ES2546918B1 - Graphic display on the water surface by digital control - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention presents a new type of graphic display that is generated on the surface of the water of a pond on which, at a certain height, a series of suppliers arranged in matrix form are arranged. Each spout upon rushing into the water produces a whitish splashing that acts like a "pixel." The “pixel” of water disappears immediately at the moment the spout ceases to impact on the water (becoming transparent at that point), and is generated again when the spout is activated again, so that the water surface is it turns into a graphic display of white “pixels” on the mostly transparent surface of the water. The water jets, arranged on the pond in matrix form, are individually activated by solenoid valves that are operated through electronic devices, governed by specific software, which allows the generation of fixed or moving texts, logos, patterns and a multitude of three-dimensional effects. while the fragments of water are projected downwards and when they impact on the surface of the water. # This innovation belongs to the field of interior and exterior architecture, as a new form of advertising screen and as a large format interactive “display”.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Graphic display on the water surface by digital control.

The present invention presents a new type of graphic display that is generated on the surface of the water of a pond on which, at a certain height, a series of dispensers arranged in a matrix form are arranged. Each spout upon rushing into the water produces a whitish splashing that acts like a 'pixel'. The 'pixel' of water disappears immediately at the moment the spout ceases to impact the water (becoming transparent at that point), and is generated again when the spout is activated again, so that the surface of the water is it turns into a graphic display of white 'pixels' on the mostly transparent surface of the water. The water jets, arranged on the pond in matrix form, are individually activated by solenoid valves that are operated through electronic devices, governed by specific software, which allows to generate fixed or displaceable texts, logos, patterns and a multitude of three-dimensional effects. while the fragments of water project downwards and when they impact on the surface of the water.

This innovation belongs to the field of interior and exterior architecture, as a new form of advertising screen and as a large format interactive 'display'.

Background of the invention

The antecedent on which this invention is inspired is the Spanish patent 200801468, Graphic display of water by digital control, of the same author of the present patent application, Mr. Juan Carretero Llorente, of which this can be considered a new branch of development, discovered in the course of subsequent investigations of the graphic display, to create three-dimensional figures, through the intermittent activation and deactivation of a controlled group of water jets. The present invention differs from the previous patent in that the water screen is generated this time on the surface of the water, and not in the air, while the fragmented jets create figures as they fall. The advantages of this new invention are many, but it is remarkable that the graphics generated on the screen can be static and therefore remain fixed in time, unlike the graphics of the previous screen type, which continuously scroll down by gravity action and can only be contemplated a few moments while they fall. It is also noteworthy that it is a three-dimensional system that can be seen in all three planes of space, creating figures in the water when the jets impact the water surface, but at the same time creating three-dimensional evolutions in the air while the jets are scroll down. This is a double screen: a volumetric one, which creates three-dimensional figures and objects of water as they travel in the air until they hit the water located in a lower plane and another 'display' that generates flat graphs of white 'produced pixels' by splashing jets on the transparent background of the water

Description of the invention

The present invention aims to generate a graphic display on the surface of the water, by means of the rapid activation and deactivation of electrovalves (1), arranged in matrix form (8), which will cause segments of falling water

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continuously (11), (13), creating figures and images that scroll down covering the visual space between the structure and the surface of the water located under the valve array. Upon impact on the water, the jets (11), create a splash on the surface of the water similar to a calculation of a few centimeters of white diameter (12), which are visible from the outside of the pond (10). Through the combination of suppliers and a computer program, the valves are activated and deactivated (9), to generate static or displaceable texts (10), figures, graphics and patterns on the water (Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The definition of the graphs generated on the surface of the water will depend on the number of suppliers used, so that each supplier that produces a splash can be considered as a 'water pixel', so that the greater the number of suppliers arranged in the superior structure in matrix form, the greater the definition of the texts, patterns and figures that are projected on the water.

The variety of water games that the screen can make will be very diverse and through open programming they can always be changing and evolve with technological innovations. These water games will form patterns in movement, symbols, letters, numbers, images and figures in movement in a three-dimensional space, so that the graphics can be seen as they fall from the structure where the solenoid valves are located in three-dimensional forms of water and also as a graphic screen on the surface of the water projecting the jets on the bottom pond. All possible varieties of games can be controlled by the different interactive devices arranged for this purpose.

Device Description

The graphic water screen is described in detail below by digital control.

The solenoid valves (1) are arranged at regular intervals in matrix arrangement, which may be rectangular (8), polar (figure 9) or in variable shape (figure 10). The assembly and disassembly of the same is done through a quick connection system that allows individualized maintenance and reinstallation in an agile and simple way

Each solenoid valve is connected to a pipe with pressurized water by means of elastic hoses and is electrically powered by a plug-in connector, which allows a quick replacement of the valve in the event of an electrical failure. The body of the nozzles (2) (6) is connected to the solenoid valve (1). The valve body (1) is fixed to the structure by an adjustable fixing system.

The nozzles (2) may be designed to create different effects of water droplets, either of fine rain (5), of moderate rain (4), or of a single fixed diameter dispenser (3) (7) to create different types of splashes (12) (14) and environmental sound effects when the jets hit the water. The splashes generated by the single jet nozzles (3) (7) make more noise when hitting the water than those with multiple thin jets as a fine shower (4) (5), which on the contrary produce a 'noise white 'similar to that of a heavy rain storm. The nozzles are assembled using union systems that allow easy access, disassembly, maintenance and subsequent rapid assembly.

