Puppet control mechanism

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible. Further, another apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a puppet device;   a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is a rod. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material is acrylic. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the puppet device comprises an actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a hydraulic pump that delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an air pump that delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 an object; and   an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism is a rod. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the material is acrylic. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a hydraulic pump that delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an air pump delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a tube that interacts with a puppet device to move the puppet device, the tube comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the tube are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the material is acrylic. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the puppet device comprises an actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a hydraulic pump delivers a hydraulic fluid to the actuator through the tube to move the actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the hydraulic fluid has a hydraulic fluid index of refraction that substantially matches the fluid index of refraction such that the hydraulic fluid is rendered substantially invisible. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein an air pump delivers air pressure to the actuator through the control mechanism to move the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator is a joint of puppet device.