to take my idea from prototype to a final retail product?

I'm hoping against hope that someone here has experience going from idea, to prototype, to financing, to a patented and produced retail product.

Am I just a hopeless loser dreaming?

Thanks in advance for any advice / criticism.

 

[Ichinisan]

I'm excited! My cobbled-together prototype looks AWESOME and functions extremely well.

I really want to start showing this thing off, but I'm worried that I might be hurting myself if I do that.

I have no idea what to do next.

 

[nsafreak]

Consult with a reputable patent attorney would be my advice. There may be other/better things that you need to do but it's the first thing that springs to mind for me.

 

[Blain]

Is it a USB coffee mug warmer?

 

[RU482]

If you want to take the prototype to the next "presentable looking" stage, download Express PCB or PCB 123 and design a board layout of your circuit. Both are good services and are affordable.

 

[Zoomer]

Originally posted by: Ichinisan
but a final product would require knowledge of hardware prototyping and development...which I don't currently have the skill set for.

How large? You could probably do it/get a computer engineer to do a prototype on a FPGA. Xilinx and a couple others are well known manufacturers of such. You might be able to get away without custom ICs (and their high setup costs) if you are doing low volume, high value stuff.

Note: Forget I typed this if the device is more of an electrical appliance than a piece of electronics/computing type device. For example, FPGAs might kinda work as cup warmers, but a piece of nichrome would be far cheaper and work better.

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

@nsafreak:
How does the relationship with a patent lawyer usually work? I have no idea what kind of expense to expect. Do they ever agree to work gratis or "pro-bono" with an agreement that he/she would get a portion of any profits generated?

Should something be notarized / documented before-hand meeting / presenting to make sure "lawyers" don't run off and profit from other people's ideas?

@Blain:
USB coffee mug warmer? I'm glad I thought of it...

@RU482:
Thanks for those leads. I think that's what I'll need to do to come up with a simpler interface with the device I've hacked apart for my proto. I hope I'll know what to do with it the software, but I'll educate myself in any way feasible.

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: Zoomer

Originally posted by: Ichinisan
but a final product would require knowledge of hardware prototyping and development...which I don't currently have the skill set for.

How large? You could probably do it/get a computer engineer to do a prototype on a FPGA. Xilinx and a couple others are well known manufacturers of such. You might be able to get away without custom ICs (and their high setup costs) if you are doing low volume, high value stuff.

I think this would qualify as low value, high volume. The FPGA would only need to translate input from a key / button matrix, and that's about it...but I would definitely need someone else to develop the logic and program the chip. Perhaps it could also have some more advanced functions for another model in the future. I think it would still be relatively cheap.

Originally posted by: Zoomer
Note: Forget I typed this if the device is more of an electrical appliance than a piece of electronics/computing type device. For example, FPGAs might kinda work as cup warmers, but a piece of nichrome would be far cheaper and work better.

Thy mystery device I've made can be VERY simple and cheap to manufacture, but will work together with some very advanced, popular, common devices for a very useful function. I want it to be priced around $30. I believe that every person in the target demo who has the required hardware wouldn't hesitate to buy it...and many would buy the other hardware just so that they could use this. I think it would be very easy to market to the right demographic and sell thousands.

 

[oynaz]

Go to your local engineering or business school and ask around. I am sure some of the professors there can give you some tips.

You might also want to ally yourself with other small companies in your business. I understand that you are afraid of someone pinching your idea, but you have got to show it to the world someday.

Also, be advised that patents in the computer business are often worthless, as you are almost surely using something in your invention that is already patented.