阅读说明：本技术 光线射出系统 (Light ray emitting system ) 是由 森山刚志 野间康平 青山秀纪 大岛光昭 于 2020-03-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：光线射出系统(1)具备形成气溶胶流动的流路的送风器(10)和射出光线的发射器(30)；光线的至少一部分沿着气溶胶的流路传播。(The light ray emitting system (1) is provided with a blower (10) forming a flow path for aerosol flow and a transmitter (30) emitting light rays; at least a portion of the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.)

1. A light ray emitting system, comprising:

a blower forming a flow path through which the aerosol flows; and

an emitter emitting light;

at least a portion of the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

2. The light extraction system of claim 1,

the aerosol comprises a mist.

3. The light extraction system of claim 1 or 2,

the blower makes the aerosol flow in the 1 st direction;

at least a portion of the light propagates along the 1 st direction.

4. The light extraction system of claim 3,

the direction in which at least a part of the light propagates coincides with the 1 st direction.

5. The light extraction system of claim 3 or 4,

an angle of a direction in which at least a part of the light propagates with respect to the 1 st direction is 15 ° or less.

6. The light extraction system of claim 1 or 2,

the blower makes the aerosol flow in the 1 st direction;

at least a portion of the light propagates along a2 nd direction opposite the 1 st direction.

7. The light extraction system of claim 6,

the direction in which at least a part of the light propagates coincides with the 2 nd direction.

8. The light extraction system of claim 6 or 7,

an angle of a direction in which at least a part of the light propagates with respect to the 2 nd direction is 15 ° or less.

9. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-8,

at least a part of the emitted light is scattered by the aerosol and visualized.

10. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-9,

the blower includes:

a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening for drawing in the aerosol along an air flow and a2 nd opening for discharging the aerosol drawn in from the 1 st opening to the flow path; and

and a fan for generating the air flow in the 1 st cylinder.

11. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-9,

the aerosol generator is also provided for generating the aerosol.

12. The light extraction system of claim 11,

the aerosol generator includes:

a container for storing a liquid; and

at least one of a heater for generating the aerosol by heating the liquid, an ultrasonic transducer for vibrating the liquid, and a fan for blowing gas to the liquid.

13. The light extraction system of claim 11 or 12,

the blower includes:

a fan that generates the flow path through which the aerosol flows by generating an air flow; and

a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening through which the aerosol is sucked along the airflow and a2 nd opening through which the aerosol sucked from the 1 st opening is discharged to the flow path;

the aerosol generator has a2 nd cylinder that guides the aerosol to the 1 st opening.

14. The light extraction system of claim 11 or 12,

the blower includes:

a fan that generates the flow path through which the aerosol flows by generating an air flow; and

a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening for sucking gas and a2 nd opening for discharging the gas sucked from the 1 st opening;

the aerosol generator includes a2 nd cylinder that guides the aerosol to the flow path;

the 2 nd cylinder is inserted from the 1 st opening;

the 2 nd cylinder is held in a state of being spaced apart from the 1 st cylinder.

15. The light extraction system of claim 13 or 14,

the above-mentioned 1 st cylinder is a double-walled cylinder, comprising:

an inner cylinder having the 1 st opening and the 2 nd opening; and

an outer cylinder connected to the inner cylinder at an edge of the 1 st opening side and covering an outer periphery of the inner cylinder so as to form a gap between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;

in the 1 st cylinder, between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, there are formed:

the gap into which the air blown by the fan flows; and

and a 3 rd opening for discharging the gas flowing into the gap.

16. The light extraction system of any one of claims 11-15,

the aerosol generator is located between the blower and the emitter.

17. The light extraction system of any one of claims 11-15,

the blower is located between the emitter and the aerosol generator.

18. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-17,

the transmitter includes:

more than 1 light source, emit more than 1 light respectively; and

and a long and thin light guide body of 1 or more which guides the light rays of 1 or more emitted from the light sources of 1 or more to the aerosol one by one.

19. The light extraction system of claim 18,

the emitter includes a beam splitter for splitting a1 st light ray, which is the light rays emitted from the 1 light sources, into a1 st split light ray and a2 nd split light ray having a wavelength different from that of the 1 st split light ray.

20. The light extraction system of claim 19,

the 1 st divided light ray propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

21. The light extraction system of claim 20,

the emitter has an optical element for changing the direction of the 2 nd split light beam to a direction along the flow path of the aerosol.

22. The light extraction system of any one of claims 10, 13-15,

the transmitter includes:

a light source for emitting the light; and

an elongated light guide body that guides the light emitted from the light source;

the light guide is inserted through the 2 nd opening from the 1 st opening and protrudes from the 2 nd opening.

23. The light extraction system of any one of claims 18-22,

the light source is a light emitting diode, i.e. an LED or a laser diode.

24. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-23,

the emitter is also provided with a processor for switching the on and off of the light.

25. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-24,

the projector further includes a driving unit for swinging the projector.

26. A light ray emitting system, comprising:

an aerosol generator that generates an aerosol;

a blower forming a flow path through which the aerosol flows;

the 1 st emitter emits the 1 st light;

an optical element for changing the direction of propagation of the 1 st light beam to a direction along the flow path of the aerosol; and

a2 nd emitter for emitting a2 nd light;

at least a portion of the 2 nd light ray propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

27. The light extraction system of claim 26,

the wavelength of the 1 st light ray is different from the wavelength of the 2 nd light ray.

28. The light extraction system of any one of claims 1-27,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a1 st shutter body having the blower and the emitter;

a2 nd shutter body for collecting the aerosol flowing through the flow path formed by the blower and irradiating the aerosol with the light emitted from the emitter; and

a detection system that detects an approaching body that approaches the 1 st gate main body and the 2 nd gate main body;

the 1 st shutter body forms a flow path through which aerosol flows by the blower and emits light by the emitter when the detection system detects that the approaching body approaches the 1 st shutter body and the 2 nd shutter body by a predetermined distance or more.

29. The light extraction system of claim 28,

the 1 st and 2 nd gate bodies are disposed at a boundary between a restricted area that allows entry of a specific proximity body and an unrestricted area that does not restrict entry of the proximity body;

the detection system includes a weight detection unit for detecting the weight of the proximity body;

the weight detecting unit is disposed in the unrestricted area.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a light ray emitting system.

Background

A conventional projection system is disclosed that includes a discharge control mechanism for discharging mist to a projection space of an image and a projection mechanism for projecting the image onto a screen (see, for example, patent document 1).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-179130

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional projection system, it is difficult to make the interface between the region where the mist, which is an example of the aerosol, is diffused and the region where the mist is not diffused a uniform plane. Since an image, which is an example of light projected onto the fog, depends on the shape of the interface, it is difficult to clearly recognize the light as an image at the interface of the unevenness.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting system capable of clearly recognizing light.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a light emitting system according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a blower forming a flow path through which the aerosol flows; and an emitter emitting light; at least a portion of the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

These inclusive or specific technical means may be realized by a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be realized by any combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

Effects of the invention

The light ray emitting system can clearly identify the light ray.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the light beam emitting system according to embodiment 1 is cut in the 1 st direction.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the 1 st cylinder, the 2 nd cylinder, and the light guide of the light beam output system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 5A is a view showing the result of visual confirmation of whether or not light can be visualized while changing the projection length of the light guide from the 2 nd opening when the ejection amount of aerosol is 9000 (cc/h).

Fig. 5B is a view showing the result of visual confirmation of whether or not light can be visualized while changing the projection length of the light guide from the 2 nd opening when the ejection rate of the aerosol is 18000 (cc/h).

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a light beam output system according to a modification of embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the light beam emitting system according to the modification of embodiment 1 is cut in the 1 st direction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a light beam output system according to a modification of embodiment 4.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on a display surface of a flow path through which aerosol flows.

Fig. 15 is a view showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on the display surface of the flow path through which the aerosol flows when α seconds have elapsed from the state shown in fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a case where an aerosol patch corresponding to image information is discharged on a display surface of a flow path through which aerosol flows, and a case where an emitter is turned off.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on a display surface of a flow path through which aerosol flows.

Fig. 18 is a view showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on the display surface of the flow path through which the aerosol flows when α seconds have elapsed from the state shown in fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 20 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 6.

Fig. 21A is a schematic view showing a state where the 1 st light beam from the 1 st emitter of the light beam output system according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path.

Fig. 21B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the 2 nd light from the 2 nd emitter of the light emitting system according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path.

Fig. 21C is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the 3 rd light beam from the 3 rd emitter of the light beam outgoing system according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path.

Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a case where 4 beam splitters are used in the light ray outgoing system according to embodiment 6.

Fig. 23 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 7.

Fig. 24 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 7.

Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where a pair of shutter bodies of the light beam emitting system according to embodiment 7 are cut off along a flow path in which aerosol flows.

Fig. 26A is a flowchart showing the operation of the light beam output system according to embodiment 7.

Fig. 26B is a flowchart showing the operation of the light ray output system as the post-processing of X in fig. 26A.

Fig. 27 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 8.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a light ray output system according to embodiment 8.

Fig. 29 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light ray emitting system according to embodiment 8 is viewed from the side.

Fig. 30 is a schematic view showing a state in which the proximity body a moves from the non-restricted area toward the restricted area when the light ray emission system of embodiment 8 is viewed from above.

Fig. 31 is a schematic view showing a state in which the proximity body B moves from the restricted area to the unrestricted area when the light beam output system of embodiment 8 is viewed from above.

Fig. 32 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light beam output system according to embodiment 8 is installed in a T-shaped path.

Fig. 33 is a schematic view showing a state where the light ray emission system according to embodiment 8 is installed in an escalator.

Fig. 34 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light ray emission system according to embodiment 8 is installed in a building.

Fig. 35 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light beam output system according to embodiment 8 is installed at the entrance of a conference room K2.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing operation example 1 of the light beam output system according to embodiment 8.

Fig. 37 is a flowchart showing an operation example 2 of the light beam output system according to embodiment 8.

Fig. 38 is a block diagram showing a light beam output system according to a modification of embodiment 8.

Fig. 39 is a perspective view showing a light beam output system according to a modification of embodiment 8.

Fig. 40 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light ray emitting system according to the modification of embodiment 8 is installed at an entrance of an elevator hall.

Fig. 41 is a schematic view showing a case where the label authentication unit of the light beam emitting system according to the modification of embodiment 8 is installed on the floor surface.

Detailed Description

A light ray emitting system according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a blower forming a flow path through which the aerosol flows; and an emitter emitting light; at least a portion of the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, by irradiating the aerosol flowing along the flow path with light, the irradiated light can emerge. That is, since the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated by diffusing the light by the aerosol, the light can be made to be easily recognizable even in a bright space.

Therefore, in the light ray emitting system, the light ray can be clearly recognized.

In particular, since the light beam can be recognized from any direction, the installation location of the light beam emitting system is not limited.

In the light emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the aerosol includes mist.

Thereby, if the aerosol is a mist, the light can be easily visualized.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower causes the aerosol to flow in a1 st direction; at least a portion of the light propagates along the 1 st direction.

Thus, the emitter can emit light in the same direction as the 1 st direction in which the blower flows the aerosol. In other words, since the emitter can be disposed in the vicinity of the air blower, the disposition area of the light ray emission system is not easily increased.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower causes the aerosol to flow in a1 st direction; at least a portion of the light propagates along a2 nd direction opposite the 1 st direction.

Thus, even if the transmitter is disposed at a position away from the blower, the light can be clearly recognized. In addition, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the transmitter can be improved.

In the light ray output system according to another aspect of the present invention, a direction in which at least a part of the light ray propagates coincides with the 1 st direction.

This allows the light to be emitted in a uniform direction along the direction in which the aerosol flows, and therefore allows the light to be visualized for a longer period of time.

In the light ray output system according to another aspect of the present invention, a direction in which at least a part of the light ray propagates coincides with the 2 nd direction.

The same effects as described above are also obtained in the light beam output system.

In the light ray output system according to another aspect of the present invention, an angle of a direction in which at least a part of the light ray propagates with respect to the 1 st direction is 15 ° or less.

For example, if the direction in which at least a portion of the light travels is at an angle greater than 15 ° relative to the 1 st direction, a large portion of the light is emitted from the aerosol flowing in the flow path, making it difficult to visualize the light over long distances. However, according to the present invention, since light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol, the light can be easily visualized for a longer time.

In the light ray output system according to another aspect of the present invention, an angle of a direction in which at least a part of the light ray propagates with respect to the 2 nd direction is 15 ° or less.

For example, if the direction in which at least a portion of the light travels is at an angle greater than 15 ° relative to the 2 nd direction, a large portion of the light is emitted from the aerosol flowing in the flow path, making it difficult to visualize the light over long distances. However, according to the present invention, since light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol, the light can be easily visualized for a longer time.

In the light emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the emitted light is scattered by the aerosol and visualized.

This diffuses the light, so that the user can reliably recognize the light.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower includes: a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening for drawing in the aerosol along an air flow and a2 nd opening for discharging the aerosol drawn in from the 1 st opening to the flow path; and a fan for generating the air flow in the 1 st cylinder.

Thus, the airflow (wind) generated by the fan in the 1 st cylinder can form a flow path for the aerosol in a direction extending from the 1 st opening to the 2 nd opening. Therefore, if light is irradiated along the flow path, the light is diffused by the aerosol, and the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated.

In addition, the light ray emission system according to another aspect of the present invention further includes an aerosol generator that generates the aerosol.

This enables easy aerosol generation.

In the light ray emission system according to another aspect of the present invention, the aerosol generator includes: a container for storing a liquid; and at least one of a heater for generating the aerosol by heating the liquid, an ultrasonic transducer for vibrating the liquid, and a fan for blowing gas toward the liquid.

This enables aerosol to be easily generated from liquid.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower includes: a fan that generates the flow path through which the aerosol flows by generating an air flow; and a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening for drawing in the aerosol along the airflow and a2 nd opening for discharging the aerosol drawn in from the 1 st opening to the flow path; the aerosol generator includes a2 nd cylinder that guides the aerosol to the 1 st opening.

This forms a flow path extending from the 1 st opening to the 2 nd opening, and therefore the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator can be easily carried (flowed) through the 1 st opening. Therefore, the flow path of the aerosol can be formed easily.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower includes: a fan that generates the flow path through which the aerosol flows by generating an air flow; and a1 st cylinder having a1 st opening for sucking gas and a2 nd opening for discharging the gas sucked from the 1 st opening; the aerosol generator includes a2 nd cylinder for guiding the aerosol to the flow path; the 2 nd cylinder is inserted from the 1 st opening, and the 2 nd cylinder is held in a state of being spaced apart from the 1 st cylinder.

Thus, an airflow from the 1 st opening to the 2 nd opening is generated by the blower between the 1 st cylinder and the 2 nd cylinder to form a flow path. That is, since the airflow forms a flow path that encloses the 2 nd cylinder, the aerosol guided by the 2 nd cylinder and discharged from the 2 nd cylinder flows through the flow path. Therefore, the aerosol can be made to flow uniformly along the flow path.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the 1 st cylinder is a double-walled cylinder, and includes: an inner cylinder having the 1 st opening and the 2 nd opening; and an outer cylinder connected to the inner cylinder at an edge of the 1 st opening side, the outer cylinder covering an outer periphery of the inner cylinder so as to form a gap between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder; in the 1 st cylinder, between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, there are formed: the gap into which the air blown by the fan flows; and a 3 rd opening for discharging the gas flowing into the gap.

Thus, since the airflow is generated from the 3 rd opening toward the 1 st direction, the airflow from the 1 st opening toward the 2 nd opening can be generated by the coanda effect on the inner peripheral side of the inner cylinder. Therefore, an airflow greater than the wind power of the airflow by the fan can be generated from the 1 st cylinder.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the aerosol generator is located between the blower and the emitter.

This makes it possible to easily cause the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator to flow into the flow path generated by the air blower.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the blower is located between the emitter and the aerosol generator.

Thus, the blower, the emitter, and the aerosol generator can be arranged close to each other, and therefore the light ray emitting system is not easily increased in size.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the emitter includes: more than 1 light source, emit more than 1 light respectively; and an elongated light guide body of 1 or more which guides the 1 or more light rays emitted from the 1 or more light sources, respectively, to the aerosol one by one.

