KR20220159935A - Special effects device, system and method for controlling special effects - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a special effect chair and a special effect control system and method. According to one aspect of the present invention, the special effect chair is linked with reproduction of multimedia content to provide thermal feedback to a user. According to the present invention, the special effect chair comprises: a communication unit receiving thermal feedback data; a seating unit in which a user can sit; a heat output module including a thermoelectric element generating heat by a thermoelectric operation; a heat dissipation module dissipating waste heat generated in the special effect chair, wherein the waste heat is different from thermal feedback provided to the user; and a controller controlling operations of the heat output module and the heat dissipation module. The heat output module includes a thermocouple group independently performed by the controller.

Description

Special effect chair, special effect control system and special effect control method

The present invention relates to a special effect chair, a special effect control system, and a special effect control method. It relates to a special effect control system and a special effect control method for experiencing a thermal experience.

Recently, as technology for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) develops, there is an increasing demand for providing feedback through various senses in order to increase user immersion in content. In particular, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2016, virtual reality technology was cited as one of the promising future technologies. In line with this trend, research is being actively conducted to provide user experiences for all human senses, including smell and touch, in the future, away from user experience (UX: User eXperience), which is currently mainly limited to sight and hearing. A thermoelectric element (TE: ThermoElement) is an element that causes an exothermic or endothermic reaction by receiving electrical energy by the Peltier effect, and has been expected to be used to provide thermal feedback to users. The application of the thermoelectric element has been limited because it is difficult to adhere to a user's body part.

However, as the development of a flexible thermoelectric element (FTE) has recently reached a successful stage, it is expected to overcome the problems of conventional thermoelectric elements and effectively deliver thermal feedback to users.

Meanwhile, in recent years, 4D theaters that maximize the enjoyment of multimedia contents by using various senses such as tactile sensation, away from existing theaters or movie theaters that depend only on audiovisual, are gaining popularity.

As an example of various effects used in a 4D theater, an effect applied to an individual audience called a personal effect or a chair effect, and an environmental effect that creates an overall atmosphere that is not attached to an individual chair ( Environment effect), etc., personal effects include water jet, face jet, seat drop, vibration, leg tickler, neck attack ( neck attack) or seat pull-down, etc. are known, and as environmental effects, smoke & fog, virtual fire, air bubble, moving light ( moving light, strobe or scent machine, etc. are known.

Existing 4D theaters also use thermal effects in some cases, but at present, they are confined to a method of transferring heat by heating or cooling the surrounding air and convecting the heated or cooled air by driving a fan. In this convection-type heat transfer method, it is difficult to accurately control the amount of heat delivered to the user, it is difficult to transfer heat only to a localized part of the user's body, and the reaction rate is low because several stages of heating and convection must be controlled. However, there are problems such as poor connectivity with multimedia being played.

To briefly describe the thermoelectric effect used to provide a thermal experience in a 4D theater, the thermoelectric effect, in other words the Peltier effect, is a thermoelectric phenomenon discovered by Jean Peltier in 1834. It refers to a phenomenon in which an exothermic reaction occurs on one side and a cooling reaction occurs on the other side, depending on the direction of the current, when dissimilar metals are joined and then current flows. The Peltier element is an element that causes such a Peltier effect. The Peltier element was initially made of heterogeneous metal junctions such as bismuth and antimony, but has recently been manufactured by arranging N-P semiconductors between two metal plates to have higher thermoelectric efficiency. .

In the Peltier element, when current is applied, heat generation and absorption are immediately induced in both metal plates, and it is possible to switch between heat generation and absorption according to the direction of the current, and the degree of heat generation or absorption can be controlled relatively precisely according to the amount of current. It is suitable for use in exothermic operation or endothermic operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a special effect control system and a special effect chair that provide a user with a thermal experience by outputting thermal feedback when playing multimedia content.

In particular, when multimedia contents are screened in a 4D cinema or a theater providing special effects, when special effects are needed in conjunction with the multimedia contents being shown, the present invention uses a conduction method due to contact between the user and the thermoelectric element to provide a sense of coolness, warmth, or Its task is to provide real-time direct thermal feedback including a sense of relief to the user.

In addition, the task is to maintain a high level of thermal feedback sensitivity and safely provide thermal feedback by effectively emitting waste heat generated as the thermal feedback is provided to the outside of the special effect providing device.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. .

According to one aspect of the present invention, a special effect chair providing thermal feedback to a user in conjunction with reproduction of multimedia contents, comprising: a communication unit receiving thermal feedback data; a seating unit in which a user can sit; a thermal output module including a thermoelectric element generating heat by a thermoelectric operation and a power supply terminal supplying power to the thermoelectric element; a contact part contacting a part of the user's body and transferring heat generated from the thermoelectric element by contacting the thermoelectric element to the part of the user's body by a heat conduction method; a heat dissipation module for dissipating waste heat generated in the special effect chair, wherein the waste heat is different from thermal feedback provided to the user; and a controller controlling operations of the heat output module and the heat dissipation module to provide thermal feedback based on the thermal feedback data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a heat dissipation operation of a special effect chair for discharging waste heat generated by providing thermal feedback in a special effect chair providing thermal feedback using a thermoelectric element, comprising the steps of obtaining information ; based on the obtained information, determining whether a heat dissipation requirement is satisfied; A heat dissipation operation control method may include determining whether a heat dissipation permission condition is satisfied based on the obtained information; and discharging waste heat when the heat dissipation permission condition and the heat dissipation permission condition are satisfied.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a special effect control system for providing thermal feedback in conjunction with reproduction of multimedia contents, comprising: a seating portion for a user to sit on; a thermal output module for providing thermal feedback to the user; and the thermal output module a special effect chair including a heat dissipation module that dissipates waste heat generated from the heat output module and a controller that controls the heat output module and the heat dissipation module; and a central control device that controls an image output device so that the image output device reproduces multimedia contents and is communicatively connected to one or more special effect chairs, wherein the central control device sends thermal feedback data to the special effect chair. and the controller provides a thermal feedback based on the thermal feedback data.

The solutions to the problems of the present invention are not limited to the above-described solutions, and solutions not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. You will be able to.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user with a thermal experience by outputting thermal feedback when playing multimedia content in a 4D theater.

In particular, the present invention can enhance the user's content immersion by improving the connectivity between audio-visual output and thermal feedback of multimedia content.

In addition, thermal feedback can be precisely controlled by transferring heat in a manner in which the thermoelectric element contacts the user's body.

In addition, by effectively discharging waste heat, feedback sensitivity can be maintained at a certain level and users can be protected from safety accidents that may occur from accumulated waste heat.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. .

1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a special effects control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of a configuration of a central control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram of the configuration of a special effect chair according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of a configuration of a heat output module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic diagram of a heat output module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 shows the configuration of a contact unit and a heat output module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a schematic diagram of a contact unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a timing diagram of thermal feedback corresponding to a thermal event according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a flowchart of a thermal feedback control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a ladder flow chart of a method for providing thermal feedback in a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a ladder flow chart of a method for providing thermal feedback in a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a schematic diagram of a user input unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a flow chart of a method for correcting thermal feedback strength according to an embodiment of the present invention.
15 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a heat dissipation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a flowchart of a method for obtaining a heat dissipation request message according to an embodiment of the present invention.
17 is a flowchart of a method for obtaining a heat dissipation request message according to an embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a graph of reference temperature values related to obtaining a heat dissipation request message according to an embodiment of the present invention.
19 is a flowchart of a method for obtaining a heat dissipation permission message according to an embodiment of the present invention.
20 is a flowchart of a method for obtaining a heat dissipation permission message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may add, change, delete, etc. other elements within the scope of the same spirit, through other degenerative inventions or the present invention. Other embodiments included within the scope of the inventive idea can be easily proposed, but it will also be said to be included within the scope of the inventive concept.

