All The Claims

1. A method for a base station to receive a reference signal sequence from one or more devices within a cell of the base station in a multiple cell environment, the method comprising:
providing the one or more devices with information about the reference signal sequence, wherein the reference signal sequence is defined by a cyclic shift of a base sequence, wherein the base sequence is one of a plurality of base sequences divided into groups, wherein each of the groups comprises at least one base sequence for each length (N), and wherein each length (N) corresponds to (12*n), (n) being a positive integer; and
receiving the reference signal sequence from one or more of the one or more devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the groups comprises one base sequence of each length (N) when (n) is equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than 5, and two base sequences of each length (N) when (n) is equal to or greater than 6.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the groups is 30.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the base sequence having a length (N) for cases where (n) is equal to or greater than 3 is given by using a Zadoff Chu (ZC) sequence.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base sequence is given by using a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence having a length (NZCRS), the length (NZCRS) being given by a prime number length such that the length (NZCRS) is less than the length (N), and
wherein a front part of the base sequence having the length (NZCRS) is from the ZC sequence having the length (NZCRS), and a rear part of the base sequence having a length of (N\u2212NZCRS) is from a front part of the ZC sequence having the length of (N\u2212NZCRS).
6. A base station for receiving a reference signal sequence from one or more devices within a cell of the base station in a multiple cell environment, the base station comprising:
a processor configured to generate information about the reference signal sequence, wherein the reference signal sequence is defined by a cyclic shift of a base sequence, wherein the base sequence is one of a plurality of base sequences divided into groups, wherein each of the groups comprises at least one base sequence for each length (N), and wherein each length (N) corresponds to (12*n), (n) being a positive integer; and
a transceiver configured to provide the one or more devices with the information, and to receive the reference signal sequence from one or more of the one or more devices.
7. The base station of claim 6, wherein each of the groups comprises one base sequence of each length (N) when (n) is equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than 5, and two base sequences of each length (N) when (n) is equal to or greater than 6.
8. The base station of claim 6, wherein a number of the groups is 30.
9. The base station of claim 6, wherein the base sequence having a length (N) for cases where (n) is equal to or greater than 3 is given by using a Zadoff Chu (ZC) sequence.
10. The base station of claim 6, wherein the base sequence is given by using a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence having a length (NZCRS), the length (NZCRS) being given by a prime number length such that the length (NZCRS) is less than the length (N), and wherein a front part of the base sequence having the length (NZCRS) is from the ZC sequence having the length (NZCRS), and a rear part of the base sequence having a length of (N\u2212NZCRS) is from a front part of the ZC sequence having the length of (N\u2212NZCRS).

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 workpiece changer for the transfer of workpieces or workpiece palettes between a set-up station in front of a machining machine and a workpiece table of such machining machine, comprising a gripper means for taking up and putting down workpieces or workpiece palettes, a rotary drive for swiveling the gripper means about a vertical axis, and a lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripper means, and further comprising a linear drive for shifting the gripper means between a first position at the set-up station and a second position at the workpiece table.
2. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gripper means is arranged on a horizontally movable slide or carriage which is provided with the lifting means and the rotary drive.
3. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slide or carriage runs on a lateral guide means.
4. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gripper means possesses a single gripper or a double gripper having two grippers pointing in opposite directions.
5. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the gripper or grippers is or are designed to fit underneath a workpiece or a workpiece palette and preferably possess two gripping andor lifting arms.
6. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the gripper or grippers possess two lifting arms able to be shifted toward each other like gripping jaws.
7. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 1, designed as a self-contained unit adapted to be positioned in front of a machining machine.
8. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 1, comprising a storage arrangement to the side of the linear transfer path of the gripper means for workpieces andor workpiece palettes the gripper means andor at least a portion of the storage arrangement being provided with a shifting drive for motion perpendicular to the linear path of movement of the gripper means between the workpiece table and the set-up station.
9. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 7, wherein the storage arrangement comprises at least one change station for the transfer and acceptance of workpieces or workpiece palettes by the gripper means and wherein a conveyor means is provided for the supply and removal of palettes andor workpiece receiving means to and from the change station.
10. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 9, wherein the said conveyor means is in the form of an endless conveyor means and more particularly as a chain conveyor or turntable or as a linear conveyor.
11. The workpiece changer as set forth in claim 9, wherein the conveyor means as a whole or its palettes andor workpiece receiving means are provided with a shifting drive into the change station andor a lifting drive.

