Open Circuits

The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components

By Windell Oskay and Eric Schlaepfer

What does the crystal from a quartz crystal watch actually look like? Do you have any idea what is on the inside of a surface mount resistor? If you have ever wondered about virtually any component, then Open Circuits is a revelation.

This hardback book is a photographic exploration of the beautiful design inside everyday electronics. Its stunning cross-section photography unlocks a hidden world full of elegance, subtle complexity, and wonder. Our everyday tech is made up of hundreds of internal components, precisely engineered to perform a certain function, but most are not intended to actually be seen. Through painstakingly executed, vividly detailed cross-section photography. Open Circuits reveals the surprising beauty hiding inside the electronic components that drive our devices.

Passive components, semiconductors, electromechanics and composite devices are all included in the nearly 170 items that receive the Open Circuits treatment. Surprisingly, there is even some retro tech including an array of resistor types including wound, carbon, dipped silver mica and even a Germanium diode. The book doesn't stop there and concludes in a guide to creating your own images of components and much more.

From resistors to LEDs, USB cables to headphone jacks, stepper motors to nixie tubes, the book's arresting imagery transforms components into delightful works of art. As you visually dissect the insides of components, you'll learn about how they work and how they were made. Open Circuits has something for everyone to appreciate, whether you're a seasoned electrical engineer, an amateur tinkerer, or simply a lover of art and photography.

Size 211x262mm, 304 pages, Hardback ISBN: 9781718502345