In addition, components having the same function within the scope of the same idea appearing in the drawings of each embodiment are described using the same reference numerals.

In the present specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known configuration or function related to the present invention may obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a special effect chair providing thermal feedback to a user in conjunction with reproduction of multimedia contents, comprising: a communication unit receiving thermal feedback data; a seating unit in which a user can sit; a thermal output module including a thermoelectric element generating heat by a thermoelectric operation and a power supply terminal supplying power to the thermoelectric element; a contact part contacting a part of the user's body and transferring heat generated from the thermoelectric element by contacting the thermoelectric element to the part of the user's body by a heat conduction method; a heat dissipation module for dissipating waste heat generated in the special effect chair, wherein the waste heat is different from thermal feedback provided to the user; and a controller controlling operations of the heat output module and the heat dissipation module to provide thermal feedback based on the thermal feedback data.

Here, the thermoelectric element includes a thermocouple group, the power supply terminal is provided individually for each thermocouple group, and the controller converts power applied to the thermoelectric element based on the thermal feedback data to the thermocouple group. Each can be individually controlled.

Also, the thermal feedback data may include thermal feedback type information, thermal feedback intensity information, and thermal feedback timing information.

Also, the contact part may include one surface of the heat output module.

Also, here, the contact part is provided on one surface facing the user of the seating part,

It can be bent along the curvature of the one surface.

Also, the seating portion may include a stick that a seated user can grip, and the contact portion may be provided on at least one surface of the stick.

In addition, the seat portion may be provided with a safety bar to prevent the user from moving away from the seat portion due to a special effect, and the contact portion may be provided on at least one surface of the safety bar.

In addition, the seating portion may include a neck support positioned at a portion where the seated user's neck contacts, and the contact portion may be provided on at least one surface of the neck support.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a heat dissipation operation of a special effect chair for discharging waste heat generated by providing thermal feedback in a special effect chair providing thermal feedback using a thermoelectric element, comprising the steps of obtaining information ; based on the obtained information, determining whether a heat dissipation requirement is satisfied; Based on the obtained information, determining whether a heat radiation permission condition is satisfied; and discharging waste heat when the heat radiation permission condition and the heat radiation permission condition are satisfied.

Here, the information includes information about a current time, a heat radiation start time, and a heat radiation stop time, and the heat radiation requirement may be a condition where the current time is greater than or equal to the heat radiation start time and less than the heat radiation stop time.

Also, the information may include a temperature value of a portion of the special effect chair, and the heat dissipation requirement may be a condition in which the temperature value is equal to or greater than a reference temperature value.

In addition, the reference temperature value includes a first reference temperature value and a second reference temperature value greater than the first reference temperature value, and the heat dissipation required condition is a condition in which the temperature value is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature value. The heat dissipation permission condition may further include a condition in which the temperature value is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature value.

In addition, the information may include a noise value around the special effect chair, and the heat dissipation permission condition may be a condition in which the noise value is equal to or greater than a reference noise value.

Also, the information may include motion information of a special effect chair, and the heat dissipation permission condition may be a condition in which the seating part is in motion when determined based on the motion information.

Also, here, the motion information may include an acceleration value of a special effect chair, and the heat dissipation permission condition may be a condition in which the acceleration value is greater than or equal to a reference acceleration value.

In addition, the motion information may include information about a current time, a motion start time, and a motion stop time, and the heat dissipation permission condition may be a condition where the current time is greater than the motion start time and less than the motion stop time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a special effect control system for providing thermal feedback in conjunction with reproduction of multimedia contents, comprising a seating portion for a user to sit on, a thermal output module for providing thermal feedback to the user, and a thermal output module for providing thermal feedback to the user. a special effect chair including a heat dissipation module discharging generated waste heat to the outside and a controller controlling the heat output module and the heat dissipation module; and a central control device that controls an image output device so that the image output device reproduces multimedia contents and is communicatively connected to one or more special effect chairs, wherein the central control device sends thermal feedback data to the special effect chair. and the controller provides thermal feedback based on the thermal feedback data.

Here, the central control device may transmit heat dissipation data to the special effect chair, and the controller may control the heat dissipation module based on the heat dissipation data.

1. Special effect control system

Hereinafter, a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1.1 Overview of Special Effects Control System

A special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system that allows a user who enjoys multimedia to experience a thermal experience (TX: Thermal eXperience) in a 4D cinema or a special effects theater. Specifically, the special effect control system, as a part of the expression style of multimedia content, outputs thermal feedback to the user at a predetermined time point to maximize immersion in the multimedia content, allowing the user to experience a thermal experience. In particular, since the thermal feedback provided by the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention causes heat transfer in a state of direct contact with a part of the user's body, the speed of heat transfer, the ease of controlling the amount of heat transferred, and the multimedia and shows a beneficial effect in terms of the accuracy of synchronization.

Generally, multimedia contents are provided to users according to an audio-visual expression style based on video and audio, but in the present invention, a thermal expression based on thermal feedback may be included as an essential expression style.

A special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more special effect chairs 2000 and a central control device 1000. Each component is communicatively connected with each other so that playback of multimedia contents is synchronized in each component.

As each component is closely connected, the special effect control system can realistically provide various special effects including audio-visual images and thermal feedback to users.

1.2 Thermal Feedback

Hereinafter, thermal feedback provided to a user in the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Thermal feedback is a kind of thermal stimulation that stimulates the thermal sensory organs distributed throughout the user's body so that the user feels a thermal sensation. should be interpreted as encompassing

Representative examples of thermal feedback include warm feedback and cold feedback. Warm feedback refers to applying heat to hot spots distributed on the skin so that the user feels a sense of warmth, while cool feedback refers to applying cold heat to cold spots distributed on the skin so that the user feels a sense of coolness. it means.

Here, heat is a physical quantity expressed in the form of a positive scalar, so the expression 'applying cold heat' may not be a strict expression from a physical point of view. It is expressed as being, and the reverse phenomenon, that is, the phenomenon of absorbing heat will be expressed as being applied with cold heat.

In addition, in the present specification, thermal feedback may further include thermal grill feedback in addition to warmth feedback and cool feedback. When heat and cold are given at the same time, the user perceives it as a pain sensation instead of recognizing it as an individual sense of heat and cold. That is, the heat grill feedback refers to thermal feedback that applies hot and cold heat in a complex manner, and can be mainly provided by simultaneously outputting hot feedback and cool feedback. In addition, the thermal grill feedback may be referred to as thermal sensation feedback in terms of providing a sensation close to a sensation.

In the present specification, thermoelectric operation refers to an operation in which the thermoelectric element 2320 generates heat or endothermic phenomena, and thermal feedback refers to an operation in which the special effect chair 2000 provides a heat or endothermic effect to a user, and thermal feedback It should be understood that the user experiences a thermal experience including a heat sensation, a warm sensation, or a thermal pain sensation by being provided.

In the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, thermal feedback may be provided to the user in association with multimedia content. Information about the thermal feedback provided to the user may be included in thermal feedback data. The thermal feedback data includes information related to thermal feedback in connection with the playback time of the multimedia contents in order to increase the degree of immersion in enjoying the multimedia contents.

Information about the thermal feedback may be encoded in digital form according to a specific protocol within the thermal feedback data. As will be described in detail later in the specification, the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000 constituting the special effect control system may exchange information on thermal feedback by transmitting/receiving thermal feedback data.

