U.S. patent application number 14/505408 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-07 for puppet control mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.. Invention is credited to Akhil Madhani, Robert Scott Trowbridge.
Application Number | 20160096120 14/505408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55632091 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160096120 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trowbridge; Robert Scott ;
et al. |
April 7, 2016 |
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.
Inventors: |
Trowbridge; Robert Scott;
(La Canada, CA) ; Madhani; Akhil; (Pasadena,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. |
Burbank |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Burbank
CA
|
Family ID: |
55632091 |
Appl. No.: |
14/505408 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/366 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63J 19/006
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63J 19/00 20060101
A63J019/00 |
Claims
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.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] This disclosure generally relates to the field of puppeting
configurations. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a
control mechanism for manipulating movement of a puppet.
[0003] 2. General Background
[0004] Various entertainment environments, e.g., theme parks,
provide entertainment features having a puppet whose movement is
manually or automatically manipulated with different control
mechanisms. The control mechanisms can be rods, strings, etc. that
are attached to the puppet and manipulated by a human, machine,
etc. to initiate movement of the puppet.
[0005] With advances in the realistic appearance of virtual
characters generated through animation and computer generated
imagery ("CGI"), generating a similar realistic appearance for a
physical puppet has been difficult. For instance, computer graphics
can be used to display and manipulate an animated character without
any visible control mechanisms. In contrast, a physical puppeting
configuration requires visible control mechanisms that are attached
to the physical puppet. Current approaches attempt to hide the
visible control mechanisms, e.g., placement of the control
mechanisms behind a curtain in front of which the physical puppet
is positioned, physical barrier that prevents spectators from
viewing the side of the physical puppet where control mechanisms
may be located, placement of the physical puppeting configuration
in a dark environment where the lack of lighting hides the control
mechanisms, etc.
[0006] Such approaches are limited to dry environments, i.e., using
curtains, dimmer lighting, physical barriers, etc., are simply not
practical for a puppet that moves in a fluid environment. For
instance, hiding the control mechanisms attached to a mermaid
puppet that moves through a fluid environment is quite difficult
and impractical. Cloudy water can be used to attempt to hide some
of the control mechanisms, but then the physical features of the
puppet are also hidden.
[0007] Therefore, current puppetting configurations do not have
adequate control mechanisms for controlling the movement of puppets
in a fluid environment in an invisible and realistic manner. An
invisible control mechanism for controlling the movement of a
puppet in a fluid environment is needed for a puppeting
configuration to provide a realistic puppeting performance.
SUMMARY
[0008] 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.
[0009] Further, an 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.
[0010] In addition, an apparatus comprises a tube that interacts
with a puppet device to move the puppet device. The tube 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 tube are positioned such that the control mechanism
is rendered substantially invisible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will
become more apparent with reference to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like
reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a puppeting configuration.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a hydraulic configuration that is used to
deliver hydraulic fluid to an actuator of the puppet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] A puppeting configuration has an control mechanism that is
invisible in a surrounding medium to provide a realistic puppeting
performance in a fluid environment. A material is selected for the
control mechanism to match the index of refraction of the
surrounding medium, i.e., the index of refraction of the fluid
environment in which the puppet and control mechanism are
positioned. The control mechanism is thereby rendered invisible in
the fluid environment.
[0015] Further, the control mechanism can also be used as a transit
conduit for the delivery of hydraulic fluid from an external
hydraulic pump to actuators of the puppet. The hydraulic fluid is
selected to match the index of refraction of the surrounding
medium. The puppet is then powered with hydraulic fluid that is
invisible in the fluid environment.
[0016] Therefore, the puppeting configuration provides a control
mechanism and a powering mechanism that are invisible. As a result,
puppeteering performances in a fluid environment can provide a
sense of realism. As an example, an aquariam can use fish puppets
that are controlled and powered with invisible mechanisms such that
the fish puppets appear realistic.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a puppeting configuration 100. The
puppeting configuration has a puppet 101 that is positioned within
a fluid environment 102, e.g., a water tank, with a fluid 103. A
plurality of control mechanisms 104, e.g., tubes, rods, strings,
etc., are connected to the puppet 101. The control mechanisms
control movement of the puppet. For instance, the control
mechanisms 104 are connected to the limbs of the puppet to that
movement of the control mechanisms 104 in a particular direction
also results in movement of the corresponding limbs of the puppet
101 in that same direction.
[0018] The control mechanisms 104 are fabricated from a material
that has an index of refraction that substantially matches the
index of refraction of the fluid environment 102. As the index of
refraction of the material for the control mechanisms 104 is
substantially similar to the index of refraction for the fluid
environment, the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible within the
fluid environment 102. As an example, the material can be acrylic
as acrylic has a substantially simile index of refraction as water
if water is used for the fluid environment 102.
[0019] In one implementation, a plurality of motors 105 are
operably connected to the control mechanisms 104. Therefore,
movement of the control mechanisms can be automated. In another
implementation, the control mechanisms 104 are operated manually
without the plurality of motors 105.
[0020] The puppet 101 is moved in the fluid environment 102 in a
manner that appears as if the puppet 101 is moving by itself.
Additional props such as curtains, lighting, etc. are not necessary
to help the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible in the fluid
environment 102. Further, the puppet 101 can be viewed from
different angles without any viewing restrictions. For example,
theme park guests can move around a water tank to view the puppet
101 from different angles. Such lack of viewing restrictions also
helps provide an enhanced sense of realism.
[0021] The puppet 101 can also have a plurality of actuators that
are activated to perform a particular movement. Rather than having
the motor 105 or a human move the control mechanism 104 in the
intended direction of the actuator, the control mechanism 104 can
be used to be used as a conduit to deliver an activation medium,
e.g., air pressure, hydraulic fluid, etc., to an actuator to
perform the particular movement. FIG. 2 illustrates a hydraulic
configuration 200 that is used to deliver hydraulic fluid to an
actuator 204 of the puppet 101. The control mechanism 104 has an
inner conduit through which the hydraulic pump 202 pumps hydraulic
fluid to the actuator 204. The hydraulic fluid has substantially
the same index of refraction as the index of refraction as the
fluid 103. Therefore, the delivery of the hydraulic fluid through
the control mechanism 104 from the hydraulic pump 202 to the
actuator 204 is rendered invisible. As a result, the control
mechanism 104 that is used to control the movement of the actuator
204 and the activation medium, e.g., the hydraulic fluid, are
rendered invisible. As an example, a puppet 101 in a water tank can
appear to move by itself in a realistic manner as the control
mechanisms 104 that activate movements of the limbs of the puppet
101 and the hydraulic fluid that is being delivered to those limbs
appear invisible, e.g., the control mechanisms 104 and the
actuators 204 have a clear appearance that is similar to the
appearance of the water in which the puppet 101 is situated.
[0022] Although the hydraulic pump 202 is illustrated as a powering
mechanism for the actuator 204, other types of powering mechanisms
can be used instead. For instance, an air pump can be used to
deliver air pressure through the control mechanism 104 to the
actuator 204. As air is invisible, the delivery of the air pressure
to the actuator 204 is also invisible.
[0023] It is understood that the apparatuses, systems, and
processes described herein may also be applied in other types of
apparatuses, systems, and processes. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the
aspects of the apparatuses, systems, and processes described herein
may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of
the present apparatuses, systems, and processes. Therefore, it is
to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the
present apparatuses, systems, and processes may be practiced other
than as specifically described herein.
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