JP2001062024A - Device where floating body floats in liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device where floating bodies float in liquid and which is capable of surely transmitting information to the floating bodies floating in the liquid even in a narrow space. SOLUTION: The outer periphery of a game device body 10 is provided with plural control panels 12. A liquid tank 14 of a cylindrical shape is disposed at the center of the game device body 10. The liquid tank 14 is filled with the liquid, such as water or oil. The upper part and lower part of the liquid tank 14 are provided with electrodes 16A and 16B for signal transmission. The electrodes 16A and 16B for signal transmission impress voltage to the liquid and form a voltage gradient. The floating bodies 18 float in the liquid tank 14. The voltage gradient in the liquid is measured by terminals for measurement disposed at the floating bodies 18. The voltage is impressed to the liquid in such a manner that the voltage gradient based on the information to be transmitted is generated and the voltage gradient of the liquid is measured by the measurement points disposed at the floating bodies 18, by which the information is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for floating a floating body in a liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method using ultrasonic waves has been proposed as a method of transmitting information to a floating body floating in a liquid. The ultrasonic wave transmits information to the floating body, and the floating body analyzes the received ultrasonic wave to recognize the information. This information transmission method using ultrasonic waves is mainly used in a wide place such as the ocean or a pool.

However, according to experiments conducted by the present applicant, the information transmission method using ultrasonic waves has a very narrow directivity,
Also, signal demodulation is complicated. In addition, if an ultrasonic wave is used in a narrow place such as a water tank, noise may increase due to reflection or reverberation by a wall of the water tank, and demodulation may not be performed. Also, if there is an obstacle in the middle, there is a possibility that the ultrasonic signal may not easily reach the target floating body. In the case of a narrow place such as an aquarium, methods such as infrared rays and radio waves can be considered,
Since the attenuation is significant, a strong energy is required to send a signal. For this reason, a new way of transmitting information to the floating body is required.

It has also been proposed to change the specific gravity of a floating body in order to control the floating and settling of a floating body floating in a liquid. The specific gravity of the floating body is changed by absorbing water into the floating body or draining water from the floating body.

However, according to experiments conducted by the applicant of the present application, the method of changing the specific gravity of a floating body is susceptible to fluctuations in the pressure inside the floating body and the pressure outside the apparatus, and therefore, water is absorbed into or drained from the floating body. There is a risk that the load on the driving means will be too large.

[0006]

As described above, there is a need for a new method of transmitting information to a floating body floating in a liquid and controlling floating or sinking of the floating body from a new point of view.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for floating a floating body in a liquid and a method of transmitting information to the floating body, which can surely transmit information to a floating body floating in the liquid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of assembling a floating body which is hardly affected by fluctuations in external pressure and can reduce a load on a driving means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of measuring the water depth of a floating body which can be accurately measured without being affected by external pressure fluctuations.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of playing a novel game using a floating body floating in a liquid.

[0011]

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tank containing a liquid, voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the liquid in the liquid tank, a floating body floating in the liquid, A voltage measuring means provided on the floating body and measuring a voltage gradient of the liquid at a plurality of measurement points on the floating body, wherein the floating body floats in the liquid.

In the above-mentioned apparatus, the voltage applying means is an AC voltage based on information transmitted to the liquid, and an effective value of a positive component of the AC voltage and a negative component of the AC voltage so that the liquid is not electrolyzed. May be applied.

In the above-mentioned apparatus, the voltage applying means has a mesh-like positive electrode and a negative electrode, and applies a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. You may make it float in the liquid between negative electrodes.

An object of the present invention is a method of transmitting information to a floating body that transmits information to a floating body that floats in a liquid, wherein a voltage is applied to the liquid so as to generate a voltage gradient based on the information to be transmitted. This is achieved by a method of transmitting information to a floating body, wherein the information is detected by measuring a voltage gradient of the liquid at a plurality of measurement points provided on the floating body.

An object of the present invention is a method for transmitting information to a floating body that transmits information to a floating body that floats in a liquid, wherein a voltage is applied so that a voltage gradient is generated in the liquid based on the information to be transmitted. Detecting whether or not the voltage is applied from a difference between voltages detected by a plurality of voltage detectors provided on the floating body, and transmitting information by a combination thereof to the floating body. Achieved by information transmission methods.

In the above-described method of transmitting information to a floating body, an AC voltage based on information to be transmitted is applied to the liquid, and a positive component of the AC voltage applied to the liquid is applied so that the liquid is not electrolyzed. The effective value and the effective value of the negative component may be made substantially the same.

An object of the present invention is a method of assembling a floating body which floats in a liquid and adjusts the specific gravity of the whole by changing the volume of a buoyancy adjusting space inside, wherein the buoyancy adjusting space after sealing is a predetermined buoyancy adjusting space. This is achieved by a method of assembling a floating body, characterized in that the volume of the buoyancy adjusting space is reduced and hermetically closed as the air pressure increases so that the volume becomes a predetermined pressure.

In the above-described method of assembling a floating body,
The predetermined volume is a substantially middle value of a range of the volume adjusted by the buoyancy adjustment space, and the predetermined pressure is
The pressure may be approximately the standard pressure.

An object of the present invention is a method for measuring a water depth value of a floating body floating in a liquid, wherein the water depth value is determined by a detection output of a pressure detecting means provided on the floating body, and the water depth value is determined based on a pressure outside the liquid. The method is performed by correcting the determined water depth value based on the measured water depth value.

The above object is a method for measuring the water depth of a floating body floating in a liquid, wherein a detection output of a pressure detecting means provided on the floating body and an altitude at which the floating body is located are set. Determine the water depth value with the altitude setting switch,
It is achieved by a method of measuring the water depth value of a floating body, wherein the determined water depth value is corrected based on the atmospheric pressure outside the liquid.

The above object has a floating body structure having a liquid tank containing a liquid, a plurality of floating bodies floating in the liquid, and a connecting body connecting the plurality of floating bodies. By changing the specific gravity of each floating body in the floating body structure, the apparatus is characterized in that the shape of the floating body structure in the liquid changes.

The above object has a liquid tank containing a liquid and a floating body which floats in the liquid and is provided with a driving device. The specific gravity of the floating body is changed to change the specific gravity of the floating body. The apparatus is characterized in that the effective gravity of the floating body in the above is changed.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A game device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a game device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a floating body in the game device according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. It is an explanatory view of an information transmission method.