The information on the thermal feedback is information constituting the thermal feedback (thermal feedback configuration information), for example, information on whether the thermal feedback is warm, cold, or cold (thermal feedback type information), and the intensity of the thermal feedback. Information and multimedia contents may include a time point at which thermal feedback is provided and a time point at which thermal feedback is stopped (thermal feedback timing information) so that the user receives a thermal experience in association with multimedia content.

The information on the thermal feedback is, for example, information on the applied power, information on the direction in which power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320, and information on the current value or voltage value of the power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320. Information, information about when power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 and when power is stopped may be included. Information on the applied power may be directly included in thermal feedback data. Alternatively, the information on the applied power may be indirectly included in the thermal feedback data in a form obtained by analyzing configuration information of the thermal feedback, such as a thermal feedback type, thermal feedback intensity, and thermal feedback timing.

Here, for convenience of description, the thermal feedback configuration information and the applied power source information are described as being separate. However, the information on the applied power should be understood as viewing the thermal feedback configuration information from the viewpoint of power generated/processed by the controllers 1300 and 2500. That is, the controllers 1300 and 2500 may obtain information on the applied power by analyzing the thermal feedback configuration information. Therefore, it should be understood that the thermal feedback configuration information indirectly includes the information on the applied power source or the thermal feedback configuration information and the information on the applied power source are substantially the same information.

In addition, when the thermal output module 2300 includes a plurality of thermocouple groups 2322 or thermocouple arrays 2323, the thermal feedback information may be stored in the plurality of thermocouple groups 2322 or thermocouple arrays 2322 or thermocouple arrays. (2323) For each, the thermal feedback type information, thermal feedback strength information, and/or thermal feedback timing information may be included. In this case, the thermal feedback type information, the thermal feedback intensity information, and/or the thermal feedback timing information for the first thermocouple group 2322 are the thermal feedback type information and the thermal feedback intensity information for the second thermocouple group 2322. They may be the same, but may be different from each other.

In addition, a physical time may be required from when power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 to when a thermoelectric operation occurs in the thermoelectric element 2320 in response to the applied power. This time difference may be minute, but in some cases, such a time difference may be non-negligible in order to provide a high level of thermal experience. In this case, it is necessary to consider the time required between the time of providing the thermal feedback when the thermal feedback is actually provided to the user and the time of applying the power so that the thermal feedback is actually provided at the time of providing the thermal feedback. Therefore, the information on the thermal feedback received by the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 may include the power-on time calculated in consideration of the delay time. Alternatively, the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 may directly obtain the power-on time in consideration of the delayed time from the thermal feedback providing time.

Information on thermal feedback, including the type, strength and/or duration of thermal feedback provided by the special effects control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, may be closely synchronized with reproduction of multimedia content. For example, thermal feedbacks to be provided to the user are different according to each situation when an explosion scene is reproduced in an audio-visual image, a bonfire image is reproduced, or a heavy rain scene is reproduced. Therefore, in order to increase the degree of immersion in content appreciation, each thermal feedback and each situation corresponding thereto needs to be precisely synchronized in terms of the type, intensity, and/or duration of the thermal feedback. Here, among the aforementioned multimedia contents, a scene in which a user's immersion can be increased when thermal feedback is provided is called a thermal event.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a special effect control system for providing the thermal feedback in synchronization with a thermal event will be described.

2. Configuration of special effect control system

Referring to FIG. 1 , the special effect control system may include one or more special effect chairs 2000 and a central control device 1000 . One or more special effect chairs 2000 are communicatively connected to the central control device 1000 .

The central control device 1000 may oversee overall operations required for the special effects control system. The central control device 1000 may store/manage information necessary for the operation of the special effect chair 2000, or acquire information necessary for the operation of the special effect chair 2000 to obtain the special effect chair ( 2000) can be transmitted. For example, according to some embodiments of the present application, the central control device 1000 stores various types of information necessary for the special effect chair 2000 to perform a thermoelectric operation, or appropriately stores the information. It is possible to manage, generate the information, or transmit the information to the special effect chair 2000.

The special effect chair 2000 is implemented in the form of a chair on which a user can sit. The special effect chair 2000 is a device that provides thermal feedback to a user seated on the special effect chair 2000 . The special effect chair 2000 provides thermal feedback in response to a thermal event at a time synchronized with reproduction of multimedia content. To this end, the special effect chair 2000 transmits/receives thermal feedback data from the central control device 1000, analyzes the received thermal feedback data to obtain information on thermal feedback, and obtains thermal feedback data according to the obtained information. An operation for providing feedback may be performed.

The special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present application may include various feedback devices for providing various other special effects in addition to the above-described special effect chair 2000 . The other various feedback devices may be provided as additional modules to the special effect chair 2000, or are connected to the special effect chair 2000 as independent devices from the special effect chair 2000. The special effect control system may be configured. In this case, the central control device 1000 may store/manage information necessary for the operation of the feedback device, or acquire and transmit information necessary for the operation of the feedback device to the feedback device, thereby controlling the feedback device. can be directly controlled. Alternatively, the central control device 1000 may encode information necessary for the operation of the feedback device and transmit it to the special effect chair 2000 in digital form. At this time, information can be acquired by storing/interpreting the transmitted information in the special effect chair 2000 . Thus, the special effect chair 2000 can directly control the operation of the feedback device. Data transmitted from the central control device 1000 to the special effect chair 2000 is a specific special effect at a specific time and with a specific intensity so that various special effects including thermal feedback can be provided in synchronization with the reproduction of multimedia content. Control information may be included.

1 shows that two special effect chairs 2000 are included in the special effect control system of the present application, but the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present application includes three or more special effect chairs 2000 can do. Alternatively, the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present application may include only one special effect chair 2000 .

According to some embodiments of the present invention, although not shown in FIG. 1, the special effect control system may further include an audio-visual image output unit.

The audio-visual image output unit may provide an audio-visual image to a user by receiving an audio-visual image from the central control device 1000 and outputting the received audio-visual image. The image output unit may be a display device itself displaying an audio-visual image. Alternatively, when the audio-visual image is received in the form of encoded data, the audio-visual image output unit may include a processor for interpreting the received data and obtaining image information. At this time, the central control device 1000 may store the audio-visual image in digital form. In addition, the central control device 1000 may generate a control signal necessary for the operation of the audio-visual image output unit.

In summary, the central control device 1000 may transmit data for overall control of the special effect chair 2000 and/or the audio/visual output unit to the special effect chair 2000 and/or the audio/visual output unit. The special effect chair 2000 and/or the audio-visual image output unit can receive the data, interpret the included information, and control a plurality of special effect providing devices at a set intensity at a set point in time according to the analyzed information. . Accordingly, the user can be provided with multimedia contents in which various special effects and audio-visual images are synchronized.

Hereinafter, each component of the special effect control system disclosed according to an embodiment of the present application will be examined in more detail.

First, with reference to FIG. 2 , the central control device 1000 will be described.

2.1. Central control unit (1000)

As described above, the central control device 1000 is a component that collectively controls the operation of one or more special effect chairs 2000 .

When the special effects control system according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes an audio-visual image output unit and/or various feedback devices, the central control device 1000 includes each special effect chair 2000, an audio-visual image output unit. And / or a configuration that collectively controls the operation of various feedback devices.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the central control device 1000 may include a communication unit 1100 , a memory 1200 and a controller 1300 .

The central control device 1000 may store/interpret/manage data necessary for the special effect chair 2000, the audiovisual image output unit, and/or various feedback devices, respectively. In addition, the data can be transmitted to the special effect chair 2000, the audiovisual image output unit, and/or various feedback devices for reproduction of multimedia contents. Alternatively, data transmitted from the special effect chair 2000, the audiovisual image output unit, and/or various feedback devices may be received.