Thus, 1 or more light sources can be used to emit a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. Therefore, if a plurality of flow paths through which the aerosol flows are formed and a plurality of light rays are propagated along these flow paths, the flow paths through which the aerosol flows can be visualized in a planar manner.

Further, since the color of light propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed by using light rays of different colors by the plurality of light sources, the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In the light beam output system according to another aspect of the present invention, the emitter includes a beam splitter that splits a1 st light beam, which is the light beams output from the 1 light sources, into a1 st split light beam and a2 nd split light beam having a wavelength different from that of the 1 st split light beam.

Thus, 1 or more light sources can be used to emit a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. Therefore, the color of the light propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed, and thus the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In the light beam emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the 1 st divided light beam propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, the 1 st divided light beam is irradiated on the aerosol, and therefore the 1 st divided light beam can be visualized reliably.

In the light beam emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the emitter includes an optical element that changes a direction of the 2 nd split light beam to a direction along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, the 2 nd divided light is irradiated on the aerosol, and therefore the 2 nd divided light can be visualized reliably. Further, since the light beam is a light beam having a color different from that of the 1 st divided light beam, the color of the light beam propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed, and thus the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In the light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the emitter includes: a light source for emitting the light; and a slender light guide body for guiding the light emitted from the light source; the light guide is inserted through the 2 nd opening from the 1 st opening and protrudes from the 2 nd opening.

Thus, the light guide protruding from the 2 nd opening guides the light to the flow path in which the aerosol flows, and therefore, the attenuation of the light from the light source to the flow path is suppressed. In particular, since the aerosol has a high density in the vicinity of the 2 nd opening, extreme attenuation of light by the aerosol having a high density can be suppressed. Therefore, the light can be reliably guided to the aerosol, and the light propagating through the aerosol can be more reliably identified.

In addition, in the Light Emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the Light source is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a laser Diode.

Thus, the light beam emitting system can be easily realized by using an LED or a laser diode which is generally circulated.

In addition, in the light emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, the emitter further includes a processor for switching on and off of the light.

This makes it possible to display or not display the light beam that has emerged from the aerosol.

In addition, the light beam emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention further includes a driving unit configured to swing the emitter.

This makes it possible to irradiate the flow path through which the aerosol flows with light in a planar form, and thus to visualize the light in a planar form.

In addition, a light ray emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention includes: an aerosol generator that generates an aerosol; a blower forming a flow path through which the aerosol flows; the 1 st emitter emits the 1 st light; an optical element for changing the direction of propagation of the 1 st light beam to a direction along the flow path of the aerosol; and a2 nd emitter emitting a2 nd light; at least a portion of the 2 nd light ray propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, by irradiating the aerosol flowing along the flow path with the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray, the irradiated 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can emerge. That is, since the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated by diffusing the light by the aerosol, the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can be easily recognized even in a bright space.

Therefore, in the light beam emitting system, the 1 st light beam and the 2 nd light beam can be clearly recognized.

In particular, since the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can be recognized from any direction, the installation location of the light ray emission system is not limited.

In the light emitting system according to another aspect of the present invention, a wavelength of the 1 st light ray is different from a wavelength of the 2 nd light ray.

This enables various light rays to emerge in the aerosol. That is, since the color of light propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed by light of two or more colors, the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

The embodiments described below are all illustrative or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement and connection forms of constituent elements, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples, and do not limit the present invention. Further, among the components of the following embodiments, components that are not recited in the independent claims are described as arbitrary components.

The drawings are schematic and not necessarily strictly illustrated. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following embodiments, expressions such as substantially parallel are used. For example, substantially parallel does not only mean perfectly parallel, but also means substantially parallel, i.e. containing an error of, for example, about a few percent. The term "substantially parallel" means parallel to each other within a range in which the effects of the present invention can be exhibited. The same applies to other expressions using "approximate".

(embodiment mode 1)

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the light ray output system 1 according to embodiment 1.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the light beam emitting system 1 is a system in which an aerosol flows through a flow channel of a gas that generates an air flow, and light is irradiated to the flow channel, whereby the light is diffused by the aerosol and emerges in the flow channel of the aerosol. Here, aerosol refers to a mixture of a solid or liquid as a dispersed phase (also referred to as a dispersion medium) and a gas as a continuous phase. That is, an aerosol refers to a mixture in which solid or liquid fine particles are dispersed and suspended in a gas. The aerosol may comprise, for example, a mist. In the present embodiment, the gas is air, but may be a gas other than air, oxygen, nitrogen, or the like. In this embodiment, the aerosol may include a reflective material that reflects light.

The light ray emission system 1 includes a blower 10, an aerosol generator 20, a transmitter 30, and a controller 40.

< blower 10>

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the light beam output system 1 according to embodiment 1 cut in the 1 st direction.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the blower 10 is a blower device that generates an air flow to form a flow path through which air flows in the 1 st direction. The blower 10 causes the aerosol to flow along a flow path of the generated gas. That is, the blower 10 forms a flow path through which the aerosol flows. The 1 st direction is a blowing direction indicating a direction in which the blower 10 flows air, and is a front direction in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the 1 st direction may be referred to as a forward direction.

The blower 10 is disposed in front of the aerosol generator 20 and the emitter 30, more specifically, immediately in front of the aerosol generator 20. The front direction is a direction in which the aerosol generator 20 discharges the aerosol, and is a direction in which the emitter 30 emits light.

The blower 10 includes a housing 11, a fan 12, a power supply 13 in fig. 1, a blower guide 14, and a1 st cylinder 15.

The housing portion 11 is a case that houses the fan 12, and is placed on a mounting surface such as a floor surface or the like. In the present embodiment, the housing portion 11 is disposed vertically below the 1 st cylinder 15. The housing 11 may not be disposed vertically below the 1 st cylinder 15.

The housing portion 11 is formed with an air supply hole 11a and an air discharge hole 11 b. The air supply hole 11a is formed, for example, on the front side or the side of the housing portion 11, and is an opening through which air is supplied by the fan 12 to supply air. In the present embodiment, the exhaust hole 11b is formed on the ceiling side of the housing portion 11 and connected to the air blowing guide portion 14. That is, the exhaust hole 11b is an opening for guiding the gas discharged by the fan 12 to the air blowing guide portion 14.

The fan 12 is a blower that generates an air flow in the blower 10 by taking in air from the air supply hole 11a of the housing portion 11 and discharging the air from the air discharge hole 11 b. The air flow generated by the fan 12 is guided to the air blowing guide portion 14 and the 1 st cylinder 15 through the air outlet hole 11b of the housing portion 11, and flows to the outside of the air blower 10. The fan 12 generates an air flow to form a flow path for the aerosol to flow. In the present embodiment, fan 12 is housed in housing 11 and placed so as to generate an airflow toward exhaust hole 11 b.

Fan 12 adjusts the air volume if it receives a control command from control unit 40. That is, the fan 12 can increase or decrease the air volume by being controlled by the control unit 40.

As shown in fig. 1, power supply unit 13 is a power supply module that supplies power for driving fan 12. Power supply unit 13 turns on or off the power supplied to fan 12 under the control of control unit 40.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the air flow guide portion 14 is an elongated tube extending in the vertical direction and guiding the air flow generated by the fan 12 upward. The air blowing guide portion 14 is connected and fixed to the air discharge hole 11b so that the lower end in the vertical direction, which is one end, surrounds the air discharge hole 11b of the housing portion 11. The air blow guide portion 14 has the other end, i.e., the upper end in the vertical direction, connected and fixed to the connection hole 15d of the 1 st cylinder 15.

The 1 st cylinder 15 causes the airflow generated by the fan 12 to flow in the 1 st direction, thereby generating a flow path in which aerosol flows in the 1 st direction. That is, the 1 st cylinder 15 is a blower capable of defining the direction of the flow path. A connection hole 15d is formed in the outer peripheral side surface of the 1 st cylinder 15, and the airflow generated by the fan 12 flows into the 1 st cylinder 15 from the connection hole 15d via the air blowing guide portion 14.

The 1 st cylinder 15 is connected and fixed to the upper end of the air blowing guide portion 14 in the vertical direction so as to surround the connection hole 15 d.

The 1 st cylinder 15 is a bottomless cylinder that is open in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the 1 st cylinder 15 has a1 st opening 15a through which gas is sucked and a2 nd opening 15b through which the gas sucked through the 1 st opening 15a is discharged. The rear direction is an example of the 2 nd direction, and is the opposite direction of the 1 st direction. Hereinafter, the 2 nd direction may be referred to as a rear direction.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the 1 st cylinder 15, the 2 nd cylinder 25, and the light guide 33 in the light beam output system 1 according to embodiment 1.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the 1 st cylinder 15 is a double-walled cylinder having an inner cylinder 16a and an outer cylinder 16 b. Further, in the 1 st cylinder 15, a gap K (space) into which the gas blown by the fan 12 flows and a 3 rd opening 17 through which the gas flowing into the gap K is discharged are formed between the inner cylinder 16a and the outer cylinder 16 b.

The inner cylinder 16a is a bottomless cylinder that is open in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the inner cylinder 16a has a cylindrical shape, but may have a prismatic shape. The inner cylindrical body 16a has a1 st opening 15a and a2 nd opening 15b, and is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylindrical body 16 b.

The outer cylinder 16b is a bottomless cylinder that is open in the front-rear direction. The outer cylinder 16b has a shape corresponding to the inner cylinder 16a, and is cylindrical in the present embodiment, but may have a prismatic shape.

The outer cylinder 16b is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the inner cylinder 16a so that the central axis of the outer cylinder 16b coincides with the central axis of the inner cylinder 16a, and is disposed concentrically with the inner cylinder 16 a. The outer cylindrical body 16b is connected to the inner cylindrical body 16a at an end edge on the 1 st opening 15a side, and covers the outer periphery of the inner cylindrical body 16a so as to form a gap K between the outer cylindrical body 16b and the inner cylindrical body 16 a. That is, in order for the 1 st cylinder 15 to generate an airflow in the 1 st direction, i.e., forward, the inner cylinder 16a and the outer cylinder 16b are coupled to each other on the 1 st opening 15a side, which is one end side of the inner cylinder 16a and the outer cylinder 16b, and the space between the inner cylinder 16a and the outer cylinder 16b is closed.

Further, a connection hole 15d connected to the upper end of the air blowing guide portion 14 in the vertical direction is formed in the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cylinder 16 b. Thus, the fan 12 generates an air flow in the gap K formed between the inner cylinder 16a and the outer cylinder 16 b. The airflow generated in the gap K passes through the 3 rd opening 17 and is directed in the 1 st direction while running along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical body 16b and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical body 16 a. Since the gas flows from the 3 rd opening 17 in the 1 st direction, the gas moves by the Coanda Effect (Coanda Effect) on the inner circumferential surface side of the inner cylindrical body 16 a. That is, the gas flows from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15b of the inner cylinder 16 a.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the 2 nd cylinder 25 of the aerosol generator 20 is inserted into the 1 st cylinder 15 from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15 b. In the present embodiment, the tip of the 2 nd cylinder 25 protrudes from the 2 nd opening 15b by the protruding length H. The projection length H is the amount by which the light guide 33 projects from the 2 nd opening 15b in the 1 st direction.

In the present embodiment, the wind speed of the gas flowing from the 1 st cylinder 15 is 5(m/sec) to 30 (m/sec).

< Aerosol Generator 20>

The aerosol generator 20 is a device that generates aerosol and discharges the generated aerosol. The aerosol generator 20 is located between the blower 10 and the emitter 30.

The aerosol generator 20 includes a container 21, a generating unit 22, a power supply unit 23 of fig. 1, an aerosol guide unit 24, and a2 nd cylinder 25.

The container 21 is a box for storing a liquid as a base for generating aerosol, and is placed on an installation surface such as a floor surface or the like. In the present embodiment, the container 21 is disposed vertically below the 2 nd cylinder 25. The container 21 may not be disposed vertically below the 2 nd cylinder 25. The liquid, that is, the aerosol may contain a reflective material that reflects light, a phosphor, and the like. The liquid is water, oil, etc.

The container 21 is formed with a discharge hole 21a for discharging aerosol. The discharge hole 21a is formed on the ceiling side of the container 21 and connected to the aerosol guide 24. That is, the discharge hole 21a is an opening for guiding the aerosol to the aerosol guide portion 24.

The generator 22 is a device that generates aerosol, and is housed in the container 21. In the present embodiment, the generating section 22 is immersed in the liquid. For example, the generating unit 22 is at least one of a heater that generates aerosol by heating liquid, an ultrasonic transducer that vibrates liquid, and a fan that blows gas to liquid. The generating unit 22 includes a fan for sending the generated aerosol, and causes the aerosol to flow into the flow path generated by the air blower 10 via the aerosol guide unit 24 and the 2 nd cylinder 25.

The generator 22 adjusts the temperature of the generated aerosol or adjusts the amount of aerosol discharged per unit time (generated amount) by receiving a control command from the controller 40. That is, the generation unit 22 can increase or decrease the temperature of the aerosol and can increase or decrease the amount of aerosol discharged by controlling the control unit 40.

As shown in fig. 1, the power supply unit 23 is a power supply module that supplies power for driving the generation unit 22. The power supply unit 23 turns on or off the power supplied to the generation unit 22 under the control of the control unit 40.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the aerosol guide unit 24 is an elongated tube extending in the vertical direction and guiding the aerosol upward. The aerosol guide 24 is connected to and fixed to the discharge hole 21a such that the lower end in the vertical direction, which is one end, surrounds the discharge hole 21a of the container 21. The aerosol guide portion 24 has the other end, i.e., the upper end in the vertical direction, connected and fixed to the connection hole 25d of the 2 nd cylinder 25.

The aerosol guide portion 24 has a crank portion 24a, a part of which is bent in a crank shape (S shape). The crank portion 24a is provided with a water receiving portion not shown and a net portion not shown. The water receiving portion is a recess (recessed portion) formed in the crank portion 24a, and accumulates liquid droplets generated on the inner surface of the aerosol guide portion 24. The aerosol returns to the liquid, and the liquid droplets are partially dropped by its own weight to the aerosol guide 24. The net part is arranged on the water receiving part and absorbs and holds the liquid drops. The net portion is, for example, a sponge, a cloth, or the like.

In addition, the aerosol guide portion 24 may not have the crank portion 24 a. That is, the discharge hole 21a of the container 21 may linearly extend to a connection hole 25d of a2 nd cylindrical body 25 described later. In this case, the aerosol guide unit 24 may or may not be provided with a water receiving unit and a mesh unit. That is, the crank portion 24a, the water receiving portion, and the mesh portion are not essential components of the aerosol generator 20.

The 2 nd cylinder 25 is a guide portion for guiding the aerosol to the flow path of the gas generated by the blower 10. A connection hole 25d is formed in the outer peripheral side surface of the 2 nd cylinder 25, and the aerosol generated by the generation portion 22 flows into the 2 nd cylinder 25 from the connection hole 25d via the aerosol guide portion 24.

The 2 nd cylinder 25 is connected and fixed to the upper end of the aerosol guide portion 24 in the vertical direction so as to surround the connection hole 25 d. Further, an insertion hole 25e into which a light guide 33 of the emitter 30 described later is inserted is formed in the bottom of the 2 nd cylinder 25, which is the rear end portion of the 2 nd cylinder 25. An insertion hole 25e of fig. 4 is formed in a central portion of the bottom of the 2 nd cylinder 25. In the present embodiment, the opening surface of the insertion hole 25e is substantially orthogonal to the central axis of the 2 nd cylindrical body 25.

The 2 nd cylinder 25 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the 1 st cylinder 15 so that the central axis of the 2 nd cylinder 25 coincides with the central axis of the 1 st cylinder 15, and is disposed concentrically with the 1 st cylinder 15. The 2 nd cylinder 25 is held by the aerosol guide portion 24 in a state of being spaced apart from the 1 st cylinder 15. The 2 nd cylinder 25 is inserted into the 1 st cylinder 15 from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15 b. In the present embodiment, the 2 nd cylinder 25 is inserted through the 1 st cylinder 15.

The 2 nd cylinder 25 is a bottomed cylinder whose front side is open. Specifically, the 2 nd cylinder 25 is formed with an aerosol discharge port 25a for discharging the aerosol to flow along the flow path. In the present embodiment, the discharge port 25a is located on the front side of the 2 nd opening 15b of the 1 st cylinder 15. The discharge port 25a may be disposed between the 1 st opening 15a and the 2 nd opening 15b of the 1 st cylinder 15, or may be disposed behind the 1 st opening 15 a.

In the present embodiment, the distance that the aerosol reaches depends on the performance of the blower 10, and is, for example, several meters to several tens of meters.

< emitter 30>

The emitter 30 is an emitter device that emits light (light beam) in a prescribed wavelength range. The emitter 30 is disposed behind the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, and irradiates light along the aerosol flowing in the flow path. Thereby, the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol. By propagating, it is meant that the 1 st direction of the flow path of the aerosol is parallel or substantially parallel to the light rays, which propagate within the flow path of the aerosol. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 emits light in the 1 st direction. Specifically, the angle of the direction of light propagation with respect to the 1 st direction is 15 ° or less.

The light may be aligned with or substantially aligned with the axis of the flow path of the aerosol. In the present embodiment, light propagates inside the aerosol (i.e., the flow path). In addition, in the present embodiment, at least a part of the light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol. At least a portion of the emitted light is scattered by the aerosol and visualized. By transmitting light in the flow path in this way, the aerosol flowing in the flow path emits light.

The light ray is light that travels along a straight line in space, and is substantially parallel to the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source 31. For example, the light rays are collimated light.

The emitter 30 has 1 or more light sources 31, a processor 31a, a power supply portion 32 of fig. 1, and 1 or more light guides 33. In the present embodiment, 1 light source 31 and 1 light guide 33 are used unless otherwise noted, and therefore 1 light source 31 and 1 light guide 33 will be described.

The light source 31 is a light emitting module supported in a posture of emitting light in the 1 st direction. The light source 31 emits light in the 1 st direction, and irradiates the flow path of the aerosol flow with light via the light guide 33 and the 2 nd cylinder 25. The light source 31 is, for example, an LED or a laser diode.

The light source 31 emits light of 2 colors or more. Specifically, the light source 31 includes 3 RGB light sources, emits 3 monochromatic light of red light, blue light, and green light, and emits colored light or white light obtained by dimming the 3 monochromatic light. The light source 31 changes the emitted light color by being controlled by the control unit 40.

The processor 31a adjusts the output of the light emitted from the light source 31 by receiving a control command from the control unit 40. That is, the processor 31a can increase or decrease the output of the light from the light source 31 by being controlled by the control unit 40.

The processor 31a also adjusts the output of the light emitted from the light source 31 by receiving a control command from the control unit 40. That is, the processor 31a can increase or decrease the output of the light from the light source 31 by being controlled by the control unit 40.

The processor 31a is communicably connected to the control unit 40, and acquires a control command from the control unit 40 to switchably control on and off of the light source 31. Specifically, the processor 31a switches the light source 31 from off to on to irradiate light onto the aerosol by obtaining a control command, or switches the light source 31 from on to off to stop the irradiation of light onto the aerosol.

As shown in fig. 1, the power supply unit 32 is a power supply module having a lighting circuit that supplies power for lighting the light source 31. The power supply unit 32 rectifies, smoothes, and steps down an ac current supplied from an external power source such as a commercial power source to convert the ac current into dc power of a predetermined level, and supplies the dc power to the light source 31. The power supply unit 32 turns on or off the power supplied to the light source 31 under the control of the control unit 40. In addition, the power supply unit 32 may be combined with a dimming circuit, a boosting circuit, and the like.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the light guide 33 is an optical member for guiding the light emitted from the light source 31 to the aerosol. More specifically, the light guide 33 is an optical member elongated in the 1 st direction for propagating the light emitted from the light source 31 to the flow path of the aerosol flow. The light guide 33 guides the light emitted from the light source 31 to the aerosol for the purpose of suppressing attenuation of the light.

The light guide 33 extends in the 1 st direction from the light emitting surface of the light source 31 and is inserted through the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25. Specifically, the light guide 33 is inserted through the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25 and the discharge port 25a of the 2 nd cylinder 25, and protrudes from the 2 nd opening 15 b. The tip of the light guide 33 protrudes from the ejection opening 25a in the 1 st direction by a protruding length H. That is, the light guide 33 is inserted from the 1 st opening 15a of the 1 st cylinder 15 through the 2 nd opening 15 b. In other words, the light guide 33 protrudes from the 2 nd opening 15b by a further protrusion length H in the 1 st direction. Therefore, the 1 st direction side tip of the light guide 33 is positioned in the flow path in which the aerosol flows. This allows the light guide 33 to reliably guide the light to the flow path of the aerosol flow.

Further, the 1 st direction side end of the light guide 33 may not protrude from the 2 nd opening 15b in the 1 st direction. That is, the tip of the light guide 33 on the 1 st direction side may be disposed between the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25 and the discharge port 25a of the 2 nd cylinder 25, or may be disposed on the 2 nd direction side opposite to the 1 st direction side with respect to the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25.

Further, by connecting the light guide 33 to the 2 nd cylinder 25, the gap between the light guide 33 and the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25 is closed so as not to allow the aerosol to flow out from between the light guide 33 and the insertion hole 25e of the 2 nd cylinder 25.

The light guide 33 is, for example, an optical fiber, a hollow or solid light guide, or the like, and in the present embodiment, is a hollow light guide. The light guide 33 is made of a metal such as aluminum, or a translucent member such as acrylic or glass. The cross section of the light guide 33 is circular, polygonal, or the like, and in the present embodiment, is circular. That is, in the present embodiment, the light guide 33 is a bottomless cylindrical tube extending in the 1 st direction.

< control part 40>

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the controller 40 is a control device capable of controlling the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30.

The control unit 40 is communicably connected to the blower 10, and controls the blower 10 so as to be switchable between on and off. Specifically, control unit 40 outputs a control command to switch blower 10 from off to on to drive fan 12, or to switch fan 12 from on to off to stop fan 12.

Further, the control unit 40 adjusts the wind speed of the air flow generated by the blower 10. For example, the control unit 40 outputs a control command to switch the air volume of the blower 10 from the 1 st air volume to the 2 nd air volume having an air volume stronger than the 1 st air volume, or from the 2 nd air volume to the 1 st air volume.

The control unit 40 is communicably connected to the aerosol generator 20, and controls the aerosol generator 20 so as to be switchable between on and off. Specifically, the control unit 40 outputs a control command to switch the aerosol generator 20 from off to on to drive the generator 22 and generate the aerosol, or to switch the generator 22 from on to off to stop the generator 22.

The control unit 40 adjusts the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20, or adjusts the amount of aerosol discharged per unit time (generated amount). For example, the control unit 40 outputs a control command to switch the temperature of the aerosol from the 1 st temperature to the 2 nd temperature higher than the 1 st temperature, or from the 2 nd temperature to the 1 st temperature. The control unit 40 switches the ejection rate of the aerosol per unit time from the 1 st ejection rate to the 2 nd ejection rate having a stronger ejection rate than the 1 st ejection rate or from the 2 nd ejection rate to the 1 st ejection rate by outputting a control command.

The control unit 40 is communicably connected to the transmitter 30, and can perform control so as to switch the on/off of the transmitter 30. Specifically, the control unit 40 outputs a control command to switch the emitter 30 from off to on to irradiate light to the aerosol light, or to switch the emitter 30 from on to off to stop the irradiation of light to the aerosol.

The control unit 40 changes the color of the light emitted from the light source 31. For example, the control unit 40 switches from the light of the 1 st color to the light of the 2 nd color, which is a color different from the light of the 1 st color, so as to emit the light of the 2 nd color, and the like.

The control unit 40 changes the output of the light emitted from the light source 31. For example, the control unit 40 switches the output of the light beam from the 1 st output to the 2 nd output, which is stronger than the 1 st output, or from the 2 nd output to the 1 st output by outputting a control command.

[ measurement results ]

The projection length H of the light guide 33 will be explained.

Fig. 5A is a view showing a result that it is possible to visually confirm whether or not light can be visualized while changing the projection length H of the light guide 33 from the 2 nd opening 15b when the ejection amount of aerosol is 9000 (cc/H).

In fig. 5A, it is checked whether or not the light rays can be visualized when the projection length H of the light guide 33 is 0(mm), 0.5(mm), 1.0(mm), 1.5(mm), 2.0(mm), 2.5(mm), 3.0(mm), 3.5(mm), 4.0(mm), 4.5(mm), 5.0(mm), or 5.5 (mm).

As shown in fig. 5A, in the case of an aerosol discharge amount 9000(cc/h), it was difficult to recognize light rays at 0(mm), 0.5(mm), 1.0(mm), 5.0(mm), and 5.5 (mm). However, when the projection length H of the light guide 33 is 1.5(mm), 2.0(mm), 2.5(mm), 3.0(mm), 3.5(mm), 4.0(mm), or 4.5(mm), the light can be visualized. Therefore, it is estimated that the projection length H of the light guide 33, which facilitates the visualization of light rays, is about 3.0(mm) at the ejection amount 9000(cc/H) of aerosol.

Fig. 5B is a diagram showing a result of checking whether or not light can be visualized while changing the projection length H of the light guide 33 from the 2 nd opening 15B when the ejection rate of aerosol is 18000 (cc/H).

As shown in fig. 5B, in the case of the ejection rate 18000(cc/h) of the aerosol, it is difficult to recognize the light ray at 0(mm), 0.5(mm), 1.0(mm), 1.5(mm), 2.0(mm), or 5.5 (mm). However, when the projection length H of the light guide 33 is 2.5(mm), 3.0(mm), 3.5(mm), 4.0(mm), 4.5(mm), or 5.0(mm), the light can be visualized. Therefore, it is estimated that the projection length H of the light guide 33, which facilitates the visualization of light rays, is about 3.75(mm) at the ejection rate 18000(cc/H) of aerosol.

From this, it is understood that the projection length H of the light guide 33 is different as appropriate depending on the ejection amount of the aerosol, but the light guide 33 is preferably projected in the 1 st direction from the 2 nd opening 15 b.

In the visualization of light, it is considered that the particle size of the aerosol, the amount of the aerosol discharged, and the flow velocity (wind velocity) of the aerosol flowing through the flow path are also related.

In the experimental results, if the particle size of the aerosol is increased without changing the amount of the aerosol discharged, the light tends to be easily visualized. This is considered to be because if the particle size of the aerosol increases without changing the amount of aerosol discharged, the density of the aerosol per unit volume sealing the flow path ( める) increases, and therefore light is easily reflected by the aerosol.

In addition, when the amount of aerosol discharged increases, light tends to be easily visualized. This is considered to be because if the amount of aerosol discharged increases, the density of aerosol per unit volume that tightly fills the flow channel increases, and therefore light is easily reflected by aerosol.

Further, when the flow velocity of the aerosol flowing through the flow path is high, the light tends to be easily visualized. This is considered to be because if the amount of aerosol discharged increases, the amount of aerosol passing through a unit volume per unit time increases, and therefore light is easily reflected by the aerosol.

[ actions ]

In the light ray emission system 1, as shown in fig. 1 to 4, the control unit 40 controls the aerosol generator 20 to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20 is discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 20 through the container 21, the aerosol guide portion 24, and the 2 nd cylinder 25.

The control unit 40 controls the blower 10 to generate an air flow. Specifically, when the fan 12 of the blower 10 is driven by the control unit 40, an airflow is generated inside the blower 10, which flows toward the housing 11, the air blow guide 14, and the 1 st cylinder 15 in this order. Further, in the 1 st cylinder 15, since the airflow from the gap K of the 1 st cylinder 15 toward the 1 st direction through the 3 rd opening 17 is generated, the airflow by the coanda effect is generated on the inner peripheral surface side of the 1 st cylinder 15. That is, if the fan 12 is driven by the control unit 40 to discharge the gas from the 3 rd opening 17 in the 1 st direction, the coanda effect is generated along the inner peripheral surface of the 1 st cylinder 15 by the difference in the gas pressure between the discharged jet and the ambient gas pressure, and an airflow is generated from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15b (i.e., in the 1 st direction). Thereby, the blower 10 forms a flow path from the 1 st cylinder 15 to the 1 st direction. Since this airflow passes between the 1 st cylinder 15 and the 2 nd cylinder 25, the aerosol is guided from the discharge port 25a of the 2 nd cylinder 25, and flows through the flow path from the 1 st cylinder 15 in the 1 st direction.

At this time, the controller 40 controls the emitter 30 to be turned on, and the light is emitted in the 1 st direction. Thereby, the light is irradiated to the flow path through which the aerosol flows.

In the light emitting system 1, a single flow path through which the aerosol flows is formed, and the light propagates inside the flow path, so that the light is diffused by the aerosol to emit light from the flow path.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

The light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a blower 10 forming a flow path through which an aerosol flows and a transmitter 30 emitting light rays, and at least a part of the light rays propagate along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, by irradiating the aerosol flowing along the flow path with light, the irradiated light can emerge. That is, since the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated by diffusing the light by the aerosol, the light can be easily recognized even in a bright space.

Therefore, in the light ray emitting system 1, the light ray can be clearly recognized.

In particular, since the light beam can be recognized from any direction, the installation location of the light beam emitting system 1 is not limited.

In the light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment, the aerosol includes mist.

Thus, if the aerosol is a fog, the light can be easily visualized.

In the light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment, the blower 10 flows the aerosol in the 1 st direction, and at least a part of the light ray propagates in the 1 st direction.

Thereby, the emitter 30 can emit light in the same direction as the 1 st direction in which the blower 10 flows the aerosol. That is, since the emitter 30 can be disposed in the vicinity of the air blower 10, the disposition area of the light ray emission system 1 is not easily increased.

In the light ray outgoing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the direction in which at least a part of the light rays propagates coincides with the 1 st direction.

This allows the light to be emitted in a uniform direction along the direction in which the aerosol flows, and therefore allows the light to be visualized for a longer period of time.

In the light ray outgoing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the angle of the direction in which at least a part of the light rays propagates with respect to the 1 st direction is 15 ° or less.

For example, if the direction in which at least a portion of the light travels is at an angle greater than 15 ° relative to the 1 st direction, a large portion of the light is emitted from the aerosol flowing in the flow path, making it difficult to visualize the light over long distances. However, according to the present invention, since light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol, the light can be easily visualized for a longer time.

In the light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment, at least a part of the emitted light rays is scattered by the aerosol and visualized.

This diffuses the light, so that the user can reliably recognize the light.

The light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes an aerosol generator 20 that generates aerosol.

This enables easy aerosol generation.

In the light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment, the aerosol generator 20 includes: a container 21 for containing liquid; and at least one of a heater for generating aerosol by heating the liquid, an ultrasonic transducer for vibrating the liquid, and a fan 12 for blowing gas into the liquid.

This enables aerosol to be easily generated from liquid.

In the light ray emitting system 1 according to the present embodiment, the blower 10 includes: a fan 12 that generates an air flow to form a flow path through which an aerosol flows; and a1 st cylinder 15 having a1 st opening 15a for sucking gas and a2 nd opening 15b for discharging the gas sucked from the 1 st opening 15 a; the aerosol generator 20 has a2 nd cylinder 25 for guiding the aerosol to the flow path; the 2 nd cylinder 25 is inserted from the 1 st opening 15a, and the 2 nd cylinder 25 is held in a state of being spaced apart from the 1 st cylinder 15.

Thus, an airflow from the 1 st opening 15a to the 2 nd opening 15b is generated by the blower 10 between the 1 st cylinder 15 and the 2 nd cylinder 25, thereby forming a flow path. That is, since the airflow forms a flow path enclosing the 2 nd cylinder 25, the aerosol guided by the 2 nd cylinder 25 and discharged from the 2 nd cylinder 25 flows through the flow path. Therefore, the aerosol can be made to flow uniformly along the flow path.

In the light beam emitting system 1 according to the present embodiment, the 1 st cylinder 15 is a double-walled cylinder, and includes: an inner cylinder 16a having a1 st opening 15a and a2 nd opening 15 b; and an outer cylindrical body 16b connected to the inner cylindrical body 16a at an end edge on the 1 st opening 15a side, and covering the outer periphery of the inner cylindrical body 16a so as to form a gap K between the outer cylindrical body 16b and the inner cylindrical body 16 a; the 1 st cylinder 15 has formed between an inner cylinder 16a and an outer cylinder 16 b: a gap K into which air blown by the fan 12 flows; and a 3 rd opening 17 for discharging the gas flowing into the gap K.

Thus, since the airflow is generated from the 3 rd opening 17 toward the 1 st direction, the airflow from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15b can be generated by the coanda effect on the inner peripheral side of the inner cylindrical body 16 a. Therefore, an airflow higher than the wind power of the airflow by the fan 12 can be generated from the 1 st cylinder 15.

In the light ray emission system 1 according to the present embodiment, the aerosol generator 20 is located between the blower 10 and the emitter 30.

This makes it possible to easily flow the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20 to the flow path generated by the air blower 10.

In the light beam emitting system 1 according to the present embodiment, the emitter 30 includes a light source 31 that emits light beams, and an elongated light guide 33 that guides the light beams emitted from the light source 31. The light guide 33 is inserted from the 1 st aperture 15a through the 2 nd aperture 15b, and protrudes from the 2 nd aperture 15 b.

Thus, the light guide 33 guides the light to the flow path in which the aerosol flows, and attenuation of the light from the light source 31 to the flow path is suppressed. In particular, since the aerosol has a high density in the vicinity of the 2 nd opening 15b, extreme attenuation of light by the aerosol having a high density can be suppressed. Therefore, the light can be reliably guided to the aerosol, and the light propagating through the aerosol can be more reliably identified.

In the light Emitting system 1 according to the present embodiment, the light source 31 is an led (light Emitting diode) or a laser diode.

Thus, the light beam emitting system 1 can be easily realized by using an LED or a laser diode which is generally circulated.

In the light ray emitting system 1 according to the present embodiment, the emitter 30 further includes a processor 31a for switching on and off of the light ray.

This makes it possible to display or not display the light beam that has emerged from the aerosol.

(modification of embodiment 1)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1a according to the modification of embodiment 1 will be described.

Other configurations of the present modification are the same as those of embodiment 1 unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

In embodiment 1, the 2 nd cylinder 25 of the aerosol generator 20 is inserted into the 1 st cylinder 15 of the blower 10, but the light ray emission system 1a of the present modification differs from embodiment 1 in that the 2 nd cylinder 125 is not inserted into the 1 st cylinder 15 and is disposed at a position rearward of the 1 st cylinder 15.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a light beam output system 1a according to a modification of embodiment 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the light beam outgoing system 1a according to the modification of embodiment 1 is cut in the 1 st direction.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, in the light beam emitting system 1a of the present modification, the 2 nd cylinder 125 is disposed rearward of the 1 st cylinder 15 in a posture in which the discharge port 25a of the 2 nd cylinder 125 faces the 1 st opening 15a of the 1 st cylinder 15.

Thus, the aerosol discharged from the discharge port 25a of the 2 nd cylinder 125 is guided to the 1 st opening 15a of the 1 st cylinder 15 by the airflow sucked into the 1 st opening 15a of the 1 st cylinder 15. The 1 st opening 15a of the blower 10 sucks aerosol along the airflow, and the 2 nd opening 15b of the blower 10 discharges the sucked aerosol to a flow path flowing in the 1 st direction.

In the light ray emitting system 1a according to the present modification, the blower 10 includes: a1 st cylinder 15 having a1 st opening 15a through which aerosol is drawn along an air flow and a2 nd opening 15b through which aerosol drawn from the 1 st opening 15a is discharged to a flow path; and a fan 12 for generating an air flow in the 1 st cylinder 15.

Thus, a flow path of the aerosol is formed in a direction extending from the 1 st opening 15a toward the 2 nd opening 15b by the airflow (wind) generated in the 1 st cylinder 15 by the fan 12. Therefore, if light is irradiated along the flow path, the light is diffused by the aerosol, and the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated.

In the light ray emitting system 1a according to the present embodiment, the blower 10 includes: a fan 12 for generating an air flow to form a flow path through which an aerosol flows; and a1 st cylinder 15 having a1 st opening 15a for drawing in aerosol along an air flow and a2 nd opening 15b for discharging the aerosol drawn in from the 1 st opening 15a to a flow path; the aerosol generator 20 has a2 nd cylinder 125 that directs the aerosol toward the 1 st opening 15 a.

This forms a flow path extending from the 1 st opening 15a to the 2 nd opening 15b, and therefore the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20 can be easily carried (flowed) from the 1 st opening 15 a. Therefore, the flow path of the aerosol can be formed easily.

In addition, in the present modification, the same operational effects as those of embodiment 1 are obtained.

(embodiment mode 2)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1b of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1, and the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and detailed descriptions of the configurations are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1b

The light ray emission system 1 according to embodiment 1 is different from embodiment 1 in that the emitter 30 is disposed behind the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, but in the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is disposed in front of the aerosol generator 20 and the blower 10.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a light ray output system 1b according to embodiment 2.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 8, the emitter 30 is disposed so as to face the air blower 10 with the aerosol generator 20 therebetween, that is, so as to face the aerosol generator 20 and the air blower 10.

The emitter 30 emits light traveling in the 2 nd direction opposite to the 1 st direction on the upstream side of the flow path of the aerosol. Specifically, the emitter 30 emits light toward the 1 st cylinder 15 of the blower 10 and the 2 nd cylinder 25 of the aerosol generator 20. The light emitted from the emitter 30 is coincident or substantially coincident with the central axis of the 1 st cylinder 15 and the central axis of the 2 nd cylinder 25. The angle of the direction of light propagation with respect to the 2 nd direction is 15 ° or less. In the present embodiment, at least a portion of the light travels in the 2 nd direction opposite to the 1 st direction, and the direction in which at least a portion of the light travels coincides with the 2 nd direction. Thus, the direction of the light emitted by emitter 30 is the 2 nd direction, while the direction of the aerosol flow in the flow path is the 1 st direction.

The light source 31 of the emitter 30 is supported in a posture of emitting light in the 1 st direction.

The light guide 33 of the emitter 30 is not inserted into the 2 nd cylinder 25, and is disposed in a posture in which the longitudinal direction is substantially parallel to the 2 nd direction. That is, the light guide 33 extends from the light source 31 in the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 may not include the light guide 33, and the light guide 33 is not an essential component of the emitter 30.

The operation of the light beam output system 1b is the same as that of embodiment 1, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1b of the present embodiment will be described.

In the light ray emission system 1b according to the present embodiment, the blower 10 causes the aerosol to flow in the 1 st direction, and at least a part of the light ray propagates in the 2 nd direction opposite to the 1 st direction.

This makes it possible to clearly recognize the light even when the transmitter 30 is disposed at a position distant from the blower 10. In addition, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the transmitter 30 can be improved.

In the light ray outgoing system 1b according to the present embodiment, the direction in which at least a part of the light rays propagates coincides with the 2 nd direction.

This allows the light to be emitted in a uniform direction along the direction in which the aerosol flows, and therefore allows the light to be visualized for a longer period of time.

In the light ray outgoing system 1b according to the present embodiment, the angle of the direction in which at least a part of the light rays propagates with respect to the 2 nd direction is 15 ° or less.

For example, if the direction in which at least a portion of the light travels is at an angle greater than 15 ° relative to the 2 nd direction, a large portion of the light is emitted from the aerosol flowing in the flow path, making it difficult to visualize the light over long distances. However, according to the present invention, since light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol, the light can be easily visualized for a longer time.

In the light ray emission system 1b according to the present embodiment, the blower 10 is located between the emitter 30 and the aerosol generator 20.

Accordingly, the blower 10, the emitter 30, and the aerosol generator 20 can be disposed close to each other, and therefore the light ray emitting system 1b is not likely to be large in size.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 1.

(embodiment mode 3)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1c of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1c

The light ray emission system 1 according to embodiment 1 and the like is different from embodiment 1 and the like in that the emitter 30 is disposed behind the aerosol generator 20 and the blower 10, but in the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is disposed so that the direction in which the light ray of the emitter 30 is emitted intersects with the flow path in which the aerosol flows.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system 1c according to embodiment 3. Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system 1c according to embodiment 3. Fig. 10 a is a side view of the light beam emitting system 1c according to embodiment 3, fig. 10 b is a top view of the light beam emitting system 1c according to embodiment 3, and fig. 10 c is a front view of the light beam emitting system 1c according to embodiment 3.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, the emitter 30 is disposed above, below, or on the side of the flow path in which the aerosol flows, and is not disposed at a position facing the aerosol generator 20 and the blower 10. The emitter 30 is disposed in a posture in which the emitted light intersects the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is fixed to a structure (not shown) such as a ceiling, and is disposed in a posture in which the emitted light is substantially orthogonal to the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is disposed above the flow path in which the aerosol flows. Therefore, the light emitted from the emitter 30 does not coincide or substantially coincide with the central axis of the 1 st cylinder and the central axis of the 2 nd cylinder, and does not propagate in the 1 st direction or the 2 nd direction.

The light source 31 of the emitter 30 is supported in a posture in which the emitted light intersects the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction.

The light guide 33 of the emitter 30 is not inserted into the 2 nd cylinder, and is disposed in a posture in which the longitudinal direction intersects the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. The light guide 33 extends from the light source 31 toward the flow path of the aerosol flow. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 may not include a light guide, and the light guide is not an essential component of the emitter 30.

The light ray emitting system 1c includes a driving unit 50 in addition to the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30.

< drive part 50>

The driving unit 50 is an actuator that changes the inclination of the emitter 30 by swinging the emitter 30 around a predetermined axis, and swings the emission direction of the light emitted from the emitter 30 by a predetermined angle. Specifically, the driving unit 50 is provided in the emitter 30, and controls the control unit 40 to swing the emitter 30 within a predetermined angular range, thereby setting the emission direction of the light beam within the predetermined angular range. The drive unit 50 controls the control unit 40 to swing the emitter 30 at a predetermined cycle, or to hold the emitter 30 so that the light beam of the emitter 30 is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, for example. In this way, the driving unit 50 controls the posture of the emitter 30 to control the light emission direction.

The driving unit 50 may also swing the light source 31 and the light guide to change the orientations of the light source 31 and the light guide. The driving unit 50 may be included in the constituent elements of the emitter 30, or may not be included in the constituent elements of the emitter 30.

[ actions ]

In the light ray emission system 1c, the control unit 40 controls the aerosol generator 20 to cause the aerosol generator 20 to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20 is discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 20 through the container 21, the aerosol guide 24, and the 2 nd cylinder, and flows along the flow path. At this time, the control unit 40 controls the emitter 30 to emit light in a direction intersecting the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. Thereby, the light is irradiated to the aerosol.

The control unit 40 controls the driving unit 50 to swing the emitter 30, thereby changing the orientation of the emitter 30. That is, the control unit 40 causes the emitter 30 to oscillate at a predetermined period by the driving unit 50, thereby scanning the light beam in a direction intersecting the flow path of the aerosol, so that the light beam is made planar.

When the fan 12 of the blower 10 is driven by the control unit 40, the blower 10 forms a flow path from the 1 st cylinder in the 1 st direction. Thereby, the aerosol flows through the flow path from the 1 st cylinder in the 1 st direction.

In the light emitting system 1c, since one flow path through which the aerosol flows is formed and the planar light is irradiated so as to intersect with the flow path, the planar light is visualized by the aerosol. Thereby, a part of the flow path in which the aerosol flows emits light on a plane.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1c of the present embodiment will be described.

The light beam emitting system 1c according to the present embodiment further includes a driving unit 50 for swinging the emitter 30.

This makes it possible to irradiate the flow path through which the aerosol flows with a planar light beam, and thus to visualize the planar light beam.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 1 and the like.

(embodiment mode 4)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1d of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1d

The light ray emitting system 1 of embodiment 1 and the like is different from embodiment 1 and the like in that 1 st cylinder, 1 nd cylinder, 1 light source 31, and 1 light guide 33 are exemplified, but in this embodiment, a plurality of 1 st cylinders, a plurality of 2 nd cylinders, a plurality of light sources 31, and a plurality of light guides are exemplified.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system 1d according to embodiment 4. Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system 1d according to embodiment 4. Fig. 12 a is a side view of the light beam emitting system 1d according to embodiment 4, and fig. 12 b is a top view of the light beam emitting system 1d according to embodiment 4.

As shown in fig. 11 and 12, the blower 10 includes a plurality of 1 st cylinders. The 1 st tubular bodies are arranged in a vertical direction, and form a flow path for aerosol flow in the 1 st direction. In the present embodiment, 41 st tubular bodies are exemplified, but the 1 st tubular body may be 3 or less, or 5 or more.

The aerosol generator 420 has a plurality of 2 nd cylinders corresponding to the plurality of 1 st cylinders one to one. The plurality of 2 nd cylindrical bodies are arranged in a vertical direction, and each discharge the aerosol in the 1 st direction. That is, the aerosol guide unit 424 is connected to the connection holes of the plurality of 2 nd cylindrical bodies in a one-to-one manner so as to guide the aerosol generated by the generator 22 to the plurality of 2 nd cylindrical bodies, respectively. In the present embodiment, 42 nd cylindrical bodies are exemplified, but the 2 nd cylindrical body may be 3 or less, or 5 or more.

The emitter 430 has a plurality of light sources 31 corresponding to the plurality of 1 st cylinders and the like one to one, and a plurality of light guides corresponding to the plurality of light sources 31 one to one. In the present embodiment, the number of the light sources 31 and the number of the light guides are equal to the number of the 1 st cylinder and the 2 nd cylinder, but may not necessarily be equal. In the present embodiment, 4 light sources 31 and 4 light guides are exemplified, but the number of the light sources 31 and the number of the light guides may be 3 or less, or 5 or more, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the emitter 430 is disposed behind the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 420. The plurality of light sources 31 emit light in the 1 st direction along the flow path of the aerosol. The emitter 430 may be disposed at the front so as to face the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 420, and the plurality of light sources 31 may emit light in the 2 nd direction along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, in the light ray emitting system 1d, the respective light rays propagate along the flow paths in which the respective aerosols flow, and are visualized in a planar manner by the respective light rays. That is, in the light emitting system 1d, the display surface can be formed by the flow paths through which the aerosols flow.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1d of the present embodiment will be described.

In the light ray output system 1d according to the present embodiment, the emitter 430 includes: 1 or more light sources 31 that emit 1 or more light beams, respectively; and an elongated light guide body 33 of 1 or more which guides the 1 or more light rays emitted from the 1 or more light sources 31 to the aerosol one by one.

Thus, a plurality of types of light beams having different wavelengths can be emitted using 1 or more light sources 31. Therefore, if a plurality of flow paths through which the aerosol flows are formed and a plurality of types of light rays are propagated along these flow paths, the flow paths through which the aerosol flows can be visualized in a planar manner.

Further, since the color of the light ray propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed by using light rays having different colors by the plurality of light sources 31, the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 1 and the like.

(modification of embodiment 4)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1e according to the modification of embodiment 4 will be described.

Other configurations of the present modification are the same as those of embodiment 4 unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

The aerosol generator 420 of embodiment 4 includes 1 aerosol guide part 424, but differs from embodiment 4 in that the aerosol generator 420 of the present modification includes a plurality of aerosol guide parts and a plurality of generating parts 22 corresponding to a plurality of 2 nd cylinder bodies in a one-to-one correspondence.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a light beam output system 1e according to a modification of embodiment 4.

As shown in fig. 13, the control unit 40 intermittently causes the aerosol to flow along each of the flow paths by switching the on/off of the plurality of generation units 22 of the aerosol generator 420 or switching the on/off of the fans 12 of the plurality of blowers 410.

Further, the control unit 40 causes the aerosol corresponding to the image information to be discharged by switching the opening and closing of the generation unit 22 of the aerosol generator 420 or the fan 12 of the blower 410 based on the image information. That is, the control unit 40 intermittently causes the aerosol to flow along each flow path with 1 pixel of the image indicated in the image information as 1 aerosol block. The control unit 40 causes aerosol patches serving as bases of pixels to be discharged on a display surface formed of flow paths through which the respective aerosols flow, based on image information, and causes the set of aerosol patches to express an image represented by the image information as a raster image.

Here, the image information is, for example, characters, graphics, marks, patterns, and the like. The image information is acquired from a server such as an external device or is generated by a user input.

The aerosol pieces that the control unit 40 causes the aerosol generator 420 to discharge may have the same size, but the size may be changed according to the image indicated by the image information.

[ actions ]

A display surface formed by the flow paths through which the aerosols flow in the light ray emission system 1e according to the present modification will be described.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on a display surface of a flow path through which aerosol flows. Fig. 14 illustrates a situation after t seconds have elapsed since the aerosol mist discharge was started based on the image information. Fig. 15 is a view showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on the display surface of the flow path through which the aerosol flows when α seconds have elapsed from the state shown in fig. 14. In fig. 14 and 15, a light-emitting aerosol patch is indicated by hatching. In fig. 15, an aerosol lump after t seconds is shown by a broken line.

