Prototype Board
A prototype board is the first board produced in small quantity before series production in order to try out the function and the layout. Changes on it are expected: a cut trace, an added wire, a resistor value changed afterwards are all normal on a prototype, and all of them are recorded to be worked into the next revision.
The purpose of a prototype is not to sell the product but to test the assumptions. In the first round the following are typically looked at:
- Supply: are the regulator outputs correct, do they sag under load, is the power-up sequence as expected.
- Heating: the temperature of the power components is measured at the target current; the real temperature inside the enclosure comes out noticeably higher than on the open bench.
- Noise: the stability of the analog readings and of the controller is monitored while a motor or a relay is running.
- Mechanical: does the board fit into the enclosure, are the connectors compatible with the cable direction.
There is usually more than one prototype round. The first board validates the function, the second board carries the corrections and the manufacturability improvements. How many rounds will be needed depends on the complexity of the product; that is why, in custom projects, the schedule becomes concrete as the number of rounds becomes clear. Prototype boards are not left permanently in the field like series products.
The context in which this term is used: Our Services