The communication unit 1100 connects the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000 so that the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000 can communicate with each other. The communication unit 1100 may be implemented in a wired or wireless manner to connect the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000. Since the wired type and the wireless type have respective strengths and weaknesses, the wired type and the wireless type may be simultaneously provided in the central control device 1000 in some cases. In the case of a wired type, in view of the type of cable, a local area network (LAN) that can use various cables such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, and fiber optics ) may be representative. However, it is not limited to any one of the above, and an appropriate mediation and appropriate communication network may be used depending on the size of the theater and the size of data.

In the case of a wireless type, a wireless local area network (WLAN)-based communication method such as Wi-Fi may be mainly used. However, if short-distance communication is sufficient depending on the size of the theater, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) communication method such as Bluetooth or Zigbee may be used. However, since the wireless communication protocol is not limited thereto, it is also possible to use other known communication methods such as an infrared communication method. Meanwhile, it is also possible to use an independent protocol developed by a manufacturer of a special effect control system as a wired/wireless communication protocol.

The memory 1200 may store various types of information. The memory 1200 may temporarily or semi-permanently store data. Examples of the memory 1200 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. This can be. The memory 1200 may be provided in a form embedded in the central control device 1000 or in a form detachable from the central control device 1000 . The memory 1200 may store an operating system (OS) for driving the central control device 1000 or various data required or used for the operation of the central control device 1000 .

The controller 1300 may be implemented as a computer or similar device using hardware, software, or a combination thereof to perform calculations and processing of various types of information. In terms of hardware, it may be a processor that stores and processes data, and in terms of software, it may be provided in the form of a program or code that drives a circuit. For example, the controller 1300 may exchange data with the communication unit 1100 and the memory 1200 . The controller 1300 may convert data to be transmitted to components of the special effects control system including the special effect chair 2000 into a form for storing in the memory 1200 and manage the data. The controller 1300 calls data stored in the memory 1200 and decodes the data to interpret necessary information. The controller 1300 may encode the data in a form of data suitable for a communication method adopted in the special effects control system in order to transmit the data to each composition element of the special effects control system through the communication unit 1100 .

As described above, the central control device 1000 is a configuration that collectively controls and closely connects each special effect chair 2000, an audiovisual image output unit, and/or various feedback devices.

2.2. Special effect chair (2000)

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the special effect chair 2000 and each configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the special effect chair 2000 includes a communication unit 2100, a seating unit 2200, a heat output module 2300, a contact unit 2400, a heat dissipation module 2500, and a controller 2600. can include

Hereinafter, each component of the special effect chair 2000 will be described in more detail.

First, the configuration and schematic functions of the seating unit 2200 will be described.

The seating unit 2200 is configured to support a user seated in the special effect chair 2000 to enjoy multimedia content. The seating portion 2200 may be in the form of a chair.

The seating portion 2200 may include an armrest portion on which a user can place an arm. The seat portion 2200 may include a safety bar to prevent the user from being separated from the seat portion 2200 during operations such as rotation and vibration.

The seating portion 2200 may include a rotating portion for rotating the seating portion 2200 to provide motion effects such as rotation or vibration to the user, or a vibration portion for providing vibration to the seating portion 2200 . Alternatively, in some cases, a plurality of mutually adjacent seating units 2200 may be connected to a common rotation unit or vibration unit so as to share one rotation unit or vibration unit.

In addition, water jet, face jet, seat drop, vibration, leg tickler, neck attack or seat pull-down down, smoke & fog, virtual fire, air bubble, moving light, strobe or scent machine, etc. A feedback device for providing may be connected to the seating portion 2200 or included in the seating portion 2200 .

Also, as described in more detail later, a sensor for detecting whether a user is seated may be connected to the seating unit 2200 .

The feedback devices that may be connected to the above-described seating unit 2200 may be controlled by the controller 2600. The controller 2600 may receive data including information necessary to control the feedback devices from the central control device 1000, and obtain information necessary to control the feedback devices by interpreting the received data. can do. The information required to control the feedback devices may include information about time points at which feedback is provided/maintained/stopped in each feedback device and information about the strength of feedback.

Hereinafter, the thermal output module 2300 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The heat output module 2300 may output thermal feedback to transfer hot and cold heat to the user by performing a heating operation, a heat absorbing operation, or a heat grilling operation. The heat output module 2300 mounted on the special effect chair 2000 outputs thermal feedback when the special effect chair 2000 receives a thermal feedback signal to provide a user with a thermal experience.

In order to perform the above-described heating operation, heat absorption operation, or heat grill operation, the thermal output module 2300 may use a thermoelectric element such as a Peltier element (thermoelectric element 2320). Accordingly, the thermal output module 2300 may perform a heating operation or a heat absorbing operation as electricity is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 described above. Exothermic reaction and endothermic reaction occur simultaneously in the thermoelectric element 2320 to which electricity is physically applied, but in this specification, the surface of the heat output module 2300 that faces the user's body generates heat as a heating operation, The absorption of heat is defined as an endothermic action. For example, the thermoelectric element 2320 may be configured by disposing an N-P semiconductor on a substrate 2310, and when a current is applied thereto, heat is generated on one side and heat is absorbed on the other side. Here, if the side facing the user's body is referred to as the front 2324 and the opposite side is referred to as the rear 2325, the heat output module 2300 generates heat from the front 2324 and absorbs heat from the rear 2325. It is defined as performing an operation, and conversely, heat absorption at the front side 2324 and generation of heat at the rear side may be defined as performing an endothermic operation.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the thermal output module 2300 supplies power to a thermoelectric element 2320 composed of a substrate 2310 and a thermocouple array 2323 disposed between the substrate 2310 and the thermoelectric element 2320. A power terminal 2330 for applying may be included.

The substrate 2310 serves to support the unit thermocouple 2321 and is provided as an electrical insulating material. For example, ceramic may be selected as a material for the substrate 2310 . In addition, the substrate 2310 may be of a flat plate shape, but this is not necessarily the case.

The heat output module 2300 may be attached to various positions of the special effect chair 2000 and come into contact with various types of contact units 2400 . It may be important for the thermal output module 2300 to have flexibility in order to come into contact with the curved contact portion 2400 . For this purpose, as an example of a flexible material used for the substrate 2310, there may be glass fiber or flexible plastic.

The thermocouple array 2323 is composed of a plurality of unit thermocouple pairs 2321 disposed on the substrate 2310 . As the unit thermocouple 2321, a pair of different metals (for example, bismuth and antimony) can be used, but a pair of N-type and P-type semiconductors can be mainly used. In the unit thermocouple 2321, semiconductor pairs are electrically connected to each other at one end and electrically connected to another unit thermocouple 2321 at the other end. An electrical connection between a pair of semiconductors or an adjacent semiconductor is made by a conductor member disposed on the substrate 2310 . The conductor member may be a wire or electrode made of copper or silver.

The electrical connection of the unit thermocouples 2321 may be mainly made of series connection, and the unit thermocouples 2321 connected in series with each other form a thermocouple group 2322, and the thermocouple group 2322 is a thermocouple array ( 2323) can be achieved.