(Amusement Apparatus) In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to an amusement apparatus as a bingo game machine. A main control device (not shown), a ball collecting device (not shown), and a ball charging device (not shown) are incorporated in the game device main body 10. A plurality of operation panels 12 are provided on the outer periphery of the game apparatus main body 10. Although not shown on each operation panel 12, a monitor, a coin slot, a coin payout slot,
Operation buttons and the like are provided. The player uses the operation panel 12 to perform game operations such as card selection and betting.

A cylindrical liquid tank 14 is provided at the center of the game apparatus main body 10. The liquid tank 14 is filled with a liquid such as water or oil. Transmission electrodes 16A and 16B are provided on the top and bottom of the liquid container 14. Transmission electrode 1
6A and 16B apply a voltage to the liquid.

A large number of ball-like floating bodies 1 are placed in the liquid tank 14.
8 is entered. Each floating body 18 is assigned an ID number. The floating body 18 floats or sinks in the liquid tank 14. A screw (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the liquid tank 14 so that convection occurs appropriately in the liquid. This makes the movement of the floating body 18 look natural.

Although not shown, a ball collecting device and a ball charging device are incorporated at the bottom of the liquid tank 14, and the floating body 18 in the liquid tank 14 is settled and collected.
The collected floating body 18 is charged. The charged floating body 18 is discharged into the liquid tank 14 again,
Used for bingo games.

A ball winning port 20 is provided above the liquid tank 14, and a number display cylinder 22 is provided in the ball winning port 20. The floating body 16 that has floated is sucked from the ball winning opening 20 and sent to the number display tube 22. The selected floating bodies 16 are displayed side by side on the number display tube 22 until the game is over. When the game is over, the bottom of the number display tube 22 is opened, collected together with the floating body 18 floating in the liquid tank 14, and sent to a ball charging device (not shown).

(Structure of Floating Body) The ball-shaped floating body 18 used in the amusement device of the present embodiment is set so that the total weight including each element described later is substantially equal to the liquid weight of the same volume. The balance between buoyancy and weight is lost due to subtle weight changes, and the weight is set so as to float or sink in the liquid.

The floating body 18 has a spherical shell 24 formed of a material such as plastic, for example, and a buoyancy adjusting mechanism is provided therein. Cylindrical casing 26
The inside is partitioned by a partitioning film 28 which can expand and contract.
The center of the partition film 28 is provided at the end of the worm 30 with the bearing 3.
0a. When the worm 30 moves left and right while rotating, the rotation is absorbed by the bearing 30a, and the central portion of the partition film 28 moves left and right. The worm 30 and the gear 32 constitute a worm gear, and the gear 32 is a gear 36 directly connected to a rotation shaft of a step motor 34.
Is combined with The cylindrical casing 26 is a tube 38
Through the outside of the floating body.

When the step motor 34 rotates, the gear 3
The worm 30 moves left and right via the lines 2 and 36, and the partition film 28 expands and contracts accordingly, and the central portion moves left and right. The movement of the partition film 28 causes the cylindrical casing 2 to move.
The buoyancy of the floating body 18 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of fluid taken into the 6.

At the bottom of the floating body 18, two weights 39 are provided. This is to stabilize the attitude of the floating body 18 during the floating, and to always keep the vertical direction the same. The floating body 18 is further provided with a pressure sensor 40. This is for measuring the water depth of the floating body 18.

The receiving terminals 42A and 42B are provided on the spherical shell 24 for detecting information on the floating body 18. The receiving terminals 42A and 42B are connected to the control unit 44.

The floating body 18 is provided with a rechargeable battery unit 46 for driving the step motor 34, the pressure sensor 40, and the control unit 44. The battery unit 46 includes a coil that generates electric power by using a high frequency from the charging unit so that the charging unit (not illustrated) is charged in a non-contact state at a charging station (not illustrated). Regarding charging of the battery unit 46, for example, a charging terminal that can protrude outside the spherical shell 24 during charging may be provided, and charging may be performed by directly contacting the charging unit.

(Information Transmission Method) An information transmission method in the amusement device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The principle of the information transmission method according to the present embodiment is as follows. A voltage is applied by the transmitting electrodes 16A and 16B of the liquid container 14 to generate a voltage gradient in the liquid, and the voltage gradient of the liquid is applied to the receiving terminal of the floating body 18. 42A and 42B.

A case where a stainless steel transmitting electrode 16A is provided at a position 30 cm below the water surface and a stainless steel transmitting electrode 16B is provided at a position 20 cm below the bottom surface of the liquid tank 14 having a diameter of 100 cm and a height of 150 cm. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4 using a voltage gradient as an example. Transmission data 40 kHz
z, the transmission voltage is 10 Vp-p, the water temperature is 12 ° C., and the transmission electrode 16B is grounded (GND).
When 5 V is applied to the transmission electrode 16A, a voltage gradient as shown in FIG. In the region between the transmitting electrodes 16A and 16B, a voltage gradient in one direction is realized. Such a voltage gradient is detected by the receiving terminals 42A and 42B of the floating body 18. If the floating body 18 is in the posture shown in FIG.
A voltage gradient having a magnitude proportional to the distance between A and 42B is detected. If the floating body 18 is 10 cm, the receiving terminal 42
About 8 cm can be taken between A and 42B.

At this time, if the receiving terminal 42B on the side of the ground transmitting electrode 16B is set to ground (GND),
The ground level in the control unit 18 on the receiving side is stabilized, and the transmission signal can be received in a stable manner.

When a voltage as shown in FIG. 5A is applied to the liquid tank 14 by the transmission electrode 16A and the transmission electrode 16B, a voltage gradient as shown in FIG. 4 is formed. When a voltage gradient as shown in FIG. 4 is formed in the liquid, a difference occurs between the reception voltage levels of the reception terminals 42A and 42B of the floating body 18 that floats. The upper receiving terminal 42A is shown in FIG.
The signal shown by the broken line in (b) is received, and the lower receiving terminal 42B receives the signal shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 (b). This is because the receiving terminal 42A and the receiving terminal 42B are separated by a predetermined distance in the direction of the voltage gradient. Received signal of receiving terminal 42A and receiving terminal 4
The difference between the received signals of 2B becomes a detection signal as shown in FIG.

