Water droplet production system and water droplet production method

Abstract

To provide a water droplet production system capable of making water droplets shine more effectively. [Solution] The water droplet production system 100 comprises a water droplet generation device 10 that intermittently generates water droplets, and lighting means 20 that irradiates the water droplets with light at a predetermined cycle. The lighting means 20 has multiple lighting devices 21, 22 for each water droplet generation device 10, and the multiple lighting devices 21, 22 are arranged to irradiate light along the movement path of the water droplets. When one predetermined cycle is divided into multiple sections in time, the multiple lighting devices 21, 22 control the light emission state for each section.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water droplet effect system and a water droplet effect method, and more particularly to a system and method for irradiating intermittently generated, freely falling water droplets with light at a predetermined cycle, allowing a viewer to visually recognize afterimages of the water droplets, thereby creating the illusion that the water droplets are floating in the air. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, methods for producing water droplets have been proposed that utilize the afterimage effect that occurs when light is irradiated at a predetermined cycle onto water droplets that fall at regular time intervals. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for appreciating and observing artificial water droplets that flow continuously at regular time intervals by alternately irradiating them with multi-strobe light of two or more colors, causing the droplets to alternately shine in two or more colors.

[0003] Incidentally, Patent Document 1 uses multi-strobe light to make multiple water droplets alternately glow in two or more colors, but when focusing on a single water droplet, that droplet is merely illuminated in a single color. Therefore, the method described in Patent Document 1 makes it impossible to make a single water droplet glow in multiple colors. Furthermore, with the method described in Patent Document 1, all water droplets are perceived by the viewer as afterimages of the same size (specifically, the length in the direction of fall). Therefore, with the method described in Patent Document 1, it is also impossible to change the size of the afterimages of the water droplets that are visible to the viewer.

[0004] As such, conventional methods can only change the color of the water droplets, leaving the problem that viewers will tire of the effect if they view it repeatedly or for a long period of time. Therefore, the inventors of the present application have proposed a water droplet effect system and method described in Patent Document 2, with the primary objective of further increasing the flexibility of effects that utilize the afterimages of water droplets. The technology described in Patent Document 2 further divides the cycle of irradiating the water droplets with light into time segments, and controls the light emission state of the lighting device for each time segment. This makes it possible, for example, to make a single water droplet glow in multiple colors or to change the size and movement of the afterimage of the water droplet as seen by the viewer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 7-46522 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2022 / 190587 Brochure Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, the water droplet production system described in Patent Document 2, particularly in an embodiment in which light is irradiated along the movement path of the water droplets W as shown in FIG. 1, etc., has one lighting device provided for one water droplet generation device. However, with this configuration, the brightness of the light irradiated onto the water droplets may be insufficient, and the water droplets may not be able to shine sufficiently. Also, with this configuration, light can only be irradiated from one direction onto the line of freely falling water droplets, and depending on the position from which the water droplets are observed, the light reflected by the water droplets may be difficult to see. Furthermore, with this configuration, when capturing a single moment, the color of light irradiated onto the water droplets from the lighting device is limited to one color, which creates the problem of limiting how the water droplets can be made to shine.

[0007] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to improve the conventional water droplet effect technology and make the water droplets shine more effectively. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a water droplet production system. The water droplet production system according to the present invention comprises a water droplet generation device that intermittently generates water droplets, and lighting means that irradiates the water droplets with light at a predetermined cycle. Note that the cycle at which the lighting means irradiates the water droplets with light does not need to perfectly match the cycle at which the water droplet generation device generates water droplets, but it is preferable that the light irradiation cycle corresponds to the cycle at which the water droplets are generated.

[0009] Furthermore, in the present invention, the illumination means has a plurality of illumination devices for one water droplet generation device. That is, a line of water droplets is formed by intermittently generating water droplets one by one by one water droplet generation device 10, and a plurality of illumination devices are provided for this one line of water droplets. The number of illumination devices may be two or more, but it is also possible to have three or more. The plurality of illumination devices are arranged to irradiate the line of water droplets from different directions. Furthermore, these plurality of illumination devices are arranged to irradiate light along the movement path of the water droplets. For example, when water droplets freely fall from top to bottom, each illumination device irradiates the water droplets with light from top to bottom or from bottom to top. When one predetermined cycle is divided into multiple time sections, the plurality of illumination devices control the light emission state for each section. Note that controlling the light emission state for each section includes, for example, setting the light emission color (color tone and / or gradation) and brightness (light emission intensity) for each section, and controlling the light emission on or off for each section. The lighting device is not limited to one that irradiates the water droplets with polychromatic light, but may be one that irradiates the water droplets with monochromatic light.

[0010] As explained in Patent Document 2, time-dividing the light irradiation cycle can be considered as dividing the space through which the water droplets move during one irradiation cycle. Therefore, the space through which the water droplets move during one irradiation cycle can be considered a display, and the divided space can be considered pixels, the smallest unit of an image, allowing for the water droplets to be freely colored. Furthermore, water droplets illuminated by light remain as afterimages in the viewer's visual field. Therefore, according to the present invention, the afterimages of water droplets can be used to create highly flexible animations. For example, the range of effects that can be created using the afterimages of water droplets can be expanded by making a single water droplet glow in multiple colors, shortening or lengthening the size of the afterimage of a water droplet, or gently rising or descending the afterimage of a water droplet. Furthermore, by configuring the lighting device to illuminate the path of the water droplets, it is possible to create a presentation space in which illuminated water droplets fall, and people can even enter this presentation space.