The power terminal 2330 may apply power to the thermal output module 2300 . The thermocouple array 2323 may generate heat or absorb heat according to the voltage value and direction of the current applied to the power terminal 2330 . More specifically, two power terminals 2330 may be connected to one thermocouple group 2322 . Accordingly, when there are multiple thermocouple groups 2322, two power supply terminals 2330 may be disposed for each thermocouple group 2322. According to this connection method, the voltage value or current direction of each thermocouple group 2322 can be individually controlled, and whether to perform heat generation or heat absorption and the extent of heat generation or absorption can be adjusted. Also, as will be described later, the power terminal 2330 receives the electrical signal output by the feedback controller, and consequently, the feedback controller adjusts the direction or magnitude of the electrical signal to generate heat and absorb heat of the heat output module 2300. will be able to control Also, when there are a plurality of thermocouple groups 2322, it may be possible to individually control each thermocouple group 2322 by individually adjusting the electric signal applied to each power terminal 2330.

Referring to FIG. 5 , it can be seen that a thermocouple array 2323 is disposed between two facing substrates 2310 . The thermoelectric array may include one or more thermocouple groups 2322 having a pair of power terminals 2330 so that power may be individually applied to each thermocouple group 2322 . Each thermocouple group 2322 may include one or more thermocouple pairs 2321, and N-type and P-type semiconductors may be alternately connected at one end of each thermocouple 2321 through a conductor member.

A method in which the special effect chair 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides thermal feedback is a method in which the thermal output module 2300 directly or indirectly contacts the user's body to transmit a warm or cold sensation.

The contact unit 2400 is a component that transfers heat generated from the heat output module 2300 to a portion of the user's body. To this end, the contact portion 2400 may come into contact with a part of the user's body seated on the seating portion 2200 . Also, the contact portion 2400 may be thermally connected to the heat output module 2300 . The contact portion 2400 may be thermally connected to the heat output module 2300 through a heat conductive material, but preferably, the contact portion 2400 directly contacts the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320, thereby dissipating heat. can be delivered

The contact portion 2400 may serve to protect the thermoelectric element 2320 and may also serve to protect the body from the thermoelectric element 2320 . However, the original function of the contact unit 2400 is to transfer heat generated from the thermoelectric element 2320 to a part of the user's body while minimizing loss. Therefore, the contact portion 2400 is preferably made of a highly conductive material.

In the foregoing, it has been described that the contact unit 2400 is a separate component disposed on the heat output module 2300, but it is possible that the outer surface of the heat output module 2300 itself becomes the contact unit 2400. That is, when the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 directly contacts the user's body, heat generated by the thermoelectric operation may be transferred.

In the above, it has been described as generated heat for convenience of description, but the heat generated here has a positive value when the thermoelectric element 2320 performs a heat-absorbing operation, and a negative value when the thermoelectric element 2320 performs an absorbing operation. should be interpreted as having

Since the contact portion 2400 causes heat conduction by directly contacting the body, it is necessary to maximize the surface in contact with the body for efficient heat transfer. To this end, the contact unit 2400 may be configured to be naturally bent according to the curves of the body. In addition, since the front surface of the thermoelectric element 2320 is preferably connected to one surface of the contact portion 2400 by contact, it is preferable that the thermoelectric element 2320 also has a naturally bendable configuration.

Here, for convenience of description, it is described as contact with the body, but it should be interpreted as encompassing not only contact with the user's skin, but also transfer of heat to the user by contact through the clothes worn by the user.

The contact unit 2400 may be provided anywhere on the seating unit 2200 as long as it can come into contact with the user's body when the user is seated on the special effect chair 2000 .

6 shows the configuration of the contact unit 2400 and the heat output module 2300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The contact portion 2400 may directly contact the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 or indirectly contact the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 with the substrate 2310 interposed therebetween. As shown, the contact portion 2400 may be in the form of a thin film. The contact portion 2400 in the form of a thin film can be naturally bent according to the curves of the human body or the curves of a part of the special effect chair 2000 . In addition, the thermoelectric element 2320 in contact with the contact portion 2400 may maintain the curved portion of the contact portion as it is.

Hereinafter, various forms of the contact unit 2400 that can be implemented will be described with reference to FIG. 7 . The following description is merely a presentation of an embodiment and does not limit the shape of the contact unit 2400 or the configuration of the contact unit 2400 and the thermoelectric element 2320.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 7 , the contact portion 2400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least a portion of a stick. Here, the stick is connected to one side of the armrest and refers to a configuration having a gripping feeling so that the user can grip it. The stick may have an empty space inside. A front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 may be connected to an inner surface of the stick. As a result, heat can be transferred through the user's hand holding the stick. A user seated in the special effect chair 2000 may receive thermal feedback while enjoying multimedia content while holding the stick.

Referring to (b) of FIG. 7 , the contact portion 2400 may include at least a portion of the safety bar. Motion control such as rotation or vibration may be included in the special effect, and the user may hold on to the safety bar to prevent separation from the seat portion 2200 from such motion. The contact portion 2400 may be provided at a position where a user is expected to grip it by hand among a portion of the safety bar. Accordingly, the user may receive thermal feedback by holding the safety bar.

Referring to (c) of FIG. 7 , the contact portion 2400 may include at least a portion of the neck rest. The neck support is configured to support the user's neck by contacting the user's neck when the user is seated. A portion of the neckrest may be the contact portion 2400, and a thermoelectric element 2320 may be connected to the contact portion 2400, thereby providing thermal feedback to a user who is in contact with a portion of the neckrest. Accordingly, the user may receive thermal feedback in a seated state.

Referring to (d) of FIG. 7 , the contact portion 2400 may include a portion of the seating portion 2200 that supports a load of the back or lower body of a seated user while touching the back or lower body of the seated user. A thermoelectric element 2320 may be connected to the contact portion 2400 . Accordingly, thermal feedback may be provided to the user's body in contact with a portion of the seating portion 2200 . The thermoelectric element 2320 may include one or more thermocouple groups 2322 or thermocouple arrays 2323 . Each thermocouple group 2322 or thermocouple array 2323 may be independently controlled by the controller 2600 to perform a thermoelectric operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide various types of thermal feedback to a seated user. For example, in a scene where a main character of multimedia content crosses a shallow stream, the thermocouple group 2322 or thermocouple array (2322) or thermocouple array ( 2323), cooling sensation feedback may be provided. As a result, the user can feel the cold water only at the bottom of the lower body. Alternatively, in a scene in which the main character goes into deep water step by step, the thermocouple group 2322 or thermocouple array 2323 contacting the bottom of the lower body, and the thermocouple group 2322 or thermocouple contacting the upper body Cooling sensation feedback may be sequentially provided up to the pair array 2323 . As a result, the user can feel a cooling sensation as if slowly submerged in water from the lower body to the upper body.

This contact-type heat transfer method has a technically advantageous effect when compared to conventional heat transfer methods.

First, it is possible to accurately control the amount of heat delivered to the user. This is because there are few variables that can affect heat conduction, and it is relatively easy to control them compared to the heat transfer method by convection. Knowing the intensity of the power applied and the application time, the amount of heat generation or absorption can be calculated, which makes it easy to adjust the desired intensity of thermal feedback.

Second, it is possible to provide thermal feedback only to a localized part of the user's body. Applying these technical characteristics, as described above in the type of thermal feedback, by contacting the thermoelectric elements 2320 to different body parts or sequentially providing thermal feedback to a plurality of mutually adjacent thermocouple arrays 2323, You can diversify the type of feedback.

Third, it is possible to shorten the time taken from the time of requesting the thermal feedback to the time of providing the requested thermal feedback. One surface of the contact part 2400 is in contact with one surface of the thermoelectric element 2320, and the other surface of the contact part 2400 is in direct contact with the user's body, and the contact part 2400 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity. Because. That is, a reaction rate providing thermal feedback may be fast.