In the light ray emitting system 1e of fig. 14, the image information is described as characters, taking the english word "a" as an example. In the light ray emitting system 1e of fig. 14, a case where 5 blowers 410, 5 aerosol generators 420, 5 light sources 31, and 5 light guides are used is taken as an example. The image indicated by the image information is a raster image composed of a set of small pixels (dots). In fig. 14 and 15, the flow velocity of the aerosol is set to 5(m/sec) to 30(m/sec), and the emission time of the light beam from the emitter 430 is set to 3(ms) to 6 (ms). The raster image after t seconds is about 1(m) in lateral width.

As shown in fig. 14, the control unit 40 converts the image based on the number of pixels of the image shown in the image information and the number of blowers 410 (the number of 1 st cylinders) or the number of aerosol generators 420 (the number of 2 nd cylinders), and controls each blower 410, each aerosol generator 420, and each light source 31 based on the pixels of the converted image. Specifically, the control unit 40 controls the blowers 410 and the aerosol generators 420 to intermittently discharge aerosol patches in accordance with the positions of the pixels of the english letter "a" indicated by the converted image, thereby forming an aggregate of a plurality of aerosol patches.

The control unit 40 controls the light sources 31 of the emitter 430 so that the light emitted from the light sources 31 is transmitted to the aggregate of the aerosol patches. Thereby, the image is clearly visualized by the light. As indicated by the two-dot chain lines in fig. 14 and 15, in the light ray emitting system 1e, the english word "a" indicated by the converted image is expressed by a raster image on the display surface formed by the flow paths through which the plurality of aerosols flow.

Since the plurality of aerosol flow channels flow in the 1 st direction, the display surface formed by the plurality of aerosol flow channels flows in the 1 st direction. Therefore, the english word "a" represented by the converted image also flows in the 1 st direction. In this way, in the light beam emitting system 1e, since a plurality of aerosol patches are discharged based on the image information and the light beam propagates through each patch, the image flowing in the 1 st direction can be reproduced.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a case where the aerosol is discharged to the display surface of the flow path in which the aerosol flows in accordance with the image information, and a case where the emitter 430 is turned off. In fig. 16, the aerosol mass is shown in dashed lines.

As shown in fig. 16, when the controller 40 turns off the emitter 430, it is difficult to recognize only aerosol, and therefore, it is difficult to recognize english "a".

In the light ray emission system 1e of fig. 14 to 16, the mist pieces discharged from the aerosol generator 420 are illustrated as pieces having the same size.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on a display surface of a flow path through which aerosol flows. Fig. 18 illustrates a situation t seconds after the aerosol block starts to be ejected based on the image information. Fig. 18 is a view showing a case where an image corresponding to image information is displayed on the display surface of the flow path through which the aerosol flows when α seconds have elapsed from the state shown in fig. 17. In fig. 17 and 18, a light-emitting aerosol patch is indicated by hatching. In fig. 18, an aerosol block t seconds later is shown by a broken line.

In the light ray emission system 1e of fig. 17 and 18, the sizes of the mist lumps discharged by the aerosol generator 420 are variously illustrated. As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the control unit 40 may control the aerosol generation by the aerosol generator 420 so that the sizes of the mist lumps discharged by the aerosol generator 420 are varied. In this case, in the light emitting system 1e, since the aerosol patches are ejected based on the image information and the light propagates through the respective patches, the image flowing in the 1 st direction can be displayed as indicated by the two-dot chain lines in fig. 17 and 18.

In addition, in the present modification, the same operational effects as those of embodiment 1 and the like are exhibited.

(embodiment 5)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1f of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 4 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1f

The light beam emitting system 1d according to embodiment 4 differs from embodiment 4 and the like in that the light beam emitted from the emitter 30 is propagated to the aerosol, and in the present embodiment, the 1 st light beam is divided into a plurality of light beams by the beam splitter 60.

Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system 1f according to embodiment 5. Fig. 19 a is a side view of the light beam output system 1f according to embodiment 5, and fig. 19 b is a top view of the light beam output system 1f according to embodiment 5.

As shown in fig. 1 and 19, in the present embodiment, the blower 10 has 21 st cylinders, the aerosol generator 20 has 2 nd cylinders, and the emitter 30 has 2 light sources. The 21 st tubular bodies, the 2 nd tubular bodies, and the 2 light sources are arranged in a vertical direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, 2 flow paths through which the aerosol flows are formed. In the present embodiment, unless otherwise noted, the flow path on the vertically upper side may be referred to as the 1 st flow path, and the flow path on the vertically lower side may be referred to as the 2 nd flow path.

The emitter 30 is disposed above, below, or on the side of the flow path in which the aerosol flows. The emitter 30 is disposed in a posture in which the 1 st light beam emitted intersects the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is fixed to a structure such as a ceiling, and is disposed in a posture in which the 1 st light beam emitted is substantially orthogonal to the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the emitter 30 is disposed above the flow path in which the aerosol flows.

The emitter 30 may be disposed in front of the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 so as to face the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20.

The emitter 30 has a beam splitter 60 and an optical element 68 in addition to the light source and the light guide.

< Beam splitter 60>

The beam splitter 60 is disposed on the optical axis of the 1 st light beam emitted from the emitter 30 and on the straight line of the 1 st flow path in which the aerosol flows. Specifically, the beam splitter 60 intersects the central axis of the 1 st cylinder of the blower 10 and the central axis of the 2 nd cylinder of the aerosol generator 20, and is disposed on the front side facing the 1 st cylinder and the 2 nd cylinder on the vertically upper side in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, since the emitter 30 is fixed to the ceiling, the beam splitter 60 is disposed vertically below the emitter 30 and vertically above the optical element 68.

The beam splitter 60 may be disposed behind the 1 st and 2 nd cylindrical bodies as long as it can transmit the 1 st and 2 nd divided light beams to the aerosol flowing through the 1 st and 2 nd flow paths, respectively.

The beam splitter 60 is an optical member (half mirror) that splits the 1 st light beam incident on the beam splitter 60 into reflected light and transmitted light at a predetermined ratio. The beam splitter 60 splits the 1 st light beam into the 1 st split light beam and the 2 nd split light beam by transmitting the 1 st split light beam, which is a part of the 1 st light beam emitted from the 1 st light source 31, and reflecting the 2 nd split light beam, which is the remaining 1 st light beam and has a wavelength different from that of the 1 st split light beam. The 1 st light ray described here is an example of the above-described light ray.

The beam splitter 60 and the optical element 68 emit light in the 2 nd direction in a state where the optical axes of the 1 st divided light beam and the 2 nd divided light beam are aligned so as to be substantially parallel to each other. That is, the 1 st divided light propagates along the 1 st flow path of the aerosol.

The beam splitter 60 is formed by laminating a multilayer film on a transparent resin material such as a glass material, acrylic, or polycarbonate.

In the present embodiment, 1 beam splitter 60 is used, but a plurality of beam splitters 60 may be used. That is, the number of the beam splitters 60 may be changed according to the number of the flow paths through which the aerosol flows.

< optical element 68>

The optical element 68 is disposed on the optical axis of the 1 st light beam emitted from the emitter 30, on the straight line of the 2 nd flow path in which the aerosol flows, and on the side of the beam splitter 60 in the direction in which the 2 nd divided light beam is emitted. Specifically, the optical element 68 intersects the central axis of the 1 st cylinder of the blower 10 and the central axis of the 2 nd cylinder of the aerosol generator 20, and is disposed on the front side facing the 1 st cylinder and the 2 nd cylinder on the vertically lower side in the present embodiment.

The optical element 68 may be disposed behind the 1 st and 2 nd cylindrical bodies as long as it can propagate the 2 nd divided light to the aerosol flowing through the 2 nd flow path.

The optical element 68 is a light reflecting member that changes the propagation direction of the 2 nd divided light beam to the propagation direction along the 2 nd flow path of the aerosol. That is, the optical element 68 guides the 2 nd divided light beam in the 2 nd direction. For example, when the emission direction of the 2 nd divided light beam emitted from the beam splitter 60 intersects with the 1 st divided light beam emitted from the beam splitter 60, the optical element 68 guides the 2 nd divided light beam in a direction substantially parallel to the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the optical element 68 is a mirror-finished light reflecting member, and reflects the 2 nd divided light beam in a direction substantially parallel to the 2 nd direction. For example, the optical element 68 is a mirror, an optical fiber, a light guide, or the like.

[ actions ]

The operation of the emitter 30 of the light beam output system 1f according to the present embodiment will be described.

The control unit 40 controls the aerosol generator 20 to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 20 is discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 20 through the container, the aerosol guide portion, and the 2 nd cylinder. At this time, the control unit 40 controls the emitter 30 to be turned on, so that the emitter 30 emits the 1 st light beam vertically downward.

The 1 st ray emitted from the emitter 30 is incident toward the beam splitter 60. The beam splitter 60 splits the incident 1 st ray into a1 st split ray and a2 nd split ray. The beam splitter 60 propagates the 1 st split light along the 1 st flow path of the aerosol flow in the 2 nd direction.

The beam splitter 60 emits the 2 nd split light beam to the vertically lower side and makes it incident on the optical element 68. The optical element 68 reflects the incident 2 nd divided light and propagates the light in the 2 nd direction along the 2 nd flow path in which the aerosol flows.

Thus, in the light emitting system 1f, the 1 st divided light propagates through the 1 st flow path and the 2 nd divided light propagates through the 2 nd flow path, so that the color of light emitted from the aerosol flowing through the 1 st flow path is different from the color of light emitted from the aerosol flowing through the 2 nd flow path.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1f of the present embodiment will be described.

In the light beam output system 1f according to the present embodiment, the transmitter 30 includes the beam splitter 60 that splits the 1 st light beam, which is the light beam output from the 1 light source 31, into the 1 st split light beam and the 2 nd split light beam having a wavelength different from that of the 1 st split light beam.

This enables the use of 1 light source 31 to emit a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. Therefore, the color of the light propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed, and thus the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In the light ray emission system 1f according to the present embodiment, the 1 st divided light ray propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, the 1 st divided light beam is irradiated to the aerosol, and therefore the 1 st divided light beam can be reliably visualized.

In the light ray emitting system 1f according to the present embodiment, the emitter 30 includes the optical element 68 for changing the direction of the 2 nd split light ray to the direction along the flow path of the aerosol.

This allows the 2 nd divided light to be irradiated to the aerosol, and therefore the 2 nd divided light can be reliably visualized. Further, since the light beam is a light beam having a color different from that of the 1 st divided light beam, the color of the light beam propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed, and thus the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 4 and the like.

(embodiment mode 6)

The structure of the light beam emitting system 1g of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 5 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission System 1g

The light beam output system 1f according to embodiment 5 uses 1 emitter, but differs from embodiment 5 and the like in that a plurality of emitters and a plurality of beam splitters are exemplified in the present embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system 1g according to embodiment 6. Fig. 20 a is a top view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 5, and fig. 20 b is a side view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 5.

As shown in fig. 1 and 20, the light beam emitting system 1g of the present embodiment includes a1 st emitter 30a that emits a1 st light beam, a2 nd emitter 30b that emits a2 nd light beam, a 3 rd emitter 30c that emits a 3 rd light beam, and a plurality of beam splitters. The light beam emitting system 1g may not include 1 of the 1 st emitter 30a, the 2 nd emitter 30b, and the 3 rd emitter 30c, as long as it has at least 2 emitters. Therefore, 1 of the 1 st emitter 30a, the 2 nd emitter 30b, and the 3 rd emitter 30c is not an essential component of the light output system 1 g.

The wavelength of the 1 st light is different from the wavelength of the 2 nd light and the wavelength of the 3 rd light. In addition, the wavelength of the 2 nd light is different from that of the 3 rd light. In this embodiment, the 1 st light ray is a red light ray, the 2 nd light ray is a blue light ray, and the 3 rd light ray is a green light ray. The red light is light in a wavelength band that can be recognized as red. The blue light is light in a wavelength band that can be recognized as blue. The green light is light in a wavelength band that can be recognized as green.

As shown in fig. 20, the 1 st and 3 rd emitters 30a and 30c are disposed at positions facing each other such that the 1 st and 3 rd rays intersect the flow path of the aerosol flow and the 1 st and 3 rd rays are substantially parallel to each other. In the present embodiment, the 1 st emitter 30a and the 3 rd emitter 30c are disposed so as to sandwich the flow path through which the 1 st light and the 3 rd light flow are substantially orthogonal to the flow path through which the aerosol flows. The 2 nd emitter 30b is disposed at a position where the 1 st cylinder of the blower 10 and the 2 nd cylinder of the aerosol generator 20 face each other via the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 2 nd beam splitter 60b so that the 2 nd light beam propagates in the 2 nd direction along the flow path of the aerosol flow.

The plurality of beam splitters are arranged on an extension line of a flow path in which the aerosol flows. Fig. 20 illustrates a case where the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 2 nd beam splitter 60b among the plurality of beam splitters are used.

The 1 st beam splitter 60a is disposed on the 1 st and 2 nd light lines, and is disposed between the 2 nd emitter 30b and the 2 nd beam splitter 60 b. The 1 st and 2 nd light rays are incident to the 1 st beam splitter 60 a. The 1 st beam splitter 60a transmits the 2 nd light and guides the 2 nd light to the 2 nd beam splitter 60 b. The 1 st beam splitter 60a reflects the 1 st light and guides the 1 st light to the 2 nd beam splitter 60 b. In the present embodiment, the 1 st beam splitter 60a has a function of reflecting light in a red wavelength band and transmitting light in other wavelength bands (for example, blue light, green light, and the like). The 1 st beam splitter 60a may be a light reflecting member having a function of reflecting only the 1 st beam and absorbing light in other wavelength bands.

The 2 nd beam splitter 60b is disposed on the 2 nd light beam and the 3 rd light beam, and is disposed between the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 1 st and 2 nd cylindrical bodies. The 1 st light and the 2 nd light incident through the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 3 rd light of the 3 rd emitter 30c are incident toward the 2 nd beam splitter 60 b. The 2 nd beam splitter 60b transmits the 1 st light beam and the 2 nd light beam, and transmits the 1 st light beam and the 2 nd light beam in the 2 nd direction along the flow path of the aerosol flow. The 2 nd beam splitter 60b reflects the 3 rd light beam and transmits the 3 rd light beam in the 2 nd direction along the flow path of the aerosol flow. In the present embodiment, the 2 nd beam splitter 60b has a function of reflecting light in a green wavelength band and transmitting light in other wavelength bands (for example, red light, blue light, and the like). The 2 nd beam splitter 60b may be a light reflecting member having a function of reflecting only the 3 rd beam and absorbing light in other wavelength bands.

[ actions ]

The propagation of the light beam in the light beam output system 1g of the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 21A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the 1 st light beam emitted from the 1 st emitter 30a of the light beam emission system 1g according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path. Fig. 21A is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the top, and fig. 21A is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the side.

As shown in fig. 21A, the light emitted from the 1 st emitter 30a is reflected by the 1 st beam splitter 60a and guided toward the 2 nd beam splitter 60 b. Since the 2 nd beam splitter 60b transmits the 1 st light, the 1 st light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol flow. Therefore, in fig. 21A, the flow path through which the aerosol flows emits red light.

Fig. 21B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the 2 nd light beam emitted from the 2 nd emitter 30B of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path. Fig. 21B is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the top, and fig. 21B is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the side.

As shown in fig. 21B, since the light emitted from the 2 nd emitter 30B transmits through the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 2 nd beam splitter 60B, the 2 nd light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol flow. Therefore, in fig. 21B, the flow path through which the aerosol flows emits light in blue.

Fig. 21C is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the 3 rd light beam emitted from the 3 rd emitter 30C of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 is propagated to the aerosol flowing in the flow path. Fig. 21C is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the top, and fig. 21C is a view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to embodiment 6 as viewed from the side.

As shown in fig. 21C, the light emitted from the 3 rd emitter 30C is reflected by the 2 nd beam splitter 60b, and the 3 rd light propagates along the flow path of the aerosol flow. Therefore, in fig. 21C, the flow path in which the aerosol flows emits light in green.