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The body of the nozzle (2) (6) can be manufactured with different shapes, either cylindrical, cubic or with another geometric shape that allows the nozzle to be adapted to the matrix arrangement of the structure, maintaining equidistant distances between them. The cubic shape has the advantage of leveling both the horizontal and the vertical plane, allowing in a straight line arrangement that all jets are perfectly aligned following a glutton. The cylindrical shape, however, allows greater freedom to create other spatial figures such as curves, circles or zigzag shapes.

Function Description

The solenoid valves are arranged in a matrix arrangement (square, rectangular, polar or variable) forming the jets when falling, from an elevated structure with respect to the ground, splashes in the water that act as 'pixels', generating a graphic screen on The surface of the water. The solenoid valves have a very fast response time and are activated and deactivated by a programmable logic system. The installation control software transmits the orders to 'print' the water graphics to the solenoid valve array so that they generate fragmented jets and empty spaces for each valve. The visual result is a digital graphic generated by the water as it travels from the structure that supports the system to the ground and also a graphic screen formed by the projection of these jets on the lower pond, which when they hit the water produce splashes of water. whitish color that contrast with the transparency of the water These splashes disappear immediately at the moment that the water dispenser stops impacting, instantly returning the water to be transparent at that point. As soon as the spout impacts again, the splashing generated is immediately white again. In this way, the surface of the water becomes a graphic screen of a pixel depth, and graphics can be generated in 'black and white', using the white and transparent 'pixels' that can be generated at will using the software made for this purpose of the computer system that governs the supplier matrix. This invention could be considered as a 'water plotter' that instantly 'prints' digital water graphics, dynamic patterns, figures, symbols, texts, etc., according to the varied programming that the software allows, both three-dimensionally while the graphics fall , as when impacting on the water generating a graphic screen on the surface of the water of a pixel of depth (black and white).

Brief description of the drawings

To facilitate the understanding of what has been described in the previous sections, 10 different drawings have been made.

Figure 1 shows a unit of the valve and nozzle. Figure 2 shows several designs of nozzles, according to the type of water holes. Figure 3 shows a rectangular matrix arrangement of a series of valves, the activation of a group of them forming the letters E and T, and finally, the projection of these letters E and T on the water surface. Figure 4 shows the splatter generated by a single dispenser and that of a group of suppliers that form the word WATER. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show several drawings showing graphs generated by a square matrix arrangement of 30 x 30 jets. Figure 9 shows a polar array arrangement on a round pond. Figure 10 shows a variable matrix arrangement

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(in the form of a wave) to demonstrate that the system can adopt many different ways to adapt to each project in a personalized way.

Description of a favorite embodiment

A practical application of a graphic display on the surface of the water by digital control is described below.

The field of application of this invention will be the indoor and outdoor architecture protected from the weather. Imagine a shopping center with several plants from which you can see the lower floor in which there is an elongated pond made of black granite that contains a sheet of water. On this pond, fixed to the roof of the building there is a structure that contains the matrix arrangement of the jets to generate the graphics on the water of the lower pond, which as described above is composed of groups of solenoid valves equidistant from each other , with a special water nozzle in each of them. In this application the pipe, the valves, the nozzles, and even the lighting and various interactive sensors are integrated into a structure designed for this purpose. A pump sucks water from the pond and drives it to the main manifold that supplies the valves permanently. The system is governed from a computer with specific software that sends the orders to activate and deactivate the valves to a series of control electronics integrated in the system, to which the solenoid valves are electrically connected.

When the computer system sends the data to the graphic water screen, the valves generate fragments of jets and empty spaces according to the programming, creating a digital 'water display' capable of 'printing' letters, symbols, graphics and patterns. moving in three-dimensional shapes while covering the space between the structure and the surface of the water, and also as a graphic display when the jets impact the water surface, generating graphics in 'black and white' with the programmed splashing of the water jets .

The system can be made interactive by incorporating sensors that allow visitors to act on the graphics generated by the digital water curtain, either by opening spaces, generating evolutions with hand gestures, etc., according to the variety of schedules that Allow the system.

The graphic display on the surface of the water can also incorporate other elements such as colored lights with digital control, which will be activated and will change color according to the evolution of the water; video projectors that can capture the projection on the same water curtain if water nozzles designed for this purpose are used and finally, other multimedia elements that can offer a value added to the attractive spectacle that this new system supposes.

Claims (3)

ES 2 546 918 A1 1. Graphic display on the water surface by digital control characterized by the generation of splashes (12) in a controlled manner, by means of the activation and 5 deactivation of dispensers (9) governed by solenoid valves, arranged in matrix form, at a high height above the water. These splashes form whitish colored circles (14) that contrast with the transparent water, so that they act dawns of 'pixels' in the water to produce graphics that are visible from the outside of the pond. 10 2. Graphic display on the surface of the water by means of digital control characterized by the existence, according to the first claim, of nozzles (3) (4) (5) (7) that generate either a single dispenser or groups of suppliers as fine shower, to obtain different types of splashes on the water and control the impact noise on the surface of the 15 water 3. Graphic display on the surface of the water by digital control characterized by the existence, according to the first and second claim, of an information system developed for this purpose, which allows the creation of texts, graphics and patterns, static or 20 dynamics, by means of the activation and deactivation controlled of the suppliers that produce the splashes in the water and also, the generation of three-dimensional graphs formed by the groups of suppliers while they fall from the upper structure to the water tank.