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Open Circuits is a wiki for sharing [[open source electronics]] knowledge, schematics, board layouts, ports and parts libraries. This include open hardware [[Music Player]]s, [[atomic microscope]]s, [[PC]], [[PDA]] and [[Open Mobile Gadgets|mobile phone]]s, and [[battery|batteries]]. Please help us to build this resource by submitting your component descriptions, projects, techniques, and PCB footprints.
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== Open Circuits ==
  
'''Note: we are having problems with our image library, hopefully this will be resolved soon.'''
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Open Circuits is a wiki for sharing [[open source electronics]] knowledge, schematics, board layouts, ports and parts libraries. Please help us to build this resource by submitting your descriptions, projects, instructions, techniques, board layouts, PCB footprints, and other documentation for electronics. This includes
  
== [[Projects]] and [[Ideas]] ==
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* [[Open Circuits website]] is where you should discuss issues about the opencircuits.com website itself.
We are a professional high temp tape manufacturer in China and we have cooperated with many firms in USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, India, and so on. We will offer our products with High quality, and Good Price. All of our clients are satisfied with our tapes.  
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* [[Projects]]: open hardware [[Music Player]]s, [[atomic microscope]]s, [[PC]], [[PDA]], [[Open Mobile Gadgets|mobile phone]]s, etc.
* [[projects]]  
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* [[Ideas]]: including [[Basic Circuits and Circuit Building Blocks]] -- Circuits you will use over and over.
Polyimide tape also known as the imitation of Kapton tape, heat resistant tape, high temperature masking tape is ideal for wave soldering, insulating circuit boards, high temperature powder coating. It has a high dielectric strength. Kapton tape is supplies with Silicone adhesive which does not leave any residue. It can withheld temperature up to 500°F/260°C.  
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* [[Techniques]]: for doing things, often using [[hardware tool]]s or [[software tool]]s or both. Includes tips for designing custom printed circuit boards (PCBs), [[PCB Manufacturers]], assembly, and embedded system programming and testing.
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* [[Components]]: Lists of components, where to purchase them, how to use them.  For many components there are links to projects using that particular component, this is especially true for [[microcontroller]]s, for example follow the links down to PIC microcontrollers and you will find many project links as well as tutorials. General tips on [[connectors]], [[battery|batteries]], [[enclosures]], as well as more specific information on [[Popular Parts]].
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* [[Meta Open Source]]: Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement in general, including tips on picking a [[hardware license]] to make it easier for others to collaborate with you.
  
Polyester (PET) tape is ideal for masking applications in most powder coating, anodizing and plating situations. PET powder-coating tape can withstand 400°F / 200°C and removes cleanly from nearly all surfaces. Excellent for use as die-cut material on liner, such as the green polyester disks.
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Many of the section titles are active links, click on them.
AND ALSO KAPTON, POLYSTER die-cutting discs/dots OEM supplier,
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* [[Test Equipment and Other Equipment]] See what is going on in your circuits, charge your batteries, etc.
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* [[Tutorials]] How to understand and plan what you are doing. These are for general theory, more specific information is linked to its topic.
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* [[PCB Footprints]] Don't reinvent the wheel. Known working open PCB footprints for various components.
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* [[HackerSpaces]] And hacker orgnizations.  These are the white hat guys hacking electronics to make things.  Includes DIY types, the people who read Make Magazine.
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* [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] Link to it on the [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] or [[WikiNode]] page.
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* [[Got a Technical Question?]] Perhaps it will be answered, perhaps not.  Google for it first in the spirit of RTFM. Please do not ask us to do a school project for you.
  
* [[ideas]].
 
We can also be sourcing agent for tapes or related products, we will supply our best service and excellent quality. welcome to us.
 
  
== [[Components]] ==
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== Meta Open Source ==
Lists of components, where to purchase them, how to use them.  For many components there are links to projects using that particular component, this is especially true for microcontrollers, for example follow the links down to PIC microcontrollers and you will find many project links as well as tutorials.....
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[[Meta Open Source]]:
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Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement ( mostly hardware ) itself.
  
== [[Basic Circuits and Circuit Building Blocks ]] ==
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The '''Open Source Movement''', typically covers '''Open Hardware''', '''Open Firmware''', and '''Open Software'''.
Circuits you will use over and over.
 
