I have an idea for a new consumer electronics device. I know the technology exists already for everything I want, but I need an electronics/circuit designer who is willing to help design it and perhaps even build a prototype (for a piece of the action on the back end). At that point, we would explore the options, though the most probable situation would be selling it to Sony or some other electronics firm. The only thing I will need to talk about details is an NDA/noncompete agreement.
andy... my brother in law just graduated from UT with a elctronics engineering degree...and he lives near you...I think we can hook yall up.
If you're seriously thinking about doing something commercial, do a patent search first. Big companies puts a ton of money into research and patent a lot of stuff that wont ever make it in to the market. If you've finished a patent search, well I know a little bit about circuits.
I am in the middle of the patent search now (I have gone through 500 of the 5000 hits on the Patent Office website) and have not found anything remotely like what I have in mind. R2k, You have my contact info, feel free to pass it on.
That's a good idea that you are doing your own patent search and looking to obtain an NDA. Just keep in mind that issued patents are not the only prior art available. Patent applications and non-patent publications (e.g., IEEE journals) can also be considered prior art. Also, most of the time, the USPTO rejects claims using a combination of references (i.e., an obviousness rejection). So even if you think in your mind that you have something novel, that may not always be the case during prosecution. Keep a good record of what you find that may be remotely related to your invention. You will need to submit it to your patent attorney for filing an information disclosure statement (IDS). Good luck.
Is it a television/gravity bong combo? A bluetooth crack pipe? I think those have already been invented!
It is a device that causes morons with nothing better to do than bash liberals to shut the he!! up. I plan to test it on your brother.