Feedback device and thermal feedback providing method using same

1. A method for providing a thermal experience to a user using a feedback device, wherein the feedback device includes a thermoelectric element performing a thermoelectric operation, and a contact surface contacting with the user's body part and transferring heat generated by the thermoelectric operation to the user, the method comprising:

reproducing a multimedia content including a video data related to a video and a thermal feedback data related to a thermal feedback corresponding to a specific scene of the video, wherein the thermal feedback includes at least one of a hot feedback and a cold feedback;

obtaining a thermoelectric operation start time point being set as a time point preceding an output time point of the specific scene by considering a correction time corresponding to a time from an initiation of a thermoelectric operation for the thermal feedback to a user's experience for the thermal feedback; and

when a reproduction time point of the multimedia content reaches the thermoelectric operation start time point, applying power to the thermoelectric element so that the thermal feedback corresponding to the specific scene is provided to the user in conjunction with the specific scene at the output time point of the specific scene.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correction time is determined by considering at least one of a type of the thermal feedback and an intensity of the thermal feedback.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the correction time corresponding to the hot feedback is different from the correction time corresponding to the cold feedback.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the correction times corresponding to a first intensity and a second intensity stronger than the first intensity for the same type of the thermal feedback are different from each other.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

applying power to the thermoelectric element at a predetermined time point to output a calibration thermal feedback;

obtaining a first user input indicating an experiencing time point, wherein the experiencing time point is a time point at which the contact surface reaches an experiencing temperature that the user experiences the calibration thermal feedback; and

calculating the correction time by using the predetermined time point and the experiencing time point.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises:

outputting the thermal feedback in order from a weak intensity to a strong intensity among a plurality of intensities of the thermal feedback;

obtaining a second user input indicating user recognition for the thermal feedback;

setting an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the second user input to a lowest intensity of the thermal feedback;

when the thermal feedback is outputted at a certain intensity among the plurality of intensities after obtaining the second user input, obtaining a third user input;

setting an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the third user input to a highest intensity of the thermal feedback;

setting at least one intermediate intensity for the thermal feedback between the lowest intensity and the highest intensity; and

outputting the thermal feedback by using the lowest intensity, the highest intensity and the at least one intermediate intensity.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric operation start time point precedes the reproduction time point of the specific scene by the correction time.

8. A feedback device for providing a thermal experience to a user, wherein the thermal experience is provided to the user in reproducing a multimedia content including a video data related to a video and a thermal feedback data related to a thermal feedback corresponding to a specific scene of the video, and the thermal feedback includes at least one of a hot feedback and a cold feedback, the device comprising:

a thermoelectric element performing a thermoelectric operation; and

a feedback controller for controlling the thermoelectric element,

wherein the feedback controller is configured to:

obtain a thermoelectric operation start time point being set as a time point preceding an output time point of the specific scene by considering a correction time corresponding to a time from an initiation of a thermoelectric operation for the thermal feedback to a user's experience for the thermal feedback; and

when a reproduction time point of the multimedia content reaches the thermoelectric operation start time point, apply power to the thermoelectric element so that the thermal feedback corresponding to the specific scene is provided to the user in conjunction with the specific scene at the output time point of the specific scene.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the correction time is determined by considering at least one of a type of the thermal feedback and an intensity of the thermal feedback.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the correction time corresponding to the hot feedback is different from the correction time corresponding to the cold feedback.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the correction times corresponding to a first intensity and a second intensity stronger than the first intensity for the same type of the thermal feedback are different from each other.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the feedback controller is further configured to:

apply power to the thermoelectric element at a predetermined time point to output a calibration thermal feedback;

obtain a first user input indicating an experiencing time point, wherein the experiencing time point is a time point at which a contact surface reaches an experiencing temperature that the user experiences the calibration thermal feedback; and

calculate the correction time by using the predetermined time point and the experiencing time point.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the feedback controller is further configured to:

output the thermal feedback in order from a weak intensity to a strong intensity among a plurality of intensities of the thermal feedback;

obtain a second user input indicating user recognition for the thermal feedback;

set an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the second user input to a lowest intensity of the thermal feedback;

when the thermal feedback is outputted at a certain intensity among the plurality of intensities after obtaining the second user input, obtain a third user input;

set an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the third user input to a highest intensity of the thermal feedback;

set at least one intermediate intensity for the thermal feedback between the lowest intensity and the highest intensity; and

output the thermal feedback by using the lowest intensity, the highest intensity and the at least one intermediate intensity.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric operation start time point precedes the reproduction time point of the specific scene by the correction time.