A prototype is the product of the electronic development process and is an essential part in the design, development, as well as certification procedure. In prototyping, we take a concept that exists only on paper and substantiate it into physical form that functions as the envisioned product should. How an electronic product will respond to user input is difficult to evaluate without experiencing them first hand. As a tool in the development process used to validate electronic design, a prototype is crucial for understanding the complex interaction between user and device.
During the development stage, several working prototypes may be produced, usually by hand, and are tested by our staff. The prototypes are then sent to our client for further testing in the field to gather feedback and to identify bugs that can later be corrected.
Once a prototype has undergone sufficient testing and validation, a pre-production prototype is then regarded as the "golden sample," which is used as the benchmark or standard on which mass produced units will be based. This golden sample is also used for certification purposes and sent to a third-party testing facility for CE, UL, FCC, or ROHS markings.
As opposed to a working prototype or a pre-production prototype, which are produced toward the end of development, more basic prototypes may be made during the early stages of development in the form of a Proof of Concept to prove the idea works from a technical standpoint, or as a mock-up to simply convey shape and size but not the function, material, or production methods of a final mass produced product.