Fine particle group spatial arrangement control system, fine particle group spatial arrangement control method, and fine particle group spatial arrangement control program

Abstract

To provide a fine particle group spatial arrangement control system capable of keeping a fine particle group in a certain spatial area.SOLUTION: The fine particle group spatial arrangement control system comprises: a fine particle group generation unit to apply energy to a liquid or solid from an outside so as to generate a fine particle group in a prescribed space; and an irradiation unit to irradiate the fine particle group generated by the fine particle group generation unit with an electromagnetic wave so as to remove a part of the fine particle group.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for controlling the spatial arrangement of fine particles, a method for controlling the spatial arrangement of fine particles, and a program for controlling the spatial arrangement of fine particles. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus for atomizing a liquid by applying energy to the liquid. Patent Document 1 discloses an atomization device that atomizes water by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the water for the purpose of indoor humidification. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-348217 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When fog is supplied indoors, it floats through the space. Appreciating the fog floating through the space can give a sense of floating and freedom, and a new use for generating fog for such appreciation purposes has been proposed. On the other hand, in conventional atomizing devices, the mist supplied indoors gradually dissipates over time, making it impossible to confine the mist in a fixed spatial region.

[0005] The present invention is characterized by providing a system for controlling the spatial arrangement of fine particles, which is capable of retaining fine particles such as mist in a certain spatial region. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a spatial arrangement control system for a particle group, comprising a particle group generation unit that applies energy from outside to a liquid or solid to generate a particle group in a specified space, and an irradiation unit that irradiates the particle group generated by the particle group generation unit with electromagnetic waves to remove a portion of the particle group. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the spatial arrangement control system of the present invention, the fine particles can be kept in a certain spatial region. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particle groups according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a fine particle group generating section. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of an irradiation unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control process of a spatial arrangement control system for fine particle groups. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an external view of a system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particle groups according to Modification 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an external view of a spatial arrangement control system for fine particle groups according to Modification 2. [Figure 9] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a fine particle group generating section according to Modification 3. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an external view of a system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particle groups according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same components are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted. Fig. 1 is an external view of a system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particle groups according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] (1) Overview of the First Embodiment The outline of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particles is a system for generating fine particles in a specific indoor space. Here, the fine particles refer to a group of fine, fluid substances that are generated by breaking up liquid or solid matter using external energy and float in space while maintaining a certain degree of cohesion. An example of the fine particles is clouds that occur in the natural world. The spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particle groups is not limited to being used indoors, but may also be used outdoors.

[0011] That is, the fine particle spatial arrangement control system 1 is a system that artificially generates objects resembling clouds indoors (hereinafter, referred to as artificial clouds). The artificial clouds generated indoors are used, for example, for ornamental purposes. The spatial arrangement control system 1 for particle groups generates an artificial cloud of a shape desired by a user.

[0012] The user inputs the appearance information of the sky he / she wants to generate into the control unit 60 by selecting image data displayed on the operation terminal 70 (e.g., selecting from multiple photos of the sky) or by selecting conditions (e.g., inputting a specific area and a specific time period). An example of the operation terminal 70 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The input operation may be performed via the operation terminal 70, or may be performed by directly inputting the information to the control unit 60, which will be described later.

[0013] (2) Overall configuration of the spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particle groups A description will now be given of the configuration of the spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particle groups. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the spatial arrangement control system for fine particle groups shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particle groups includes a fine particle group generation unit 10, a recognition unit 20, an irradiation unit 30, a diffusion unit 40, a light source unit 50, a control unit 60, and a frame 90 (see Figure 1).

[0015] The particle group generating section 10 applies energy from the outside to a liquid or solid to generate particle groups in a predetermined space. The particle group generating section 10 applies energy to water, oil, and inorganic matter to turn them into fine particles. The energy applied by the particle group generating section 10 can be various types of energy such as ultrasonic waves, electricity, heat, etc. The specific structure of the particle group generating section 10 will be described later.

[0016] The recognition section 20 recognizes the form of the particle group generated by the particle group generation section 10 . The recognition unit 20 recognizes the spatial region where the particle group resides by an image sensor (image recognition sensor) such as a CMOS etc. For the recognition unit 20, a USB camera with a pixel count of about 100,000 to 10 million pixels, which is generally used for image processing etc., can be used.

[0017] The irradiating section 30 irradiates the particles generated by the particle generating section 10 with electromagnetic waves to remove a part of the particles by evaporating or burning them off, thereby forming a particle group in a predetermined space. The electromagnetic wave may be any of infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light, etc. The irradiation unit 30 has a function of forming the particle group into a shape desired by the user by eliminating the particle group outside the range desired by the user. The specific structure of the irradiation unit 30 will be described later.

[0018] The diffusion section 40 diffuses the particles generated by the ultrasonic transducer 16 into a predetermined space. The diffusion unit 40 diffuses the particle group in a predetermined space, for example, by blowing air onto the particle group generated by the ultrasonic transducer 16. The diffusion unit 40 may also diffuse the particle group in a predetermined space by sucking air in the predetermined space.

[0019] The light source unit 50 irradiates visible light onto the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit 10. The light source unit 50 is installed on, for example, a ceiling. The light source unit 50 may be a general lighting fixture.

[0020] The light source unit 50 may also illuminate a background that mimics the sky. That is, the light source unit 50 may be a flat panel that displays the sky that serves as the background of the particles that are the artificial clouds. The light source unit 50 adjusts the color tone and the amount of light based on the morphology information input by the user and in accordance with a command output from the control unit 60. Here, the morphology information is information indicating the morphology of the particle group desired by the user.