In any of the cases shown in fig. 20 to 21C, the control unit 40 can change the light beam propagating through the flow path in which the aerosol flows by individually controlling the 1 st emitter 30a, the 2 nd emitter 30b, and the 3 rd emitter 30C. That is, the control unit 40 changes the color of the light traveling through the flow path in which the aerosol flows by combining at least 1 of the 1 st light, the 2 nd light, and the 3 rd light. This changes the color of the emitted light in the flow path through which the aerosol flows.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1g of the present embodiment will be described.

The light ray emission system 1g according to the present embodiment includes an aerosol generator 20 that generates aerosol, a blower 10 that forms a flow path through which the aerosol flows, a1 st emitter 30a that emits a1 st light ray, an optical element 68 that changes a direction in which the 1 st light ray propagates to a direction along the flow path of the aerosol, and a2 nd emitter 30b that emits a2 nd light ray. At least a portion of the 2 nd ray propagates along the flow path of the aerosol.

Thus, by irradiating the aerosol flowing along the flow path with the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray, the irradiated 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can emerge. That is, since the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be illuminated by diffusing the light by the aerosol, the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can be easily recognized even in a bright space.

Therefore, in the light beam emitting system 1g, the 1 st light beam and the 2 nd light beam can be clearly recognized.

In particular, since the 1 st light ray and the 2 nd light ray can be recognized from any direction, the installation location of the light ray emitting system 1g is not limited.

In the light output system 1g according to the present embodiment, the wavelength of the 1 st light is different from the wavelength of the 2 nd light.

This enables a plurality of types of light to be reflected on the aerosol. That is, since the color of light propagating through the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed by two or more colors of light, the display mode of the flow path through which the aerosol flows can be changed.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 5 and the like.

(modification of embodiment 6)

The structure of the light beam emitting system 1g of the present modification will be described.

Other configurations of the present modification are the same as those of embodiment 6 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

Another example will be described in which the arrangement of the plurality of beam splitters and the arrangement of the plurality of emitters are changed with respect to the light beam output system 1g of embodiment 6.

Some of the plurality of beam splitters may be arranged on an extension line of a flow path in which the aerosol flows. Fig. 22 illustrates a case where the 1 st beam splitter 60a, the 2 nd beam splitter 60b, the 3 rd beam splitter 60c, and the 4 th beam splitter 60d among the plurality of beam splitters are used. Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a case where 4 beam splitters are used in the light output system 1g according to embodiment 6. Fig. 22 a is a top view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to the modification of embodiment 6, and fig. 22 b is a side view of the light beam emitting system 1g according to the modification of embodiment 6.

As shown in fig. 22, the 1 st emitter 30a, the 2 nd emitter 30b, and the 3 rd emitter 30c are aligned such that the alignment direction of the 1 st emitter 30a, the 2 nd emitter 30b, and the 3 rd emitter 30c is substantially orthogonal to the 1 st direction. The 1 st emitter 30a and the 3 rd emitter 30c are disposed on both sides of the 2 nd emitter 30b so as to sandwich the 2 nd emitter 30 b. The 1 st emitter 30a and the 3 rd emitter 30c are disposed in a posture in which the 1 st light ray and the 3 rd light ray are substantially parallel to the 2 nd direction. The 2 nd radiator 30b is disposed so as to face the 1 st cylinder of the blower 10 and the 2 nd cylinder of the aerosol generator 20, and the 2 nd light ray propagates in the 2 nd direction along the flow path of the aerosol flow.

The 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 2 nd beam splitter 60b are disposed on the 2 nd light line of the 2 nd emitter 30 b. The functions of the 1 st beam splitter 60a and the 2 nd beam splitter 60b are the same as those of fig. 20, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

The 3 rd beam splitter 60c is disposed on the 1 st ray of the 1 st emitter 30 a. The 1 st ray of the 1 st emitter 30a is incident toward the 3 rd beam splitter 60 c. The 3 rd beam splitter 60c reflects the 1 st light and guides the 1 st beam splitter 60 a. In the present modification, the 3 rd beam splitter 60c has a function of reflecting light in a red wavelength band and transmitting light in other wavelength bands (for example, blue light, green light, and the like). The 3 rd beam splitter 60c may be a light reflecting member having a function of reflecting only the 1 st beam and absorbing light in other wavelength bands.

The 4 th beam splitter 60d is disposed on the 3 rd light line of the 3 rd emitter 30 c. The 3 rd light of the 3 rd emitter 30c is incident toward the 4 th beam splitter 60 d. The 4 th beam splitter 60d reflects the 3 rd light and guides the 3 rd light toward the 1 st beam splitter 60 a. In the present modification, the 2 nd beam splitter 60b has a function of reflecting light in a green wavelength band and transmitting light in other wavelength bands (for example, red light, blue light, and the like). The 4 th beam splitter 60d may be a light reflecting member having a function of reflecting only the 3 rd beam and absorbing light in other wavelength bands.

In addition, in the present modification, the same operational effects as those of embodiment 6 and the like are exhibited.

(embodiment 7)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1h of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission System 1h

Fig. 23 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system 1h according to embodiment 7. Fig. 24 is a schematic view showing a light ray output system 1h according to embodiment 7. Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the pair of shutter bodies of the light beam emitting system 1h according to embodiment 7 are cut off along the flow path of the aerosol flow.

As shown in fig. 23, 24, and 25, the light beam emitting system 1h includes a pair of shutter bodies and the server device 3.

< Gate body >

The pair of shutter bodies are shutter devices (automatic ticket gate devices) including a1 st shutter body 2a and a2 nd shutter body 2 b. The 1 st gate main body 2a and the 2 nd gate main body 2b function as gates that permit or prohibit passage of an approaching body moving in a passage. The approaching body is a moving body such as a human, an animal, a cart, and a wheelchair.

The 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b are disposed to face each other. The 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval as a ticket gate passage through which an approaching body satisfying a predetermined condition passes. That is, the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b are arranged to face each other across the ticket gate passage. The direction of passage of the proximity body in the ticket gate is bidirectional through the ticket gate. The external shape of the 1 st shutter body 2a is the same as that of the 2 nd shutter body 2 b. Further, the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b may be connected in wireless or wired communication. A plurality of the 1 st shutter bodies 2a and 2 nd shutter bodies 2b may be provided, and the number is not particularly limited. The same applies to the components constituting the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2 b.

< 1 st Gate body 2a >

The 1 st shutter body 2a includes, in addition to the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the emitter 30, and the control unit 40, an anemometer unit 771, an air flow changing device 772, a gas acceleration device 773, an acoustic device 774, and a power supply unit 775. That is, the 1 st shutter body 2a houses the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the emitter 30, the control unit 40, the anemometer unit 771, the air flow changing device 772, the gas acceleration device 773, and the acoustic device 774 in the case 2a 1.

The 1 st shutter body 2a is concentrically provided with 1 or more 2 nd openings 715 and 1 or more discharge ports 725 for forming a flow path for the aerosol flow in the 1 st direction by the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20. The light source 31 for emitting light is disposed in the 1 or more 2 nd apertures 715 and the 1 or more discharge apertures 725, and light is emitted from the light guide 733 in each 2 nd aperture 715. In the present embodiment, 42 nd openings 715 are formed. The 2 nd openings 715 are formed on the side facing the 2 nd shutter main body 2b and are arranged in the vertical direction.

< anemometry unit 771>

The wind measuring unit 771 is disposed on the upper surface of the housing 2a1, measures the wind speed and wind direction passing through the ticket barrier, and outputs wind information, which is the measurement result, to the control unit 40 at predetermined intervals. The anemometer unit 771 is, for example, an anemometer or an anemometer sensor.

< blower changing device 772>

The air blowing changing device 772 changes the air volume and the air blowing direction of the blower 10 by being controlled by the control unit 40 based on the air information. For example, if the wind speed passing through the ticket gate passage is equal to or higher than a predetermined wind speed, air flow changing device 772 increases the air flow rate by directing the air flow direction of blower 10 to the upper side of the wind. Further, if the wind speed passing through the ticket gate passage is less than the predetermined wind speed, the wind blowing changing device 772 makes the wind blowing direction of the blower 10 substantially parallel to the 1 st direction, that is, toward the recovery port 781a of the 2 nd shutter body 2b described later.

< gas accelerating device 773>

The gas acceleration device 773 is a blower for increasing the volume of air discharged from the 2 nd opening 715 in order to fly the aerosol far away. The gas accelerator 773 enhances the flow rate of the air flow generated in the 1 st direction along the flow path of the aerosol flow. The gas acceleration device 773 enhances the air volume of the flow path through which the aerosol flows by being controlled by the control unit 40 based on the wind information of the wind measurement unit 771. For example, if the wind speed indicated by the wind information is equal to or higher than a predetermined wind speed, the gas acceleration device 773 generates an airflow with an increased wind volume above the wind, and guides the aerosol to the recovery port 781a of the 2 nd shutter main body 2 b.

< Audio device 774>

The acoustic device 774 is a speaker that outputs a warning sound or the like to an approaching body that is going to pass through the ticket gate. If the authentication unit 785 described later cannot give permission to the approaching object to pass through the ticket gate, the acoustic apparatus 774 acquires a control command for outputting a warning sound from the control unit 40. In this case, the acoustic device 774 outputs a warning sound indicating that the approaching object cannot be permitted to pass through the ticket gate. Further, if the authentication unit 785 can give permission to the approaching object to pass through the ticket gate, the acoustic apparatus 774 acquires a control command for outputting a sound indicating the permission to pass from the control unit 40. In this case, the acoustic device 774 outputs a sound indicating that the accessible body can be permitted to pass through the ticket gate. In addition, when the license information is acquired, the acoustic apparatus 774 may not output sound.

The acoustic device 774 changes the sound to be emitted according to the distance that the proximity body approaches the shutter main body. For example, when the 1 st proximity sensor 783 detects a proximity body that is close to a position at a2 nd predetermined distance from the shutter main body, the acoustic apparatus 774 outputs a warning sound at the 1 st volume. When the 2 nd proximity sensor 784 detects a proximity body in proximity to the shutter body at a 3 rd predetermined distance, the acoustic device 774 outputs a warning sound at a2 nd volume that is larger than the 1 st volume. Here, the 3 rd predetermined distance is shorter than the 2 nd predetermined distance. In addition, the acoustic device 774 may make the contents of the warning sound at the 1 st volume and the warning sound at the 2 nd volume different from each other.

< Power supply 775>

The power supply unit 775 is a power supply module that supplies power for driving the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the transmitter 30, the control unit 40, the anemometer unit 771, the blast changing device 772, the gas acceleration device 773, the acoustic device 774, and the like. The power supply unit 775 turns on or off the power supplied to the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the emitter 30, the air flow changing device 772, the gas acceleration device 773, the acoustic device 774, and the like, under the control of the control unit 40.

< 2 nd Gate body 2b >

The 2 nd shutter main body 2b includes a recovery device 781, a circulation device 782, a1 st proximity sensor 783, a2 nd proximity sensor 784, an authentication unit 785, an air temperature measurement unit 786, and a humidity measurement unit 787. That is, the 2 nd shutter body 2b accommodates the recovery device 781, the circulation device 782, the 1 st proximity sensor 783, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784, the authentication unit 785, the air temperature measurement unit 786, and the humidity measurement unit 787 in the case 2a 2.

In the 2 nd shutter body 2b, a recovery port 781a for recovering the aerosol discharged from the 1 st shutter body 2a is formed in a surface on the side facing the 1 st shutter body 2 a. The recovery port 781a is a concave portion recessed in the side surface of the case 2a2 of the 2 nd shutter main body 2 b. The recovery opening 781a receives not only the aerosol but also the light emitted from each light source 31 of the 1 st shutter main body 2 a. A light receiving element that receives the light may be disposed inside the recovery port 781 a. By disposing the light receiving element, it is possible to determine whether or not the proximity body passes through the ticket gate. In the present embodiment, 4 aerosols discharged from the 1 st shutter body 2a are collected by 1 collection port 781a, but 1 or more collection ports 781a may be provided in the 2 nd shutter body 2b so as to face 1 or more of the 2 nd openings 715 one-to-one.

< recovery apparatus 781>

The recovery device 781 is a condenser that cools the aerosol to promote liquefaction of the aerosol attached to the recovery port 781 a. The recovery device 781 may be provided with a heat exchanger or the like at the recovery port 781a in order to cool the periphery of the recovery port 781 a. The recovery device 781 may have a reflector recovery unit for recovering the reflector from the liquid liquefied by aerosol. The recovery device 781 can also reuse the recovered reflector.

< circulation device 782>

The circulation device 782 connects the 1 st gate main body 2a and the 2 nd gate main body 2b via a pipe 782b, and supplies the liquid collected by the collection device 781 of the 2 nd gate main body 2b to the aerosol generator 20 of the 1 st gate main body 2a via the pipe 782 b. Specifically, the circulation device 782 includes a pipe 782b, a pump 782a, and a cleaning unit 782 c.

The pipe 782b connects and communicates the recovery port 781a of the recovery device 781 housed in the case 2a2 of the 2 nd shutter body 2b to the container 21 of the aerosol generator 20 housed in the case 2a1 of the 1 st shutter body 2 a. That is, the pipe 782b returns the liquid recovered by the recovery port 781a to the container 21 by the pump 782 a. The pipe 782b is buried in the floor surface on which the 1 st and 2 nd gate main bodies 2a and 2b are installed.

The pump 782a is provided in the pipe 782b, sucks the liquid recovered by the recovery port 781a, sends the liquid to the container 21 through the pipe 782b, and supplies the liquid to the container 21. The pump 782a is, for example, an electric pump. The pump 782a is disposed vertically below the recovery port 781a and buried in the floor surface on which the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a, 2b are installed.

The cleaning portion 782c is buried in the floor where the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b are installed. The cleaning unit 782c is provided in the pipe 782b, and sterilizes or sterilizes the liquid passing through the pipe 782 b. The cleaning unit 782c is a heat cleaning device that performs sterilization or disinfection by collecting and heating the liquid passing through the pipe 782b, for example. The cleaning unit 782c may sterilize or sterilize the liquid passing through the pipe 782b with an ultraviolet irradiation device, a bactericide remover, or the like. The cleaning portion 782c is buried in the floor where the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b are installed.

< 1 st proximity sensor 783>

The 1 st proximity sensor 783 is a human detection sensor that is disposed below the casing 2a2 of the 2 nd gate main body 2b (on the entrance side of the ticket gate), and is capable of detecting a proximity body such as a human approaching the 2 nd gate main body 2 b. The 1 st proximity sensor 783 can detect a proximity body using infrared rays, visible light, or the like. The 1 st proximity sensor 783 is, for example, an image sensor of an infrared imaging apparatus, a camera, or the like. The 1 st proximity sensor 783 can detect a proximity body approaching within a1 st predetermined distance from the 1 st proximity sensor 783. The 1 st proximity sensor 783 outputs 1 st detection information as a result of the detection to the control unit 40 if it detects that a proximity body is approaching.

< 2 nd proximity sensor 784>

The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 is disposed on a surface of the case 2a2 of the 2 nd shutter body 2b that faces the 1 st shutter body 2 a. The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 is a human detection sensor that is disposed in the vicinity of the 2 nd opening 715 and the ejection opening 725 and is capable of detecting a proximity body in the vicinity of the flow path through which the aerosol discharged from the 2 nd opening 715 and the ejection opening 725 flows. The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 can detect a proximity body using infrared rays, visible light, or the like. The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 is, for example, an image sensor of an infrared imaging apparatus, a camera, or the like. The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 can detect a proximity body approaching within the 2 nd predetermined distance and within the 3 rd predetermined distance from the 2 nd proximity sensor 784. That is, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784 detects a proximity body closer to the 2 nd shutter main body 2b than the 1 st proximity sensor 783. The 2 nd proximity sensor 784 outputs the 2 nd detection information as a result of the detection to the control unit 40 if it detects the proximity of the proximity body. Here, the 2 nd predetermined distance is a distance shorter than the 1 st predetermined distance, and the 3 rd predetermined distance is a distance shorter than the 2 nd predetermined distance. The 2 nd predetermined distance is an example of the predetermined distance.