The transmission circuit 50 includes a transmission data memory 52 and a modulation voltage generator 54. The transmission data memory 52 stores information to be transmitted. The modulation voltage generator 54 generates a voltage based on information to be transmitted, and drives the transmission electrodes 16A and 16B.

The control unit 44 of the floating body 18 is provided with a potential difference amplifier 44a and a data analyzer 44b. The potential difference amplifying unit 44a includes receiving terminals 42A and 42B.
Amplifies the detected voltage. Data analysis unit 44b
Analyzes the amplified waveform and obtains the transmitted information.

The basic operation will be described with reference to a specific example of FIG. Data to be transmitted is prepared and stored in the transmission data memory 52. The modulation voltage generation unit 54 generates a transmission signal having a duty ratio of, for example, 5: 5 based on the transmission data, as shown in FIG. 6A, and then modulates the transmission signal by AC or DC. Processing such as whether the component is cut or the like is performed to generate an AC signal as shown in FIG. The generated AC signal is applied to the transmission electrode 16A, and the transmission electrode 16B is set to ground (GND). A voltage gradient as shown in FIG. 4 is formed in the liquid in the liquid tank 14.

When a voltage gradient is formed in the liquid, the receiving terminals 42A and 42B of the floating body 18 which floats are used as shown in FIG.
A signal as shown in (c) is received. This received signal is
The signal is amplified by the potential difference amplifying unit 44a, as shown in FIG. Further, by analyzing the waveform amplified by the data analysis unit 44b, a transmitted signal can be obtained as shown in FIG.

As described above, the transmitting electrode 16 of the liquid tank 14 is
A, depending on whether a voltage is applied to 16B, that is,
By turning on and off the applied voltage, binary data to be transmitted is formed. The floating body 18 obtains the transmitted binary data from the received voltage signal. Each data such as ID data and motor control data is transmitted as packet data to the floating body 18 to control the floating body 18. For example, if one packet is 8 bits, 25 floating bodies 18
Six types of control data can be transmitted.

FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the packet data in the present embodiment. When transmitting control data to the floating body 18, as shown in FIG. 7, 8-bit dummy data as packet 1 and 8-bit floating data 1 as packet 2
The control data of the floating body 18 is continuously transmitted as the ID data 8 and the packet 3. The dummy data of packet 1 is data for indicating that subsequent packet data is transmission data. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an 8-bit signal “11111111” is predetermined as dummy data. The ID data of the floating body 18 of the packet 2 is data for specifying to which floating body 18 the transmission data is to be transmitted. The subsequent packet 3 is control data for the designated floating body 18. After transmitting the control data to the floating body 18, the next control data is transmitted after a predetermined waiting time to prevent data interference.

The transmission time is, for example, a transmission speed of 100 k
Assuming bps, one transmission data is 24 bits, so it takes 240 μsec and the waiting time is 760 μsec.
Very, the data transmission time to one floating body 18 is 1
msec. Therefore, data can be transmitted 1000 times per second.

(Prevention of Electrolysis) In the case of this embodiment, it is considered that water is electrolyzed when water is used as a liquid and a voltage of a predetermined level or more is continuously applied. FIG.
In the specific example, since the duty ratio of the transmission signal is 5: 5, the effective value of the positive component and the effective value of the negative component of the AC voltage applied to the liquid are substantially the same, and water is electrolyzed. There is no fear. However, if the duty ratio of the transmission signal deviates from 5: 5, electrolysis may occur.

To solve such a problem, the ground level of the transmission signal is changed according to the duty ratio of the transmission signal. FIG. 8 shows that the duty ratio of the transmission signal is 1:
4. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the duty ratio of the transmission signal is 1: 4, it is not at the midpoint of the peak-to-peak voltage of the transmission signal, but as shown in FIG.
The position of one fifth from the lower peak is set to the ground level. In this way, when considered in one cycle, the area of the positive component and the area of the negative component of the AC voltage are the same as shown in FIG. Electrolysis does not occur even if such a signal is continuously applied to the liquid for a long time.

The transmission signal is changed according to the transmission data as shown in FIG.
Even if it is random as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the position of the ground may be set. The area of the positive component (effective value of the positive component) of the AC signal is equal to the area of the negative component (effective value of the negative component), and the liquid is not electrolyzed.

(Transmitting Electrode) In this embodiment, the liquid container 1
4, one transmission electrode 16A on the top and bottom,
Although 16B is provided, a plurality of 16B may be provided. The voltage gradient in the liquid tank 14 can be made independent of the place. FIG. 10 shows a voltage distribution when two transmission electrodes 16A and 16B are provided. It can be seen that the voltage gradient becomes uniform and there is almost no location dependence.

Further, as shown in FIG.
6A and 16B may be used as mesh electrodes. The mesh electrode is desirably transparent. FIG. 12 shows a voltage distribution in the case of a mesh electrode. It can be seen that the voltage gradient in the liquid tank 14 is uniform and has no place dependency.

(Control of Floating Body) Next, in the amusement apparatus according to the present embodiment, what data is transmitted from the amusement apparatus body 10 to the floating body 18 and the floating body 1 is transmitted by the data.
8 will be described.

The data transmitted from the game apparatus main body 10 to the floating body 18 is basically data for making the floating body 18 move up and down. For example, the ID number of the floating body 18 and
The water depth value at which the floating body 18 should be located and the game apparatus main body 1
Transmit from 0. The floating body 18 receiving the data,
The user's current water depth value is known from the detection value of the pressure sensor 40 and compared with the transmitted data. If the current water depth value is deeper than the transmission data, the step motor 34 is controlled so that the floating body 18 floats. If the current water depth value is shallower than the transmission data, the step motor 3 is controlled so that the floating body 18 sinks.
4 is controlled. The stepping motor 3 is moved in the floating body 18 so that the detection value of the pressure sensor 40 becomes the water depth value of the transmission data.
A stepper motor 34 is controlled by generating control signals for forward rotation, reverse rotation, stop, hold, and the like.