Conventional heat transfer methods using air convection include heating a heat source, driving a fan to cause air movement, receiving heat from a heat source to air through convection, moving air containing heat, and Since a step of transferring heat from the air to the user's body through convection must be performed, the reaction speed may be slower than that of the heat output module 2300 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Existing heat transfer methods for transferring heat generated from the thermoelectric element 2320 to the body through a heat transfer member such as a heat pipe require conduction through the heat transfer member. Compared to the output module 2300, the reaction speed may be slow. In contrast, since the thermoelectric element 2320 of the present invention can be flexibly bent, it can directly contact the user's body, thereby increasing the reaction rate and thermal conductivity.

The advantage of using the above-described contact heat transfer method means that it is possible to increase the accuracy of linkage with multimedia contents, that is, synchronization of audio-visual images and thermal feedback.

Next, the configuration and schematic operation of the heat dissipation module 2500 will be described.

Due to the nature of the thermoelectric effect, the heat dissipation module 2500 generally emits waste heat unnecessarily accumulated in a part of the heat output module 2300 or the special effect chair 2000 to the surroundings as the thermoelectric operation is repeated in the thermoelectric element 2320. function.

The waste heat may be a factor that hinders the user from feeling thermal feedback through the thermoelectric element 2320, and also a factor that deteriorates the durability of the special effect chair 2000 when waste heat accumulates as the thermal feedback is repeated several times. may be Or it can deteriorate to the point where it creates a risk of burns to the user. Therefore, it is necessary to release the waste heat periodically or under certain conditions.

Implementation examples in which the heat dissipation operation is performed may vary. For example, it may be a method of driving the heat radiation fan by electrically controlling on/off of the heat radiation fan. Alternatively, it may be a method of controlling the flow of fluid in the heat pipe by electrically controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve. Alternatively, a method of electrically or mechanically controlling the heat pipe and a part of the thermoelectric element 2320 may be physically contacted when the heat dissipation operation is required and disconnected when the heat dissipation operation is to be stopped.

The configuration of the heat dissipation module 2500 may vary. Any configuration may be included in the heat dissipation module 2500 as long as it is a means for effectively dissipating waste heat. For example, the heat dissipation module 2500 may include a heat transfer unit 2510 . The heat transfer unit 2510 may be thermally connected to a part of the heat output module where waste heat is generated. The heat transfer unit may move the waste heat to the outside of the special effect chair 2000 in a heat conduction manner. Alternatively, the heat dissipation module 2500 may further include a waste heat release unit 2520 . The waste heat release unit 2520 may be provided at the other end of the heat transfer unit 2510 that is not connected to the thermoelectric element 2320 to discharge waste heat to the surroundings at the other end. The waste heat release unit 2520 may include a heat sink, a heat sink, or a heat sink. Alternatively, the heat dissipation module may be designed in a direction in which waste heat is easily discharged along the air flow discharged to the outside of the special effect chair 2000 .

Waste heat may generally be generated in the heat output module 2300 . However, due to the configuration of the heat output module 2300 and the structural characteristics of the special effect chair 2000, there may be a specific location where waste heat is concentrated and accumulated. In this case, the heat dissipation module 2500 may be configured to dissipate waste heat at the specific location.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the heat dissipation module 2500 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which may be provided in the configuration of the contact unit 2400 according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. 8 .

Figure 8 (a) shows the configuration of a heat dissipation module 2500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A heat dissipation module 2500 may be provided at a portion of the seat portion 2200 that contacts the lower body of a seated user. The heat dissipation module 2500 may be thermally connected to the thermoelectric element 2320 .

The heat dissipation module 2500 may be designed such that the heat dissipation direction is toward the ground. Since waste heat is released to the surroundings when the heat dissipation operation is performed, the discharge of waste heat may affect other users located on the left and right or in front and behind the seat 2200 . In the case where the heat dissipation direction is directed toward the ground, the effect of the heat dissipation operation on a user seated in another adjacent seating portion 2200 can be minimized.

In (b) of FIG. 8 , the heat dissipation module 2500 may be thermally connected to a thermoelectric element 2320 provided on a part of the stick by a heat transfer unit 2510 . The stick may be provided on one side of the armrest part of the special effect chair 2000, and the stick may include a waste heat releasing part 2520 for discharging waste heat to the other side of the armrest part. The heat transfer unit 2510 may transfer waste heat generated in the thermoelectric element 2320 from the thermoelectric element 2320 to the waste heat emission unit 2520 . A heat dissipation plate, a heat dissipation fin, or a heat dissipation patch may be provided in the waste heat release unit 2520 to dissipate the moved waste heat in a direction away from the user.

In (c) of FIG. 8 , the heat dissipation module 2500 may be thermally connected to a thermoelectric element 2320 provided at a part of the safety bar by a heat transfer unit 2510 . The safety bar is connected to one surface of the seat portion 2200, and the safety bar is a waste heat release unit 2520 discharging waste heat to both ends of the safety bar facing away from a user seated on the seat portion 2200. can be provided. The heat transfer unit 2510 may transfer waste heat generated in the thermoelectric element 2320 from the thermoelectric element 2320 to the waste heat emission unit 2520 . A heat dissipation plate, a heat dissipation fin, or a heat dissipation patch may be provided in the waste heat release unit 2520 to dissipate the moved waste heat in a direction away from the user.

In (d) of FIG. 8 , the heat dissipation module 2500 may be a heat dissipation fan discharging waste heat generated from the thermoelectric element 2320 provided in a part of the headrest to the outside of the seat portion 2200 . A thermoelectric element 2320 and a heat dissipation fan may be provided inside the neck rest. The heat dissipation fan may be provided at a location that facilitates dissipation of waste heat generated from the thermoelectric element 2320 from the seat portion 2200 in a direction opposite to the ground. As a result, as the heat dissipation fan operates, air outside the seat portion 2200 flows into the inside of the neckrest, while waste heat escapes from the seat portion 2200 in a direction opposite to the ground.

The configuration of the heat dissipation module 2500 is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and any configuration capable of discharging waste heat generated in the special effect chair 2000 to the outside of the special effect chair 2000 is a heat dissipation module used in the present invention. (2500).

The heat dissipation module 2500 may be communicatively connected to the controller 2600 and be controlled by the controller 2600 . A method of performing the heat dissipation operation by the controller may be various. For example, the controller 2600 may obtain information required for a heat dissipation operation obtained from the heat dissipation data—for example, information about start time and stop time of the heat dissipation operation. The controller 2600 may transmit a control signal based on the information to the heat dissipation module 2500 . The heat dissipation module 2500 may perform a heat dissipation operation at the start time of the heat dissipation operation according to the control signal, and may stop the heat dissipation operation at the stop time of the heat dissipation operation. For another example, the controller 2600 may control the operation of the heat dissipation module 2500 based on a temperature value or a noise value detected by a temperature sensor or a noise sensor. Under the control of the controller 2600, the heat dissipation module 2500 may dissipate waste heat under conditions that do not interfere with the user's enjoyment of multimedia content and the provision of thermal feedback.

A method of controlling the heat dissipation operation will be described in detail later.

Next, the communication unit 2100 in the special effect chair 2000 will be described.

The communication unit 2100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a component for communication between the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000.

The communication unit 2100 may be a cable connecting the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000 by wire.

Alternatively, the communication unit 2100 may be a frequency transmitter/receiver wirelessly connecting the central control device 1000 and the special effect chair 2000.

Since the wired type and the wireless type have respective strengths and weaknesses, the wired type and the wireless type may be simultaneously provided in the communication unit 2100 in some cases. In the case of a wired type, in view of the type of cable, a local area network (LAN) that can use various cables such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, and fiber optics ) may be representative. However, it is not limited to any one of the above, and appropriate mediation and appropriate communication networks may be used according to the size of the theater and the size of data.