< authentication section 785>

The authentication section 785 authenticates whether or not permission for passage in the ticket gate can be given to the proximity body to pass through the ticket gate. Specifically, the authentication unit 785 attempts authentication by communicating with a communication terminal (not shown) that is an authentication device, with respect to a proximity body that holds the communication terminal. For example, the authentication unit 785 performs authentication by comparing information on the proximity body of the communication terminal with the license information stored in the server apparatus 3. The authentication unit 785 controls the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the transmitter 30 based on the authentication result. Here, the communication terminal is, for example, an ic (integrated circuit) tag, an rfid (radio Frequency identifier) card, a smart phone, or the like.

For example, if the authentication unit 785 can give permission to the approaching body to pass through the ticket gate, it outputs instructions to the control unit 40 to stop the air flow generated by the blower 10, stop the generation of the aerosol by the aerosol generator 20, and stop the emission of the light from the light guide 733 of the emitter 30. Further, if the authentication unit 785 cannot give permission to the approaching object to pass through the ticket gate, it outputs a command to the control unit 40 to change the color of the light from the emitter 30 and to cause the acoustic device 774 to output a warning sound.

< air temperature measuring Unit 786>

The air temperature measuring unit 786 is disposed in the vicinity of the acoustic device 774, measures the air temperature in the vicinity of the ticket gate, and outputs temperature information as a result of the measurement to the control unit 40. The air temperature measuring unit 786 is, for example, a thermometer or a temperature sensor.

< humidity measurement Unit 787>

The humidity measurement unit 787 is disposed in the vicinity of the acoustic apparatus 774, measures the humidity in the vicinity of the ticket gate, and outputs humidity information as a result of the measurement to the control unit 40. The humidity measuring unit 787 is, for example, a hygrometer or a humidity sensor.

< Power supply unit 788>

The power supply unit 788 is a power supply module that supplies power for driving the recovery device 781, the circulation device 782, the 1 st proximity sensor 783, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784, the authentication unit 785, and the like. The power supply unit 788 is controlled by the control unit 40 to turn on or off the power supplied to the recovery device 781, the circulation device 782, and the like.

< control part 40>

The control unit 40 is a control device that controls the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the emitter 30, the air flow changing device 772, the gas acceleration device 773, the acoustic device 774, and the like, based on information acquired from the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b, respectively. In the present embodiment, the control unit 40 is mounted on the 1 st shutter main body 2a, but may be mounted on the 2 nd shutter main body 2b, or may be mounted on the server device 3. The control unit 40 may be a device separate from the 1 st and 2 nd gate main bodies 2a and 2b and the server device 3.

The control unit 40 outputs control commands for driving the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, respectively, if 1 st detection information generated by the 1 st proximity sensor 783 detecting the proximity body approaching the ticket gate is acquired from the 1 st proximity sensor 783. That is, the controller 40 switches the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 from off to on.

When the 1 st detection information is acquired from the 1 st proximity sensor 783, the control unit 40 also outputs a control command for driving the transmitter 30. That is, the control unit 40 switches the light source 31 of the emitter 30 from off to on.

Further, based on the 2 nd detection information, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the acoustic device 774 to change the volume of the warning sound for outputting the warning sound, or causing the acoustic device 774 to change the content of the warning sound. That is, the control unit 40 causes the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound.

Further, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the proximity body approaches the 2 nd predetermined distance from the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows) based on the 2 nd detection information. Specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether or not to change the color of the light of the emitter 30 or to cause the acoustic device 774 to output a warning sound, based on the 2 nd detection information, based on the distance at which the proximity body approaches the ticket gate (the flow path or light in which the aerosol flows).

Further, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the proximity body approaches the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows) to a 3 rd predetermined distance that is shorter than the 2 nd predetermined distance, based on the 2 nd detection information. Specifically, the control unit 40 is configured to determine whether or not to register the proximity body in the attention list (blacklist) of the server apparatus 3, based on the 2 nd detection information, based on the distance by which the proximity body approaches the ticket gate (flow path or light ray through which aerosol flows).

Further, the control unit 40 obtains, from the authentication unit 785, instructions for stopping the air flow generated by the blower 10, stopping the generation of the aerosol by the aerosol generator 20, and stopping the emission of the light beam by the emitter 30. In this case, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for switching the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30 from on to off to the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30, respectively.

Further, the control unit 40 outputs a control command to the aerosol generator 20 based on the temperature information so as to change the temperature of the aerosol. That is, the control unit 40 controls the aerosol generator 20 so that the temperature difference between the ambient air temperature and the aerosol becomes small. For example, if the ambient temperature is high, the control section 40 outputs a control command for increasing the temperature of the aerosol to the aerosol generator 20.

Further, the control section 40 outputs a control command to the aerosol generator 20 based on the humidity information to adjust the ejection amount of the aerosol. That is, if the ambient humidity becomes low, the control unit 40 controls the aerosol generator 20 to increase the ejection rate of the aerosol.

< Server device 3>

The server device 3 is a personal computer connected to the control unit 40 so as to be capable of wired or wireless communication, and stores information on the proximity body, a list to be paid attention to, and the like. The server device 3 stores permission information for permitting passage of a ticket gate of the access object. The permission information is information for the authentication section 785 to determine whether or not permission for passage in the ticket gate can be given to the approaching body by collation with information on the approaching body.

In the light beam emitting system 1h, the 1 st shutter main body 2a may further include at least 1 of the circulation device 782, the collection device 781, the server device 3, the 1 st proximity sensor 783, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784, the authentication unit 785, the air temperature measuring unit 786, and the humidity measuring unit 787. When the 1 st shutter body 2a includes the recovery device 781, the aerosol flowing through the flow path may be recovered from a surface of the 1 st shutter body 2a opposite to the surface on the 2 nd opening 715 side. That is, the 1 st shutter body 2a may have the same function as the 2 nd shutter body 2 b.

In the light beam emission system 1h, the 2 nd shutter body 2b may further include at least 1 of the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, the emitter 30, the control unit 40, the acoustic device 774, the gas acceleration device 773, the air flow changing device 772, and the air measuring unit 771. When the 2 nd shutter body 2b includes the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30, the light may be propagated along the flow path in which the aerosol flows from the surface of the 2 nd shutter body 2b opposite to the surface on the recovery port 781a side. That is, the 2 nd shutter body 2b may have the same function as the 1 st shutter body 2 a.

[ actions ]

The operation of the light beam output system 1h of the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 26A is a flowchart showing the operation of the light beam output system 1h according to embodiment 7.

Here, a case is assumed where the access body approaches the ticket gate passage of the pair of gate main bodies.

First, as shown in fig. 26A, the 1 st proximity sensor 783 detects an approaching body such as a person approaching the pair of shutter main bodies (S101). If the approaching object approaches within the range of the 1 st predetermined distance from the 1 st proximity sensor 783, the 1 st proximity sensor 783 detects the approaching object, and outputs the 1 st detection information as a result of the detection to the control unit 40.

Next, if the 1 st detection information is acquired, the control unit 40 outputs control commands for driving the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, respectively. That is, the controller 40 switches the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 from off to on. As a result, the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 are driven, and thereby a plurality of aerosol flow paths are formed in the 1 st direction by the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 (S102).

Further, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for driving the transmitter 30. That is, the control unit 40 switches the plurality of light sources 31 of the emitter 30 from off to on. Thereby, the emitter 30 is driven to emit a plurality of light rays along the flow path of the aerosol from the emitter 30 (S103). The control unit 40 causes the emitter 30 to emit blue light. As a result, the flow path in which the aerosol flows appears to emit light in blue. Further, step S102 and step S103 may be performed simultaneously.

Next, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784 detects a proximity body such as a person approaching the ticket gate (S104). If the approaching object approaches within the range of the 2 nd predetermined distance from the 2 nd proximity sensor 784, the 2 nd proximity sensor 784 detects the approaching object and outputs the 2 nd detection information, which is the detection result, to the control unit 40.

Next, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the approaching body approaches the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows) by a predetermined distance 2 (S105). That is, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the distance indicated by the acquired 2 nd detection information is equal to or less than the 2 nd predetermined distance.

When the distance indicated by the 2 nd detection information is equal to or less than the 2 nd predetermined distance (yes in S105), the control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the emitter 30 to change the color of the emitted light because it indicates that the approaching body approaches the 2 nd predetermined distance with respect to the ticket gate (the flow path or light in which the aerosol flows). Thereby, the emitter 30 emits the light of red by changing the color of the light emitted from the light source 31 from blue to red (S106). As a result, the flow path through which the aerosol flows appears to emit light in red. Here, the 2 nd predetermined distance is, for example, several meters (m) or less or several tens of centimeters (cm) or less, and is 50 cm in the present embodiment.

Further, if the 2 nd detection information is acquired, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound, thereby causing the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound of the 1 st volume to the proximity body (S107). Further, step S106 and step S107 may be performed simultaneously.

Next, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the approaching body approaches the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows) by a predetermined distance No. 3 (S108). That is, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the distance indicated by the acquired 2 nd detection information is equal to or less than the 3 rd predetermined distance. Here, the 3 rd predetermined distance is, for example, several tens of centimeters or less, and in the present embodiment, 15 centimeters.

When the distance indicated by the 2 nd detection information is equal to or less than the 3 rd predetermined distance (yes in S108), the control unit 40 outputs a control command for stopping the driving of the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, respectively, since it indicates that the approaching body approaches the 3 rd predetermined distance with respect to the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows). That is, the control unit 40 switches the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 from on to off. Thus, the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 stop driving, and the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 stop the flow path of the aerosol (S109).

When the distance indicated by the 2 nd detection information is equal to or less than the 3 rd predetermined distance (yes in S108), the control unit 40 may cause the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound at the 2 nd volume to the proximity body by outputting a control command for causing the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound.

Further, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for stopping the driving of the transmitter 30. That is, the control unit 40 switches the light source 31 of the emitter 30 from on to off. Thus, by stopping the driving of the emitter 30, the emitter 30 stops the emission of the light (S110).

Next, the authentication unit 785 acquires information on the approaching object (S111). For example, the authentication unit 785 images an approaching object, generates approaching object information indicating the captured image, and outputs the generated approaching object information to the server apparatus 3. In addition, when the proximity body has a communication terminal, the authentication unit 785 may acquire the proximity body information stored in the communication terminal and output the acquired proximity body information to the server apparatus 3. The server apparatus 3 registers the acquired proximity body information in the attention required list. Then, the light beam output system 1h ends the process.

Next, if the server apparatus 3 acquires the proximity body information, it stores the proximity body indicated by the proximity body information in the attention required list (S112).

Further, when the distance indicated by the 2 nd detection information is not the 2 nd predetermined distance (no in S105), or when the distance indicated by the 2 nd detection information is not the 3 rd predetermined distance (no in S108), the authentication unit 785 authenticates the approaching object and determines whether or not the passage of the ticket gate can be permitted (S121). That is, the authentication unit 785 authenticates the communication terminal of the proximity body and determines whether or not the passage of the ticket gate can be permitted. Specifically, the authentication unit 785 compares information about the proximity body possessed by the communication terminal with information stored in the server apparatus 3. When the server apparatus 3 stores information on the access object, the authentication unit 785 gives the access object permission to pass through the ticket gate (yes in S121).

When the authentication unit 785 permits passage of the ticket gate to the approaching body (yes in S121), the authentication unit 785 outputs to the control unit 40 a command for stopping the air flow generated by the blower 10, stopping the generation of the aerosol by the aerosol generator 20, and stopping the emission of the light beam by the emitter 30. Upon receiving the command, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for stopping the driving of each of the blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the transmitter 30. The blower 10, the aerosol generator 20, and the emitter 30 stop the flow path of the aerosol (S122) and the emission of the light (S123), respectively. In this way, the access body can pass through the ticket gate. Then, the light beam output system 1h ends the process.

Fig. 26B is a flowchart showing the operation of the light beam output system 1h as the processing subsequent to X in fig. 26A.

As shown in fig. 26B, on the other hand, when the authentication unit 785 does not permit passage of the ticket gate to the proximity body (no in S121), a command for changing the color of the light of the emitter 30 and causing the acoustic device 774 to output a warning sound is output to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the emitter 30 to change the color of the emitted light. Thereby, the emitter 30 emits the light of red by changing the color of the light emitted from the light source 31 from blue to red (S124). As a result, the flow path through which the aerosol flows appears to emit light in red.

Further, the control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound, thereby causing the acoustic apparatus 774 to output a warning sound of the 1 st volume to the proximity body (S125). Further, step S124 and step S125 may be performed simultaneously.

Next, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the 2 nd detection information is acquired (S126).

When the 2 nd detection information is not acquired (no in S126), the control unit 40 indicates that the proximity body is away from the ticket gate passage (the pair of shutter bodies), and therefore the control unit 40 switches the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 from on to off. Thus, the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 stop driving, and the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 stop the flow path of the aerosol (S127).

Further, the control section 40 outputs control commands for stopping the driving of the transmitters 30, respectively. That is, the control unit 40 switches the light source 31 of the emitter 30 from on to off. Thereby, the emitter 30 stops the emission of the light by stopping the driving of the emitter 30 (S128). Then, the light beam output system 1h ends the process.

When the 2 nd detection information is acquired (yes in S126), that is, when the approaching body stops or approaches the ticket gate (the flow path or the light ray through which the aerosol flows), the control unit 40 outputs a control command for causing the acoustic device 774 to output a warning sound, and causes the acoustic device 774 to output a warning sound at the 2 nd sound volume to the approaching body (S129). Then, the light beam output system 1h ends the process.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 1 and the like.

(embodiment mode 8)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1j of the present embodiment will be described.

Other configurations of the present embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

[ constitution: light ray emission system 1j

Fig. 27 is a block diagram showing a light ray output system 1j according to embodiment 8. Fig. 27 shows a predetermined space in which the light beam outgoing system 1j is provided in the passage. Fig. 27 shows a simplified structure of the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2 b. In fig. 27, the condition in which the aerosol is visualized by light is illustrated by shading of dots. Fig. 28 is a schematic view showing a light ray outgoing system 1j according to embodiment 8.

As shown in fig. 27 and 28, in the light beam emitting system 1j, the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b are disposed at both ends of the tunnel so as to face each other. In the light emitting system 1j, when the passage of the approaching body is rejected, a flow path through which the aerosol flows is formed between the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2b, and the light is also emitted along the aerosol in the light emitting system 1j, so that the aerosol is visualized. In addition, when the passage of the approaching object is permitted, the aerosol does not flow between the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2b, and the light is not irradiated.

The light beam emitting system 1j includes a detection system 2c in addition to the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b and the server device 3.

The 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b are disposed as shutters of a restriction area E1 for restricting the intrusion of the access body. That is, the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b are disposed at the boundary between the non-restricted area E2 and the restricted area E1 where the intrusion of the approaching object is not restricted, and restrict the intrusion of the approaching object which is not allowed to intrude into the restricted area E1. The boundaries of the unrestricted region E2 and restricted region E1 are separated by an aerosol.

The detection system 2c is disposed at a position farther from the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b so as to detect an approaching body approaching the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2 b.

The detection system 2c includes an authentication unit 881 and a weight detection unit 882. The authentication unit 881 and the weight detector 882 may be provided in plural numbers, and the number is not particularly limited.

The authentication unit 881 is a detection authentication unit that detects and authenticates an approaching body approaching the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2 b. The authentication unit 881 checks whether or not the access object is permitted to pass between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b (passage of the shutter). Specifically, the authentication unit 881 permits or rejects the passage by detecting the proximity body based on the image and detecting the weight of the proximity body. In the present embodiment, the authentication unit 881 permits the passage between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b when the 1 st passage requirement and the 2 nd passage requirement are satisfied.

First, the authentication unit 881 images an approaching object using infrared rays, visible light, or the like, for example, and recognizes the approaching object to determine whether the 1 st traffic requirement is satisfied. Specifically, in the case where the authentication unit 881 includes an imaging device, the imaging device images the face of a person as a close object. The authentication unit 881 recognizes a person from an image of the face captured by the imaging device. The authentication unit 881 accesses the server apparatus 3 and determines whether or not the information is registered in the attention-required list of the server apparatus 3. If not registered in the caution list, the person satisfies the 1 st passage requirement, and if registered in the caution list, the person does not satisfy the 1 st passage requirement, so the authentication section 881 rejects the passage of the person.

In addition, when a person who satisfies the 1 st passage requirement is registered in the server apparatus 3 as a permission list in advance, the authentication unit 881 may access the server apparatus 3 and determine whether or not the person is registered in the permission list of the server apparatus 3. The authentication unit 881 may determine that the person satisfies the 1 st passage requirement if the person is registered in the permission list, and may determine that the person does not satisfy the 1 st passage requirement if the person is not registered in the permission list, and reject passage of the person.