[0011] The present invention provides multiple lighting devices for one water droplet generating device, as described above. By illuminating the same water droplet with multiple lighting devices, high-intensity illumination that cannot be achieved with a single lighting device is possible, allowing viewers to more clearly see the afterimage of the water droplet. Furthermore, by arranging multiple lighting devices in different directions, the water droplet can be illuminated from multiple directions, ensuring stable visibility regardless of the viewer's observation position. Furthermore, multiple lighting devices can simultaneously illuminate the water droplet with different colors of light within the same time period. In this case, more complex color expression can be achieved for a single water droplet, resulting in advanced effects that were previously impossible. Thus, the present invention improves the water droplet effect by cooperative operation of multiple lighting devices while maintaining the basic time-sharing control technology of Patent Document 2.

[0012] In the water droplet effect system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the multiple lighting devices irradiate the water droplets with light at synchronized timing based on a synchronization signal. For example, one of the lighting devices may generate a synchronization signal and transmit that synchronization signal to another lighting device via a synchronization signal line. Alternatively, a control device may generate a synchronization signal and transmit that synchronization signal to the multiple lighting devices via a synchronization signal line. In this way, precise timing control using synchronization signals between the multiple lighting devices prevents deviations in the light emission timing of each lighting device, and more accurately controls the light emission state for each section using time-sharing control. In particular, when multiple lighting devices coordinate to illuminate the water droplets in the same section or simultaneously emit light of different colors, deviations in light emission timing can significantly impair the effect of the effect. However, control using synchronization signals allows for stable, high-quality water droplet effects to be achieved.

[0013] In the water droplet presentation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the multiple lighting devices be capable of controlling the light emission color for each section. In this case, the multiple lighting devices may irradiate water droplets generated by a single water droplet generation device with light of the same color in the same section. It is preferable that the cycle at which the lighting devices irradiate the water droplets with light substantially matches the cycle at which the water droplet generation device generates the water droplets. Ideally, the light irradiation cycle should perfectly match the water droplet generation cycle, but an error of, for example, ±0.1 Hz is acceptable. By irradiating the same color light in the same section using multiple lighting devices, high brightness and vivid color expression are possible. In particular, irradiating the same color light from multiple directions can provide uniform and strong illumination to the entire water droplet, ensuring stable color visibility regardless of the viewer's viewing position. Furthermore, overlapping colors from multiple lighting devices improves color purity and saturation, providing the viewer with a more vivid and impressive afterimage of the water droplets.

[0014] In the water droplet display system according to the present invention, as described above, it is preferable that the multiple lighting devices be capable of controlling the light emission color for each section. In this case, the multiple lighting devices may irradiate water droplets generated by a single water droplet generation device with light of different colors within the same section. By simultaneously irradiating different colored lights within the same section using multiple lighting devices, new hues that cannot be expressed by a single lighting device can be created by mixing these colors. For example, if one lighting device can express 256 colors, mixing the light from multiple lighting devices theoretically allows for the reproduction of 256 x 256 colors. Furthermore, irradiating colored lights with different intensities from each lighting device can also achieve gradation effects and subtle color changes. Furthermore, irradiating water droplets with different colored lights from different directions can also impart a three-dimensional effect and texture to the water droplets. This allows for the provision of an impressive and captivating water droplet display to viewers.

[0015] The water droplet production system according to the present invention may include multiple combinations of water droplet generating devices and lighting means (including multiple lighting devices). In this case, all or at least two of the multiple lighting means may be in a non-light-emitting state during the same period. By providing a period in which multiple lighting means are simultaneously in a non-light-emitting state in this way, the difference in brightness between the light-irradiated and non-irradiated periods can be made clearer. This improves the contrast between the bright and dark areas in the water droplet afterimage, adding a sense of sharpness to the entire production. Furthermore, by effectively arranging the non-light-emitting periods, the water droplet afterimage becomes more impressive and easier to see for the viewer.

[0016] As described above, the water droplet presentation system according to the present invention may include multiple combinations of water droplet generation devices and lighting means (including multiple lighting devices). In this case, all or at least two of the multiple lighting devices may emit light of a color that does not contain at least one of the R, G, and B color components during the same period. In other words, during the same period, all of the multiple lighting devices may emit a color that does not contain the R component, a color that does not contain the G component, or a color that does not contain the B component. In this way, by simultaneously emitting light of a color that intentionally excludes a specific color component from multiple lighting devices, it is possible to prevent the resulting color from becoming close to white even when these lights are mixed. In other words, when light from multiple light sources mixes, the color may become pale or whitish, thereby impairing the intended vivid color expression. Therefore, by adjusting the color of light emitted from the multiple lighting devices as described above, such problems can be effectively avoided. This makes it easier to maintain the vividness of colors even when multiple lighting devices are used.

[0017] The water droplet presentation system according to the present invention may further include a water droplet receiver disposed on the path of water droplet movement. For example, the water droplet receiver is disposed at the most downstream position of the path of water droplet movement. Furthermore, the water droplet receiver preferably includes a sound-deadening member with a slope inclined relative to the path of water droplet movement. By providing the sound-deadening member on the water droplet receiver in this manner, the sound of splashing when falling water droplets come into contact with the slope of the sound-deadening member can be reduced. This allows for a quiet presentation environment. Furthermore, by preventing the water droplets from bouncing off, the sloped structure can also prevent the water droplets from scattering in unexpected directions. By preventing the water droplets from bouncing off in this manner, it is also possible to prevent the splashed water droplets from hitting the lighting device again and sparkling and reflecting light. This allows the viewer's attention to be focused on the falling water droplets.

[0018] In the water droplet presentation system according to the present invention, the water droplet receiver preferably further includes a tubular member arranged to surround the sound-absorbing member. The tubular member may be cylindrical, rectangular, or polygonal. Surrounding the sound-absorbing member with the tubular member in this manner prevents water droplets that bounce off the slope of the sound-absorbing member from scattering outside the tubular member. In particular, the bounced water droplets can be prevented from adhering to the lighting device or crossing the light path of the lighting device, thereby preventing the splashed water droplets from glittering and disrupting the presentation. This also has the effect of obscuring the light projected onto the floor. This allows the viewer's attention to be focused on the falling water droplets.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a water droplet effect method. The water droplet effect method according to the second aspect can be realized by the water droplet effect system according to the first aspect. In the water droplet effect method according to the present invention, water droplets are generated intermittently, and light is irradiated onto the water droplets along the path of the water droplets at predetermined intervals using a plurality of lighting devices. At this time, one light irradiation cycle is divided into a plurality of time sections, and the light emission state is adjusted for each of these sections. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] The present invention improves on the conventional water droplet effect technology and can make water droplets shine more effectively. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a water droplet production system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view mainly showing the arrangement of the water droplet receivers in the water droplet production system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view that schematically shows the relationship between the lighting unit, the nozzle for discharging water droplets, and the water droplet receiver, and FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the water droplet receiver. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the configuration of the water droplet effect system. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows the basic concept of the water droplet effect method. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an example of a water droplet effect. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a method for synchronously controlling a plurality of lighting devices that constitute a lighting unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows an example of control of the luminous color between a plurality of lighting units. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and includes appropriate modifications of the embodiments described below within the scope obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0023] Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of a water droplet production system 100 according to the present invention. Figure 1 is a side view of the water droplet production system 100, Figure 2 is a plan view mainly showing the arrangement of the water droplet receiver 40, and Figure 3 shows the positional relationship between the lighting unit 20, the nozzle 15 for discharging water droplets, and the water droplet receiver 40. Note that the embodiment shown in these figures is merely one example for carrying out the present invention.

[0024] The configuration of a water droplet production system 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the water droplet production system 100 according to the present invention includes a water droplet generation device 10, a lighting unit 20, a water droplet receiver 40, a grating 50, a louver 60, and a sensor 70. However, it is possible to remove the grating 50 to prevent people from entering the production space. Combinations of the water droplet generation device 10, the lighting unit 20, and the water droplet receiver 40 are installed in multiple locations across the front, back, left, and right. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the water droplet production system 100 also includes a control device 30. The water droplet generation device 10 intermittently generates water droplets W at a predetermined cycle. The lighting unit 20 irradiates the water droplets W generated by the water droplet generation device 10 with light at a predetermined cycle. The control device 30 is connected to the water droplet generation device 10 and the lighting unit 20 and controls the cycle and amount of water droplets generated by the water droplet generation device 10, as well as the cycle and light emission state of the light emitted by the lighting unit 20. The viewer visually recognizes the afterimage of the water droplets W illuminated by the lighting unit 20.

[0025] In the present invention, the lighting unit 20 has a plurality of lighting devices for one water droplet generation device 10. Specifically, the lighting unit 20 is configured to include a first lighting device 21 and a second lighting device 22. In other words, a line of water droplets is formed by intermittently generating water droplets one by one from the nozzle 15 of the water droplet generation device 10, and a plurality of lighting devices 21, 22 are provided for this line of water droplets. This configuration makes it possible to achieve high-brightness lighting that cannot be achieved with a conventional single lighting device, improved visibility through lighting from multiple directions, and complex color expression.

[0026] Preferably, one lighting unit 20 includes two or more lighting devices. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two lighting devices 21 and 22 are used. However, three or more lighting devices can also be used. These multiple lighting devices 21 and 22 are arranged to irradiate light along the movement path of the water droplets W. In the example shown in FIG. 1, since the water droplets W freely fall from top to bottom, the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 are arranged to irradiate the water droplets W with light from top to bottom. Furthermore, the multiple lighting devices 21 and 22 are arranged to irradiate the line of water droplets with light from different directions. Specifically, the optical axes of the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 are arranged to be inclined at different angles with respect to the falling direction (vertical direction) of the water droplets W. For example, the inclination angle of the optical axis of each lighting device is adjusted so that first priority is given to an angle at which light hits the entire water droplet. Furthermore, a light that is parallel to the falling direction of the water droplets has a larger angle of incidence, a higher reflectivity, and a more sparkling appearance. The tilt angle of the optical axis of each lighting device may be set, for example, within a range of 3 to 30 degrees, more specifically, within a range of 5 to 15 degrees. The angular difference between the optical axes of the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 may be set within a range of 5 to 30 degrees, and may be, for example, 5, 15, or 20 degrees.

[0027] The water droplet receiving device 40 is provided on the path of movement of the water droplets W, specifically at the most downstream position of the path of movement of the water droplets W. The water droplet receiving device 40 not only receives the falling water droplets W, but also has the function of reducing splashing noise and preventing the water droplets from bouncing back. The detailed configuration of the water droplet receiving device 40 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0028] The grating 50 has a lattice-like structure and multiple openings. The grating 50 is an optional element and can be omitted from this embodiment. The grating 50 is preferably positioned in the space between the water droplet generating device 10 and the water droplet receiver 40, closer to the water droplet receiver 40, and extends planarly across the performance space into which the water droplets W fall. The grating 50 is configured to allow the water droplets W to pass through its openings and reach the water droplet receiver 40 below. In other words, the grating 50 functions as a structure for guiding the water droplets W to the water droplet receiver 40 without impeding their fall. The width of the grating 50's lattice and the size of its openings can be set to dimensions that allow the water droplets W to pass through reliably. In addition, the grating 50 has a stepped structure on the audience side, allowing viewers to stand on it. This allows viewers to observe the water droplet performance near the area where the water droplets fall, providing a more immersive experience. However, it is not necessary for viewers to stand on the grating 50, and they can enjoy the water droplet effect even from a position away from the grating 50.

[0029] The louvers 60 are disposed near the lighting devices 21 and 22 and have the functions of controlling the directionality of light from the lighting devices 21 and 22 and blocking unnecessary light from outside. Specifically, the louvers 60 are disposed so that the light sources (light-emitting portions) of the lighting devices 21 and 22 are not directly visible to the audience. This prevents viewers from being dazzled by the strong light from the lighting devices 21 and 22, and provides a comfortable viewing environment. The louvers 60 also have the functions of controlling the directionality of light from the lighting devices 21 and 22 and blocking unnecessary light from outside.

[0030] The sensor 70 primarily serves to detect when a spectator touches a falling water droplet W. The sensor 70 is preferably an optical sensor or an infrared sensor, but other known sensors, such as a proximity sensor or a pressure sensor, can also be used. For example, when using an optical sensor, contact between a spectator and a water droplet can be detected by detecting the interruption of light or a change in reflection when a spectator's hand or body enters the path of the water droplet. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the sensor 70 is placed at an appropriate position within the water droplet production system 100, for example, near the path of the water droplet W. When the sensor 70 detects contact with a spectator's hand, for example, the sensor 70 can change the color or brightness of the light irradiated onto the water droplet W. It is also possible to coordinate and control multiple lighting units 20 to execute a performance pattern starting from the position where the spectator's hand touched the water droplet W. Specifically, it is possible to realize a performance in which the light is turned off sequentially from the front of the spectator to the back and then gradually restored, or a performance in which the color changes in a concentric pattern starting from the position where the hand touched the water droplet. This makes it possible to provide an interactive water droplet production that involves spectator participation.

[0031] The arrangement of the water droplet receivers 40 in the water droplet production system 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the water droplet production system 100 seen from above, mainly showing the arrangement of the water droplet receivers 40. The multiple circular elements shown in FIG. 2 represent the arrangement positions of the water droplet receivers 40. In this way, the water droplet production system 100 can be equipped with multiple water droplet receivers 40, and a line of water droplets falls one by one corresponding to each water droplet receiver 40. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the nozzles 15 of the water droplet generation devices 10 and the lighting units 20 (including multiple lighting devices 21 and 22) are arranged corresponding to the positions of each water droplet receiver 40. In other words, by indicating the arrangement positions of the water droplet receivers 40, the positions of the lighting units 20 and nozzles 15 can also be grasped. In this way, by providing multiple combinations of multiple water droplet production devices 10 and lighting units 20, large-scale and impressive water droplet production can be realized.

[0032] The detection area of ​​the sensor 70 is shown in a square frame on the right side of FIG. 2. The sensor 70 can detect the movement and position of the viewer within this detection area. This detection area is set to include two rows of water droplets that are close to the viewing area in a plan view. For example, if a viewer inserts their hand into the detection area or moves within the detection area, the sensor 70 detects this and, based on the detection result, can change the color of the light irradiated onto the water droplets W or execute a specific performance pattern using all of the multiple lighting units 20. This makes it possible to provide an interactive water droplet performance that allows the viewer to participate.

[0033] The relationship between the lighting unit 20, the nozzle 15 for discharging water droplets, and the water droplet receiver 40, as well as the detailed configuration of the water droplet receiver 40, will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the three-dimensional relationship between these components. As shown in Fig. 3(a), water droplets W are intermittently discharged from the nozzle 15, and the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 irradiate the water droplets W with light. The irradiated water droplets W are received by the water droplet receiver 40 arranged below.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3( a), the water droplet receiver 40 includes a cylindrical tubular member 41. This tubular member 41 is an important component for receiving water droplets W. For example, the tubular member 41 is arranged so that a lower portion (lower half) of the tubular member 41 is immersed in water and an upper portion (upper half) protrudes above the water surface. This arrangement prevents water droplets W that fall into the tubular member 41 from scattering outside the tubular member 41, even if they hit the water surface of the tubular member 41 and bounce back. This prevents water droplets that bounce inside the tubular member 40 from sparkling and reflecting off the outside of the tubular member 40, allowing viewers to focus their attention on the intended effect of the falling water droplets W. In addition, an opening is formed at the bottom of the tubular member 41 for water drainage. This opening allows water inside the tubular member 41 to drain to the outside, preventing the water level from rising inside the tubular member 41. The size of the opening is designed to ensure drainage function while sufficiently suppressing water droplets from bouncing back inside the tubular member 41.

[0035] Another feature of this embodiment is that the light diameter and the direction of the optical axis of the light emitted from the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 are controlled so that it illuminates only the inside of the tubular member 41 of the water drop receiver 40. In other words, the lighting devices 21, 22 narrow the light they emit to the inside of the tubular member 41, without illuminating the water surface outside the water drop receiver 40 or the surrounding area. This control of the light diameter and optical axis prevents the strong light from the first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 from hitting the water surface outside the water drop receiver 40, preventing the outer water surface from shining and causing diffused reflections. This prevents irregular reflected light from the water surface from entering the viewer's field of vision.

[0036] FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the water droplet receiver 40. The water droplet receiver 40 has the above-mentioned tubular member 41 and sound-deadening member 42. As described above, the tubular member 41 is a tubular member arranged to surround the falling water droplets W. The tubular member 41 may be cylindrical, rectangular, or polygonal. The sound-deadening member 42 is arranged inside the tubular member 41 and has a slope that is inclined with respect to the movement path of the water droplets W. The falling water droplets W come into contact with the slope of the sound-deadening member 42, thereby reducing the sound of the water droplets bouncing and preventing the water droplets from bouncing back. In addition, the tubular member 41 can prevent the water droplets that have bounced off the sound-deadening member 42 from scattering outside the tubular member 41.