For example, in the case of a bingo game, the game apparatus main body 10 determines the ID number of the floating body 18 to be selected next according to the current betting situation of the player. Next, all the floating bodies 1 are set such that the floating bodies 18 having the determined ID numbers finally reach the ball winning opening 20 while all the floating bodies 18 naturally rise and fall.
8 is transmitted to the programmed water depth value.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a voltage gradient is generated in the liquid tank, and this voltage gradient is measured at the measurement point of the floating body. Can be transmitted. Also, since the voltage gradient distributed in the liquid is measured, there is no problem such as reflection or reverberation or obstacles like ultrasonic waves, and information can be reliably transmitted to many floating bodies. Can be. Also,
According to the present embodiment, it is hardly affected by disturbance noise,
Moreover, there is little possibility that noise is emitted to the outside. Also,
Since both the information transmission method and the information detection method are simple, communication errors are less likely to occur, and it can be realized at low cost.

[Second Embodiment] A game device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the game device according to the present embodiment,
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the structure of the floating body in the game device according to the present embodiment.

In the amusement device of the present embodiment, a floating body 120 is floated in the liquid tank 100 as in the first embodiment.
The game control unit 110 transmits information indicating the position of the floating body 120 according to a predetermined game program, and performs an operation of floating or sinking the floating body 120 based on the position information.

The principle of the information transmission method in the present embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, in that a voltage is applied by the transmitting electrodes 102A and 102B of the liquid container 100 to generate a voltage gradient in the liquid, and the voltage gradient of the liquid is increased. Is detected by the receiving terminals 122A and 122B of the floating body 120.

The control section 110 is provided with a CPU 112 for controlling the entire game, and a game input device 114 for inputting data, information, and the like for progressing the game.
The control information for the floating body 120 output from the CPU 112 is transmitted as a voltage signal by the communication device 116 to the transmitting electrode 1.
02A and 102B.

As in the first embodiment, the communication device 116 includes a transmission data memory (not shown) and a modulation voltage generator (not shown). Information to be transmitted is stored in the transmission data memory, and the modulation voltage generator generates a voltage based on the information to be transmitted,
A and 102B are driven.

The control unit 110 is further provided with an external pressure sensor 118 for detecting an external atmospheric pressure. The external pressure sensor 118 measures an external air pressure that changes according to altitude and weather conditions, and corrects a measured value of the water depth of the floating body 120 as described later.

(Structure of Floating Body) The floating body 120 includes a CPU 124 for controlling the entire floating body, a pressure sensor 126 for detecting pressure outside the floating body 120, and a floating body 12.
Container opening / closing sensor 128 for detecting opening / closing of container 0
And an altitude setting switch 130 for setting the altitude at which the amusement device is installed. These pressure sensors 1
26, container opening / closing sensor 128, altitude setting switch 130
The adjustment method and the correction method according to will be described later.

The receiving electrode 12 provided on the floating body 120
Communication devices 132 for receiving information transmitted by a voltage signal applied to the liquid tank 100 are provided in 2A and 122B.
Is provided. The communication device 132 is provided with a potential difference amplifying unit (not shown) and a data analyzing unit (not shown), as in the first embodiment. The potential difference amplifying unit amplifies the voltage detected by the receiving terminals 122A and 122B. The data analyzer analyzes the amplified waveform and obtains the transmitted information.

In this embodiment, a bellows 134 is provided in the floating body 120 in order to float or settle the floating body 120. By expanding and contracting the bellows 134 by the actuator 136, the specific gravity of the floating body 120 is changed, and the floating body 120 is caused to float or sink. The bellows position sensor 138 detects the amount of expansion and contraction of the bellows 134,
This is fed back to the CPU 124.

Details of the structure of the floating body 120 are shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The floating body 120 is set so that the total weight including each element described later is substantially equal to the liquid weight of the same volume. By expanding and contracting the bellows 134, the specific gravity of the floating body 120 is changed.

The floating body 120 has a spherical shell 140 made of a material such as plastic, for example, and a buoyancy adjusting mechanism is provided in the spherical shell 140. The spherical shell 140 can be divided into two parts. At the time of assembling, the buoyancy adjusting mechanism is housed inside and the divided spherical shells 140 are combined and hermetically sealed. The receiving terminals 122A and 122B are embedded in the upper and lower ends of the spherical shell 140.

The buoyancy control chamber 1 is located at the center of the spherical shell 140.
42 are provided. The buoyancy adjusting chamber 142 includes the partition plate 14
It is divided by four. The partition plate 144 is a guide 146
Slide along. A bellows 134 is fixed to the partition plate 144, and the other end of the bellows 134 communicates with the outside. When the floating body 120 is floating in the liquid, the bellows 134
Liquid is full inside.

A step motor 148 is provided as an actuator for moving the partition plate 144. When the step motor 148 rotates, the gear 150 rotates,
Worm 152 formed at the tip of the rotating shaft of gear 150
Rotates the large gear 154. Gear 154
The partition plate 144 slides along the guide 146 by the rotation of. Thereby, the buoyancy of the floating body 120 can be adjusted. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the position of the bellows 134,
That is, a bellows position sensor 138 is provided to detect the position of the partition plate 144.

The above-described combinations of gears and worms, combinations of motors and gears, types of motors, and the like are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

A weight 156 is provided at the bottom of the floating body 120. This is for stabilizing the posture of the floating body 120 during the floating and keeping the vertical direction always the same.

A pressure sensor 126 is provided on the spherical shell 140 of the floating body 120. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a container opening / closing sensor 128 and an altitude setting switch 130 are provided on the floating body 120.

The receiving terminals 42 A and 42 B provided for detecting information to the floating body 120 are connected to the control unit 15.
8 is connected. The control unit 158 includes a CPU
Control circuits such as 124 and a communication device 132 are mounted.

The step motor 148 and the pressure sensor 12
6. The floating body 120 is provided with a rechargeable battery unit 160 for driving the control unit 158 and various sensors such as the container opening / closing sensor 128 and the bellows position sensor 138. The battery unit 160 includes a coil that generates power by high frequency from the charging unit so that the charging unit (not shown) is charged in a non-contact state at the charging station (not shown). Regarding the charging of the battery unit 160, for example, a charging terminal that can protrude outside the spherical shell 140 during charging may be provided, and the charging may be performed by directly contacting the charging unit.

(Method of assembling floating body) Next, the floating body 1
The method of assembling 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
When assembling the floating body 120, the buoyancy adjusting mechanism is housed inside and the divided spherical shells 140 are combined and sealed. The container opening / closing sensor 128 detects whether or not the spherical shell 140 is sealed. The pressure of the sealed air is
It becomes the outside pressure at the time of the assembly. The outside air pressure changes depending on the altitude of the place where the sealing operation is performed, and also changes depending on the weather at that time. The altitude of the place where the sealing work is performed and the place where the game device is used are not always the same.

The applicant of the present invention has found from various experiments that such a change in the outside air pressure greatly affects the load when the floating body 120 is driven. Bellows 134 in floating body 120
Is the product of the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the bellows 134 and the cross-sectional area of the bellows 134. When the external air pressure is kept constant and the air pressure inside the floating body 120 changes by 0.1 atm due to the expansion and contraction of the bellows 134, the required motor torque at that time greatly varies depending on the pressure inside the floating body 120.

[0076] When the floating body 120 is in a high pressure state, pressure of the liquid tank 100 is 1.0 kg / cm ² at the water surface, and 1.1 kg / cm ² at the bottom of the water. At this time, the pressure in the floating body 120 is 1.1 kg / cm ² when the bellows contracts, and 1.2 kg / cm ² when the bellows expands. Therefore, the floating body 1
A large motor torque is required when ascending 20 and a small motor torque is required when ascending.

[0077] When the floating body 120 is in the intermediate pressure state, pressure of the liquid tank 100 is 1.0 kg / cm ² at the water surface, and 1.1 kg / cm ² at the bottom of the water. At this time, the pressure in the floating body 120 is 1.0 kg / cm ² when the bellows contracts, and 1.1 kg / cm ² when the bellows expands. Therefore, the floating body 1
It is necessary that the motor torque at the time of ascending the motor 20 and the motor torque at the time of the sinking thereof be moderate.

[0078] When the floating body 120 is in the low pressure state, pressure of the liquid tank 100 is 1.0 kg / cm ² at the water surface, and 1.1 kg / cm ² at the bottom of the water. At this time, the pressure in the floating body 120 is 0.9 kg / cm ² when the bellows contracts, and 1.0 kg / cm ² when the bellows expands. Therefore, the floating body 1
A small motor torque is sufficient when ascending the surface 20, but a large motor torque is required when descending.

The most preferable motor torque is a medium pressure state in which the motor can be driven with the same torque at the time of ascent or descent. In the present embodiment, even if the external pressure changes, the inside of the floating body 120 after assembly is set to a medium pressure state.

The principle of this assembling method is that the pressure inside the floating body 120 when the bellows 134 has a standard length is set to a medium pressure state, for example, a standard pressure. The standard length of the bellows 134 may be any length as long as it is a predetermined length in principle, but usually, a length that is approximately the center of the range in which the bellows 134 can expand and contract is desirable. The standard pressure is
In principle, any pressure may be used, but usually, about 1
It is desirable to be at atmospheric pressure.

To realize this, the pressure sensor 1
When the air pressure measured at 26 is high, FIG.
As shown in (a), the bellows 134 is extended and the floating body 12 is extended.
Seal 0. Although the inside of the floating body 120 is in a high pressure state, when the bellows 134 is adjusted to a standard length, the floating body 120 is
The internal pressure becomes a standard pressure medium pressure state.

When the atmospheric pressure measured by the pressure sensor 126 is the standard atmospheric pressure, as shown in FIG.
The floating body 120 is hermetically sealed with a standard length of 34. Since the inside of the floating body 120 is in a medium pressure state, the inside of the floating body 120 is in a medium pressure state without changing the length of the bellows 134.

When the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 126 is a low pressure, as shown in FIG.
4 is compressed and the floating body 120 is sealed. Although the inside of the floating body 120 is in a low pressure state, when the bellows 134 is adjusted to the standard length, the pressure inside the floating body 120 becomes a standard pressure medium pressure state.

The relationship between the length of the bellows 134 when closed and the external air pressure is determined by experiments. In the above description, the pressure inside the floating body 134 after the adjustment is set to the standard pressure of 1 atm. However, considering the control in the liquid tank 100, it is desirable to set the pressure higher than 1 atm. For example, the liquid tank 100
Is 1 m, a pressure obtained by adding 50 g / cm ² of water pressure of 50 cm to 1 atm is defined as a standard pressure.

(Altitude Setting Switch) Next, an adjustment method and a correction method using the altitude setting switch 130 will be described with reference to FIG.
6 and FIG.

In the present embodiment, the water depth value of the floating body 120 is measured based on the measurement value of the pressure sensor 126. For example, a case where the water depth of the liquid tank 100 is 1 m and the water depth value is measured with an accuracy of 1 cm will be described.

If the external pressure is a standard pressure, ie, 1 atm, as shown in FIG. 16A, the liquid tank 100 has a water depth of 1000 g / cm ² at a depth of 0 m and a water depth of 11 g at a depth of 1 m.
00 g / cm ² . The measured value of the pressure sensor 126 when the floating body 120 is located at a depth of 0 m and the floating body 12
The measured value of the pressure sensor 126 is calibrated from the measured value of the pressure sensor 126 when 0 is located at a depth of 1 m. The measured value at the water depth of 0 m and the measured value at the water depth of 1 m are divided into 100 steps to obtain a water depth value of 1 cm accuracy from the measured value of the pressure sensor 126.

If the external air pressure is always constant, the water depth value can be obtained from the measured value of the pressure sensor 126 without any particular adjustment. However, in practice, the external air pressure always changes due to the weather. If the external air pressure changes by 1 g / cm ^{2, the} water depth value obtained from the measurement value of the pressure sensor 126 changes by 1 cm, and it is necessary to correct an error caused by such external pressure.

Assuming a low pressure of 930 g / cm ² ,
It is assumed that the high pressure is 1030 g / cm ² . FIG.
(B), the case of low pressure (930g / cm ^2), the water depth 0m liquid bath 100 930 g / cm ^2, and becomes a 1030 g / cm ² at a depth of 1 m. In the case of high pressure (1030 g / cm ² ), the water depth of the liquid tank 100 is 0
m at 1030 g / cm ^{2 and} 113 m at 1 m depth
0 g / cm ² .

1 cm in both low pressure and high pressure
To measure the depth values in precision divides between 930 g / cm ² and 1030 g / cm ² to 100 stages, 10
It is necessary to divide the 100 steps between 30 g / cm ² and 1130 g / cm ^2. Therefore, 930 g / cm ²
And 1130 g / cm ² may be divided into 200 or more stages. For example, if the measured value of the pressure sensor 126 is an 8-bit digital output, it can be divided into 256 stages. May correspond to the external atmospheric pressure changes from low pressure 930 g / cm ² until the high pressure of 1030 g / cm ^2.

After calibration as described above, the measured value of the pressure sensor 126 is
The correct water depth value of the floating body 120 is measured by making correction using the measured values of the above.

As described above, it is possible to cope with a change in atmospheric pressure due to a change in weather by dividing the measured value of the pressure sensor 126 into 200 or more steps. However, it is not possible to cope with a change in atmospheric pressure due to an installation location of the game apparatus in addition to a change in weather simply by increasing the resolution of the measurement value of the pressure sensor 126.

In the present embodiment, the altitude setting switch 130 is provided, and by changing the altitude setting switch 130, it is intended to cope with a change in altitude of the installation location of the game apparatus. The altitude setting switch 130 of the present embodiment has six levels from setting 0 to setting 5. The input range of the A / D converter for the measurement value of the pressure sensor 126 is changed by the altitude setting switch 130.

The setting of the altitude setting switch 130 and the set height
Degree (m), measurement pressure range (g / cm ^Two), Climatic pressure change
(G / cm^Two), Measured water depth (m), measured atmospheric pressure range (g /
cm^Two) Are shown in Table 1 below. The climatic pressure change
Is the change in atmospheric pressure due to weather change at the same measurement point.
That is. The range of air pressure when the weather is rainy and when it is fine
Represents.

[0095]

[Table 1]

Setting 0 is a setting altitude in the range of -50 to 300 m. The altitude pressure range at this time is 964 to 100
6 g / cm ² , and the climatic pressure change is −70 to 30 g / cm ^2.
range cm ^2, the measured water depth if 0-1 M, measured pressure range is the range of 894~1136g / cm ^2.

Setting 1 is for setting altitude of 300 to 650 m.
Range. The altitude pressure range at this time is 922 to 964
g / cm^TwoAnd the change in climatic pressure is -70 to 30 g / c.
m^TwoIf the measurement water depth is 0 to 1 m, the measurement pressure range
The circumference is 852-1094 g / cm ^TwoRange.

In setting 2, the set altitude is 650 to 1000 m
Range. The altitude pressure range at this time is 880 to 92
2 g / cm ² , and a climatic pressure change of −70 to 30 g / cm ^2.
range cm ^2, the measured water depth if 0-1 M, measured pressure range is the range of 810~1052g / cm ^2.

In setting 3, the setting altitude is 1000 to 1350
m. The altitude pressure range at this time is 838 to 8
80 g / cm ² and the climatic pressure change is -70 to 30 g
/ Cm ² , and the measured water depth is 0 to 1 m, the measured pressure range is 768 to 1010 g / cm ² .

In setting 4, the set altitude is 1350 to 1700
m. The altitude pressure range at this time is 796-8
38 g / cm ² , and a climatic pressure change of -70 to 30 g
/ Cm ² , and the measured water depth is 0 to 1 m, the measured pressure range is 726 to 968 g / cm ² .

In setting 5, the setting altitude is 1700 to 2050.
m. The altitude pressure range at this time is 754-7
96 g / cm ² and the climatic pressure change is -70 to 30 g
/ Cm ² , and the measured water depth is 0 to 1 m, the measured pressure range is 684 to 926 g / cm ² .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, when the altitude of the installation position of the amusement device is in the range of about 0 m to about 2000 m, the water depth value can be measured with 1 cm accuracy only by changing the setting of the altitude setting switch 130. . Furthermore, even if the air pressure changes due to weather changes, 930 g / cm
It is possible to cope with a change in external pressure from a low pressure of ^{2 to} a high pressure of 1030 g / cm ² .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the outside air pressure at the time of assembling the floating body changes, the inside of the assembled floating body is maintained at the medium pressure state, so that the burden on the motor for driving the bellows is increased. Can be reduced. Further, even if the altitude of the installation position of the game apparatus changes, the water depth value can be measured with high resolution by switching the altitude setting switch.

[Third Embodiment] A game device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the structure of the game device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the structure of the floating body and the floating bar in the game device according to the present embodiment.

Conventionally, when trying to move a doll, the doll and its limbs are suspended from outside with a thin thread or supported by a stick. As a result, the doll and the strings and sticks operating the limbs were seen from the outside, and it was annoying. Also,
Attempts have been made to move the doll itself by incorporating a drive device in the doll, but the structure is complicated and tends to be large, and there are many restrictions on the shape of the doll.

The amusement device of this embodiment uses the floating body of the above embodiment to realize a doll that floats in a liquid and can move its limbs freely.

As shown in FIG. 18, a doll 210 is floating in a liquid tank 200. The head, hands, feet, nodes and the like of the doll 210 are formed by the large and small floating bodies 220 in the above embodiment, and the floating bodies 220 are connected by the floating rods 230.
By controlling each floating body 220 and each floating bar 230, the doll 210 can be made to perform various movements.

The head, body, hands, feet, joints, etc. are formed by floating bodies 220 having different sizes. The floating body 220 is in the above-described embodiment, and is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a bellows 222 is provided inside the floating body 220,
By expanding and contracting the bellows 222, the floating body 220 attempts to float or settle. As shown in FIG. 19A, when the bellows 222 is extended, water is absorbed from the outside into the bellows 222, the specific gravity of the floating body 220 increases, and a force for sinking works. As shown in FIG. 19B, the bellows 222
Is reduced, the specific gravity of the floating body 220 is reduced, and a force for floating is exerted.

Floating body 220 such as head, torso, hands, feet, joints, etc.
Are connected by a floating bar 230. The floating bar 230 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9C, the weight 234 is
Are supported by a spring 236 and an actuator 238. The movement of the floating bar 230 is controlled by moving the weight 234 by the actuator 238. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
34, the weight 234 moves to the right and the floating bar 23
The right side of 0 sinks. As shown in FIG. 19E, when the force pulling the weight 234 by the actuator 238 is reduced, the weight 234 moves to the left, and the left side of the floating bar 230 sinks.

Since the doll 210 floats in the liquid tank 200, the doll 210 is formed so that the specific gravity of the whole doll 210 becomes almost 1. The head floating body 220A is made lighter than the specific gravity 1 so that the doll 210 takes a stable posture,
B, 230C is made heavier than specific gravity 1. This makes doll 2
10 The posture of the whole becomes stable. Floating body 220B, 2
The floating bodies 220D to 220K of the limbs extending from the 20C have a specific gravity of about 1 and float or sink to form the doll 210.
Move variously.

In order for the doll to take the posture shown in FIG. 18, the floating bodies 220D, 220G, 220I, 22
Lightening the specific gravity of 0K, floating bodies 220E, 220F, 22
The specific gravity of 0H and 220J may be increased. Furthermore, floating rods 230A to 230 connecting the floating bodies 220A to 220K
By controlling the balance between the left and right weights of J, the posture of the doll 210 can be slightly changed.

A battery for driving the doll 210 includes large floating bodies 220A, 220B,
By storing in the 20C, the floating bodies 220D to 220K constituting the limbs can be reduced in size.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the doll can be floated in the liquid to take various postures without using a thread, a stick, or the like. In the present embodiment, since little energy is required to maintain the same posture, the doll can be displayed for a long time. Further, by controlling the specific gravity of the limbs, the doll can be made to make various movements, and a life feeling of the doll can be produced.

[Fourth Embodiment] A game device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the game device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the spacecraft in the game device according to the present embodiment.

Conventionally, there has been a toy that moves a floating body in a liquid tank by using power of a screw or the like. However, it only floats, sinks, and moves by turning on and off the screw, or stops it. The movement was monotonous.

The amusement device of this embodiment utilizes the floating body of the above embodiment, and a screw is provided on the floating body as power. By changing the specific gravity of the floating body, it is possible to produce an effect that changes the gravity of the floating body, and by moving such a floating body with power, it is as if floating in outer space Action can be taken.

As shown in FIG. 20, a planet surface 310 is formed in a liquid tank 300, and a landing point 312 is provided on the planet surface 310. In the liquid tank 300, a spacecraft 330 having a screw provided on a floating body is floating.

The operation panel 320 is located in front of the liquid tank 300.
Is provided. Monitor 3 in the center of operation panel 320
22 are provided. The monitor 322 displays the gravity of the planet,
The game information such as the current score and the remaining energy is displayed. A joystick 324 in front of the monitor 322
A, a determination button 324B is provided for two players. The spacecraft 330 is operated by the joystick 324A.

As shown in FIG. 21, the spacecraft 330 has a drive unit 334 attached to the floating body 332 of the above embodiment. The internal structure of the floating body 332 is the same as the structure shown in FIG.

The driving device 334 has a structure in which a propeller 338 is attached to a submersible motor 336. A propeller protection plate 340 is attached to the case of the underwater motor 336. The propeller protection plate 340 is connected to the liquid tank 300.
This is to prevent accidents when the vehicle comes into contact with another spacecraft 330. The power of the underwater motor 336 is supplied from a battery unit inside the floating body 332.

A specific example of a game played by the amusement device according to the present embodiment will be described. This is a game that competes for successfully landing the spaceship 330 at the landing point 312 on the planet surface 310.

Before starting the game, the gravity of the planet is determined. When the gravity is determined, the specific gravity of the spacecraft 330 is adjusted according to the gravity. When the game starts, the spacecraft 330 is descending to the gravity of the planet. The player attempts to land at the destination while controlling the driving device 334 to adjust the falling speed. Even though the driving force of the driving device 334 is the same,
The levitation force and the descent force differ depending on the specific gravity of the spacecraft 330, and require skill for maneuvering.

When the target landing point 312 is reached, a score is obtained. When the gravity is weak, the target landing point 312 can be landed relatively easily, but when the gravity is strong, the maneuver is difficult due to the rapid descent. Due to the length of time before landing and the amount of energy consumed by the drive unit 334,
You may make it compete for control.

If the prescribed score can be obtained, proceed to the next stage and challenge landing on a planet of different gravity.

By adjusting the specific gravity of the spacecraft 330, a planet with different gravity can be realized. When the specific gravity is 1, a zero gravity state can be realized. When the specific gravity is smaller than 1, an antigravity state can be realized. . Also, by changing the specific gravity of the spacecraft 330 dynamically, a strange state in which gravity changes can be realized.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by changing the specific gravity of the floating body, it is possible to produce an effect such that the gravity of the floating body changes. By moving, an operation as if floating in outer space can be performed.

[Modified Embodiment] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a cylindrical liquid tank is used. However, other components are configured in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, and the shape of the liquid tank is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and may be any shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped. .

In the above embodiment, a ball-shaped floating body is used. However, other components are configured in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and are not limited to the ball shape, but may have any shape such as a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped. Good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the floating body is attached to the weight so as to always float in a constant state. However, other components are configured in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the floating body is always rotated. It may be. Even if the posture of the liquid cannot be detected, the rotation can be detected immediately by rotation.

In the above embodiment, two receiving terminals are provided on the floating body. However, other components may be configured in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and more receiving terminals may be provided. If a large number of receiving terminals are provided, the voltage gradient of the liquid can be detected at one of the terminals regardless of the attitude of the floating body.

Further, in the above embodiment, information is transmitted using an AC voltage. However, other components may be configured in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and information may be transmitted not only by the AC voltage but also by a DC voltage. .

In the above embodiment, the bingo game has been described as an example. However, the other components are configured in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and other games, for example, characters are shown on a ball, which is the first one. A racing game that competes for floating, a balloon operation game in which a floating balloon is operated, an underwater race game in which a floating body competes in water, a fortune-telling game in which a fortune-telling is performed using a floating body, or a floating figure in the form of a doll The present invention may be applied to an underwater marionette in which the body dances underwater.

If a driving means such as a screw is provided on the floating body, it is possible to move the floating body not only in floating and sinking but also in any three-dimensional direction such as the horizontal direction and the depth direction.