  
== [[Techniques]] ==
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'''Open Hardware''' is similar to '''[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html Free] and [http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php Open Source Software]'''.
How to do things.
 
  
== [[Tutorials]] ==
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The '''Open Firmware''' movement provides firmware (i.e.: micro-code specifically related to the subcoding of hardware devices) which you may also know as '''soft-IP''' or '''FPGA''' coding see [http://www.opencores.org Open Cores] for more details.
How to understand and plan what you are doing. These are for general theory, more specific information is linked to its topic.
 
 
 
== [[PCB Footprints]] ==
 
Don't reinvent the wheel. Known working open PCB footprints for various components.
 
  
== [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] ==
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Excellent examples of specific Open Hardware projects are listed on our [[Projects]] page.
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Discussions of more general open-hardware ideas are on a few pages here, such as
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[[open source electronics]], [[Ideas]], [[Meta Open Source]], etc.
  
Link to it on the [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] or [[WikiNode]] page.
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Just as many important pieces of open-source software are, in turn, used to develop software (including more open-source software),
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many important open-hardware devices are, in turn, used to develop hardware devices (including more open-hardware devices) --
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such as [[Oscilloscope#Open Source Oscilloscopes]].
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There's also a bit of crossover, in that [[software tool]]s (many of them open-source software) are often used to develop open-source hardware.
  
== [[Got a Technical Question?]] ==
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=== Licenses ===
Perhaps it will be answered, perhaps not.  Google for it first in the spirt of RTFM.  Please do not ask us to do a school project for you.
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: ''consider moving this section to: [[hardware license]]''
  
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The most common "open hardware" licenses are the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Creative Commons Licenses] and the [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU General Public License].
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The GNU people wrote the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney the GPL FAQ]
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to deal with common questions and misunderstandings of the GPL.
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The GNU people go on to say
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: "We encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html please read on." -- GNU: "Selling Free Software"]
  
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For example, Linksys makes money selling (among other things) their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series Linksys WRT54G series] routers, which use Linux under the GPL license.
  
== [[Meta Open Source ]] ==
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To understand what your entitlements and responsibilities are under the applicable license(s); each hardware, firmware and/or software piece you have either copied, modified, developed using tools provided or if you intend distributing your development, you '''MUST''' read each and every license, and be specifically aware that you may not mix such license(s) together unless they can co-exist under one umbrella license. For example you may modify, copy, enhance and distribute parts your project which are all under the same license e.g.: or .
Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about the open source movement ( mostly hardware ) itself.
 
  
== [[Open Hardware Initiatives ]] ==
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Some people are working on licenses that are specifically designed for "open hardware".
The '''Open Source Movement''', typically covers '''Open Hardware''', '''Open Firmware''', and '''Open Software'''.
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"Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Draft Definition 1.0"[http://freedomdefined.org/OSHW].
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Wikipedia: "Open Hardware License"[http://daivx.webchuyennghiep.net/dam-cong-so-cho-mua-he]
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mentions
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"CERN Open Hardware License"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN_Open_Hardware_License][http://www.ohwr.org/documents/88]
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and the "TAPR Open Hardware License"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAPR_Open_Hardware_License].
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David L. Jones has a short video that discusses open-source hardware[http://www.eevblog.com/2011/08/12/eevblog-195-open-source-hardware-explained/] and mentions several licenses, including the
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CERN Open Hardware Licence[http://www.ohwr.org/projects/cernohl/wiki].
  
'''Open Hardware''' is the hardware equivalent of the '''Open Source Software''' movement originally developed by [http://www.gnu.org GNU/Linux] and the  [http://www.fsf.org Free Software Foundation].  
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Jim E. Bullock.
 
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[http://apps.americanbar.org/buslaw/blt/2003-07-08/bullock.html "Passing it on: The technology license"]
The '''Open Firmware''' movement provides firmware (i.e.: micro-code specifically related to the subcoding of hardware devices) which you may also know as '''soft-IP''' or '''FPGA''' coding see [http://www.opencores.org Open Cores] for more details.
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defines many legal terms common in technology licenses.
 