[0021] A panel-type light can also be used as the light source unit 50. It is preferable that the light intensity and color can be changed so that the change in the sky over time can also be expressed. For example, the morning, noon, and evening skies may be expressed by lighting LEDs of different light colors.

[0022] The light source section 50 is preferably highly waterproof in consideration of its durability against the mist of fine particles emitted from the fine particle group generating section 10. The light source unit 50 is preferably provided with a communication function so as to be able to communicate with the control unit 60 .

[0023] The control unit 60 compares the form of the particle group recognized by the recognition unit 20 with form information indicating the form of the particle group to be molded, and controls the irradiation unit 30. The control unit 60 has a reception unit 61. The reception unit 61 receives input of the form information. A specific configuration of the control unit 60 will be described later.

[0024] The frame 90 is a structure that supports each member. The frame 90 includes an aluminum frame 90 framework that is generally used in industrial equipment and the like, and a metal or resin cover. The color of the portion of the frame 90 that is visible to the user is preferably an inconspicuous color such as white so as not to affect the aesthetic appearance of the simulated sky that is simulated by the particles that form the artificial clouds.

[0025] (2-1) Configuration of the particle group generating unit 10 The following describes the configuration of the fine particle group generating section 10. FIG. 3, the fine particle group generating section 10 includes a water storage tank 11, a water supply tube 12, a water supply pump 13, an atomization chamber 14, a float switch 15, an ultrasonic vibrator 16, and a nozzle 17. In the following description, the fine particle group will be described as a mist.

[0026] The water tank 11 stores liquid (such as tap water) that is the raw material for the mist, which is made up of fine particles. The material for the water tank 11 is preferably a resin material that is inexpensive, lightweight, and resistant to corrosion, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The capacity is preferably about 10 to 30 L so that a large amount of mist can be generated with one water supply. The liquid stored in the water storage tank 11 may be, in addition to water, hypochlorous acid water having sterilizing properties, or water containing an aromatic component. A water supply tube 12 is inserted into the water storage tank 11.

[0027] The water supply tube 12 connects the inside of the water storage tank 11 and the inside of the atomization chamber 14. The water supply tube 12 draws up liquid from the water storage tank 11 to the atomization chamber 14. The material of the water supply tube 12 is preferably a water-resistant resin material (polyurethane, PVC, fluororesin, etc.).

[0028] Water supply tube 12 is preferably transparent so that air bubbles inside can be visually observed. To facilitate routing, water supply tube 12 preferably has an inner diameter of about 6 to 20 mm. A water supply pump 13 is provided in the middle of the water supply tube 12 .

[0029] The water supply pump 13 serves as a driving source of suction force for transferring the liquid stored in the water storage tank 11 to the atomization chamber 14. The water supply pump 13 may be a diaphragm pump that is generally used for pumping water. The water supply pump 13 supplies the water stored in the water storage tank 11 to the atomization chamber 14 based on a command from the control unit 60. The amount of water in the atomization chamber 14 is detected by a float switch 15.

[0030] The atomization chamber 14 is configured by a housing having a rectangular parallelepiped space therein. The liquid supplied from the water storage tank 11 is stored inside the atomization chamber 14. A retention space in which the atomized water floats as gas is formed in the atomization chamber 14. The material of the housing constituting the atomization chamber 14 is preferably a corrosion-resistant metal (aluminum, stainless steel) or the like.

[0031] The float switch 15 is provided in the atomization chamber 14. The water level in the atomization chamber 14 is detected by a float of the float switch 15 moving up and down with the change in the water level. The float switch 15 detects when the liquid level in the atomization chamber 14 reaches an appropriate level to prevent the liquid level from becoming excessive, and transmits a signal to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 outputs a water supply OFF signal to the water supply pump 13 according to the input from the float switch 15. As the float switch 15, a float switch used in general humidifiers can be used.

[0032] The ultrasonic vibrator 16 is provided at the bottom of a housing that constitutes the atomization chamber 14. The ultrasonic vibrator 16 atomizes the liquid by ultrasonic vibration to generate a group of fine particles. When the ultrasonic vibrator 16 vibrates, the liquid stored at the bottom of the atomization chamber 14 is broken up and atomized by the vibration. As the ultrasonic transducer 16, a piezoelectric element with a frequency of about 1 to 5 MHz can be used.

[0033] For example, when a piezoelectric element with a frequency of 1.6 MHz or 2.4 MHz is used, a mist with a particle size of about 4 μm or about 3 μm can be generated, respectively. The finer the particle size, the more dense (easily visible) mist can be generated with a smaller amount of water, so it is preferable to use a piezoelectric element with a higher frequency. The amount of atomization is preferably 1 to 30 L / h. The atomized water floats in the retention space in the atomization chamber 14.

[0034] The nozzle 17 is provided in a part of the housing that constitutes the atomization chamber 14, and forms an opening that communicates between the inside and the outside of the atomization chamber 14. In the illustrated example, the base of the nozzle 17 is connected to the upper surface of the housing. The nozzle 17 discharges the mist remaining in the atomization chamber 14 from the outlet at the tip toward a specified space. In order to express mist drifting slowly in a specified space, it is preferable that the discharge speed is slow and the discharge range is wide. For this reason, it is preferable that the nozzle 17 has a shape in which the inner diameter gradually increases from the base to the tip.

[0035] Moreover, since the fine particles tend to move in the direction of gravity, it is preferable to direct the discharge direction obliquely upward from the nozzle 17. The material of the nozzle 17 is preferably a water-resistant resin (polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.) that is easy to mold. The discharge port of the nozzle 17 may be covered with a porous filter, which makes it possible to make the particle size of the fine particles uniform and generate fine particles with a high concentration.

