Patent ID: 7376664

Claim:
A method for evaluating a design for a transformer comprising: (a.) providing a database comprising: results of a test performed on each of a plurality of transformers; criteria sets for evaluating the results of the tests, each criteria set being applicable to a particular transformer design; and identification information associated with the criteria sets and the results of the tests, the identification data including transformer design identification; (b.) retrieving the test results for a certain transformer design from the database using the identification information; (c.) retrieving the criteria for the certain transformer design from the database using the identification information; (d.) comparing the retrieved test results to the retrieved criteria; (e.) counting the number of the retrieved test results that do not satisfy the retrieved criteria; (f.) generating an indication that the certain transformer design needs further analysis only if at least a predetermined quantity of the retrieved test results do not satisfy the retrieved criteria; (g.) displaying the indication on a display device; (h) determining that the certain transformer design over-performs if the retrieved test results consistently exceed the retrieved criteria; and (i) modifying the certain design to reduce the cost of components required by the transformer design.