In the case of a wireless type, a wireless local area network (WLAN)-based communication method such as Wi-Fi may be mainly used. However, if short-distance communication is sufficient depending on the size of the theater, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) communication method such as Bluetooth or Zigbee may be used. However, since the wireless communication protocol is not limited thereto, it is also possible to use other known communication methods such as an infrared communication method. Meanwhile, it is also possible to use an independent protocol developed by a manufacturer of a special effect control system as a wired/wireless communication protocol.

Next, the configuration and schematic operation of the controller 2600 will be described.

The controller 2600 according to an embodiment of the present invention controls internal components of the special effect chair 2000 and facilitates information exchange between the components.

The controller 2600 may be connected to the communication unit 2100 to receive thermal feedback data and heat dissipation data from the central control device 1000, and may process the received thermal feedback data and heat dissipation data. The controller 2600 may interpret the thermal feedback data and the heat dissipation data according to a predetermined protocol in order to properly process the thermal feedback data and the heat dissipation data.

The controller 2600 obtains thermal feedback information about the processing result of the thermal feedback data, the type of thermal feedback to be provided, the strength of the thermal feedback to be provided, and the timing (start time and/or end time) of the thermal feedback to be provided. can do. In some cases, a non-negligible amount of time elapses between a point in time when thermal feedback is actually provided to a user (time point in which thermal feedback is provided) and a point in time when power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 to provide thermal feedback (time point in which power is applied). Gaps may exist. In this case, the thermal feedback data may include any one of a time of providing thermal feedback and a time of applying power. When only the thermal feedback providing time is included in the thermal feedback data, the controller 2600 may calculate a delay time from the power-on time to the thermal feedback providing time. The controller 2600 may obtain the power-on time point by considering the delay time from the thermal feedback data.

The controller 2600 may allow power of a required size to be applied to the heat output module 2300 at a necessary time according to the obtained thermal feedback information.

The controller 2600 may obtain information about the processing result of the heat dissipation data, the start and stop time of the heat dissipation operation, or the intensity of the heat dissipation operation. When the special effect control system further includes a temperature sensor or a noise measurement sensor, the controller 2600 receives the measured temperature value or noise value, and based on this, it can obtain information about the need for heat dissipation. .

The controller 2600 may transmit a signal requesting a heat dissipation operation and interruption to the heat dissipation module 2500 so that the heat dissipation operation may be performed according to the obtained heat dissipation information.

If the special effect chair 2000 further includes an occupancy detecting device, the controller 2600 may receive information about occupancy from the occupancy detection device and transmit the occupancy information to the central control unit 1000. have. Accordingly, the central control device 1000 can calculate the seat occupancy rate in the theater and transmit information about various special effects including thermal feedback only to the special effect chairs 2000 determined to be seated by the user. In addition, the controller 2600, including the thermal output module 2300, stops providing various special effects including thermal feedback when it is determined that the user has left the seating unit 2200 based on the information transmitted from the seating presence detection device. Control signals can be transmitted to various feedback devices.

When the special effect chair 2000 further includes the user input unit 4000, the controller 2600 may be connected to the user input unit 4000 to receive a received user input. The controller 2600 interprets/processes the received user input, generates a corrected control signal reflecting the user input, and transmits it to the heat output module 2300. Also, the controller 2600 may transmit the user input to the central control device 1000 so that the central control device 1000 reflects the user input and generates a control signal.

In order to execute the above functions, the controller 2600 may be a processor that stores and processes data in terms of hardware, and may be provided in the form of programs or codes that drive circuits in terms of software.

3. Thermal feedback control method

Hereinafter, a method for providing thermal feedback in a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In particular, a method for controlling thermoelectric operation, a type of thermal feedback, a method for controlling thermal feedback, and a method for correcting thermal feedback will be described in detail.

3.1. Control of thermoelectric behavior

When power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320, a thermoelectric operation occurs on the front surface 2324 and the rear surface of the thermoelectric element 2320. When heat absorption occurs on the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320, heat generation occurs on the rear surface 2325, and when heat generation occurs on the front surface 2324, heat absorption occurs on the rear surface 2325.

Whether a heat generating operation or an endothermic operation occurs on the front surface 2324 is determined by the current direction of power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 . If the direction of the current causing the heating operation on the front surface 2324 is a forward direction, the direction of the current caused by the endothermic operation on the front surface 2324 can be viewed as a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction.

The amount of heat absorbed or generated is determined by the intensity of power applied to the thermocouple array 2323. In general, as the voltage or current value of the applied power increases, the amount of heat generated also increases.

The controller 2600 may generate a desired thermoelectric operation by adjusting power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 . For example, the controller 2600 receives thermal feedback data, analyzes the thermal feedback data, and obtains information about the voltage level of power to be applied, the direction and application time of current, and the like. The controller 2600 may induce a desired thermoelectric operation by generating an electrical signal based on the obtained information and applying it to the thermoelectric element 2320 . A method of controlling the thermal feedback will be described later.

3.2. Types of Thermal Feedback

It has already been described above that the type of thermal feedback may include warmth feedback, cold sensation feedback, and heat sensation feedback based on the type of warmth/cold sensation that the user basically experiences through the user's thermal sensation, etc. .

As mentioned above, the thermocouple array 2323 of the heat output module 2300 may be composed of one or more individually controllable thermocouple groups 2322. That is, the controller 2600 may differently control the direction of the power applied to each thermocouple group 2322, the intensity of the voltage, and the application time. The heat output module 2300 may implement various types of thermal feedback by using independent power supply to each thermocouple group 2322 .

For example, the heat output module 2300 may provide an effect as if heat or cold heat sequentially proceeds from one side of the contact unit 2400 to the other side. To this end, a plurality of thermocouple groups 2322 may be arranged in a line in the thermocouple array 2323 with one side adjacent to each other. In this arrangement, the controller 2600 may first apply power to the first thermocouple group 2322 provided on one side of the thermocouple array 2323 . After a certain period of time has elapsed, the controller 2600 may stop applying the power. Next, the controller 2600 may start to apply power to the second thermocouple group 2322 adjacent to the first thermocouple group 2322 . In the same way, the controller 2600 may apply power to the third thermocouple group 2322 adjacent to the second thermocouple group 2322 after stopping the application of the power. If power application in this manner is sequentially repeated from the thermocouple group 2322 on one side to the thermocouple group 2322 on the other side of the thermocouple array 2323, hot or cold heat is generated in the thermocouple array 2323. An effect of moving from one side to the other side may be provided.

As another example, the heat output module 2300 may receive an effect of gradually increasing the intensity of heating or cooling of a part of the body in contact with the contact unit 2400 . To this end, the controller 2600 may increase the intensity of the voltage applied to the specific thermocouple group 2322 by a certain amount from a low intensity to a high intensity at regular time intervals or decrease it in the opposite order.

As another example, by combining the two effects described above—an effect in which the heat sensation proceeds sequentially from one side of the contact portion 2400 to the other side and an effect in which the intensity of the heat sensation increases or decreases over time— Thermal feedback of the effect can be provided. For example, a first voltage having a specific voltage level is applied to the first thermocouple group 2322 on any one side of the plurality of thermocouple groups 2322 disposed adjacent to each other included in the thermocouple array 2323. Thereafter, after a specific time elapses, the voltage applied to the first thermocouple group 2322 is stopped, and the voltage applied to the second thermocouple group 2322 adjacent to the first thermocouple group 2322 is increased by a specific magnitude higher than the first voltage. applied second voltage. This application of power may be repeated several times from the thermocouple group 2322 provided on one side of the thermocouple array 2323 to the thermocouple group 2323 provided on the other side. In this case, the user may feel that the intensity of the heat sensation gradually increases as the heat sensation moves in one direction.