[0036] A blower fan 41 serving as a diffusion section 40 is connected to the fine particle group generating section 10. The blower fan 41 is provided in a housing constituting the atomization chamber 14, at a position opposite to the nozzle 17. The housing is structured so that the air sent from the blower fan 41 flows into the retention space in the atomization chamber 14. For this reason, when the blower fan 41 blows air, an air current is generated that sends the mist generated by the ultrasonic vibrator 16 toward the nozzle 17. This air current sends the mist floating in the retention space toward the nozzle 17, and is discharged together with the mist through the nozzle 17 to the outside of the housing.

[0037] It is preferable to employ blower fan 41 that can adjust the flow rate as well as turn on / off so that the amount of mist emitted from nozzle 17 can be adjusted. In addition, since the device is used in a fog-filled environment, it is preferable to use a fan with high moisture resistance. The blower fan 41 blows air based on a command from the control unit 60.

[0038] (2-2) Configuration of the Irradiation Unit 30 The configuration of the irradiation unit 30 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation unit 30 includes a drive unit 31 (actuator), an infrared heater 32, a reflector 33, a visible light cut filter 34, a heat sink 35, a cooling fan 36, and a housing 37. The irradiation unit 30 is configured integrally with the recognition unit 20 .

[0039] The driving unit 31 is driven under the control of the control unit 60. The driving unit 31 is a moving means for directing the integrally configured recognition unit 20 and irradiation unit 30 to an optimal position. For the driving unit 31, a pan-tilt type mechanism used in surveillance cameras etc. can be adopted as an actuator that is small in size and can control a mounted object in any direction.

[0040] The infrared heater 32 is an infrared radiation source, and heats the particles without contact, causing them to evaporate or burn away. That is, in the illustrated example, the irradiating unit 30 irradiates the particles with infrared radiation as electromagnetic waves. For the infrared heater 32, it is preferable to use a carbon fiber heater, which is a heater capable of generating light with a wavelength of about 3 μm that has a quick radiation rise time and is easily absorbed by the mist, which is a group of fine particles. The output of the infrared heater 32 is preferably about 500 to 5000 W.

[0041] The reflector 33 reflects the infrared light irradiated from the infrared heater 32 and emits it as parallel light. The reflector 33 may be a reflector used in a parallel light type far-infrared line heater or the like. The material of the reflector 33 is preferably a mirror-polished metal (aluminum, stainless steel, etc.).

[0042] The inside of the reflector 33 may be coated with an infrared reflective film that absorbs visible light in order to reduce irradiation of the visible light component. A black pigment made from a compound of a metal such as Si, Al, Zr, or Ti can be selected as a coating material with high infrared reflectivity and visible light absorption properties to be used for such an infrared reflective film.

[0043] The visible light cut filter 34 is a filter that transmits only invisible infrared light. By providing the visible light cut filter 34, it is possible to prevent visible light, such as red light, from being transmitted among the light emitted by the infrared heater 32, and to avoid affecting the appearance of the simulated sky simulated by the artificial clouds. The visible light cut filter 34 may be made of colored glass that transmits infrared light and absorbs visible light.

[0044] The heat sink 35 is a member that dissipates residual heat from the infrared heater 32. For the heat sink 35, it is preferable to use a metal (aluminum, copper, etc.) that has good thermal conductivity and is generally used as a heat dissipation member.

[0045] The cooling fan 36 dissipates the heat absorbed by the heat sink 35 into the air. The cooling fan 36 may be a general DC fan having a size of about 10 to 100 mm square.

[0046] The housing 37 is a member that serves as a case for the irradiation unit 30 . The housing 37 has a function of insulating so that heat from the infrared heater 32 is not transmitted to the recognition unit 20 or the drive unit 31. The material of the housing 37 is preferably a heat-resistant resin (polyimide, PPS, PSU).

[0047] Next, the operating principle of the irradiation unit 30 will be described. The infrared light emitted from the infrared heater 32 of the irradiation unit 30 is reflected by the reflector 33 and is irradiated as parallel light onto the fine particle group. A visible light cut filter 34 provided in front of the infrared heater 32 in the irradiation direction cuts out the visible light component, and only invisible infrared light is irradiated onto the particle group.

[0048] Residual heat generated by the infrared heater 32 is absorbed by a heat sink 35 and dissipated to the outside by a cooling fan 36 . The irradiation unit 30 is covered with a heat insulating housing 37, which reduces heat transfer to surrounding components. Although not shown, as a measure against heat generation, an overheating detection sensor such as a thermostat may be provided in the irradiation unit 30, and when a temperature rise above a threshold occurs, the power supply to the infrared heater 32 may be turned off.

[0049] It is also possible to provide a plurality of irradiation sections 30. In this case, the plurality of irradiation sections 30 may be disposed at positions facing each other with respect to the predetermined space in which the microparticle group generating section 10 generates the microparticle group. The opposing positions are positions on opposite sides of each other with respect to the center of the predetermined space.

[0050] (2-3) Configuration of the control unit 60 The configuration of the control unit 60 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 60 includes a processor 61, a storage device 62, a communication interface 63, and an input / output interface 64.

[0052] The processor 61 is configured to realize the functions of the control unit 60 by starting a program stored in the storage device 62. The processor 61 is an example of a computer. The functions of the processor 61 include, for example, the following. A function of causing the particle generation unit 10 to generate particle groups. A function of irradiating the irradiation unit 30 with fine particles.

[0053] The processor 61 analyzes the information input from the operation terminal 70 and the recognition unit 20, and the following information. - Morphology of the particles to be molded - The shape of particles floating in a given space The range in which the irradiation unit 30 should irradiate the group of particles floating in a specified space

[0054] The processor 61 identifies the morphology of the particle group to be molded from the morphology information input by the user via the operation terminal 70. That is, the processor 61 functions as a receiving unit 62 that receives the input of the morphology information.