 
Excellent examples of Open Hardware projects range from projects at ''OpenCircuits'' to [http://www.ethernut.de Tiny Embedded Ethernet Devices] and [http://www3.elphel.com Advanced & Intelligent Camera Designs] which provide solid-state camera and FPGA assisted hardware designs. A solid overview of projects can also be found at [http://open-innovation-projects.org/project-list/ Open Innovation Projects].
 
 
 
== Licences ==
 
 
 
You need to be aware that certain licencing may curtail you from commericalizing or using your development in the market. The [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU General Public License] is one such licence, others are [Open_Circuits:Copyrights Attribution-ShareAlike], [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Creative Commons Licenses] but be aware that there are many more.
 
 
 
To understand what your entitlements and responsbilities are under the applicable licence(s); each hardware, firmware and/or software peice you have either copied, modified, developed using tools provided or if you intend distributing your development, you '''MUST''' read each and every licence, and be specifically aware that you may not mix such licence(s) together unless they can co-exist under one umbrella licence. For example you may modify, copy, enhance and distribute parts your project which are all under the same licence e.g.: [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU General Public] or [[Open_Circuits:Copyrights details]].
 
  
 
== Help Us Make Open Circuits Better ==
 
== Help Us Make Open Circuits Better ==
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[[Category:Community| ]]

Revision as of 10:19, 6 January 2017

Open Circuits

Open Circuits is a wiki for sharing open source electronics knowledge, schematics, board layouts, ports and parts libraries. Please help us to build this resource by submitting your descriptions, projects, instructions, techniques, board layouts, PCB footprints, and other documentation for electronics. This includes

Many of the section titles are active links, click on them.


Meta Open Source

Meta Open Source: Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement ( mostly hardware ) itself.

The Open Source Movement, typically covers Open Hardware, Open Firmware, and Open Software.

Open Hardware is similar to Free and Open Source Software.

The Open Firmware movement provides firmware (i.e.: micro-code specifically related to the subcoding of hardware devices) which you may also know as soft-IP or FPGA coding see Open Cores for more details.

Excellent examples of specific Open Hardware projects are listed on our Projects page. Discussions of more general open-hardware ideas are on a few pages here, such as open source electronics, Ideas, Meta Open Source, etc.

Just as many important pieces of open-source software are, in turn, used to develop software (including more open-source software), many important open-hardware devices are, in turn, used to develop hardware devices (including more open-hardware devices) -- such as Oscilloscope#Open Source Oscilloscopes. There's also a bit of crossover, in that software tools (many of them open-source software) are often used to develop open-source hardware.

Licenses

consider moving this section to: hardware license

The most common "open hardware" licenses are the Creative Commons Licenses and the GNU General Public License. The GNU people wrote the the GPL FAQ to deal with common questions and misunderstandings of the GPL. The GNU people go on to say

"We encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, please read on." -- GNU: "Selling Free Software"

For example, Linksys makes money selling (among other things) their Linksys WRT54G series routers, which use Linux under the GPL license.

To understand what your entitlements and responsibilities are under the applicable license(s); each hardware, firmware and/or software piece you have either copied, modified, developed using tools provided or if you intend distributing your development, you MUST read each and every license, and be specifically aware that you may not mix such license(s) together unless they can co-exist under one umbrella license. For example you may modify, copy, enhance and distribute parts your project which are all under the same license e.g.: or .

Some people are working on licenses that are specifically designed for "open hardware". "Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Draft Definition 1.0"[1]. Wikipedia: "Open Hardware License"[2] mentions "CERN Open Hardware License"[3][4] and the "TAPR Open Hardware License"[5]. David L. Jones has a short video that discusses open-source hardware[6] and mentions several licenses, including the CERN Open Hardware Licence[7].

Jim E. Bullock. "Passing it on: The technology license" defines many legal terms common in technology licenses.

Help Us Make Open Circuits Better

What are we:

Looks like we are defining this by way of who contributes and what. I ( russ_hensel ) am a new member so may or may not have it right. This is what I think:

  • An introduction to Electronic theory, suitable for the hobbyist.
  • Guide to locating and using components and tools.
  • Details on how to build various projects.
  • Building some sense of community among builders.

There are two means of carrying this out:

  • Write material for the site or
  • Link to material you may have written or have located on the web. There is so much stuff on the web that lets not write it here unless it is at least somewhat unique.

What do you think, discuss it here if very general, else on the discussion page ( link at top of page ).

See also: