Object levitation system and object levitation method

Abstract

We provide an object levitation system that enables visual effects that more strongly attract the audience. [Solution] A system for levitating an object F in an indoor space, wherein at least one wall surface 3 of the indoor space is painted with fluorescent paint, and a lighting device 80 is provided in the indoor space that directly or indirectly irradiates the wall surface 3 with excitation light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an object floating system and an object floating method for floating an object in the air. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for performing a visual effect using the entire indoor space, including floating an object.

Background Art

[0002] In the fields of entertainment and art, various visual effects are performed to provide a non - ordinary experience for the audience. As one of such effects, there is a known technique for providing a fantastical space experience by floating an object in a space while creating a specific atmosphere in the indoor space using lighting and video. To float an object in the air, for example, methods using air currents or magnetism are known.

[0003] The applicant of the present application has conventionally proposed an effect system for floating floating objects such as balls in the air by generating an air current in a predetermined space (Patent Document 1). Specifically, the effect system described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of exhaust devices and intake devices. Each of the plurality of exhaust devices has an exhaust port provided on the side surface of an air pillar provided at the four corners of the performance space. The exhaust direction of each exhaust port is set so that a swirling air current in the clockwise or counter - clockwise direction in plan view is generated in the performance space. The intake device is provided above the performance space and is configured to intake the air discharged from each exhaust port. Thereby, the effect system of Patent Document 1 can generate a tornado - like updraft in the performance space and float the floating object in the air by this air current.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, while the presentation system described in Patent Document 1 can make objects float by generating airflow within an indoor space, it did not consider the visual presentation of the indoor space itself in which the objects float. For example, Patent Document 1 does not disclose how the walls and ceiling of the indoor space should be presented, or what kind of atmosphere should be created for the entire indoor space, including the floating objects. Therefore, the presentation system in Patent Document 1 did not consider how to present the floating objects and the surrounding indoor space in an integrated manner.

[0006] Furthermore, the performance system described in Patent Document 1 uses ordinary lighting fixtures such as ceiling lights, moving lights, and floor lights to illuminate the floating object and its surroundings. When light is shone on a floating object using such ordinary lighting methods, shadows are created on the surface of the object and in the space around it. When shadows are created on the surface of an object, the audience can visually perceive the object's three-dimensionality and texture. As a result, it becomes visually clear to the audience that the object is a real object, and the impression that the floating object gives to the audience is limited.

[0007] Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide an object levitation system and object levitation method that enable visual effects that more strongly attract the audience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventors of the present invention diligently studied means to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and as a result, discovered that by painting the walls of the indoor space in which an object levitates with fluorescent paint and providing a lighting device that irradiates these walls with excitation light, the entire wall surface of the indoor space will emit light uniformly, making it less likely for shadows to be cast on the surface and surroundings of the object, thus creating a unique visually striking space. Based on this discovery, the inventors realized that the problems of the prior art could be solved, and thus completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention has the following configuration or process.

[0009] The first aspect of the present invention relates to an object levitation system for levitating an object in an indoor space. In the object levitation system according to the present invention, the means for levitating the object are not particularly limited, and for example, a method utilizing airflow, a method utilizing magnetism, a method utilizing an autonomous flight device such as a drone, or a method combining these can be employed. In the object levitation system according to the present invention, at least the walls of the indoor space are painted with fluorescent paint. "Fluorescent paint" means paint that emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light. The color of the fluorescent paint applied to the wall surface is preferably a single color, but the wall surface may be colored with two or more colors. Furthermore, the object levitation system according to the present invention includes a lighting device in the indoor space that irradiates the wall surface directly or indirectly with excitation light. "Direct irradiation" means that the excitation light from the lighting device is directly applied to the wall surface, and "indirect irradiation" means that the excitation light from the lighting device is first directed onto a reflective surface such as the ceiling surface before being delivered to the wall surface. It is also possible to use direct and indirect irradiation in combination. Furthermore, "excitation light" refers to light that can excite fluorescent paint and cause it to emit fluorescence, and light containing ultraviolet light (so-called black light) is preferred.

[0010] According to the object levitation system of the present invention, by irradiating a wall surface painted with fluorescent paint with excitation light from a lighting device, the entire wall surface can be made to emit light uniformly. Because the wall surface emits light uniformly, shadows are less likely to be cast on the surface of the levitating object or in the surrounding space. As a result, it is possible to give the audience a sense of unease, as if the object were not a real object, and to create a unique visual performance space that more strongly attracts the audience. Furthermore, the black light used as excitation light is light that contains ultraviolet light and is light that the audience cannot normally see. For this reason, even when excitation light is irradiated from the lighting device, the audience is less likely to be aware that the lighting device is on, and it appears as if the entire wall surface is faintly emitting light on its own. This makes it possible to create an unreal atmosphere in the room space. In addition, the fluorescent paint applied to the wall surface emits fluorescence when it receives excitation light, ensuring sufficient light in the entire room space. For this reason, the audience can sufficiently see their surroundings and the levitating object without having to separately install a normal lighting device that emits visible light in the room space. In other words, a normal lighting device that emits visible light is not required in the object levitation system of the present invention.

[0011] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the lighting device is positioned within the room space so as to indirectly irradiate the wall surface with excitation light. With indirect irradiation, the excitation light emitted from the lighting device reaches the wall surface via the ceiling or the like, so that the wall surface can be illuminated more uniformly. In addition, since the lighting device is less likely to be directly seen by the audience, the presence of the lighting device is less likely to be noticed by the audience, and an unrealistic atmosphere as if the wall surface is emitting light on its own can be more effectively created.

[0012] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the ceiling surface of the indoor space is also painted with fluorescent paint. By painting the ceiling surface with fluorescent paint, the ceiling surface, along with the walls, will emit light uniformly. This makes it possible to emit light uniformly over a wider area of ​​the indoor space, and makes it possible to reduce the occurrence of shadows around the levitating object.

[0013] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that 80% or more of the wall surface is painted with a fluorescent paint that emits fluorescence of the same color. By painting a large area of ​​the wall surface with a fluorescent paint of the same color, the luminescence color in the room can be unified. As a result, the color tone of the entire room becomes uniform, and shadows and color unevenness around the levitating object are less likely to occur, thus creating a more cohesive visual space.

[0014] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the wall surface is provided with multiple air outlets for blowing air into the room space. In this case, blowing air from these outlets generates a swirling flow in the room space, and this swirling flow can levitate an object. This levitation method using a swirling flow has the advantage of being able to levitate an object stably with a simple structure. In addition, by providing air outlets on the wall surface, it becomes unnecessary to separately install dedicated structures such as air pillars in the room space, and the room space can be kept with a clean and flat appearance.

[0015] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that air intakes are provided on the ceiling and floor surfaces of the indoor space. By drawing in air from the ceiling intake, an upward airflow can be formed within the indoor space, allowing the object to move upward or maintain its levitation. On the other hand, by drawing in air from the floor intake, a downward airflow can be formed within the indoor space, allowing the object to move downward. In this way, by controlling the amount of air drawn in from the ceiling and floor intakes, the levitating object can be raised and lowered vertically. This makes it possible to create a fantastical effect, for example, in which a large object slowly moves up and down within the indoor space.

[0016] In the object levitation system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the object is configured such that a gas is enclosed by a flexible outer membrane. Examples of such objects include balloons and balls. Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer surface of the outer membrane of the object has a visible light absorption rate of 96% or more. In other words, visible light emitted from fluorescent paint on a wall or the like is absorbed by the outer membrane of the object with high efficiency. The higher the visible light absorption rate of the outer surface of the outer membrane, the more light reflection from the surface of the object is suppressed, making it less likely for shadows to be cast on the surface of the object. This further strengthens the effect of giving the audience a sense of unease, as if the object were not a real object. Also, even if the object is spherical, if the visible light absorption rate of the outer membrane is extremely high, its three-dimensionality will be lost. As a result, the spherical object will appear to the audience as a two-dimensional circle, giving the impression that a hole like a black hole has appeared in the room. In this way, a more intense sense of unreality can be given to the audience.

[0017] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for levitating an object in an indoor space. In the object levitation method according to the present invention, at least the wall surface of the indoor space is painted with fluorescent paint. The object levitation method according to the present invention includes the steps of directly or indirectly irradiating the wall surface with excitation light using a lighting device (light irradiation step) and levitating an object in the indoor space (levitation step). [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, an object levitation system and method can achieve visual effects that more strongly attract the audience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an object levitation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of each device that makes up an object levitation system. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 shows an example of controlling the airflow when raising and lowering an object in the object floating system.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and also includes those appropriately modified by those skilled in the art within an obvious range from the following embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an object floating system 100 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, the flow of air is indicated by white arrows. As shown in FIG. 1, the object floating system 100 is a system suitable for performing a visual effect by floating an object F in the air within an indoor space mainly surrounded by a floor surface 1, a ceiling surface 2, and a wall surface 3. In this embodiment, the object floating system 100 generates a swirling flow in the indoor space by blowing air from a plurality of air outlets provided on the wall surface 3, and floats the spherical object F in the air by this swirling flow. Further, the object floating system 100 combines a fluorescent paint applied to the wall surface 3 and a lighting device 80 that irradiates excitation light to this fluorescent paint, thereby realizing a unique visual effect space using the entire indoor space. Further, the lighting device 80 includes an uplight 81 provided on the wall surface 3 and a downlight 82 provided on the ceiling surface 2. Each component of the object floating system 100 is integrally controlled by a control device.

[0022] The indoor space where the object F floats is configured as an immersive performance space where the audience can enter. Since the audience will be in the same space as the floating object F, they can experience the visual performance created by the object F more closely and directly. Also, in the object floating system 100, the configuration for generating airflow and the configuration for visual performance are designed to complement each other. Specifically, by embedding the air outlets in the wall surface 3, it is designed so that there are no extra structures in the indoor space, thereby enabling the entire wall surface 3 to be uniformly painted with fluorescent paint. Thus, in this embodiment, the floating system by the swirling flow and the lighting performance system by the fluorescent paint are integrally designed.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor space is configured as a space mainly surrounded by the floor surface 1, the ceiling surface 2, and the wall surface 3. In this embodiment, the indoor space is formed in a substantially circular shape (including a perfect circle and an elliptical shape) in plan view, and the floor surface 1 and the ceiling surface are in a substantially circular shape. Also, the wall surface 3 is configured as a continuous curved surface in the circumferential direction. By making the wall surface 3 a continuous curved surface without corners in this way, the swirling flow described later can be generated more smoothly in the indoor space. Also, since there are no corners on the wall surface 3, the wall surface 3 appears continuously integrated from the viewpoint of the audience, making it easier to visually recognize the entire indoor space as a more homogeneous light-emitting surface. Note that an entrance / exit for the audience is provided on the wall surface 3, and the audience can enter and exit this indoor space through this entrance / exit.

[0024] A fluorescent paint is applied to the wall surface 3. The color of the fluorescent paint applied to the wall surface 3 is preferably a single color, and in this embodiment, a red fluorescent paint is used. It is preferable that the wall surface 3 is painted with a fluorescent paint of the same color for almost the entire area except for the entrance / exit. Specifically, it is preferable that 80% or more, 85% or more, or 90% or more of the area of the wall surface 3 is painted with a fluorescent paint of the same color.

[0025] As a variation, it is also possible to paint the wall surface 3 in multiple colors. For example, the wall surface 3 can be divided into two areas vertically or horizontally, with the first area painted with a first color of fluorescent paint and the second area painted with a second color of fluorescent paint different from the first color. By painting in this way, it is possible to create a performance space with color variations in the vertical or horizontal direction, for example. However, in this invention, it is not recommended to draw pictures, letters, patterns, etc., on the wall surface 3 using fluorescent paint. If pictures or letters are drawn on the wall surface 3, they will be visible to the audience when the fluorescent light is emitted, making it difficult to see the entire wall surface 3 as a uniformly luminous surface. As a result, the audience's attention may be drawn to the pictures or letters, potentially impairing the immersive performance effect intended by this invention. Also, from a similar viewpoint, it is preferable that the fluorescent paint used on the wall surface 3 be three colors or less, or two colors or less.

[0026] Fluorescent paint is a paint that emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light. Fluorescent paint has the property of absorbing the energy of excitation light and emitting the absorbed energy as visible light of a specific wavelength. Commercially available fluorescent paints can be used, such as naphthalimide-based, coumarin-based, and rhodamine-based organic fluorescent compounds. As a binder (binding agent) for the fluorescent paint, resins such as acrylic, urethane, and epoxy can be used. Fluorescent paint can be applied to wall surfaces 3 and ceiling surfaces 2 by known painting methods such as brush painting, roller painting, and spray painting.

[0027] The color of visible light (fluorescent color) emitted from fluorescent paint varies depending on the type of fluorescent paint used, and various colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, and blue can be selected. In this embodiment, a fluorescent paint with a red fluorescent color is used. Red fluorescence, which is located on the longer wavelength side of the visible light wavelength range, easily creates a strong contrast with a black object F, which has a high visible light absorption rate (described later), making it easier to effectively create the visual impression that object F is a dark hole opened in the room space. In addition, the audience themselves will be enveloped in red fluorescent light, which can give them a deeper sense of immersion and unreality. For these reasons, it is preferable to select red as the fluorescent paint. Note that red fluorescent color means a color in the CIE Lab color space where the a value is 20 or more and the hue angle h* (=arctan(b* / a*)) is in the range of 330° or more or 30° or less.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ceiling surface 2 is also painted with fluorescent paint of the same color as the wall surface 3. Preferably, 80% or more, or 90% or more, of the area of ​​the ceiling surface 2 is painted with fluorescent paint of the same color as the wall surface 3. By painting the wall surface 3 and the ceiling surface 2 with fluorescent paint of the same color, the emitted color is unified from the sides to the top of the interior space, and a more uniform luminescence environment is realized around the levitating object F. 。

[0029] In this embodiment, the floor surface 1 is not painted with fluorescent paint, and the floor surface 1 is mainly composed of a black, specularly reflective flooring material. By using a specularly reflective flooring material for the floor surface 1, the levitating object F is reflected on the floor surface 1, and the object F and its mirrored image are perceived as a single unit. This makes it easier for spectators to recognize whether the object F is floating or in contact with the floor surface 1. It also makes it easier to intuitively understand the height at which the object F is floating. Furthermore, by making the floor surface 1 black, a contrast is created between the fluorescent colors of the wall surface 3 and ceiling surface 2 and the floor surface 1, which is expected to make the levitating object F stand out more.

[0030] In this embodiment, the lighting device 80 includes uplights 81 and downlights 82. The uplights 81 are arranged at multiple locations along the circumferential direction of the wall surface 3 near the top of the wall surface 3 and are configured to irradiate excitation light upwards (towards the ceiling surface 2) in the room space. The excitation light irradiated upwards from each uplight 81 reaches the ceiling surface 2 and then diffuses throughout the entire room space, allowing the excitation light to be delivered uniformly around the entire perimeter of the wall surface 3. In other words, each uplight 81 indirectly irradiates excitation light toward the wall surface. On the other hand, the downlights 82 are arranged at multiple locations along the circumferential direction of the ceiling surface 2 and are configured to irradiate excitation light toward the wall surface 3 in a so-called wall washer method. The wall washer method refers to a lighting method in which light is irradiated from the light source toward the wall surface, uniformly illuminating the entire wall surface. In other words, each downlight 82 directly irradiates excitation light toward the wall surface. In this way, by combining the upward illumination from the uplight 81 and the downward illumination from the downlight 82, the excitation light can be uniformly delivered across the entire height of the wall surface 3, allowing the wall surface 3 to emit light evenly.

[0031] As the lighting device 80, a light source capable of emitting excitation light containing ultraviolet light (so-called black light) can be used. Examples of such light sources include black light fluorescent lamps, black light LEDs, metal halide lamps, and high-pressure mercury lamps. Among these, black light LEDs are particularly suitable for this embodiment, where many are arranged on the ceiling surface 2 and wall surface 3, because they are small, consume little power, generate little heat, and have a long lifespan. When the excitation light emitted from the lighting device 80 strikes the fluorescent paint on the wall surface 3, fluorescence is emitted from the fluorescent paint. In particular, black lights mainly emit ultraviolet light in the UV-A region with a wavelength of 315 nm to less than 400 nm, and contain almost no visible light (wavelength approximately 380 nm to 780 nm). Therefore, it is difficult for the audience to be aware that the lighting device 80 is lit, and it is possible to give the audience the impression that the wall surface 3 is emitting light on its own.

[0032] As a variation, it is also possible to provide a cove formed by a recess or overhang near the upper end of the wall surface 3, and to place the lighting device 80 inside this cove. When the lighting device 80 is housed inside the cove, the lighting device 80 is completely hidden from the viewer's line of sight, which has the advantage that the presence of the lighting device 80 is almost invisible to the viewer. In addition, by irradiating excitation light from the lighting device 80 inside the cove upwards into the room space, the excitation light can be uniformly delivered to the entire wall surface 3 via the ceiling surface 2. In this case, it is preferable to paint the inner surface of the cove with fluorescent paint, which allows for more uniform diffusion of excitation light and fluorescence from inside the cove into the room space.

[0033] Object F is a spherical object constructed such that a gas is contained within a flexible outer membrane. The gas used to fill the interior of object F can be, for example, a mixture of air and helium gas. Since helium gas is lighter than air, the buoyancy of the entire object F can be controlled by adjusting the proportion of helium gas inside it. Specifically, it is preferable to adjust the mixing ratio of air and helium gas so that the buoyancy of the internal gas supports the weight of the outer membrane while making it easier for object F to remain at a predetermined height within the room. If only helium gas is used, the buoyancy becomes excessive, causing object F to rise too far towards the ceiling surface 2. Therefore, by mixing air and helium gas in an appropriate ratio, object F can be more stably levitated at a predetermined height in combination with the swirling flow described later. The size of object F is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, where spectators enter the room to experience it, making it approximately the same height as or greater than the spectators' height further emphasizes the presence of object F. The size of object F is preferably, for example, 2 to 25 m in diameter, and particularly preferably 5 to 20 m or 12 to 18 m.

[0034] Object F is preferably configured as a two-layer structure consisting of an inner membrane and an outer membrane. The inner membrane functions as an airtight layer for sealing the mixed gas of helium and air, and can be formed from a material with excellent airtightness and flexibility, such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). The outer membrane is provided to cover the outside of the inner membrane, providing a visual effect and protecting the inner membrane from external friction and impact.

[0035] The outer film of object F is formed from a flexible material. Examples of materials that can be used to form the outer film include silicone, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride. Among these, silicone is particularly suitable as an outer film material because it exhibits excellent flexibility and durability, and is easy to form into a thin, uniform film.

[0036] The outer surface of the outer film of object F is formed of a material with high visible light absorption. Specifically, the visible light absorption of the outer surface is preferably 96% or higher, and particularly preferably 99% or higher. Here, "visible light absorption" refers to the absorption rate of light in the visible light range with wavelengths from 380 nm to 780 nm, and is defined as visible light absorption = 1 - reflectance (diffuse reflectance + specular reflectance). Visible light absorption can be determined, for example, by reflectance measurement using a spectrophotometer and an integrating sphere, and can be measured by a method compliant with JIS Z 8722 (Method for measuring object color), etc.

[0037] To achieve such a high visible light absorption rate, the following materials can be used, for example. Firstly, napped materials such as velvet or moquette, which have a surface made of fine fibers, can be used. In napped materials, light undergoes multiple reflections between the fine fibers on the surface, so most of the incident light is absorbed by the fibers, and external reflection is extremely low. Secondly, by applying or coating an ultra-high absorption rate material using carbon nanotubes (so-called Vantablack, etc.) to the surface of the outer film, a visible light absorption rate of over 99% can be achieved. Thirdly, it is also possible to apply an ultra-black paint with a fine uneven surface structure (for example, a paint containing an ultra-high absorption rate pigment such as Black 3.0) to the outer surface of the outer film. These materials may be used individually or in combination.

[0038] Thus, when the walls 3 and ceiling 2 of the interior space are filled with a uniform fluorescent color (for example, red), and a black object F with an extremely high visible light absorption rate floats in the air, almost no light is reflected from the surface of object F. Therefore, object F is perceived by the audience as a dark hole in the uniformly luminous interior space, or a black hole. Because the audience cannot visually perceive the three-dimensionality or texture of object F, it becomes difficult to recognize that object F is a real object, allowing them to experience a stronger sense of unreality. Furthermore, because object F is spherical, the same circular outline is visible regardless of the direction from which it is observed within the interior space, thus providing a consistent visual effect regardless of the audience's position. In addition, if the floor surface 1 is made of a specularly reflective material, the floating object F and its mirror image are perceived as a single unit, further emphasizing the presence of object F.

[0039] Next, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the airflow generation mechanism for levitating object F will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the object levitation system 100 according to this embodiment includes a first outlet row 10, a second outlet row 20, a third outlet row 30, and a fourth outlet row 40 provided on the wall surface 3. The first to fourth outlet rows 10 to 40 are arranged at approximately equal intervals (approximately 90° intervals) along the circumferential direction of the wall surface 3 and are each embedded in the wall surface 3. By embedding the outlet rows in the wall surface 3, there is no need to separately provide dedicated structures such as air pillars in the indoor space, and the appearance of the wall surface 3 can be kept neat and flat. As a result, no obstacles are created that would interfere with the emission of fluorescent paint applied to the wall surface 3, thus achieving a design in which the lighting effect and the airflow generation mechanism do not interfere with each other. Note that the number of outlet rows is not limited to four, and may be two, three, or five or more, for example. For example, if there are two rows of outlets, they can be arranged at approximately 180° intervals along the circumferential direction of the wall surface 3, and if there are three rows of outlets, they can be arranged at approximately 120° intervals. The number and arrangement of the rows of outlets can be appropriately set according to the size and shape of the room space and the strength of the swirling flow required to lift object F.

[0040] The first to fourth rows of air outlets 10 to 40 each have a similar configuration. The first row of air outlets 10 will be used as an example for explanation below. The first row of air outlets 10 is composed of multiple nozzle-type air outlets 11 arranged vertically along the height direction of the wall surface 3. Each nozzle-type air outlet 11 is configured as a variable-direction nozzle whose airflow direction can be changed by electronic control. Specifically, each nozzle-type air outlet 11 has a structure in which a nozzle body with a circular air outlet is supported by a ball joint mechanism or gimbal mechanism so as to be rotatable around multiple axes. By changing the orientation of this nozzle body with a drive mechanism such as a servo motor, the direction of the blown air can be controlled independently in the horizontal and vertical directions. The adjustment range of the airflow direction by the air outlet 11 can be, for example, ±30 degrees to ±90 degrees in the up, down, left, and right directions with respect to the central axis of the nozzle. This makes it possible to flexibly change the airflow pattern generated in the indoor space.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the airflow generation mechanism further comprises a blower 12 and an exhaust damper 13 for the first row of outlets 10. The blower 12 is a device for supplying air (preferably compressed air) to each nozzle-type outlet 11, and is a blower including a fan or blower. The blower 12 is configured to pressurize the air it draws in and send it out to each nozzle-type outlet 11. There may be one blower 12 or multiple blowers 12. For example, one blower 12 can be provided for multiple nozzle-type outlets 11 in the first row of outlets 10, and air can be supplied to each nozzle-type outlet 11 via a duct branched from this blower 12. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a blower 12 individually for each nozzle-type outlet 11. The location of the blower 12 is not particularly limited; for example, it can be installed behind a wall 3, in the ceiling, or in a separate room, and air can be supplied to each nozzle-type outlet 11 via a duct. The exhaust damper 13 is a device for individually adjusting the airflow rate of each nozzle-type outlet 11, and has a movable valve body located in a duct connected to the nozzle-type outlet 11. The exhaust damper 13 can individually control the airflow rate from each nozzle-type outlet 11 by adjusting the opening degree of the valve body using an electric motor or electric actuator. The second outlet row 20, the third outlet row 30, and the fourth outlet row 40 are also equipped with nozzle-type outlets 11, blowers 12, and exhaust dampers 13, similar to the first outlet row 10.

[0042] It is also possible to configure the system so that the blower 12 is shared among multiple outlet rows, from the first outlet row 10 to the fourth outlet row 40. In this case, ducts extending from one or more blowers 12 can be branched out toward each outlet row, supplying air to the nozzle-type outlets 11 of each outlet row. By providing exhaust dampers 13 in each branch duct, the air supplied from the shared blower 12 can be distributed to each outlet row while individually adjusting the airflow rate.

[0043] Each nozzle-type air outlet 11 in the first to fourth air outlet rows 10 to 40 is set to blow air in a tangential direction in the circumferential direction of the interior space when viewed from above. In other words, the air blown out from each air outlet row flows along the wall surface 3 and forms a vortex centered on object F. As a result, the air blown out from each air outlet row forms a swirling flow in the same direction within the interior space. Due to this swirling flow, object F, which floats near the center of the interior space, is held stably in the air by riding on the swirling flow. Furthermore, by individually controlling the airflow direction of each nozzle-type air outlet 11, the strength and shape of the swirling flow can be changed, and the floating position and movement of object F can be adjusted.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, an upper air intake 50 is provided on the ceiling surface 2. The upper air intake 50 is located near the center of the interior space on the ceiling surface 2 and is configured to draw in air from the ceiling surface 2 side. It is preferable to provide a grill or guard on the upper air intake 50 to prevent objects F from being drawn into the air intake. The grill has a structure in which multiple rod-shaped members are combined in a grid pattern, and the spacing between the grids is set to be smaller than the size of the object F. This makes it possible to prevent objects F from being drawn into the upper air intake 50 while maintaining the air intake function.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the airflow generation mechanism includes an intake device 51 and an intake damper 52 for the upper air intake port 50. The intake device 51 is a suction device including a fan or blower, and is configured to draw air from the indoor space through the upper air intake port 50 and discharge it to the outside. The location of the intake device 51 is not particularly limited; for example, it can be installed in the ceiling space or another room and connected to the upper air intake port 50 via a duct. The air drawn in by the intake device 51 may be discharged outdoors via a duct, or it may be sent to the blower 12 for reuse. The intake damper 52 has a movable valve body located in the duct connected to the upper air intake port 50, and the amount of air drawn in from the upper air intake port 50 can be controlled by adjusting the opening of the valve body with an electric motor or electric actuator.

[0046] On the other hand, a lower air intake port 60 is provided on the floor surface 1. The lower air intake port 60 is located near the center of the room space on the floor surface 1 and is configured to draw in air from the floor surface 1 side within the room space. It is preferable to provide a grill or guard on the lower air intake port 60, similar to the upper air intake port 50. The lower air intake port 60 is also equipped with an intake device 51 and an intake damper 52, similar to the upper air intake port 50, and the amount of air drawn in from the lower air intake port 60 can be independently controlled by adjusting the opening of the intake damper 52. Although not shown in Figure 2, it is fundamental to provide the intake device 51 and intake damper 52 for the lower air intake port 60 separately from those for the upper air intake port 50. However, in order to reduce equipment costs and the number of components, it is also possible to use a configuration in which the intake device 51 and intake damper 52 are shared between the upper air intake port 50 and the lower air intake port 60.

[0047] The upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60 are controlled independently by a control device 90, which will be described later. By drawing air in from the upper air intake 50, an upward airflow is formed in the room, allowing the object F to move upward or maintain its buoyancy. On the other hand, by drawing air in from the lower air intake 60, a downward airflow is formed in the room, allowing the object F to move downward. It is also possible to draw air in from both the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60 simultaneously. In this case, the upward and downward airflows are balanced in the room, allowing the object F to be kept stably buoyant near the center of the room's height. In this way, by independently controlling the amount of air drawn in from the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60, it is possible to move the object F up and down or hold it at a desired height while maintaining a buoyant state due to a swirling flow.

[0048] Furthermore, it is preferable that the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60 are arranged on the same axis in the vertical direction, that is, that the upper air intake 50 is positioned directly above the lower air intake 60. By arranging the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60 on the same axis in the vertical direction, both the rising and falling airflows are formed along the same vertical axis, so that the airflow in the vertical direction can act symmetrically and uniformly on the object F. This makes it possible to control the vertical movement of the object F more precisely without disturbing its horizontal position. In addition, it is preferable to provide one upper air intake 50 and one lower air intake 60. If the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60 are distributed to multiple locations, the airflows generated from each intake may interfere with each other, potentially disturbing the swirling flow. In contrast, by consolidating the air intakes to a single location, it is possible to concentrate the airflow towards the center of the room, allowing for stable control of the raising and lowering of object F without disrupting the swirling flow.

[0049] The object levitation system 100 includes object detection sensors 70 for detecting the position of object F and / or the position of spectators within the indoor space. As shown in Figure 1, the object detection sensors 70 are installed near the top of the wall surface 3 and multiple sensors are positioned to provide a view of the entire indoor space. For example, optical sensors such as TOF (Time Of Flight) sensors can be used as object detection sensors 70. TOF sensors emit pulsed laser light, such as infrared light, from a light-emitting element and measure the time it takes for this laser light to reflect off object F or spectators and return to the light-receiving element, thereby obtaining the distance from the sensor to the detected object and the coordinate information of the detected object within the indoor space. It is also possible to use an image sensor as the object detection sensor 70, and by capturing images of the indoor space with a camera, the position and movement of object F and spectators can be detected through image analysis. It is also possible to use a combination of these.

[0050] The detection information from the object detection sensor 70 is transmitted to the control device 90. Based on the detection information from the object detection sensor 70, the control device 90 can determine the position coordinates of object F and the positions of the audience in the indoor space in real time. Based on the position information of object F, the control device 90 controls the airflow direction and volume of the nozzle-type air outlets 11 in each row of air outlets, the suction volume of the upper air intake 50 and the lower air intake 60, and integrates the control of each device so that object F continues to float in an appropriate position in the indoor space. The control device 90 can also change the control content of each device based on the position information of the audience. For example, if the audience is concentrated in a specific location in the indoor space, the airflow direction and volume of each row of air outlets can be adjusted so that object F does not get too close to the audience, thereby ensuring safety while continuing the performance.

[0051] As shown in Figure 2, the object levitation system 100 includes a control device 90. The control device 90 can be configured as a known computer equipped with an arithmetic processing unit (CPU and / or a processor such as a GPU), a storage device (memory), and an input / output interface. The storage device of the control device 90 stores a control program for controlling the object levitation system 100. The arithmetic processing unit of the control device 90 analyzes the detection information from the object detection sensor 70 by executing this control program and generates control signals for each device. The control device 90 is connected to each device via a wired or wireless communication line. The control device 90 may be configured as a single computer or as a distributed processing system combining multiple computers.

[0052] The control device 90 integrally controls the first to fourth rows of air outlets 10 to 40, the upper air intake 50, the lower air intake 60, the object detection sensor 70, and the lighting device 80. Specifically, the control device 90 transmits on / off and airflow adjustment commands to the blowers 12 of each row of air outlets. The control device 90 also transmits airflow direction adjustment commands to the drive mechanisms, such as servo motors, of the variable-direction nozzles provided in each nozzle-type air outlet 11, thereby individually controlling the direction of airflow from each nozzle-type air outlet 11. Furthermore, the control device 90 transmits opening adjustment commands to the electric motor or electric actuator of the exhaust damper 13, thereby individually controlling the airflow from each nozzle-type air outlet 11. For the upper air intake port 50 and the lower air intake port 60, the control device 90 transmits on / off commands to the intake device 51 for operation and adjustment of the suction volume, and also controls the amount of suction from the upper air intake port 50 and the lower air intake port 60 individually by adjusting the opening of the intake damper 52. For the lighting device 80, the control device 90 can control the on / off of the excitation light and adjust the light intensity.

[0053] One example of a control method by the control device 90 is to pre-program the control device 90 with conditions for the operation of each device in conjunction with the coordinate values ​​of the object F detected by the object detection sensor 70. Basically, the control device 90 controls the blowers 12 and intake devices 51 of each row of outlets so that the object F continues to float at a predetermined height in the room (floating control mode). The control device 90 also controls the blowers 12 and intake devices 51 of each row of outlets so that the object F rises or falls (lifting / lowering mode). Furthermore, if the control device 90 detects that the object F has moved more than a certain distance away from the center of the room based on information from the object detection sensor 70, it can also control the object F to return to the center by adjusting the airflow direction and volume of each nozzle-type outlet 11 and the suction volume of the intake device 51 (return control mode). The control device 90 integrally controls each device by switching between multiple control phases, including a phase to raise object F, a phase to maintain it at a predetermined height, and a phase to lower object F, depending on the levitation state of object F. Details of these control phases will be described later with reference to Figure 3.

[0054] Furthermore, the control processing by the control device 90 can also be implemented using machine learning such as artificial neural networks (deep learning, etc.) or reinforcement learning. For example, deep learning may be performed using a dataset of the operation of the blowers 12 and intake devices 51 of each outlet row and the resulting changes in the state of object F as training data, and the resulting trained model may be used for the control processing of the control device 90. In addition, when implementing reinforcement learning, rewards can be given when object F is stably floating in an appropriate position in the indoor space, or when object F is rising or falling appropriately, and each device can be controlled in a way that maximizes the reward. By using machine learning in this way, the behavior of object F, which changes in response to changes in the indoor environment (for example, turbulence in airflow or movement of spectators, etc.), can be efficiently optimized.

[0055] The raising and lowering control of object F will be explained with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 3, the airflow is indicated by white arrows, and the movement of object F is indicated by black arrows. As mentioned earlier, Figure 1 showed object F floating near the center of the height direction of the room space (mid-level). In contrast, Figure 3(a) shows an example of airflow control when raising object F from the mid-level and maintaining it at the high level. Figure 3(b) shows an example of airflow control when lowering object F and maintaining it at the low level. In this embodiment, three target heights, high level, mid-level, and low level, are set in the control device 90, and the control device 90 controls the raising and lowering of object F between these levels. These target heights are not fixed and can be set arbitrarily according to the intention of the performance. In addition, in all phases, it is preferable to continuously blow air from each nozzle-type outlet 11 of the first outlet row 10 to the fourth outlet row 40 and to always maintain a swirling flow in the room space. By maintaining a swirling flow, it is possible to stabilize the horizontal position of object F while controlling its vertical movement.

[0056] In the rising phase (Figure 3(a)), the control device 90 increases the suction volume of the intake device 51 at the upper intake port 50 to create a strong upward airflow in the room, moving the object F upward. At this time, by setting the suction volume of the lower intake port 60 to be smaller than that of the upper intake port 50, or by stopping the suction, the upward airflow becomes dominant in the room, allowing the object F to rise efficiently. When the object detection sensor 70 detects that the object F has reached a high level, the control device 90 switches to a control that balances the suction volumes of the upper intake port 50 and the lower intake port 60, maintaining the object F at a high level.

[0057] In the descent phase (Figure 3(b)), the control device 90 increases the suction volume of the intake device 51 at the lower intake port 60 to create a strong downward airflow in the room, moving the object F downward. At this time, by setting the suction volume of the upper intake port 50 to be smaller than that of the lower intake port 60, or by stopping the suction, the downward airflow becomes dominant in the room, allowing the object F to descend efficiently. When the object detection sensor 70 detects that the object F has reached the middle or low level, the control device 90 switches to a control that balances the suction volumes of the upper intake port 50 and the lower intake port 60, maintaining the object F at that level.