[0055] The processor 61 executes a process of prompting the user to select at least one of cloud attributes, that is, cloud shape, seasonal conditions, time conditions, and regional conditions for cloud formation, as morphological information, and input the selected information to the reception unit 61. The cloud shape is a name indicating the type of cloud, such as cirrus, cirrocumulus, cumulonimbus, altostratus, etc. The seasonal, time, and regional conditions for cloud formation are indicators that identify the cloud shapes that are particularly likely to form in specific regions at specific times and times of the year based on the environment in which they form.

[0056] The processor 61 analyzes the shape of the particle group acquired by the image recognition sensor of the recognition unit 20, and grasps the current form of the particle group currently floating in a specified space. The processor 61 compares the shape of the particle group indicated by the shape information with the current shape of the particle group to identify the range of the particle group floating in the specified space that should be irradiated by the irradiation unit 30.

[0057] The processor 61 generates a drive signal to be input to the drive unit 31 and an irradiation signal to be input to the irradiation unit 30. The drive signal is a signal that indicates the amount of driving of the drive unit 31. The irradiation signal is a signal that indicates the range, intensity, and time of irradiation by the irradiation unit 30.

[0058] The storage device 62 is configured to store programs and data. The storage device 62 is, for example, a combination of a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a storage (for example, a flash memory or a hard disk).

[0059] The programs include, for example, the following programs: ·OS (Operating System) programs · Programs for applications that process information (e.g. web browsers)

[0060] The data includes, for example, the following data: Information about the cloud attributes that are presented to the user for selection. Morphological information entered by the user Information regarding the current shape of the particle group recognized by the recognition unit 20

[0061] The input / output interface 64 is configured to receive user instructions from an input device connected to the control unit 60 , and to output information to an output device connected to the control unit 60 . The input device is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, or a combination thereof. The output device is, for example, a display.

[0062] The communication interface 63 is configured to control communication between the control unit 60 and an external device. The external devices include the particle group generating section 10, the irradiating section 30, the recognition section 20, the diffusing section 40, the light source section 50, and the operation terminal .

[0063] (3) Control processing The control process of this embodiment will be described. 6 is a flow chart of the control process of this embodiment. In this explanation, the raw material liquid is water, and the fine particle group is mist, and the respective processes will be explained.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 6, the processor 61 executes reception of input of morphological information from the user (S11). Specifically, the processor 61 executes a process of prompting the user to select at least one of cloud attributes, that is, the shape of the cloud, the seasonal conditions, the time conditions, and the regional conditions for the cloud to be generated, as the morphological information, and input the selected information to the reception unit 61. The input from the user is performed via the operation terminal 70.

[0065] After step S11, the processor 61 executes adjustment of the light source unit 50 (S12). Specifically, the control unit 60 transmits a command to the light source unit 50 to adjust the color tone and the amount of light, based on the form information input by the user.

[0066] After step S12, the processor 61 performs recording (S13) of the appearance before the mist generation. Specifically, the control unit 60 controls the recognition unit 20 and the irradiation unit 30, moves the drive unit 31 so that the recognition unit 20 can capture an image of the entire predetermined space, and records the appearance of the predetermined space in an initial state.

[0067] After step S13, the processor 61 executes the emission of mist into a predetermined space (S14). Specifically, the control unit 60 controls the fine particle group generating unit 10 to adjust the flow rate and emit mist so as to cover the desired mist generation range obtained from the morphology information. At this time, in the fine particle generating section 10, energy is applied to the liquid from the outside to generate mist that is fine particle groups, which are then released into a predetermined space.

[0068] After step S14, the processor 61 executes recognition of the fog retention range (S15). Specifically, the control unit 60 controls the recognition unit 20 and the irradiation unit 30 to move the drive unit 31 and record an image after the fog is generated. Then, the retention range of the fog is recognized by comparing with the initial state.

[0069] After step S15, the processor 61 executes a determination (S16) as to whether the fog satisfies the required range. Specifically, the control unit 60 compares the fog retention range with the shape information.

[0070] In step S16, if the fog does not satisfy the required range (NO in S16), the processor 61 returns to the process of step S14. Specifically, if the area required by the morphological information is not filled with fog, the process returns to step S14 and continues emitting fog.

[0071] In step S16, when the fog is within the required range (YES in S16), the processor 61 executes removal of the fog outside the required range (S17). Specifically, if the required range is filled with fog, the position of the fog that has accumulated outside the required range is determined based on the difference with the shape information.

[0072] Then, the control unit 60 drives the drive unit 31 to control the position of the irradiation unit 30, and causes the irradiation unit 30 to irradiate infrared rays onto the fog that has accumulated outside the required range, thereby causing the fog that has accumulated in that area to disappear. Through these processes, the mist desired by the user is formed in the specified space (S18). Furthermore, by repeating a series of processes, the mist can be maintained in a form that conforms to the form information.

[0073] As described above, according to this embodiment, the fine particle generating section 10 generates fine particle groups, and therefore the fine particle groups can be continuously supplied to a predetermined space. The irradiation section 30 then irradiates the particles generated by the particle generation section 10 with electromagnetic waves to remove a portion of the particles and form them. Therefore, even if the particle group generating unit 10 continuously supplies the particle group and the range of the particle group becomes too wide, the irradiation unit 30 can remove the particle group located in the unnecessary area. Therefore, it is possible to create a situation where the particle group always stays in the desired range in a specified space. In this way, the particle group can be kept in a certain spatial area.

[0074] In this way, by generating artificial clouds made of fine particles, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the sense of openness that one feels when gazing at a cloudy sky outdoors. Clouds that change shape over time but remain in a fixed spatial area overall can be generated directly indoors, rather than in a partitioned, enclosed space, recreating conditions closer to those outdoors. For example, even in an environment where going outside is restricted, such as a hospital room, the spatial arrangement control system 1 for fine particle groups can be used to generate artificial clouds indoors, providing a sense of openness similar to being outdoors.

[0075] In this way, by generating a group of particles made of droplets instead of images or light, it is possible to stimulate the sense of touch by the flow of the particle group, etc. It is also possible to add substances that stimulate the sense of smell or taste, or substances that make sounds when volatilized, to the raw material of the particles. For example, it is possible to recreate the atmosphere of the seaside sky by using aromatic ingredients that are similar to the scent of the seaside. By appealing to the five senses, it is expected to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, have a healing effect, and have an awakening effect.

[0076] Furthermore, research into 1 / f fluctuations and other phenomena has shown that nature contains patterns that contain irregular changes within a monotonous world, and that these patterns have a soothing effect on humans. It has been shown that the movement of clouds in nature also shows signals similar to 1 / f fluctuations. The artificial clouds created by this invention are monotonous in that they remain in a specific area, but they also contain irregular flow, so there is a possibility that they can have a similar healing effect.

[0077] Moreover, the irradiation unit 30 irradiates the particle group with infrared rays as electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the irradiation unit 30 can be configured with a simple structure by utilizing a general-purpose infrared irradiation device that is relatively easy to obtain.

[0078] The particle group generating section 10 also includes an ultrasonic vibrator 16 that atomizes the liquid by ultrasonic vibration to generate particle groups. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which a solid is crushed and atomized, it is possible to generate fine particles with less energy.

[0079] In addition, the diffusion unit 40 diffuses into a predetermined space the particles generated by the ultrasonic transducer 16. Therefore, by promoting the diffusion of the atomized particles into the predetermined space, the particles can be efficiently retained in the predetermined space.

[0080] In addition, the blower fan 41 serving as the diffusion unit 40 diffuses the particle group into a predetermined space by blowing air onto the particle group generated by the ultrasonic vibrator 16. Therefore, the particle group can be efficiently sent to the predetermined space by being carried by the air current generated by the air blowing.

[0081] Further, the recognition unit 20 recognizes the form of the microparticle group generated by the microparticle group generation unit 10, and the control unit 60 compares the form of the microparticle group recognized by the recognition unit 20 with form information indicating the form of the microparticle group to be molded, and controls the irradiation unit 30. Therefore, the irradiation unit 30 can mold the microparticle group into a form desired by the user.

[0082] The control unit 60 also has a receiving unit 61 that receives input of morphological information, and the control unit 60 executes a process of prompting the user to select at least one of the shape of the cloud, the seasonal conditions, the time conditions, and the regional conditions for the occurrence of the clouds as the morphological information and inputting the selected information into the receiving unit 61. Therefore, by the user selecting cloud attributes suggested by the control unit 60, input of the desired form can be made a simple task.

[0083] Moreover, the driving unit 31 is driven under the control of the control unit 60 . This allows the position of the irradiating unit 30 to be changed, providing freedom in the irradiation mode of the irradiating unit 30, making it possible to generate particle groups of various shapes.

[0084] Furthermore, the irradiation unit 30 is configured integrally with the recognition unit 20. Therefore, the positional relationship between the recognition unit 20 and the particle group can be made close to the positional relationship between the irradiation unit 30 and the particle group. This makes it possible to reduce the burden of the control process of the irradiation unit 30, which is performed based on the information regarding the current morphology of the particle group obtained from the recognition unit 20.

[0085] Furthermore, a plurality of irradiation sections 30 may be provided, and the plurality of irradiation sections 30 may be disposed at positions facing each other with respect to a predetermined space. In this case, it becomes possible for the multiple irradiating sections 30 to irradiate the particle cluster with infrared rays from positions facing each other, and the particle cluster can be efficiently formed.

[0086] Furthermore, the light source unit 50 irradiates visible light onto the particle clusters generated by the particle cluster generation unit 10. This causes the particle clusters to scatter the visible light, providing a visual effect similar to that of clouds in the natural world.

[0087] The light source unit 50 may also illuminate a background that resembles the sky. In this case, the particles floating indoors can be made to resemble clouds floating in the blue sky, providing an even more excellent visual effect.

[0088] (4) Variations A modification of this embodiment will now be described.

[0089] (4-1) Variation 1 Modification 1 will be described below. Modification 1 is an example in which a suction section 42 that sucks in fine particle groups is provided as the diffusion section 40. Fig. 7 is an external view of a spatial arrangement control system 2 for fine particle groups according to Modification 1.

[0090] 7, the spatial arrangement control system 2 of the particle group includes a particle group generating section 10, a recognition section 20, an irradiation section 30, a diffusion section 40, a light source section 50, and a control section 60. Among these, the configurations except for the diffusion section 40 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0091] The diffusion section 40 of the spatial arrangement control system 2 of the particle group is provided with a suction section 42 in addition to the above-mentioned blower fan 41. The suction unit 42 suctions air in a predetermined space, thereby diffusing fine particles in the predetermined space. In the illustrated example, the suction unit 42 is disposed at a position opposite to the blower fan 41 with respect to the predetermined space. The suction unit 42 is disposed between the ceiling and the light source unit 50.

[0092] When the suction unit 42 sucks in the air in the specified space, the fine particles floating in the specified space are diffused in the specified space by being sucked into the suction unit 42. The suction unit 42 may be configured, for example, by drawing a duct or the like from an existing exhaust facility.

