Abstract: An improved minute countdown clock is provided that depicts the 24-hour day in terms of the number of remaining minutes, rather than in the standard 12-hour cycle. The present clock counts down the number of minutes that are left in the day, unlike a standard clock that depicts the amount of time that has passed in two separate cycles. The present invention may come in either analog or digital varieties. The present invention breaks time into smaller increments in order to reprogram individuals' concept and perception of passing time, to facilitate motivation to accomplish more goals, and finally to create a sense of value and ownership of personal time. Furthermore, the constant countdown creates a sense of urgency by helping people recognize that time is valuable and is lost once it passes.

Abstract: An improved minute countdown clock is provided that depicts the 24-hour day in terms of the number of remaining minutes, rather than in the standard 12-hour cycle. The present clock counts down the number of minutes that are left in the day, unlike a standard clock that depicts the amount of time that has passed in two separate cycles. The present invention may come in either analog or digital varieties. The present invention breaks time into smaller increments in order to reprogram individuals' concept and perception of passing time, to facilitate motivation to accomplish more goals, and finally to create a sense of value and ownership of personal time. Furthermore, the constant countdown creates a sense of urgency by helping people recognize that time is valuable and is lost once it passes.

Abstract: An inductive component, such as a transformer, is made by applying conductive tracks onto a thin, foldable substrate (10) and then Z-folding the substrate so that the conductive tracks from a coil. A ferrite core is then placed through the coil. In order to maximise the current capacity of the transformer, there are electrical connections between leaves not only around each fold line (14) where the track traverses the fold line, but also between specially prepared areas X-X of the tracks which end up facing each other from adjacent folds once the substrate has been folded.

Abstract: An inductive component, such as a transformer, is made by applying conductive tracks onto a thin, foldable substrate (10) and then Z-folding the substrate so that the conductive tracks from a coil. A ferrite core is then placed through the coil. In order to maximise the current capacity of the transformer, there are electrical connections between leaves not only around each fold line (14) where the track traverses the fold line, but also between specially prepared areas X-X of the tracks which end up facing each other from adjacent folds once the substrate has been folded.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic component has a set of walls for surrounding the component. The component is snap-fitted into the housing to retain it in the housing through snap-fit features in the housing and snap-fit features on the component. The housing can incorporate springs which, in use, bias the component into contact with the snap-fit features. If the component is a transformer, the springs can act on the transformer laminations to press the stack of laminations together while biasing the component into contact with the snap-fit features.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic component has a set of walls for surrounding the component. The component is snap-fitted into the housing to retain it in the housing through snap-fit features in the housing and snap-fit features on the component. The housing can incorporate springs which, in use, bias the component into contact with the snap-fit features. If the component is a transformer, the springs can act on the transformer laminations to press the stack of laminations together while biasing the component into contact with the snap-fit features.

Abstract: A bobbin for a concentrically wound transformer, preferably a signal transformer, has a core, an area between two shoulders for a primary winding and an area between two flanges for a secondary winding surrounding the primary winding. The shoulder at the end of the transformer where the entry and exit wires for the primary winding are located is formed with an angled axial slot, and with undercut regions beneath the upper surface of the shoulder. The entry and exit wires pass through this undercut region and are thus isolated from the turns of the secondary winding. One lateral edge of the slot and the corresponding lateral edge of the undercut region diverge from one another in the direction of the bobbin end. Also disclosed is a housing for an electronic component, the housing having a set of walls for surrounding the component and lugs past which the component can snap to retain the component in the housing.

Abstract: A centrifuge (18) is used to introduce a fluid, particularly a viscous fluid such as an encapsulating resin, into a cavity in a container (10), particularly a small cavity such as the inside of an electronic component housing. Measured quantities of the fluid are placed in dispensing vessels (28) in the centrifuge opposite the containers to be filled. The dispensing vessels have openings (36) through which the fluid can flow when centrifugal force is applied. On the application of this force, all the fluid flows out of the vessels into the containers.

Abstract: Electrical isolation which is required between adjacent windings of a device such as a transformer is provided by wrapping a group of individually insulated conductive cores 62, 64, 66, 68 with multiple turns of a thin tape 32. Use of a thin tape rather than solid insulation provides a long creepage path from the cores 62, 64, 66, 68 to adjacent components. The invention can also be applied to components other than transformers.

Abstract: The single transformer generally used in a duplex coupler for coupling local telecommunication equipment, such as a modem, to a telephone line may be replaced by a number of transformers or other suitable forms of DC isolation device which then enables each transformer and its associated circuit network to be specifically tailored to optimize the operation of the coupler system. The transmit output path 3 is connected to a transformer 2 having a center-tapped secondary winding 11 which is connected across the communication line 4. A second transformer 5 has its primary winding connected between the center-tap and the line 4, and its secondary winding coupled to the receive input 6. By optimizing each transformer the intermodulation products and other unwanted products are reduced. The coupler system may be miniaturized and the line matching components incorporated in or selected by a specific line cord designed to match the network characteristics.