1. A flattened heat pipe, comprising:
a flat and tubular closed container;
at least one wick structure; and
a working fluid sealed into the container, wherein
the wick structure consists of a sintered metal formed of sintered globular or deformed powder,
a cross-sectional shape of the wick structure in the container is formed into a semi-elliptical shape having a curved portion and a flat portion, the semi-elliptical shape being one half of an ellipse,
the flat portion of the wick structure is in contact with an inner wall of the container,
the curved portion of the wick structure is in contact with the inner wall of the container,
a capillary force is generated between the curved portion and the inner wall, while a capillary force is also generated in voids formed in the sintered metal,
vapor flowing passages are formed at least in curved areas of both sides of the container,
the inner wall of the container includes a first flat portion and a second flat portion which face each other,
the flat portion of the wick structure is in contact with the first flat portion of the inner wall,
the curved portion of the wick structure is in contact with the second flat portion of the inner wall, such that the cross-sectional shape of the wick structure has one point contact with the second flat portion of the inner wall of the container,
the one point contact is plastically deformed by the second flat portion of the inner wall, wherein the one point contact is plastically deformed by at most 0.4 mm;
the one point contact is an end point of a central axis of the semi-elliptical shape, and
a gap between the second flat portion of the inner wall and the curved portion of the wick structure narrows toward the end point.
2. The flattened heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein the wick structure is formed of a substantially same thickness as a whole.
3. The flattened heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wick structure is changed so as to be thicker in a high-temperature portion where an exothermic element is disposed than in a low-temperature portion where none of exothermic elements are disposed.
4. The flattened heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein only one wick structure is provided in the container, the inner wall of the container includes first and second curved portions provided between the first and second flat portions respectively, and the wick structure is spaced away from the first and second curved portions.
5. The flattened heat pipe according to claim 4, wherein the working fluid is exposed to the wick structure via both the first and second curved portions.
6. The flattened heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein the gap forms refluxing portions that generate a portion of the capillary force between the curved portion and the inner wall.

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 method of automatically generating and analyzing solar cell current-voltage (IV) curves, the method comprising:
varying a DC load presented to a first string of solar panels in a plurality of strings of solar panels, each string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels comprising a plurality of serially-connected solar panels, each solar panel in the plurality of serially-connected solar panels comprising a plurality of serially-connected solar cells mounted on a same frame;
sensing voltages and currents generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load; and
receiving data indicative of an environmental parameter; and
a computer automatically generating a first IV curve of the first string of solar panels by plotting the voltages and currents generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of strings of solar panels is coupled to a device that presents the DC load to the plurality of strings of solar panels, and the voltages generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load are sensed at the device.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
evaluating performance of the first string of solar panels by comparing the first IV curve to another IV curve.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
analyzing the first IV curve to detect a failure in the first string of solar panels.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the failure is an open circuit condition.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the failure is a short circuit condition.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
automatically generating a second IV curve of the first string of solar panels, the second IV curve indicating voltages and currents generated by the first string of solar panels over a period of time.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
detecting performance degradation trends of the first string of solar panels by comparing the first IV curve to the second IV curve.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
sensing currents generated by a second string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels;
sensing voltages generated by the second string of solar panels; and
automatically generating a third IV curve of the second string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels, the third IV curve indicating voltages and currents generated by the second string of solar panels over a period of time.
10. A photovoltaic system comprising:
a plurality of strings of solar panels, each string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels comprising a plurality of serially-connected solar panels, each solar panel in the plurality of serially-connected solar panels comprising a plurality of serially-connected solar cells mounted on a same frame;
a current sensor circuit in each string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels; and
a computer configured to:
receive sensor data from the current sensor circuit in each string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels,
receive environmental data, and
generate a current-voltage (IV) curve of a first string of solar panels in the plurality of solar panels by plotting currents and voltages generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to variation of a DC load presented to the first string of solar panels over a first period of time.
11. The photovoltaic system of claim 10 further comprising:
a device presenting the DC load to the plurality of strings of solar panels.
12. The photovoltaic system of claim 11 wherein the device comprises a photovoltaic inverter.
13. The photovoltaic system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured to generate a second IV curve of the first string of solar panels, and to compare the first IV curve to the second IV curve to detect performance degradation of the first string of solar panels.
14. The photovoltaic system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured to generate a third IV curve of a second string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels.
15. The photovoltaic system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured to compare the first IV curve to another IV curve to evaluate performance of the first string of solar panels.
16. A method of automatically generating and analyzing solar cell current-voltage (IV) curves, the method comprising:
controlling a device to vary a DC load presented to a plurality of strings of solar panels;
sensing currents and voltages generated by a first string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load; and
generating a first IV curve of the first string of solar panels by plotting the currents and voltages generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the device comprises a photovoltaic inverter.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
comparing the first IV curve to another IV curve to evaluate performance of the first string of solar panels.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
generating a second IV curve of a second string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels; and
analyzing the second IV curve to detect a problem with the second string of solar panels.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
filtering at least some data that includes the voltages and currents generated by the first string of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load based on the environmental parameter.