[0058] In this way, the control device 90 adjusts the suction volume of the upper intake port 50 and the lower intake port 60, allowing the object F to slowly rise and fall between, for example, a high level, a medium level, and a low level while maintaining a stable buoyancy state due to the swirling flow. Furthermore, the speed at which the object F rises and falls can be controlled by adjusting the rate at which the suction volume of the intake device 51 is increased or decreased. For example, by gradually increasing the suction volume, the object F can be raised and lowered slowly, and by rapidly increasing the suction volume, the object F can be raised and lowered quickly. In this way, it is possible to vary the speed of the movement of the object F according to the intent of the performance. Moreover, it is possible to make the object F descend from a high level to a low level in one go without stopping at a medium level, and conversely, it is also possible to make it rise from a low level to a high level in one go. In addition, it is possible to make a difference between the speed at which the object F rises and the speed at which it falls. For example, it is possible to create a performance in which a huge object F rapidly rises through the room space, stops at a high level, and then slowly and rapidly descends to a low level.

[0059] In the embodiments described above, an example was explained in which a single large spherical object F is levitated in an indoor space by a swirling flow, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to levitate multiple objects F simultaneously in an indoor space. In this case, the position of each object F can be detected by the object detection sensor 70, and the airflow direction and volume of each outlet row, as well as the suction volume of the intake device 51, can be controlled so that the objects F do not interfere with each other.

[0060] Furthermore, the shape of object F is not limited to a sphere; various shapes of object F can be used, such as an ellipsoid, polyhedron, disc, or ring. By changing the shape of object F, the visual impression given to the audience can be varied in many ways. Also, the visible light absorption rate of the outer film of object F does not necessarily have to be 96% or higher; for example, object F with a transparent or translucent outer film can be used. In this case, a visual effect can be achieved in which the fluorescent color of the wall surface 3, which emits light when excited, is visible through object F.

[0061] Furthermore, while the embodiments described above included an example of levitating object F using a swirling flow, the means for levitating an object in the present invention are not limited to this. For example, object F can be levitated using magnetic force, or an autonomous flight device such as a drone can be mounted on object F to levitate it.

[0062] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment described an example in which the interior space is circular in plan view, the shape of the interior space is not limited to this. For example, even in a rectangular or polygonal interior space, the visual effect of the present invention can be realized by painting the wall surface 3 with fluorescent paint and irradiating it with excitation light from the lighting device 80.

[0063] In this specification, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the content 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 this specification. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 1...Floor surface 2...Ceiling surface 3...Wall surface 10...First outlet row 11…Nozzle-type air outlet 12…Blower 13... Exhaust damper 20... Second air outlet row 30…Third outlet row 40…Fourth outlet row 50... Upper air intake port 51... Intake system 52...Intake damper 60...Lower intake port 70...Object detection sensor 80...Lighting device 81…Uplight 82…Downlight 90...Control device 100...Object levitation system F…object

Claims

1. A system for levitating objects within an indoor space, At least 80% of the wall surface area of ​​the aforementioned interior space is painted with fluorescent paint. Within the aforementioned indoor space, a lighting device is provided that directly or indirectly irradiates the wall surface with excitation light. The object is configured such that a gas is contained within a flexible outer membrane. The outer surface of the outer film has a visible light absorption rate of 96% or more. system.

2. The lighting device is positioned within the room space so as to indirectly irradiate the wall surface with excitation light. The system according to claim 1.

3. The ceiling surface of the aforementioned interior space is painted with fluorescent paint. The system according to claim 1.

4. More than 80% of the wall surface is painted with fluorescent paint that emits fluorescence of the same color. The system according to claim 1.

5. A system for levitating objects within an indoor space, At least 80% of the wall surface area of ​​the aforementioned interior space is painted with fluorescent paint. Within the aforementioned indoor space, a lighting device is provided that directly or indirectly irradiates the wall surface with excitation light. Multiple air outlets are provided on the aforementioned wall surface for blowing air into the interior space. The object is levitated by generating a swirling flow in the indoor space using the air from the aforementioned outlet. Air intakes are provided on the ceiling and floor surfaces of the aforementioned indoor space. system.

6. A method for levitating an object within an indoor space, At least 80% of the wall surface area of ​​the aforementioned interior space is painted with fluorescent paint. The object is configured such that a gas is contained within a flexible outer membrane. The outer surface of the outer film has a visible light absorption rate of 96% or more. The process involves irradiating the wall surface directly or indirectly with excitation light using a lighting device installed in the aforementioned indoor space, The process includes levitating an object within the aforementioned indoor space, method.

7. A method for levitating an object within an indoor space, At least 80% of the wall surface area of ​​the aforementioned interior space is painted with fluorescent paint. Multiple air outlets are provided on the aforementioned wall surface for blowing air into the interior space. Air intakes are provided on the ceiling and floor surfaces of the aforementioned indoor space. The process involves irradiating the wall surface directly or indirectly with excitation light using a lighting device installed in the aforementioned indoor space, The process includes generating a swirling flow in the indoor space using air from the aforementioned outlet, thereby causing an object to levitate within the indoor space. method.

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