Author: claimsbot

1. A simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer, the simulator comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller is a digital computer with a processor; the controller comprising:
a rotation speed and load calculator for simulating a robot operation program and calculating the rotation speed of the robot speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot, and the load exerted on the speed reducer for each sampling period;
a storage for chronologically correlating the rotation speed and the load calculated by the rotation speed and load calculator and storing the rotation speed and the load;
a speed reducer life calculator for calculating the life of the robot speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot, based on the rotation speed and the load stored in the storage;
an operating ratio setter for setting an operating ratio of the robot or the data that indirectly represent the operating ratio;
a speed reducer life estimator for estimating the life of the speed reducer, based on the speed reducer life calculated by the speed reducer life calculator and the operating ratio set by the operating ratio setter;
a reference value setter for setting a reference value of the load exerted on the speed reducer arranged with respect to an individual axis of the robot;
an evaluator for determining, by using an evaluation function, whether the load calculated by the rotation speed and load calculator exceeds the reference value set by the reference value setter;
a path fixer for fixing the path of the tool tip of the robot, regardless of a speed command of the operation program;
a maximum speed setter for setting a speed command value of the operation program to a maximum speed according to a predetermined rule, while the path is fixed by the path fixer; and
a program changer for determining, by using the evaluation function, whether the load exerted on the speed reducer which the load is chronologically stored in the storage exceeds the reference value which is set as the upper limit by the reference value setter and, when the load exceeds the reference value, for changing the operation program, with the path fixed by the path fixer, to decrease the speed command value of the operation program from the maximum speed by a given value so that the load exerted on the speed reducer is no more than the reference value.
2. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 1, the simulator further comprising
a target life setter for setting a target life of the speed reducer;
wherein the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter.
3. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 2, the simulator further comprising
a cycle time calculator for multiplying the sample number in the rotation speed and load calculator by the sampling period to calculate the cycle time of the robot operation program,
wherein when the cycle time calculated by the cycle time calculator is not reduced after the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter, a new reference value is set by the reference value setter and then the program changer is repeatedly run until the life of the speed reducer reaches the target value set by the target life setter.
4. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 1, the simulator further comprising
a cycle time calculator for multiplying the sample number in the rotation speed and load calculator by the sampling period to calculate the cycle time of the robot operation program; and
a target cycle time setter for setting a target cycle time;
wherein the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time calculated by the cycle time calculator reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter.
5. The simulator for estimating a life of a robot speed reducer according to claim 4, wherein when the life of the speed reducer is not extended after the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter, a new reference value is set by the reference value setter, and then the program changer is repeatedly run until the cycle time reaches the target value set by the target cycle time setter.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-42. (canceled)
43. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly comprising an insertion adapter having an operationally releasable coupler for a demountable insertion tool body and an intervertebral disc prosthesis releasably retained by the insertion adapter, with the insertion adapter separated in at least two component parts configured to be releasably tightened around at least part of the prosthesis.
44. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the at least two component parts are arranged to release the intervertebral disc prosthesis by pivoting one in relation to the other.
45. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter and the intervertebral disc prosthesis are disposed in sterile packaging to form a sterile pack.
46. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter has a surface complementary to and substantially fitting the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
47. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 43, in which the insertion adapter has at least one retainer that engages a recess andor a post of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
48. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 47, in which the retainer is a latch, and the recess is disposed on an edge of a plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
49. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 48, in which the retainer is a dog, and the recess is disposed along a core of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
50. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 49, in which the dog has a channel substantially matching the edge of a post of a plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
51. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 48, further comprising an insertion tool.
52. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion assembly according to claim 51, in which the insertion tool comprises a demountable insertion tool body releasably mounted to the coupler.
53. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 52, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion actuator.
54. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 53, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion stop.
55. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 54, in which the insertion tool body comprises an insertion stop lock.
56. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 55, in which the insertion stop lock is adjustable.
57. An intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion system according to claim 56, in which the intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises a first plate, a second plate and a core.

1. A thin-film magnetic head, comprising:
a lower magnetic shield layer;
a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure formed on said lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers;
an insulation layer formed to surround said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure;
an additional metal layer laminated on at least said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure;
an upper electrode layer made of a soft magnetic material laminated on said additional metal layer and said insulation layer; and
an upper magnetic shield layer laminated on said upper electrode layer,
said additional metal layer having a multi-layered structure including a nonmagnetic metal layer and a soft magnetic layer laminated on said nonmagnetic metal layer, and having a length along a track-width direction of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure larger than a width of a magnetization-free layer in said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure.
2. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional metal layer has a length being substantially the same as that of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure, along a direction perpendicular to the track-width direction of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure.
3. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper electrode layer is laminated on and directly joined with said soft magnetic layer of said additional metal layer.
4. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper electrode layer and said upper magnetic shield layer are integrally formed.
5. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional metal layer further has an additional nonmagnetic metal layer laminated on said soft magnetic layer, and wherein said upper electrode layer is laminated on said additional nonmagnetic metal layer of said additional metal layer.
6. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional metal layer further has an additional anti-ferromagnetic layer laminated on said soft magnetic layer, and wherein said upper electrode layer is laminated on said additional anti-ferromagnetic layer of said additional metal layer.
7. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper electrode layer is laminated on an additional nonmagnetic metal layer that is laminated on said soft magnetic layer of said additional metal layer, and wherein said additional nonmagnetic metal layer has the same plane shape as said upper magnetic shield layer.
8. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper electrode layer is laminated on an additional anti-ferromagnetic layer that is laminated on said soft magnetic layer of said additional metal layer, and wherein said additional anti-ferromagnetic layer has the same plane shape as said upper magnetic shield layer.
9. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said soft magnetic layer of said additional metal layer is made of the same soft magnetic material as said upper magnetic shield layer.
10. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said soft magnetic layer of said additional metal layer is made of a soft magnetic material different from that of said upper magnetic shield layer.
11. The thin-film magnetic head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure is a tunnel magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure or a current perpendicular to plane type giant magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A multiuser physical competition system comprising:
a first tracking system for determining changes in a first overall physical location of a first user within a first physical space;
a second tracking system for determining changes in a second overall physical location of a second user within a second physical space; and
at least one computer operatively coupled to the tracking systems for updating user virtual locations in a virtual space corresponding to the physical locations of the users, and for determining occurrence of virtual collisions of the users in the virtual space;
wherein the at least one computer resolves the virtual collisions in the virtual space.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer resolves the virtual collisions by selecting a prevailing user for each of the virtual collisions.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one computer selects the prevailing user by applying different criteria for same-posture collisions and for different-posture collisions.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one computer provides a relative benefit to the prevailing user, thereby also providing a relative detriment to the non-prevailing user.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer resolves the virtual collisions by determining whether the users are considered as having the same posture or as having different postures, and by applying a same-posture resolution criterion if the users have the same posture, or applying a different-posture resolution criterion if the users have different postures.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one computer determines whether the users are considered as having the same posture by comparing relative overall physical location heights of the users.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one computer determines whether the users are considered as having the same posture by categorizing postures of the users based on overall physical location heights of the users into one of a plurality of posture categories.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one computer applies the different-posture resolution criterion such that each of the posture categories is at an advantage to at least one of the other posture categories, and such that each of the posture categories is at a disadvantage to at least another of the other posture categories.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one computer applies the same-posture criterion by comparing respective powers of the users, wherein the power is based both on movement and mass of the user.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one display, wherein the at least one display is operatively coupled to the at least one computer to provide at least one view of the virtual space to at least one of the users.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one view includes one or more icons that provide an indication of posture of at least one of the users.
12. The system of claim 1, the at least one computer resolves the virtual collisions in the virtual space by comparing respective powers of the users, wherein the power is based both on movement and mass of the user.
13. A method of multiuser physical competition comprising:
tracking a first overall physical location of a first user within a first physical space, wherein the first overall physical location corresponds to a first virtual location within a virtual space;
at the same time, tracking a second overall physical location of a second user within a second physical space, wherein the second overall physical location corresponds to a second virtual location within the virtual space;
determining occurrence of virtual collisions between the users within the virtual space; and
for each of the virtual collisions, selecting a prevailing user.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting is based at least on posture of the users, and movement of the users prior to the virtual collision.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting the prevailing user includes determining whether the users are in a same-posture relation to each other, or in a different-posture relation to each other.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selecting further includes:
if the users are in the same-posture relation to each other, applying a same-posture resolution criterion, wherein the same-posture resolution criterion includes comparing powers of the users at the time of the virtual collision; and
if the users are in the different-posture relation to each other, applying a different-posture resolution criterion, wherein the different-posture resolution criterion provides at least an advantage based on the postures of the users.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining includes comparing relative overall physical location heights of the users.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining includes categorizing postures of the users based on overall physical location heights of the users into one of a plurality of posture categories.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the different-posture resolution criterion specifies that each of the posture categories is at an advantage to at least one of the other posture categories, and that each of the posture categories is at a disadvantage to at least another of the other posture categories.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising, during the tracking, displaying at least one view of the virtual space to at least one of the users.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying includes displaying one or more icons that provide an indication of posture of at least one of the users.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting includes:
comparing powers of the users at the time of the virtual collision; and
selecting the prevailing user as the user with the greater power.