new open source hardware

OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE

ByOPEN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, NIC

CHENNAI

Open Technology Centre, NIC, Chennai 2

Contents

● Definition● Hardware Layers / Layering Approach● Open source Hardware Projects● Open source Hardware Licences● Business Models● Open Source Software vs Open Source Hardware● References


“Open Hardware” Definition

● Open source hardware is based on publishing all necessary data about the hardware.

● The design specification, HDL files, simulation test benches, synthesis results, utilization instructions and interfaces to other systems should be documented.

● Simply, the provision of the digital artifacts necessary to reproduce, understand, and modify a piece of hardware.


Layering Approach

● Electronic hardware can be divided up into layers, each of which has different document types and licensing concerns.


Layering Approach...

● Hardware / Mechanical Layer● Schematics & Circuit Layer● Parts List (BOM)● Layout Layer● Core/Firmware● FPGA Code● Software/API


Hardware / Mechanical Layer

● This layer shows the mechanical description of the project.

● Distributed as CAD files (autocad, corel draw, sketchup, etc.,).

● Publishing format is a well known vector-based format such as DXF, AI, PDF, DWG, etc. Included should be any notes, materials, units, and dimensions.


Schematics & Circuit Layer

● Symbolic diagrams of electronic circuitry.

● Even the image itself is copyrightable, the content is not (it may be patentable though).

● Schematics should include parts lists (IC manufacturers and their part numbers as well as distributors).

● Should be distributed in a easily readable graphics format such as BMP, PNG, GIF, JPG, PDF, etc.


Parts List (BOM)

● What parts are used, where to get them, part numbers, etc.

● Ideally - have data sheets, generic, easy to get, notes and specifications.

● Standard format is a text file, BOM (bill of materials).


Layout Layer

● Diagrams of the physical layout of electronic circuitry,including the placement of parts, the PCB copperprints, and a drill file.

● Printed circuit board (PCB) layouts are the concrete representation of an electronic project, showing how to connect parts together.

● They are often derived from a schematic.


Core/Firmware

● Firmware is a combination of software and hardware. Computer chips that have data or programs recorded on them are firmware.

● This is software that is burned into memory which defines the function of a microprocessor or microcontrollers.

● Example: VHDL/Verilog/RTL.


FPGA Code

● A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit (IC) that can be programmed in the field after manufacture.

● This is text that is describes a chip design. It is essentially "software for silicon", by programming an FPGA with this code one can create customized chips.


Software/API

● The source code that communicates or is used with the electronics from a computer.

● Drivers necessary for the chipset.

● Preferred format is source code and binaries.


Open Source Hardware Projects

● Cores (Chip designs)● Robotics● Fab tools● Music● Development platforms● Bio/Medical● Other


Cores – Chip Designs

● Open Sparc - the complete design of Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC T1 microprocessor was released-in open-source form, it was named OpenSPARC T1.

● These were the first (and still only) 64-bit microprocessors ever open-sourced.

● Designs are freely available from the OpenSPARC website, www.Opensparc.net, to anyone.

● Includes processor design, simulation tools, design verification suites, Hypervisor source code.

http://www.opensparc.net/


Cores – Chip Designs...

Jaldi Charger

● Battery Charger for 12 v Lead Acid Batteries.

● Designed to charge the Batteries used to backup the Wi-Fi Routers in rural areas.

● Developed by Pauli Närhi, a student at University of Oulu in Finland as part of the half-year internship with AirJaldi, A Social Enterprise.Dharamsala,HP


Jaldi Charger...

What is Shared?

The design , circuit layout , board details , components used.

Jaldi Charger Project

http://drupal.airjaldi.com/node/69

http://drupal.airjaldi.com/node/69


Robotics

OpenServo - a open community-based project with the goal of creating a high quality digital servo for robotics.


Fab tools

RepRap - a 3D printer. Instead of printing on bits of paper this 3D printer makes real, robust, mechanical parts.

RepRap is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. It is the practical self-copying 3D printer- a self-replicating machine.