[0093] In this manner, in the spatial arrangement control system 2 for fine particle groups according to the first modification, the suction section 42 serving as the diffusion section 40 diffuses the fine particle groups in a predetermined space by sucking in the air in the predetermined space. Therefore, by arranging the suction unit 42 at a point distant from the blower fan 41, the fine particle group can be diffused throughout the entire predetermined space.

[0094] In addition, since the suction unit 42 is disposed between the ceiling and the light source unit 50, a flow is generated that moves the particle group in an obliquely upward direction. Therefore, even if the particle group is slowly discharged from the nozzle 17 in the particle group generating unit 10, the particle group can be prevented from descending and can be easily spread in the direction of discharge from the nozzle 17.

[0095] (4-2) Variation 2 A description will be given of Modification 2. Modification 2 is an example having a dehumidifying function. Fig. 8 is an external view of a spatial arrangement control system 3 for fine particle groups according to Modification 2. 8, the spatial arrangement control system 3 of the particle group includes a particle group generating section 10, a recognition section 20, an irradiation section 30, a diffusion section 40, a light source section 50, a control section 60, and a dehumidification section 80. Among these, the configurations except for the dehumidification section 80 are the same as those in the first modified example, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0096] The dehumidifying unit 80 dehumidifies a specified space by sucking in mist as a group of fine particles floating in the specified space and air heated by infrared irradiation. The dehumidifying unit 80 may be used together with the suction unit 42 as shown in the figure, or may be used alone. The water collected by the dehumidifying unit 80 may be returned to the water storage tank 11.

[0097] The dehumidification unit 80 may be linked to air conditioning equipment such as heating and cooling to recreate an air environment that meets the user's needs. In this case, it is possible to add conditions related to temperature and humidity to the data input by the user to the control unit 60, and operate the system as one that also includes an air conditioning function.

[0098] In this way, the spatial arrangement control system 3 of the particle group according to the second modification has a dehumidifying function, which allows indoor humidity control. This makes it possible to adjust the air environment to suit the user's needs. In addition, by returning the water collected by the dehumidifying unit 80 to the water storage tank 11, it is possible to reduce water consumption.

[0099] (4-3) Variation 3 A description will now be given of Modification 3. Modification 3 is an example in which a particle group generating section 10B includes a UV germicidal lamp 81 (ultraviolet ray irradiating section) and a temperature adjustment mechanism 82. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the particle group generating section 10B according to Modification 3.

[0100] The fine particle group generating section 10 includes a water storage tank 11, a water supply tube 12, a water supply pump 13, an atomization chamber 14, a float switch 15, an ultrasonic vibrator 16, a nozzle 17, a UV germicidal lamp 81, and a temperature adjustment mechanism 82. The configurations except for the UV germicidal lamp 81 and the temperature adjustment mechanism 82 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0101] The UV germicidal lamp 81 sterilizes at least one of the particles (mist in this example) generated by atomization inside the housing and the raw material of the particles (water in this example) by irradiating them with ultraviolet light. The UV germicidal lamp 81 is disposed in a portion of the inside of the housing between the ultrasonic transducer 16 and the nozzle 17. In this way, by providing the UV germicidal lamp 81, it is possible to suppress the proliferation of microorganisms inside the generated particles.

[0102] The temperature adjustment mechanism 82 is provided at the bottom of the housing. A Peltier temperature adjustment method can be adopted as the temperature adjustment mechanism 82. The temperature adjustment mechanism 82 adjusts the temperature of at least one of the water, which is the raw material, and the fine particle group (mist) generated from the raw material. For example, by cooling the particle group, the influence of the temperature rise caused by the infrared radiation from the irradiating unit 30 on the outside air temperature can be offset.

[0103] In addition, by cooling the particle clusters, it is possible to avoid the problem of the particle clusters being easily lost under conditions of high outside temperature and low humidity. It is also possible to add a temperature and humidity sensor to part of the spatial arrangement control system 1 for the fine particle group, or to include a control to adjust the temperature of the mist according to the environment by receiving temperature and humidity measurement data from an external device.

[0104] (5) Other modifications It is also possible to use a ceiling designed to resemble the sky, or to project an image of the blue sky onto a large display and use it as a background. To simulate the night sky, a technology may be used that projects a starry sky or the like onto the ceiling or wall using a projector. An image projected onto the ceiling may be used as the background, and clouds may be generated in front of it.

[0105] To express various skies, lighting and structures that mimic rainbows, the sun, the moon, etc. can be added. For example, to generate a rainbow, the user can see the rainbow by irradiating white light with a wide wavelength, such as a xenon lamp, at an angle of 40 to 42 degrees from the user's line of sight, in accordance with the conditions under which rainbows occur in nature.

[0106] Additional effects can be obtained by adding active ingredients to the liquid that is the raw material for the fine particles. For example, by using hypochlorous acid water as the raw material, a mist with sterilizing and deodorizing effects can be generated. Additionally, aromatic ingredients such as essential oils, or ingredients that stimulate both the senses of taste and smell, such as the liquid used in electronic cigarettes, may also be used as raw materials.

[0107] By using liquids containing nanobubbles, microbubbles, or non-toxic microorganisms as the raw material for the mist, it is possible to give the mist functionality. For example, there is a known technology that gives the mist a long-lasting bactericidal effect by incorporating ozone as nanobubbles. In addition, by incorporating photosynthetic microorganisms such as algae into the mist, it is possible to expect the mist to have the ability to absorb CO2 and purify the air.

[0108] Instead of using ultrasonic vibration as the energy source for atomizing the liquid, a technology may be used in which pressurized air and water are simultaneously sprayed from a nozzle to generate mist. Alternatively, a technology can be used to create a large amount of mist by heating a liquid (such as a mixture of ethylene glycol and water) supplied from a tank and then discharging it while cooling it. It is also possible to use dry ice or the like that converts water vapor in the air into liquid droplets.

