How do I go about getting a prototype created for an electonic toy idea?

I have an idea for an electronic toy. I would like to create a prototype -- it would involve basic circuitry design / programming, LCD screen, etc. Where do I begin?|||If you want someone else to build it, you could probably hire an engineering consultant to do it. It'd take some internet searching and phone calls to find the right kind of engineer, and then you'd probably be talking about a 80 to 240 hour project at $50 per hour (in the US), plus materials. You might be able to find an engineer internationally (e.g. in India) on the internet to do it much cheaper.


A cheaper but riskier/slower alternative would be to find a hobbyist to build it, by posting on an online electronics hobbyist forum, etc.


The comment that you have to build it before you can patent it is absolutely incorrect. The requirement for a 'reduction to practice' in a patent can be fulfilled by merely describing in words how to build one, to a level of detail sufficient that someone skilled in the field could build it based on your description. Your patent could then use phrases like, "use a microcontroller to display messages on a LCD screeen", etc. You can file a provisional patent at very little cost as a placeholder for 18 months until you determine if it's worth the expense of a full patent.|||Thank you billc1121 for that information.

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|||You have to create a working model before you can patent it! But my suggestion is to take it to someone you can trust, preferably in electronics. Make sure they can keep their mouths shut, and they can create a working prototype. Then file a patent quickly.|||get a patent on the idea, then talk to an engineer...electronics..|||I would suggest drawing out circuit diagrams (there are some good free cad programs on the net you should use) and breadboarding everything to test. If you have no clue how to build the circuits, then start looking at other peoples designs and find some good books. It really depends on how complicated everything is and how much time you want to put into your idea.