[0037] The sound deadening member 42 is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the falling water droplets W (i.e., the direction of the water droplets falling). Adjusting this angle of inclination can optimize the sound deadening effect and the effect of preventing rebound. Specifically, the angle between the axis of the falling water droplets and the contact surface of the sound deadening member 42 is preferably set within a range of 5 to 45 degrees, and more preferably within a range of 10 to 30 degrees. It has been confirmed that an angle of 15 to 25 degrees is particularly appropriate. Within this angle range, the impact of the falling water droplets W coming into contact with the sound deadening member 42 is effectively dispersed, suppressing sound generation and minimizing rebound of the water droplets. Furthermore, the shape of the sound deadening member 42 is not limited to a linear shape, and it can also be curved as shown in FIG. 3(b). By adopting a curved sound deadening member 42, contact with the water droplets W becomes gentler, thereby enhancing the sound deadening effect. The curved shape may be, for example, a concave curved shape in the direction in which the water droplets fall, or a gentle S-shaped curve. With a concave curved shape, the impact of the water droplets W when they come into contact with the sound deadening member 42 is dispersed in stages, and by avoiding abrupt changes in direction, rebounding can be effectively suppressed. The radius of curvature of the curve is preferably set within a range of 10 mm to 100 mm, for example, and particularly preferably within a range of 20 mm to 50 mm.

[0038] The detailed configuration of the water droplet effect system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 particularly shows in detail the internal configuration of the water droplet generation device 10. As shown in Fig. 4, the water droplet effect system 100 mainly comprises a set of the water droplet generation device 10, a lighting unit 20, and a control device 30.

[0039] In the water droplet generating device 10, water is stored in a water tank 11, and the water in the water tank 11 is pumped up by a pump 12. When the pump 12 is operated, the water is supplied to a tank 14 located above the water tank 11 via a pipe 13 and temporarily stored in the tank 14. The tank 14 is connected to a nozzle 15, and the water in the tank 14 is discharged at a constant rate from the nozzle 15. Vibrations generated by a vibrator 16 are transmitted to the nozzle 15 via a vibration plate 17. As a result, when water is discharged from the nozzle 15, the nozzle 15 is vibrated by the vibrator 16 and the vibration plate 17, causing water droplets W (specifically, water droplets) to be intermittently sprayed from the outlet of the nozzle 15. The frequency at which the water droplets W are generated by the nozzle 15 depends on the vibration frequency of the vibrator 16. The vibration frequency of the vibrator 16 is preferably 30 to 100 Hz, and more preferably 55 to 75 Hz. The water droplets W sprayed from the nozzle 15 fall freely and are stored in the water tank 11. The water in the water tank 11 is pumped up again by the pump 12 and circulated within the water droplet generation device 10. The pump 12 and vibrator 16 of the water droplet generation device 10 can be controlled by the control device 30. The amount of water per water droplet W sprayed from the nozzle 15 can be controlled by adjusting the amount of water supplied by the pump 12. The cycle of water droplet W generation by the nozzle 15 can be controlled by adjusting the vibration frequency of the vibrator 16. The tank 14 is also provided with an exhaust valve 18 having a check valve structure, which exhausts air accumulated within the tank 14 to the outside. As a result, the tank 14 becomes a sealed system filled only with water.

[0040] The lighting unit 20 irradiates strobe light onto the water droplets W generated by the water droplet generation device 10 and falling through the air. In the present invention, the lighting unit 20 is provided with a plurality of lighting devices for one nozzle 15 of the water droplet generation device 10. Specifically, the lighting unit 20 includes a first lighting device 21 and a second lighting device 22. The first lighting device 21 and the second lighting device 22 are disposed near the outlet of the nozzle 15 of the water droplet generation device 10, and irradiate light onto the water droplets W along the falling path (movement path) of the water droplets W ejected from the nozzle 15.

[0041] Each of the lighting devices 21, 22 includes a plurality of light-emitting elements. It is preferable to use a multicolor light-emitting element including a plurality of LEDs as each light-emitting element. For example, it is preferable to use a full-color LED including at least three color LEDs, i.e., red, blue, and green. The light-emitting element may also be a four-color light source that adds a white LED to these three color LEDs. In this way, the lighting unit 20 is basically configured so that the lighting devices 21, 22 can simultaneously irradiate light onto a plurality of water droplets W falling through the air.

[0042] Furthermore, it is preferable to use a light source with a narrow luminous intensity distribution angle, such as a spotlight, as each light-emitting element of the lighting devices 21, 22. Specifically, the 1 / 2 luminous intensity distribution angle of the light-emitting element is preferably 3 to 5 degrees. In this way, by using multiple narrow-angle luminous intensity distribution light sources to illuminate the water droplets W, it is possible to precisely adjust the color of light irradiating each water droplet W. Furthermore, since the lighting unit 20 illuminates the water droplets W with narrow-angle luminous intensity distribution light sources, it is preferable to set the movement path of the water droplets W and the arrangement positions of the light-emitting elements close to each other. For example, it is desirable to make the distance between the movement path of the water droplets W and the positions of the light-emitting elements as close as possible.

[0043] Furthermore, the light-emitting elements of each lighting device 21, 22 are capable of controlling their light-emitting state (e.g., light color, brightness, ON / OFF) in time units shorter than the generation cycle of the water droplets W, for example, by high-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM). For example, if the generation cycle of the water droplets W is 50 Hz, the light irradiation cycle of each lighting device 21, 22 is also set to 50 Hz accordingly. If this 50 Hz (i.e., 20 ms) irradiation cycle is time-divided into 50 μs increments, it can be divided into 400 sections (pixels). The light-emitting elements can change their light-emitting state for each 50 μs section (pixel). Specifically, the light-emitting elements use four color light sources (red, blue, green, and white) for a 50 μs pulse to create a visual effect. The number of divisions into the light irradiation cycle (i.e., the number of sections) is not limited to 400 as described above and can be set as appropriate.