RepRap Project http://www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/ShowCase

http://reprap.org/

http://www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/ShowCase


Fab tools...

● RepRap - any free rapid prototyping machine that can manufacture a significant fraction of its own parts.


Music

● Daisy - is a multipurpose sound player for embedded applications. It can be used as a standalone personal music player.

● It uses MMC or SD flash memory cards so storage size is unlimited. It has several interface modes for either human or machine control.


Daisy – MP3


Development platforms

● Arduino - an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software.

● The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language and the Arduino development environment .

● Adrino available at http://www.arduino.cc/

http://www.arduino.cc/


Development platforms...

● Chumby - a compact wi-fi device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web. It can also be used as an Internet radio player,weather, news, celebrity gossip, podcasts, music.

● Just plug in your chumby, connect to your wireless network, and use your computer to create a lineup of favorites from over 1,000 widgets in more than 30 categories.


Bio/Medical

● OpenEEG - biofeedback, is a method which attempts to train brainwave activity, as measured by electrodes on the scalp, and is presented to an individual as feedback in the form of a video display, sound or vibration.

● Creating the computer to brain interface.

● Electroencephalography is the neurophysiologic measurement of the electrical activity of the brain, The resulting traces are known as an electroencephalogram (EEG) and represent so-called brainwaves.


Other Projects

Tux Phone - open source (hardware and software) GSM/GPRS cellphone.

Oscar - Project to develop a car according to Open Source principles.

Wave Bubble - a self-tuning, wide-bandwidth portable RF jammer.


Other Projects...

USB Charger

Minty Boost USB Charger for MP3 Player , Cell Phones , cameras.

Of course any device that can charge through USB.

Project Pagehttp://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboos


License – Legal Agreement

● TAPR Open Hardware License ("OHL") - provides a framework for hardware projects that is similar to the one used for Open Source software.

● TAPR Noncommercial Hardware License (“NCL”).

● Chumby HDK License.


TAPR Open Hardware License

● Like the GNU General Public License, the OHL is designed to guarantee your freedom to share and to create.

● You may modify the documentation and make products based upon it.

● You may use products for any legal purpose without limitation.


TAPR Open Hardware License...

● You may distribute unmodified documentation, but you must include the complete package as you received it.

● You may distribute products you make to third parties, if you either include the documentation on which the product is based, or make it available without charge for at least three years to anyone who requests it.


TAPR Noncommercial Hardware License (“NCL”)

● NCL is identical to the OHL apart from adding a limitation that products based on NCL designs may only be made for noncommercial uses.


Chumby HDK License

● Chumby grants license to use the Chumby HDK to hack our Chumby Device.

● Grant us a license related to your modifications and derivatives, when and if you make them available to other


Business Models

Open source hardware has a set of business models

● Design distribution. ● Design technical support● Design implementation.● Releasing.


Business Models...

● Design distribution — Companies can pack sets of designs and sell the distribution just like Linux distributions. The OpenTech CD-ROM [11] is an example of this method.

● Design technical support — Experts can give support for Open designs. Asics.ws [12] is a company that follows this model by releasing IP cores and charging customers for technical support.


Business Models...

● Design implementation — Companies can implement the designs, sell them and pay royalties to original designers, according to their release license.

● Releasing — The release of open designs under the control of GPL-compatible licenses can occur whenever a silicon implementation is considered commercially.


Open Source Software vs Open Source Hardware

Open Source Software - it means that users are free to copy, modify and re-distribute the software purely based on License.

Open Source Hardware - means that users are free to copy, modify the ''hardware design'' and convert into hardware, it also based on Licensing.


Open Source Software vs Open Source Hardware...

● Open Source Software is often available for zero price, and ''free'' since it often costs you nothing to make your own copy.

● For hardware, the difference is more clear; we can't download hardware through the net.


References

● http://www.opensparc.net● http://drupal.airjaldi.com/node/69● http://www.openservo.com● http://p2pfoundation.net/Open_Source_Hardware

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