[0109] Instead of infrared radiation from the irradiating unit 30, heat radiation from a transparent film heater or a resin mixed with a far-infrared radiator such as carbon nanotubes or silica may be used. By arranging a thermal emitter in the shape of a wire frame in the spatial area where you want to generate artificial clouds, and emitting fog inside the wire frame structure, you can accumulate fog only in the area inside the frame.

[0110] It is also possible to provide a suction port at the desired position on the wire frame structure and remove the mist by suction. Instead of suction, dry air may be discharged only to the outer edge of the frame to remove the mist. Alternatively, a technique may be used in which a high voltage is applied to an electrode to generate a flow of charged particles, and the particles are removed. A voltage may be applied to a wire frame structure to remove the charged particles.

[0111] As the structure of the drive unit 31 that moves the recognition unit 20 and the irradiation unit 30, in addition to a pan-tilt type actuator, a robot hand or a motor control mechanism of a linear axis and a theta axis may be used. Furthermore, the recognition unit 20 and the irradiation unit 30 may be configured by arranging image recognition sensors and infrared irradiators in an array, and may recognize and irradiate a predetermined position by operating the image recognition sensor or infrared irradiator at the corresponding position instead of moving.

[0112] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. A spatial arrangement control system 4 for fine particle groups according to the second embodiment is used as a relaxation facility. Fig. 10 is an external view of the spatial arrangement control system 4 for fine particle groups according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, in the spatial arrangement control system 4 for fine particle group, the fine particle group generating section 10 is disposed below the irradiating section 30, and emits mist, which is fine particle group, so that the mist remains on the floor.

[0113] Therefore, mist can be discharged onto the feet of a user who is seated in a chair. By removing the particles by irradiating infrared rays near the user's feet, the diffusion of the particles can be stopped just before the user reaches the user. The infrared radiation heats and humidifies the air, improving the metabolism and promoting health, and moisturizing the skin. The trapped particles also have the appearance of a sea of ​​clouds, providing a visual effect when viewed from above.

[0114] <Other uses> Use as a humidifier or heater The steam and heat generated when removing the particles can be used as a humidifier or heater for viewing artificial clouds. By using infrared radiation when removing the particles, a heat sterilization effect can also be obtained.

[0115] - Use of microorganisms as air purifiers By incorporating microorganisms capable of photosynthesis, such as algae, into the microparticles, it is possible to give them the ability to purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. By making the water into microparticles, the surface area per unit volume of water can be maximized, maximizing the efficiency of gas exchange.

[0116] - Use of artificial clouds as stage decorations Artificial clouds can be used as part of the decoration at music concerts, amusement parks, etc. For example, clouds can be placed over the buildings of an amusement park to create a more fantastical space. Artificial clouds can also be added as additional decoration to objects that are viewed outdoors, such as cherry blossoms at a flower viewing party.

[0117] · Using clouds as 3D projectors The artificial clouds can be used as projectors to project advertisements and other images. Because the technology can generate denser particles in a fixed location than existing technology, it is possible to show clearer images to users.

[0118] Use in games and attractions It is also possible to use artificial clouds as an element to enhance the playability of a game, such as obstacles in a survival game. Since the present invention can generate artificial clouds in any position and shape, it is possible to create effects in the game, such as blocking the visibility of a target with artificial clouds, or gradually moving the position of the clouds to change the places with good and bad visibility over time.

[0119] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Furthermore, the above embodiment can be improved or modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the above embodiment and the modified examples can be combined.

[0120] The matters described in the above embodiments will be supplemented below.

[0121] (Appendix 1) a microparticle group generating unit that applies energy to a liquid or a solid from the outside to generate microparticle groups in a predetermined space; an irradiation unit that irradiates the particle group generated by the particle group generation unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a portion of the particle group,

[0122] (Appendix 2) The irradiation unit irradiates the particle group with infrared rays as the electromagnetic waves. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 1).

[0123] (Appendix 3) The particle group generating section includes an ultrasonic vibrator that generates the particle groups by atomizing the liquid with ultrasonic vibration. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 1).

[0124] (Appendix 4) A diffusion unit is provided to diffuse the particle group generated by the ultrasonic transducer into the predetermined space. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 1).

[0125] (Appendix 5) The diffusion unit diffuses the particle group generated by the ultrasonic transducer into the predetermined space by blowing air therethrough. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 4).

[0126] (Appendix 6) The diffusion unit diffuses the fine particle group into the specified space by sucking air in the specified space. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 4).

[0127] (Appendix 7) a recognition unit for recognizing the form of the particle group generated by the particle group generation unit; and a control unit that compares the shape of the particle group recognized by the recognition unit with shape information indicating the shape of the particle group to be molded, and controls the irradiation unit. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 1).

[0128] (Appendix 8) The control unit has a receiving unit that receives input of the morphological information, The control unit executes a process of prompting a user to select at least one of a cloud shape, a seasonal condition for cloud occurrence, a time condition, and a regional condition as the morphological information and input the selected information to the reception unit. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in (Appendix 7).

[0129] (Appendix 9) The irradiation unit has a drive unit that is driven under the control of the control unit. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to (Appendix 7 or 8).

[0130] (Appendix 10) The irradiation unit is integrally formed with the recognition unit. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to any one of (Appendix 7 to 9).

[0131] (Appendix 11) A plurality of the irradiation units are provided, The plurality of irradiation units are disposed at positions facing each other with respect to the predetermined space in which the particle group generating unit generates the particle group. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to any one of (Appendix 7 to 10).

[0132] (Appendix 12) A light source unit is provided that irradiates visible light onto the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in any one of (Appendix 1 to 11).