[0044] The control device 30 controls the water droplet generation device 10 and the lighting unit 20. The control device 30 includes a water droplet control device for the water droplet generation device 10 and a lighting control device for the lighting unit 20. A dedicated controller is used as the water droplet control device. The lighting control device controls the lighting unit 20. A general-purpose computer is used as the lighting control device. The lighting control device can comprehensively control the multiple lighting devices 21 and 22 that make up the lighting unit 20, or can control the light-emitting state of each lighting device individually. The light-emitting state of each section is controlled by the lighting control device. When a general-purpose computer is used as the lighting control device, the lighting control device includes, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), memory (main storage device), and storage device (auxiliary storage device). A predetermined program for controlling the water droplet effect is stored in the storage device, and the CPU loads and executes this program to control the operation of the water droplet generation device 10 and the light-emitting control of the lighting unit 20. This program includes control logic related to the timing of water droplet generation, the light-emitting timing of each lighting device 21 and 22, light-emitting color, brightness, and section settings for time-division control.

[0045] In this way, by dividing the space through which the water droplets W move for each light irradiation cycle into several hundred pixels, this space can be thought of simply as a display. Furthermore, by matching the water droplet W generation cycle with the light irradiation cycle, when considering the movement of the water droplets W's afterimages, it is no longer necessary to adjust the relationship between the water droplets W generation cycle and the light irradiation cycle; it is sufficient to adjust the light emission state of the time-divided intervals (pixels) of the light irradiation cycle. Therefore, it is possible to control the movement and color of the water droplets W's afterimages in the same way as a normal display, by manipulating each interval (pixel) to display an animation. This allows for highly flexible effects to be realized with simple settings.

[0046] Next, the basic concept of the water droplet effect method executed by the water droplet effect system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates, in one irradiation cycle T, the changes in the light emission state (strobe pulses) of the lighting unit 20, the behavior of water droplets, and the afterimages of water droplets visually recognized by humans. One irradiation cycle T is the period from start time 0 to end time t, and is, for example, approximately 10 to 100 ms (100 to 10 Hz). In particular, since the temporal resolution of the human eye is said to be approximately 50 to 100 ms, to achieve an afterimage effect, it is preferable to set the light irradiation cycle T shorter than the human temporal resolution. For example, one irradiation cycle T is preferably set to 10 to 50 ms. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the water droplet generation cycle i substantially coincides with the light irradiation cycle T. Note that the water droplet generation cycle i is proportional to the interval between one water droplet and the next.

[0047] In addition, one irradiation period T is divided into a plurality of sections p1 to p nIn the example shown in Figure 5, one irradiation cycle T is conveniently divided into 10 sections, but this number of divisions can be increased or decreased as desired. Furthermore, if the light irradiation cycle T and the water droplet generation cycle i match, by dividing one irradiation cycle T into multiple sections, the space through which the water droplets move during this irradiation cycle T can be regarded as consisting of multiple pixels, which are the smallest unit of an image. In other words, by controlling the luminous color, brightness, and ON / OFF of the light emission for each section (pixel), the water droplets W can be viewed as a display, and the color and movement of the water droplet afterimage can be freely adjusted.

[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 5, within one irradiation cycle T, the luminous color changes gradually from dark to light from interval p1 to interval p6, with the light emission being turned off in subsequent intervals. A water droplet falling downward within this irradiation cycle T is irradiated with light of each color from interval p1 to interval p6, but receives no light in subsequent intervals. Therefore, an afterimage of a water droplet irradiated with colored light from interval p1 to interval p6 within the irradiation cycle T remains in the human visual field. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, to the viewer, the afterimage of the water droplet appears to be elongated in the direction of the actual water droplet's fall and appears to be colored in a gradation. By utilizing this principle, a single water droplet can be made to shine in multiple colors, and the shape of the afterimage of a single water droplet can also be changed.

[0049] Figure 6 shows an example of a water droplet effect that applies the above principle. Assuming that the light irradiation cycle T and the water droplet generation cycle i are the same, Figure 6 focuses on the afterimage of a water droplet seen in one place and shows how the light irradiation cycle is repeated from the first irradiation cycle T1 to the seventh irradiation cycle T7. In the example in Figure 6, the viewer sees as if a single water droplet is floating in front of their eyes, expanding and contracting and moving up and down, but in reality, seven water droplets have passed in front of the viewer's eyes between the first irradiation cycle T1 and the seventh irradiation cycle T7.

[0050] That is, in the example of FIG. 6, in the first irradiation cycle T1, light is irradiated onto the water droplets from section p1 to section p6, but light is not irradiated in the subsequent sections. Hereinafter, the section in which light is irradiated onto the water droplets will be referred to as the "light-on section," and the section in which light is not irradiated onto the water droplets will be referred to as the "light-off section." From the subsequent second irradiation cycle T2 onwards, the light-on sections are gradually shifted to later sections, and the number of light-on sections decreases. Then, the light-on section is shifted to the final section p1 of the fourth irradiation cycle T4. 10 and their number becomes a minimum. From the fifth irradiation cycle T5 onwards, on the other hand, the lighting intervals are gradually shifted forward and the number of lighting intervals increases. Then, in the seventh irradiation cycle T7, the lighting intervals return to the same as in the first irradiation cycle T1. By repeating this process, as shown in Figure 6, the viewer sees a single water droplet floating in front of their eyes, expanding and contracting as it moves up and down.

[0051] It should be noted that the water droplet effect shown in FIG. 6 is merely one example, and by applying the principles of the present invention, it is possible to implement a wide variety of effects.