When the 1 st passage requirement is satisfied, the authentication unit 881 determines whether or not the 2 nd passage requirement is satisfied based on the weight information indicating the weight of the person (proximity body) acquired from the weight detection unit 882. Specifically, the authentication unit 881 determines whether or not the weight of the person indicated by the weight information is equal to or greater than a predetermined weight. If the weight of the person is equal to or more than the predetermined weight, the person does not satisfy the 2 nd passage requirement, and passage of the person is rejected. If the weight of the person is less than the prescribed weight, the person satisfies the 2 nd passage requirement, so passage of the person is permitted. The weight of a person may be the weight of the person itself or the total weight including goods and the like.

Based on the result of the comparison, the authentication unit 881 outputs a command to the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b to reject the passage when the access object is not permitted to pass between the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b (rejection). Further, the authentication unit 881 may not output any command to the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b when the access object is permitted to pass between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b based on the result of the comparison. In addition, when the authentication unit 881 permits the passage, it may cause the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b to output a prompt indicating the permission of the passage by outputting a command to permit the passage to each of the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2 b.

Fig. 29 is a schematic view showing a light ray emission system 1j according to embodiment 8 viewed from the side. Fig. 30 is a schematic view showing a state in which the proximity body a moves from the non-restricted area E2 to the restricted area E1 when the light ray emission system 1j of embodiment 8 is viewed from above. Fig. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the proximity body B moves from the restricted area E1 to the unrestricted area E2 when the light ray emission system 1j of embodiment 8 is viewed from above. In fig. 30 and 31, the state in which the aerosol is visualized by light is illustrated by dot hatching.

In fig. 29 and 30, the proximity body a is present in the non-restriction region E2, and the proximity body B is present in the restriction region E1. In this case, the authentication unit 881 determines whether or not to permit the passage between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b with respect to the proximity body a. On the other hand, in fig. 29 and 31, the authentication unit 881 does not determine whether or not to permit the passage between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2B with respect to the proximity body B. Since the proximity body B exists in the restricted area E1 and is permitted to pass, the re-authentication by the authentication unit 881 is not performed.

The weight detecting portion 882 is disposed in a passage for passing between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2 b. The weight detecting unit 882 includes a plurality of weight sensors, and the weight of the proximity body approaching the 1 st and 2 nd gate bodies 2a and 2b is detected by disposing the plurality of weight sensors in the floor surface of the passageway of the unrestricted area E2. The weight detector 882 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b by a predetermined distance. The weight detecting unit 882 outputs weight information indicating the weight of the proximity body to the authenticating unit 881. Further, the weight detector 882 may detect the position of the proximity body based on the proximity body detected by some of the plurality of weight sensors.

In the detection system 2c, the weight detector 882 is not an essential component. Therefore, the detection system 2c may not have the weight detector 882. In this case, the authentication unit 881 may determine whether or not the approaching body can pass only by the 1 st pass requirement.

[ application example ]

Fig. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the light beam output system 1j according to embodiment 8 is installed in the T-shaped path. Fig. 32 shows a situation where a pair of gate main bodies are provided at two places near the intersection of 2 lanes.

Fig. 33 is a schematic view showing a state where the light ray emission system 1j of embodiment 8 is installed in the escalator 889. Fig. 33 shows a state where a pair of gate main bodies are provided at two places at the lower landing entrance and the upper landing entrance of the escalator 889.

Fig. 34 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the light beam emitting system 1j according to embodiment 8 is installed in a building B1. Fig. 34 shows a situation where a pair of gate bodies are provided at two places at the entrance of the building B1 and the entrance of the living room K1 in the building B1. The non-restricted area E2 outside the building B1 is a restricted area E1 inside the building B1, and the restricted area E1 inside the building B1 is a further restricted area E1 in the room K1 of the building B1.

Fig. 35 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light beam output system 1j according to embodiment 8 is installed at the entrance of a conference room K2. Fig. 35 shows a state where a pair of shutter bodies are provided at the entrance of the conference room K2.

Fig. 30 to 32 show a state in which the aerosol is visualized by light rays, as dot hatching.

[ working example 1]

An operation example 1 of the light beam output system 1j of the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an operation example 1 of the light beam output system 1j according to embodiment 8.

Here, a case is assumed where the access body accesses the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2 b.

First, as shown in fig. 36, the detection system 2c of the light beam emitting system 1j detects an approaching body such as a person approaching the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2b (S181). The authentication unit 881 of the detection system 2c detects an approaching object if the approaching object approaches within a range of a predetermined distance from the authentication unit 881.

The authentication unit 881 checks whether or not the access object is permitted to pass between the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2b (S182). Specifically, the authentication unit 881 permits or rejects the passage by detecting the proximity body based on the image and detecting the weight of the proximity body. The authentication unit 881 permits the passage between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b when the 1 st passage requirement and the 2 nd passage requirement are satisfied. On the other hand, the authentication unit 881 rejects the passage between the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b when either of the 1 st passage requirement and the 2 nd passage requirement is not satisfied.

If the verification result in step S182 is that the passage between the 1 st gate main body 2a and the 2 nd gate main body 2b is permitted (yes in S183), the authentication unit 881 may end the process. In this case, the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b may not be operated.

If the verification result in step S182 is that the passage between the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2b is rejected (no in S183), the authentication unit 881 outputs a command to reject the passage to each of the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2 b. When the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b receive the command to reject the passage, the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 are driven to form a plurality of aerosol passages in the 1 st direction by the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20 (S184).

Further, the 1 st shutter body 2a drives the emitter 30 to emit the plurality of light beams along the flow path of the aerosol from the emitter 30 (S185). The aerosol is thereby visualized by means of light. Further, step S184 and step S185 may be performed simultaneously.

For example, if the approaching body is far from the 1 st and 2 nd shutter bodies 2a and 2b or too close as in S108 of fig. 26A, the 1 st shutter body 2a stops the driving of the emitter 30 to stop the emission of the light beam (S186).

The 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b stop the driving of the blower 10 and the aerosol generator 20, thereby stopping the flow path of the aerosol (S187). Step S186 and step S187 may be performed simultaneously.

Subsequently, the light beam output system 1j ends the process.

[ working example 2]

An operation example 2 of the light beam output system 1j of the present embodiment will be described.

In operation example 2, the same operations as in operation example 1 are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is appropriately omitted.

Fig. 37 is a flowchart showing an operation example 2 of the light beam output system 1j according to embodiment 8.

First, as shown in fig. 37, the detection system 2c of the light beam emitting system 1j detects an approaching body such as a person approaching the 1 st gate main body 2a and the 2 nd gate main body 2b (S181).

Next, the authentication unit 881 of the detection system 2c determines whether or not the moving direction of the proximity body is the direction of the shutter main body side (the 1 st shutter main body 2a side or the 2 nd shutter main body 2b side) (S192). That is, the authentication unit 881 determines whether or not the proximity body is in proximity to the 1 st shutter body 2a or the 2 nd shutter body 2 b. The authentication unit 881 determines whether or not the approaching body approaches within a predetermined distance from the 1 st shutter body 2a or the 2 nd shutter body 2 b.

The authentication unit 881 ends the process when the proximity body is not in proximity to the 1 st gate body 2a or the 2 nd gate body 2b (no in S192).

When the proximity body is close to the 1 st shutter body 2a or the 2 nd shutter body 2b (yes in S192), the authentication unit 881 ends the process after the process of steps S184 to S187.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effects of the light beam emitting system 1j of the present embodiment will be described.

For example, a gate device which is a physical obstacle such as an existing barrier gate installed at an entrance or a descent entrance of an escalator is not preferable because of high risk. However, when it is desired to prevent the approach of an approaching object that does not satisfy a specific condition, there is no method for preventing the approach. In addition, in a time zone in which movement of people is active, such as during a peak of a traffic flow, a traffic jam is caused in the vicinity of a gate device that is accompanied by physical obstacles, such as an entrance and an exit of an entire office building. Therefore, a system is required in which an approaching body that satisfies a specific condition can easily pass through only when the approaching body approaches.

Therefore, the light beam emitting system 1j according to the present embodiment includes: a1 st shutter body 2a having a blower 10 and a transmitter 30; a2 nd shutter body 2b for collecting the aerosol flowing through the flow path formed by the blower 10 and irradiating the aerosol with the light emitted from the emitter 30; and a detection system 2c that detects an approaching body approaching the 1 st gate main body 2a and the 2 nd gate main body 2 b. Then, if the detection system 2c detects that the approaching body approaches the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b by a predetermined distance or more, the 1 st shutter body 2a forms a flow path through which the aerosol flows by the blower 10, and emits light by the emitter 30.

Further, a visual shutter can be displayed on the approaching body approaching the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2 b. That is, the light exit system 1j can clearly recognize the light. Therefore, the approaching body that does not satisfy the specific condition can be suppressed from passing between the 1 st shutter main body 2a and the 2 nd shutter main body 2 b. Further, since the access body satisfying the specific condition is not formed with any shutter, the access body can easily pass through.

Further, by providing the 1 st or 2 nd shutter body 2a or 2b through which the approaching body can pass only when the approaching body satisfying the specific condition approaches, the approaching body can easily pass. Therefore, the jam is less likely to occur in the vicinity of the 1 st shutter body 2a or the 2 nd shutter body 2 b. Further, when the approaching body does not satisfy the specific condition, the passage of the approaching body can be suppressed by creating a psychological shutter based on light.

In the light beam output system 1j according to the present embodiment, the 1 st shutter body 2a and the 2 nd shutter body 2b are disposed at the boundary between the restricted area E1 in which the intrusion of a specific approaching body is allowed and the unrestricted area E2 in which the intrusion of the approaching body is not restricted. The detection system 2c has a weight detecting section 882 that detects the weight of the proximity body. The weight detector 882 is disposed in the unrestricted area E2.

This makes it possible to detect the weight of the approaching body approaching the 1 st and 2 nd gate main bodies 2a and 2b moving from the unrestricted area E2 to the restricted area E1. Therefore, for example, if the weight of the proximity body is equal to or greater than a predetermined weight, the passing of the proximity body can be suppressed without satisfying the passing requirement. Further, if the weight of the approaching body is less than the predetermined weight, it can be assumed that the passing requirement is satisfied and the approaching body is permitted to pass.

In addition, the present embodiment has the same operational effects as embodiment 7 and the like.

(modification of embodiment 8)

The configuration of the light beam emitting system 1j of the present modification will be described.

Fig. 38 is a block diagram showing a light beam output system 1j according to a modification of embodiment 8. Fig. 39 is a perspective view showing a light beam output system 1j according to a modification of embodiment 8.

The present modification differs from embodiment 8 in that a tag authentication unit 883 is provided instead of the authentication unit 881. Other configurations of the present modification are the same as those of embodiment 8 and the like unless otherwise specified, and the same components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the components are omitted.

The detection system 2d has a tag authentication unit 883 in addition to the weight detection unit 882. The number of the tag authentication units 883 is not particularly limited.

The tag authentication unit 883 is an RFID that authenticates an approaching body approaching the 1 st gate body 2a and the 2 nd gate body 2 b. The tag authentication unit 883 includes a tag unit 883a and a reader unit 883 b. The tag portion 883a is an RF tag held in proximity to a body. The label portion 883a is mounted on a card, a coin, an accessory, and the like. The reader 883b is a reader capable of acquiring information stored in the tag 883a without contacting the tag 883 a. The reader 883b can also acquire information from the tag 883 a.

The tag authentication unit 883 determines whether or not the memory of the reader 883b is registered in the permission list by communication between the tag 883a and the reader 883 b. The tag authentication unit 883 determines that the person satisfies the 1 st passage requirement if registered in the permission list, and determines that the person does not satisfy the 1 st passage requirement if not registered in the permission list, and rejects the passage of the person. In the light beam emission system 1j, the label authentication unit 883 and the authentication unit 881 may be used.

The tag authentication unit 883 may determine whether or not the tag is registered in the attention required list in the memory of the reader 883 b. The tag authentication portion 883, if not registered in the caution list, satisfies the 1 st passage requirement, and if registered in the caution list, does not satisfy the 1 st passage requirement, so passage of the person is denied.

In the present embodiment, the reading unit 883b is provided on the wall surface of the channel, but may be provided on the floor surface, ceiling, or the like. The reader 883b and the tag 883a can also write information.

[ application example ]

Fig. 40 is a schematic view showing a state in which the light ray emitting system 1j according to the modification of embodiment 8 is installed at an entrance of an elevator hall K3 where an elevator EV is installed. Fig. 40 shows a situation where a pair of gate main bodies are provided at the entrance of an elevator hall. In fig. 40, if the proximity body reaches an authentication line (within a predetermined distance range) indicated by a two-dot chain line, the tag authentication unit 883 detects the proximity of the proximity body. Further, the number of proximity bodies reaching the authentication line is also detected. In fig. 38, the weight detector 882 is not shown, but may not be provided in the light beam output system 1 j.

Fig. 41 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the label authentication units 883 of the light emission system 1j according to the modification of embodiment 8 are provided on the floor surface and the wall surface, respectively. In fig. 41, one tag authentication unit 883 is provided in unrestricted area E2, and the other tag authentication unit 883 is provided in restricted area E1. Note that, although the weight detector 882 is not shown in fig. 41, it may not be provided in the light beam output system 1 j.

In addition, in the present modification, the same operational effects as those of embodiment 8 and the like are exhibited.

(other modifications, etc.)

The present invention has been described above based on modifications of embodiments 1 to 7 and embodiments 1, 4, and 6, but the present invention is not limited to the modifications of embodiments 1 to 7 and embodiments 1, 4, and 6.

For example, the blowers according to the modifications of embodiments 1 to 7 and embodiments 1, 4, and 6 may have a silencer portion for suppressing the sound of the airflow generated by the blowing. The silencer may be a silencer (muffler) made of fibrous material or the like having high silencing performance, and an exhaust hole silencer disposed in the space of the 1 st cylinder.

In the light emitting systems according to the modifications of embodiments 1 to 7 and embodiments 1, 4, and 6, the blower, the aerosol generator, the emitter, the control unit, the driving unit, the beam splitter, the optical element, and the like may be separate independent devices.

The program for realizing the light beam emitting system according to each of embodiments 1 to 7 and the modifications of embodiments 1, 4, and 6 is typically realized as an LSI which is an integrated circuit. These may be formed into 1 chip alone, or may be formed into 1 chip including a part or all of them.

The integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose control unit. An fpga (field Programmable Gate array) that can be programmed after LSI manufacture or a reconfigurable control unit that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells within an LSI may be used.

In the above embodiments 1 to 7 and the modifications of embodiments 1, 4, and 6, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a control unit reading and executing a software program recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

All the numbers used in the above description are given as examples for specifically explaining the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited by the numbers shown in the examples.

Note that division of functional blocks in the block diagrams is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks may be implemented as one functional block, one functional block may be divided into a plurality of functional blocks, or a part of functions may be transferred to another functional block. Further, it is also possible that a single piece of hardware or software processes functions of a plurality of functional blocks having similar functions in parallel or in a time-sharing manner.

The order in which the steps in the flowchart are executed is exemplified for the purpose of specifically explaining the present invention, and may be an order other than the above. Further, a part of the above steps may be executed simultaneously (in parallel) with other steps.

In addition, embodiments 1 to 7 and modifications of embodiments 1, 4 and 6, which are obtained by applying various modifications that will occur to those skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the present invention, as long as the embodiments 1 to 7 and modifications of embodiments 1, 4 and 6 can be realized by arbitrarily combining the constituent elements and functions thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The light ray emitting system of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a ticket gate apparatus as a shutter.

Description of the reference symbols

1. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1j light emitting system

10. 410 blower

12 Fan

15 No. 1 cylinder

15a 1 st opening

15b, 715 nd 2 opening

16a inner cylinder

16b outer cylinder

17 No. 3 opening

20. 420 aerosol generator

21 container

25. 125 nd 2 nd cylinder

30. 430 transmitter

30a 1 st emitter

30b 2 nd emitter

30c 3 rd emitter

31 light source

31a processor

33. 733 light guide

50 drive part

60 beam splitter

60a 1 st Beam splitter

60b 2 nd beam splitter

60c 3 rd beam splitter

68 optical element

E1 restricted area

E2 unrestricted region

K gap