Feedback device and method for providing thermal feedback by means of same
The present invention relates to a feedback device and a thermal feedback provision method using the same. The thermal feedback provision method may include checking first operating power applied to a first thermoelectric couple group for a first thermoelectric operation and second operating power applied to a second thermoelectric couple group for a second thermoelectric operation when the first thermoelectric operation is initiated in the first thermoelectric couple group to initiate the output of the first thermal feedback after the second thermoelectric operation is initiated in the second thermoelectric couple group to initiate the output of the second thermal feedback and include applying cognitive enhancement power for enhancing a user's cognition to the first thermoelectric couple group from a time point at which the output of the first thermal feedback is initiated up to a first time point so that the user's cognition of the first thermal feedback is enhanced.
1. A method for providing a thermal feedback to a user by transferring heat generated by a thermoelectric operation including at least one of an exothermic operation and an endothermic operation of a thermoelectric element to which power is applied, the thermal feedback being performed by a feedback device outputting the thermal feedback through a contact surface which contacts with the user's body part, the method comprising:
checking an operating power applied to the thermoelectric element for outputting the thermal feedback, the operating power being determined according to a type and an intensity of the thermal feedback;
applying a reduction power greater than the operating power during a predetermined time from an output start time point of the thermal feedback to shorten a time until a temperature of the contact surface reaches a target temperature according to the type and the intensity of the thermal feedback; and
applying the operating power to the thermoelectric element after the predetermined time elapses.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a direction of the reduction power is the same as a direction of the operating power.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying the reduction power is applying the reduction power of a duty signal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the applying the reduction power, the temperature of the contact surface reaches the target temperature more quickly when a first reduction voltage having a first voltage amplitude is applied to the thermoelectric element than when a second reduction voltage having a second voltage amplitude smaller than the first voltage amplitude is applied to the thermoelectric element.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the applying the reduction power, the temperature of the contact surface reaches the target temperature more quickly when the reduction power is applied to the thermoelectric element during a first time interval from the output start time point than when the reduction power is applied to the thermoelectric element during a second time interval smaller than the first time interval from the output start time point.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the applying the reduction power, the reduction power is applied such that the temperature of the contact surface does not exceed the target temperature after the temperature of the contact surface reaches the target temperature.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein in the applying the reduction power, a voltage amplitude of the reduction power is determined such that the temperature of the contact surface does not reach the target temperature during the predetermined time.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein in the applying the reduction power, the predetermined time is determined such that the temperature of the contact surface does not reach the target temperature during the predetermined time.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying the reduction power is applying the reduction power so that a temperature change of the contact surface during the predetermined time is greater than a temperature change of the contact surface after terminating the application of the reduction power.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the applying the reduction power is performed when the intensity of the thermal feedback is greater than or equal to a predetermined intensity.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
obtaining the intensity of the thermal feedback;
generating the operating power based on the intensity of the thermal feedback; and
determining whether to apply the reduction power according to whether the intensity of the thermal feedback is greater than or equal to the predetermined intensity.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the thermoelectric element comprises a thermoelectric couple array including a plurality of individually controllable thermoelectric couple groups, and
in the applying the reduction power, applying the reduction power to at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the checking the operating power includes:
obtaining a thermal feedback data from an external device, and
checking the operating power based on the thermal feedback data.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the method further comprises obtaining a thermal feedback data from an external device, the thermal feedback data including an information related to the output start time point of the thermal feedback, and
the applying the reduction power comprises determining a time point at which an application of the reduction power starts to a time point preceding the output start time point of the thermal feedback included in the thermal feedback data by considering a time reduction of the temperature of the contact surface reaching the target temperature when the reduction power is applied, and applying the reduction power at the determined time point at which the application of the reduction power starts.
15. A method for providing a thermal experience, 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;
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 delay 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, transmitting a feedback initiation message to a feedback device outputting the thermal feedback by transferring heat generated by the thermoelectric operation of a thermoelectric element to the user through a contact surface which contacts with the user's body part, and when the reproduction time point of the multimedia content reaches the output time point of the specific scene, outputting the specific scene through a display such that the specific scene and the thermal feedback are provided in conjunction with each other at the output time point of the specific scene to the user,
wherein in the obtaining the thermoelectric operation start time point, when a reduction power for shortening a response time is applied to the thermoelectric element, the thermoelectric operation start time point is determined by considering a reduction of the delay time according to a reduction of the response time, the response time being a time until a temperature of the contact surface reaches a target temperature according to a type and an intensity of the thermal feedback.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the delay time when the reduction power is applied to the thermoelectric element is shorter than the delay time when the reduction power is not applied to the thermoelectric element.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric operation start time point precedes the reproduction time point of the specific scene by the delay time.
18. A feedback device comprising:
a heat output module including a thermoelectric element, a power terminal and a contact surface, and outputting a thermal feedback by transferring heat generated by a thermoelectric operation including at least one of an exothermic operation and an endothermic operation to a user through the contact surface, wherein the thermoelectric element is configured to perform the thermoelectric operation, the power terminal is configured to supply power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectric element, and the contact surface is provided on one side surface of the thermoelectric element and contacts with the user's body part; and
a feedback controller configured to:
check an operating power applied to the thermoelectric element for outputting the thermal feedback, the operating power being determined according to a type and an intensity of the thermal feedback, and
apply a reduction power greater than the operating power during a predetermined time from an output start time point of the thermal feedback to shorten a time until a temperature of the contact surface reaches a target temperature according to the type and the intensity of the thermal feedback.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein:
the device further comprises a communication module configured to communicate with a content reproduction device reproducing a multimedia content, and
the feedback controller is further configured to receive an information, via the communication module, from the content reproduction device, the information being related to the thermal feedback.