[0052] With reference to Fig. 7, a method for synchronously controlling a plurality of lighting devices according to the present invention will be described. In the present invention, high brightness and rich color expression are achieved by providing a plurality of lighting devices 21, 22 for one water droplet generation device 10, but in order for these multiple lighting devices 21, 22 to operate in a coordinated manner, it is important to precisely synchronize the light emission timing between the lighting devices. In particular, in the time-division control described above, to control the lighting devices to emit light synchronously in the same time interval or intentionally at different timings, sufficiently high-precision synchronization control is essential.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 7, the present invention provides a method for synchronously controlling a plurality of lighting devices, such as master-slave control. In this method, a synchronization signal is transmitted from lighting device 21 to lighting device 22 via synchronization signal line 23, and the light emission timing of each lighting device 21, 22 is controlled. The synchronization signal may be, for example, a clock signal, a trigger signal, a digital communication signal, or time information. The frequency of the synchronization signal is preferably set to correspond to the water droplet generation cycle or the light irradiation cycle, and can be set within the range of 50 Hz to 100 Hz, for example.

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates a leader-follower synchronous control system. In leader-follower control, one of multiple lighting devices functions as a leader / master (main control) and the other functions as a follower (slave control). For example, the first lighting device 21 functions as the leader, and the second lighting device 22 functions as the follower. The first lighting device 21 generates a synchronization signal using an internal timing circuit or clock generation circuit and transmits this synchronization signal to the second lighting device 22 via a synchronization signal line 23. The second lighting device 22 controls its own light-emission timing based on the received synchronization signal. In leader-follower control, the control circuit 21a in the first lighting device 21 generates a reference synchronization signal based on the water droplet generation timing signal or internal clock signal from the water droplet generation device 10. This synchronization signal can be, for example, a pulse signal corresponding to the water droplet generation cycle or a clock signal indicating each section of time-division control. The generated synchronization signal is used to control the light emission of the light-emitting unit 21b (light-emitting element) of the first lighting device 21 and is also transmitted to the second lighting device 22 via the synchronization signal line 23. In the second lighting device 22, the control circuit 22a receives a synchronization signal from the synchronization signal line 23 and controls the light emission timing of the light emitting unit 22b (light emitting element) based on this synchronization signal. The synchronization signal is transmitted by the driver of the lighting device set as the leader. This leader can be set freely. For example, if a malfunction occurs in the driver designated as the leader during operation, another driver can be immediately set as the leader.

[0055] It is preferable to select a control method by comprehensively considering the scale of the system, the complexity of the presentation, cost requirements, etc. Whatever the control method, it is preferable to set the synchronization accuracy to about several ns to several tens of ns, which makes it possible to realize precise light emission control in each section (for example, 50 μs) in the time-division control mentioned above.

[0056] Next, with reference to FIG. 8 , the light emission color control between the multiple lighting units 20 in this embodiment will be described. In the present invention, as described above, a large-scale water droplet effect can be realized by providing multiple combinations of multiple water droplet generation devices 10 and lighting units 20. However, when multiple lighting units 20 emit light simultaneously, the light from these units may mix, causing an unintended color change or a whitish color. In this embodiment, to solve such problems, coordinated control of the light emission color between the multiple lighting units 20 is performed.

[0057] FIG. 8 shows an example of luminous color control for two adjacent lighting units 20(A) and 20(B). The left and right sides of FIG. 8 show the illumination state of water droplets by different lighting units 20. After irradiating the water droplets, light from each lighting unit 20 is scattered around, which can easily cause light interference and color mixing between adjacent lighting units 20. Therefore, by appropriately controlling the luminous colors of adjacent lighting units 20, it is possible to maintain color clarity and improve the presentation effect. Note that while FIG. 8 shows only two lighting units 20 for convenience, this luminous color control technology can be applied not only to two adjacent lighting units 20 but also to all multiple lighting units 20 arranged in the same presentation space, for example.

[0058] The color notation shown at the bottom of Figure 8 represents the color specified using RGB values. Each color component (R, G, B) is expressed as a value between 0 and 255, based on 8-bit digital representation. 8 bits allow for 2^8 = 256 levels of gradation, allowing the intensity of each color component to be controlled within a range from 0 to 255. For example, 0 represents the complete absence of the corresponding color component (completely off), and 255 represents the maximum intensity of the corresponding color component (fully on). For example, (0, 255, 128) represents a color where the R (red) component is 0 (off), the G (green) component is 255 (maximum), and the B (blue) component is 128 (medium brightness). This digital control precisely controls the LED elements of the lighting devices 21 and 22, enabling the realization of a color representation of 256^3 = approximately 16.77 million colors. In the present invention, when multiple lighting units 20 emit light in the same time interval, these lighting units 20 are controlled to emit light of a color that does not contain at least one of the same color components among R, G, and B. This prevents the light from mixing from multiple light sources from becoming a color close to white.

[0059] A specific example of color component control shown in FIG. 8 will be described in detail. Note that the example shown in FIG. 8 is related to the time-division control shown in FIG. 5. In the example shown in FIG. 5, one illumination cycle T is time-divided into multiple sections p1 to pn. In the example shown in FIG. 8, these sections are simply reconfigured from the perspective of color control. Specifically, for each lighting unit 20, the illumination cycle is typically divided into four major sections: a first colored section, a second colored section, a third colored section, and a no-emission section. Furthermore, the first colored section, second colored section, third colored section, and no-emission section of each lighting unit 20 are fully synchronized. This synchronization allows all lighting units 20 in the presentation space to follow the same color component control protocol at the same time, thereby reliably achieving the intended color effect.

[0060] In the first colored section, all lighting units 20 in the performance space illuminate the water droplets with a "color that does not contain an R component." In the example of Figure 8, the left lighting unit 20 emits a cyan color of (0,255,255), and the right lighting unit 20 emits a green-blue mixed color of (0,255,128). Because the R component of both colors is 0, even when these lights mix, whitening due to the red component can be prevented. This protocol allows this first colored section to maintain a vivid blue-green color even in areas where light from multiple lighting units 20 overlaps.