[0133] (Appendix 13) The light source unit illuminates a background that resembles the sky. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to (Appendix 12).

[0134] (Appendix 14) A dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the specified space is provided. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in any one of (Appendix 1 to 13).

[0135] (Appendix 15) The fine particle generating unit has an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays to at least one of the fine particle group generated by atomization and the raw material of the fine particle group to sterilize the fine particle group. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to any one of (Appendix 1 to 14).

[0136] (Appendix 16) The fine particle generating section is provided with an outlet for discharging the fine particle group generated by atomization, The outlet is covered with a porous filter. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles described in any one of (Appendix 1 to 15).

[0137] (Appendix 17) The fine particle generating unit has a temperature adjusting mechanism for adjusting the temperature of at least one of the fine particle group generated by atomization and the raw material of the fine particle group. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles according to any one of (Appendix 1 to 16).

[0138] (Appendix 18) The computer A first step of applying energy from outside to a liquid or a solid to generate a group of fine particles; a second step of irradiating the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a part of the particle group; A method for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles.

[0139] (Appendix 19) On the computer, A first step of applying energy from outside to a liquid or a solid to generate a group of fine particles; a second step of irradiating the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a part of the particle group; A spatial arrangement control program for the particles.

[0140] (Appendix 20) The computer A step of atomizing water by ultrasonic vibration; A step of blowing air onto the particles generated by atomizing the water, thereby supplying the particles toward a predetermined space; A step of recognizing a shape of the group of particles supplied to the predetermined space; A step of prompting a user to select at least one of cloud shape, seasonal conditions, time conditions, and regional conditions for cloud generation, and inputting the selected condition as morphological information indicating the morphology of the particle cluster; and comparing the recognized shape of the particle group in the predetermined space with the shape information, and irradiating the particle group with infrared rays to evaporate the particle group in order to remove and shape a portion of the particle group. A method for generating particles.

[0141] (Appendix 21) On the computer, A step of atomizing water by ultrasonic vibration; A step of blowing air onto the particles generated by atomizing the water, thereby supplying the particles toward a predetermined space; A step of recognizing a shape of the group of particles supplied to the predetermined space; A step of prompting a user to select at least one of cloud shape, seasonal conditions, time conditions, and regional conditions for cloud generation, and inputting the selected condition as morphological information indicating the morphology of the particle cluster; and comparing the recognized shape of the particle group in the predetermined space with the shape information, and irradiating the particle group with infrared rays to evaporate the particle group in order to remove and shape a portion of the particle group. A program for generating particle clouds. [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 1,2,3,4 Spatial arrangement control system for fine particle groups 10 Fine particle swarm generation section 16 Ultrasonic transducer 20 Recognition part 30 Irradiation unit 31 Drive unit (actuator) 40 Diffusion section 50 Light source section 60 Control section 70 Operation terminal 80 Dehumidification section 81 UV germicidal lamp (ultraviolet irradiation part) 82 Temperature adjustment mechanism

Claims

1. a microparticle group generating unit that applies energy to a liquid or a solid from the outside to generate microparticle groups in a predetermined space; an irradiation unit that irradiates the particle group generated by the particle group generation unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a portion of the particle group,

2. The irradiation unit irradiates the particle group with infrared rays as the electromagnetic waves. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 1 .

3. The particle group generating section includes an ultrasonic vibrator that generates the particle groups by atomizing the liquid with ultrasonic vibration. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 1 .

4. A diffusion unit is provided to diffuse the particle group generated by the ultrasonic transducer into the predetermined space. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 1 .

5. The diffusion unit diffuses the particle group generated by the ultrasonic transducer into the predetermined space by blowing air therethrough. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 4.

6. The diffusion unit diffuses the fine particle group into the specified space by sucking air in the specified space. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 4.

7. a recognition unit for recognizing the form of the particle group generated by the particle group generation unit; and a control unit that compares the shape of the particle group recognized by the recognition unit with shape information indicating the shape of the particle group to be molded and controls the irradiation unit. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 1 .

8. The control unit has a receiving unit that receives input of the morphological information, The control unit executes a process of prompting a user to select at least one of a cloud shape, a seasonal condition for cloud occurrence, a time condition, and a regional condition as the morphological information and input the selected information to the reception unit. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 7.

9. The irradiation unit has a drive unit that is driven under the control of the control unit. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particle groups according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The irradiation unit is integrally formed with the recognition unit. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. A plurality of the irradiation units are provided, The plurality of irradiation units are disposed at positions facing each other with respect to the predetermined space in which the particle group generating unit generates the particle group. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

12. A light source unit is provided that irradiates visible light onto the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit. A system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The light source unit illuminates a background that resembles the sky. The system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to claim 12.

14. A dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the specified space is provided. A system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The fine particle generating unit has an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays to at least one of the fine particle group generated by atomization and the raw material of the fine particle group to sterilize the fine particle group. A system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The fine particle generating section is provided with an outlet for discharging the fine particle group generated by atomization, The outlet is covered with a porous filter. A system for controlling spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The fine particle generating unit has a temperature adjusting mechanism for adjusting the temperature of at least one of the fine particle group generated by atomization and the raw material of the fine particle group. A system for controlling the spatial arrangement of fine particles according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The computer A first step of applying energy from outside to a liquid or a solid to generate a group of fine particles; a second step of irradiating the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a part of the particle group; A method for controlling the spatial arrangement of a group of fine particles.

19. On the computer, A first step of applying energy from outside to a liquid or a solid to generate a group of fine particles; a second step of irradiating the particle group generated by the particle group generating unit with an electromagnetic wave to remove a part of the particle group; A spatial arrangement control program for the particles.

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