There two significant problems with opening up the schematic files.
a) The danger that balloon-alikes which aren't in line with the expansion
plans will dilute the efforts of the few people that have the time,
resources and expertise to keep this going.
b) The danger of errors creeping into the design.
This is where Open Hardware is not the same as Open Software because the
cost of replication is very high, and the time it takes to move a design
from schematic, to PCB to production to test is very long (in comparison to
a compile and test cycle on a bit of Open Software), probably a minimum of 6
months to 12 months especially given that no one is working full time on
this. (In reality it typically takes 2 years for us to produce an new
Balloon board when you consider 2-3 prototypes, getting DFM right and
synching up the software).
As I know you are all aware, one small mistake in a schematic can go
unnoticed until several thousand pounds have been spend making it,
populating it and testing it. I know this sounds draconian but for these
reasons iEndian's Balloon boards will continue to be made from closed design
files (that way, when it breaks, it's our fault...). As we say on the web
site anyone is welcome to DIY.
We are always happy to take design suggestions on board, but we will
arbitrate and decide what goes down on the boards we make. Partly because we
already have an idea about how the designs need to progress and because we
have to make sure that our customers can migrate their products along with
each iteration.
We will of course publish the designs and make the gerbers available etc as
we always have.
What *will* be useful is for the external interfaces to be ported to other
formats so that people can build add-on boards etc.
I've got a blank expansion board schematic and PCB outline and am in the
process of making a few connector expansion boards. JTAG done to first rev,
needs a respin before manufacture, PINKO in progress, SAMOSA ditto, as is a
double QTE/QSE header that will allow a Balloon and IO board to be
"spatchcocked". Note also that the "Wired Board" (VGA+Ethernet+USB breakout
etc) is also at first rev and Peter Long has a CUED expansion board that
plugs into the Comms connector.
Moving these to a common open design platform would be a good thing.
(However note that the latest manufacturing run has updated the connections
available on the PINKO and in the next revision we will be dropping the
Comms connector as its functions are fully duplicate elsewhere, this move
has been prompted by the failure to make the second USB host controller work
which was the only way to get USB Host on a top side populated board).
We are also about to start thinking about Balloon 4, so now is a good time
to open a discussion... (Steve?)
Regards
David Bisset
iEndian Ltd.
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