[0061] In the second colored section, all lighting units 20 in the presentation space illuminate the water droplets with a "color that does not include the G component." In the example of Figure 8, magenta (255,0,255) or a red-blue mixed color (255,0,128) is used. By excluding the G component, even when light from multiple lighting units 20 is mixed, it is possible to prevent the color from being diluted or whitish due to the green component. As a result, the vivid reddish-purple color is maintained throughout the presentation space in this second colored section.

[0062] In the third colored section, all lighting units 20 in the presentation space illuminate the water droplets with a "color that does not include the B component." In the example of Figure 8, colors such as yellow (255,255,0) and orange (255,128,0) are used. By excluding the B component, even when light from multiple lighting units 20 mixes, it is possible to prevent the color from being diluted or whitened by the blue component. As a result, the third colored section maintains a vivid, warm color throughout the presentation space. In this way, by uniformly excluding specific color components in each colored section, it is possible to ensure consistent color quality throughout the presentation space.

[0063] During the non-lighting section, all lighting units 20 in the performance space are simultaneously turned off (0,0,0). Combining this non-lighting section with the three colored sections mentioned above gives the entire performance a clear rhythm and sharpness. In other words, the presence of the non-lighting section allows the viewer to perceive the colors in each colored section more clearly, making the color boundaries clearer. Note that the number of colored sections is not limited to three, and more colored sections can be added depending on the complexity and effect of the performance. For example, it is possible to add a fourth colored section that combines two specific color components, or a fifth colored section that controls a white color that includes all color components.

[0064] In this embodiment, each lighting unit 20 in each colored section illuminates the water droplets with a different color. For example, in the first colored section, the first lighting unit 20 (A) emits light at (0, 255, 255), while the adjacent second lighting unit 20 (B) emits light at (0, 255, 128). While following a common protocol in which both colors do not contain the R component, different hue and brightness can be set for each lighting unit 20 to create color variation within the presentation space. This technology avoids monotonous color expression while simultaneously preventing deterioration such as bleaching due to color mixing.

[0065] In this embodiment, the color component control described above cycles the color of the entire presentation space over time, changing in a cycle from red-green to red-blue to yellow-orange to off to red-green... Each of these colored and non-emission intervals is performed for an extremely short time (e.g., several tens of microseconds), shorter than human time resolution. However, humans perceive light as an afterimage. Therefore, even with these short-duration emission controls, a high-quality visual effect can be provided to the viewer by implementing a whitening prevention protocol and synchronizing each interval in each lighting unit. In other words, by simultaneously emitting colors that intentionally exclude specific color components from multiple lighting units 20, whitening can be prevented even when these lights are mixed, thereby maintaining color clarity. Furthermore, by synchronizing the non-emission intervals of multiple lighting units 20, a distinct light and dark pattern can be created throughout the presentation space, improving the viewer's visual impression. Furthermore, because each lighting unit 20 uses slightly different tones within each color system, a gradation effect can be reproduced within the presentation space.

[0066] The above-described light emission color control is not limited to control between two lighting units 20, but can also be applied to all lighting units 20 arranged in a presentation space. For example, in a system equipped with a large number of lighting units 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all lighting units 20 can simultaneously emit light in a color that excludes the same color component, thereby realizing a unified color expression throughout the presentation space. Furthermore, by dividing the lighting units 20 into groups and controlling the color components differently for each group, it is possible to reproduce more complex presentation patterns. Furthermore, by changing the color component control pattern over time, it is possible to realize dynamically changing presentations.

[0067] In the above description of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the contents of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in the present specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10...Water droplet generating device 11...Water tank 12...Pump 13...Piping 14...Tank 15...Nozzle 16...Vibrator 17...Vibration plate 18...Exhaust valve 20...Lighting unit (lighting means) 21...First lighting device 22...Second lighting device 23... Synchronization signal line 30... Control device 40...water droplet receiving device 41...tubular member 42...Sound-absorbing material 50...Grating 60...Louver 70...Sensor 100...Water droplet production system W...Water droplet

Claims

1. A water droplet production system comprising a water droplet generating device that intermittently generates water droplets and a lighting means that irradiates the water droplets with light at a predetermined cycle, The lighting means A plurality of lighting devices are provided for one of the water droplet generating devices, the plurality of lighting devices are arranged to irradiate light along a movement path of the water droplets, When one period of the predetermined cycle is divided into a plurality of time sections, the plurality of lighting devices control a light emission state for each of the time sections. Water droplet effect system.

2. The plurality of lighting devices irradiate the water droplets with light at synchronized timing based on a synchronization signal. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

3. The plurality of lighting devices are capable of controlling the emission color of light for each of the sections, and irradiate the water droplets generated by one of the water droplet generating devices with light of the same color in the same section. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

4. The plurality of lighting devices are capable of controlling the emission color of light for each of the sections, and irradiate the water droplets generated by one of the water droplet generation devices with light of different colors in the same section. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

5. The water droplet production system includes a plurality of combinations of the water droplet generation device and the lighting means, All or at least two of the plurality of lighting means are in a non-light-emitting state during the same period. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

6. The water droplet production system includes a plurality of combinations of the water droplet generation device and the lighting means, All or at least two of the plurality of lighting means irradiate light of a color that does not include at least one of the same color components among the R, G, and B color components during the same interval. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

7. The water droplet production system further includes a water droplet receiver arranged on the movement path of the water droplets, The water droplet receiver has a sound-deadening member having a slope inclined with respect to the path of movement of the water droplets. The water droplet effect system according to claim 1 .

8. The water droplet receiving device further includes a tubular member arranged to surround the sound deadening member. The water droplet effect system according to claim 7.

9. While intermittently generating water droplets, a plurality of lighting devices are used to irradiate the water droplets with light along the path of the water droplet at predetermined intervals; Dividing one cycle into multiple time periods and adjusting the light emission state for each period How to produce water droplets.

Images