[0134]

As described above, according to the present invention, a voltage gradient is generated in the liquid tank, and this voltage gradient is measured at the measurement point of the floating body. Information can be transmitted to Further, according to the present invention, it is hardly affected by fluctuations in the pressure inside the floating body and the pressure outside the device, the load on the driving means can be reduced, and the water depth value can be measured accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a game device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of a floating body in the amusement device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an information transmission method in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a measurement result of a voltage gradient in a liquid tank when a pair of transmission electrodes is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transmission signal in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transmission signal and a reception signal in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of transmission data in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a transmission signal in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of a transmission signal in the game device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a measurement result of a voltage gradient in a liquid tank when a pair of transmission electrodes is used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure of a game device when a transmission electrode is a mesh electrode.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a measurement result of a voltage gradient when a transmission electrode is a mesh electrode.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a game device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a structure of a floating body in a game device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating a method of assembling a floating body in a game device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view (part 1) of an adjustment method using an altitude setting switch in the amusement device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view (part 2) of an adjustment method using an altitude setting switch in the amusement device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a structure of a game device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a structure of a floating body and a floating bar in a game device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a structure of a game device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a structure of a spacecraft in an amusement device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Amusement apparatus main body 12 ... Operation panel 14 ... Liquid tank 16A, 16B ... Transmission electrode 18 ... Floating body 20 ... Ball winning opening 22 ... Number display cylinder 24 ... Spherical shell 26 ... Cylinder casing 28 ... Partition membrane 30 ... Worm 30a ... bearing 32 ... gear 34 ... step motor 36 ... gear 38 ... tube 39 ... weight 40 ... pressure sensor 42A, 42B ... receiving terminal 44 ... control unit 44a ... potential difference amplifying unit 44b ... data analyzing unit 46 ... rechargeable battery unit Reference Signs List 50 transmission circuit 52 transmission data memory 54 modulation voltage generation unit 100 liquid tank 102A, 102B transmission electrode 110 control unit 112 CPU 114 game input device 116 communication device 118 external pressure sensor 120 floating Body 122A, 122B ... Reception terminal 124 ... CPU 126 ... Pressure Sensor 128 Container open / close sensor 130 Altitude setting switch 132 Communication device 134 Bellows 136 Actuator 138 Bellows position sensor 140 Spherical shell 142 Buoyancy adjustment chamber 144 Partition plate 146 Guide 148 Step motor 150 Gear 150 ... Warm 154 ... Gear 156 ... Weight 158 ... Control unit 160 ... Battery unit 200 ... Liquid tank 210 ... Doll 220 Vessel 310 ... Planet surface 312 ... Landing point 330 ... Spacecraft 320 ... Operation panel 322 ... Monitor 324A ... Joystick 324B ... Enter button 332 ... Floating body 334 ... Drive device 336 ... Underwater motor 338 ... Propeller 34 ... propeller protective plate

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] May 18, 2000 (200.5.1)
8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B63B 35/73 B63B 35/73 E G01C 13/00 G01C 13/00 P (72) Inventor Satoshi Kagami Tokyo 1-2-12 Haneda, Ota-ku F-term in SEGA Enterprises Corporation (reference) 2C150 AA14 BA06 CA01 CA02 CA10 DA19 DA20 DA24 DA26 DA27 DA28 DK02 EA07 EB01 EB02 EG04 EG08

Claims (12)

[Claims] A liquid tank filled with a liquid; a voltage application unit for applying a voltage to the liquid in the liquid tank; a floating body floating in the liquid; A voltage measuring means for measuring a voltage gradient of the liquid at a plurality of measurement points on the body, wherein the floating body floats in the liquid. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applying unit is an AC voltage based on information transmitted to the liquid, and a positive component of the AC voltage is applied so that the liquid is not electrolyzed. An apparatus in which a floating body floats in a liquid, characterized by applying an AC voltage having substantially the same effective value as the effective value of a negative component. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applying means has a mesh-like positive electrode and a negative electrode,
An apparatus for applying a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the floating body floats in a liquid between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. 4. A method of transmitting information to a floating body that transmits information to a floating body that floats in a liquid, wherein a voltage is applied to the liquid so that a voltage gradient is generated based on the information to be transmitted. A method of transmitting information to a floating body, wherein the information is detected by measuring a voltage gradient of the liquid at a plurality of measurement points provided on the body. 5. A method for transmitting information to a floating body that transmits information to a floating body that floats in a liquid, comprising: applying a voltage such that a voltage gradient is generated in the liquid based on the information to be transmitted; Information transmission to the floating body, wherein whether or not the voltage is applied is detected based on a difference between the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detection units provided on the floating body, and information is transmitted by a combination thereof; Method. 6. The method for transmitting information to a floating body according to claim 4, wherein an AC voltage based on information to be transmitted is applied to the liquid, and the AC voltage is applied to the liquid so that the liquid is not electrolyzed. A method of transmitting information to a floating body, wherein the effective value of the positive component and the effective value of the negative component of the AC voltage are made substantially the same. 7. A method of assembling a floating body which floats in a liquid and adjusts the specific gravity of the whole by changing the volume of an internal buoyancy adjusting space, wherein the buoyancy adjusting space after sealing has a predetermined volume. A method for assembling a floating body, wherein the volume of the buoyancy adjusting space is reduced and hermetically closed as the atmospheric pressure increases so as to obtain a predetermined pressure. 8. The method for assembling a floating body according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined volume is substantially a middle value of a range of a volume adjusted by the buoyancy adjustment space, and the predetermined pressure is:
A method of assembling a floating body, which is substantially at a standard pressure. 9. A method for measuring a water depth value of a floating body floating in a liquid, wherein the water depth value is determined by a detection output of a pressure detecting means provided in the floating body, and the water depth value is determined based on a pressure outside the liquid. And a method for measuring the water depth value of the floating body, wherein the determined water depth value is corrected. 10. A method for measuring a water depth value of a floating body floating in a liquid, comprising: a detection output of a pressure detecting means provided on the floating body; and an altitude setting for setting an altitude at which the floating body is located. A method for measuring a water depth value of a floating body, wherein the water depth value is determined by a switch and the determined water depth value is corrected based on an atmospheric pressure outside the liquid. 11. A floating body having a liquid tank containing a liquid, a plurality of floating bodies floating in the liquid, and a connecting body connecting the plurality of floating bodies. An apparatus, wherein changing the specific gravity of each floating body in the structure changes the shape of the floating body structure in the liquid. 12. A liquid tank containing a liquid, and a floating body that floats in the liquid and is provided with a driving device, wherein the specific gravity of the floating body is changed to change the specific gravity of the floating body. A device that changes the effective gravity of a floating body.