3.3. Control of thermal feedback

The controller 2600 analyzes the thermal feedback data received from the central control device 1000 to obtain thermal feedback information including thermal feedback type information, thermal feedback strength information, and thermal feedback timing information. The information on the thermal feedback is preset information such that the thermal event and the thermal feedback closely correspond to each other in terms of time, type, intensity, etc. so that the user can realistically enjoy the thermal event included in the multimedia content. .

Referring to FIG. 9, a method of providing a user with a thermal experience by matching a thermal feedback to a thermal event will be described below.

Figure 9(a) is a graph illustrating a time point at which a thermal event included in the multimedia content occurs corresponding to each playback time point of the multimedia content. For example, an explosion scene may appear as an example of a thermal event while playing multimedia content. Let's look at the explosion scene by section.

In a first event section starting at a first time point t1 and ending at a second time point t2, a scene in which an explosion starts is reproduced.

In the second event section starting at the second time point t2 and ending at the third time point t3, a scene in which explosions sequentially occur next to the initial explosion is reproduced.

In a third event section starting at the third time point t3 and ending at the fourth time point t4, the scene where the explosion ends is reproduced.

In the fifth event section starting at the fifth time point t5 and ending at the sixth time point t6, a scene in which the main character in the multimedia content dives into cold water is reproduced.

In a sixth event section starting at the sixth time point t6 and ending at the seventh time point t7, a scene in which the main character enjoys swimming in the water is reproduced.

In a seventh event section starting at the seventh time point t7 and ending at the eighth time point t8, a scene in which the main character comes out of the water after swimming is reproduced.

Figure 9(b) shows the strength and type of thermal feedback provided to the user based on the thermal feedback data according to an embodiment of the present invention as the multimedia contents described in (a) of Figure 9 are reproduced over time. It is a graph shown in a frame. The vertical axis represents the magnitude of thermal feedback, and the horizontal axis represents time. When the magnitude of the thermal feedback has a positive sign, the thermal feedback means a warm feedback, and when the magnitude of the thermal feedback has a negative sign, the thermal feedback means a cold feedback. A large absolute value of the thermal feedback shown in the graph means that the intensity of the corresponding thermal feedback is strong. In the graph, the time at which thermal feedback starts and the time at which it is stopped means the time at which thermal feedback is actually provided to the user's body through the contact unit 2400 and the time at which it is stopped.

The thermal feedback information shown in FIG. 9(b) is synchronized with the thermal event to represent the thermal event included in the multimedia content shown in FIG. 9(a).

In the first feedback section starting at the first time point T1 and ending at the second time point T2, information on thermal feedback corresponding to the explosion start scene, which is the thermal event of the first event section, is shown. Looking at the graph, it can be seen that on-sense feedback is provided as much as the size of A1. Accordingly, the user can feel the warmth of the explosion through the contact unit 2400 in the first feedback section while watching the explosion scene in the first event section.

Here, as described above, the first feedback period is a period in which thermal feedback effectively representing the thermal event of the first event period is provided. However, the first time point T1 and the first time point t1, and the second time point T2 and the second time point t2 do not necessarily have to be the same time. This relationship may be equally applied to other feedback intervals and other event intervals described later.

In the second feedback period starting at the second time point T2 and ending at the third time point T3, information about thermal feedback representing the thermal event of the second event period is shown. In the second feedback section, explosions occur in succession, so that a sense of heat reaching the peak of the heat of explosion may be expressed. Therefore, in the second feedback period, the warmth feedback may be provided by the size of A2 which is greater than the size of A1. As a result, the user can feel a hotter sense of warmth than that of the first feedback section through the contact unit 2400 while watching the chain explosion scene in the second event section.

In the third feedback section starting at the third time point T3 and ending at the fourth time point T4, information about thermal feedback representing the thermal event of the third event section is shown. In the third feedback section, a sense of heat as if residual heat remains after the explosion is over may be expressed. Therefore, in the third feedback period, the warmth feedback may be provided by the size of A3 smaller than the sizes of A1 and A2. Accordingly, the user can feel a sense of warmth that is as weak as the residual heat after the explosion in the third feedback section while watching the scene where the explosion ends in the third event section.

In a fifth feedback period starting at the fifth time point T5 and ending at the sixth time point T6, information about thermal feedback representing the thermal event of the fifth event period is shown. In the fifth feedback section, it is necessary to express the feeling of coolness transmitted to the body of the main character as the cold air of the water is received by the main character. Therefore, in the fifth feedback period, it can be seen that cooling sensation feedback is provided by the size of A5. The fifth feedback section may be a temporally insignificant section because a cooling sensation for the moment when the main character enters the water should be provided.

In a sixth feedback interval starting at the sixth time point T6 and ending at the seventh time point T7, information about thermal feedback representing the thermal event of the sixth event interval is shown. In the sixth feedback section, since the main character adapts to the temperature of the water over time after getting into the water, the cooling feeling feedback can be provided by the size of A6, which is smaller than the size of A5 (based on absolute value). Accordingly, the user may receive feedback of cooling sensation through the contact unit 2400 in the sixth feedback section while appreciating the scene in which the main character is swimming in the sixth event section.

In a seventh feedback period starting at the seventh time point T7 and ending at the eighth time point T8, information about thermal feedback representing the thermal event of the seventh event period is shown. In the seventh feedback section, the main character feels chills due to the heat of evaporation after coming out of the water. Therefore, the cooling feeling feedback can be provided by the size of A7 which is larger than the size of A6. Accordingly, the user can receive a strong sense of coolness through the contact unit 2400 in the seventh feedback section while watching the scene where the main character comes out of the water in the seventh event section.

In the above, an example of matching appropriate thermal feedback to express various thermal events has been described.

The special effects control system according to an embodiment of the present invention may express various types of thermal events in addition to the above-described explosion scene or swimming scene using thermal feedback.

In addition, although only cold and warm feedback is mentioned in the above example, the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention may express a thermal event in which a main character in multimedia content is injured. To this end, the special effect control system may provide thermal relief feedback in a time section corresponding to the time section in which the thermal event is provided.

Hereinafter, a method of actually producing/providing various types of thermal feedback described above in the special effect chair 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

10 describes a thermal feedback control method of a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the special effect chair 2000 acquires thermal feedback data (S1100). The controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 interprets the received thermal feedback data to obtain information about power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 (S1200). The controller 2600 generates an electrical signal according to the acquired information and applies it to the thermoelectric element 2320 (S1300).

Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 of the special effect chair 2000 may obtain thermal feedback data (S1100). The thermal feedback data may be transmitted from the central control device 1000 to the controller 2600 through the communication unit 2100. The way thermal feedback data is transmitted to the controller can vary. For example, information on a plurality of thermal feedbacks corresponding to all thermal events in the multimedia content may be included in thermal feedback data and transmitted to the special effect chair 2000 at once. Alternatively, information about the unit thermal feedback corresponding to the unit thermal event may be transmitted to the special effect chair 2000 several times. The unit thermal event refers to one thermal event constituting a plurality of thermal events included from the start point to the end point of the multimedia content. For example, one unit thermal event may mean one explosion scene included in multimedia content. A method for the controller 2600 to receive thermal feedback data from the central control device 1000 will be described later in detail.

Alternatively, the thermal feedback data may be pre-stored in a memory provided in the special effect chair 2000 without necessarily undergoing a transmission process from the central control device 1000 . When the role of the central control device 1000 that oversees the special effect control system is somewhat insignificant because there is only one special effect chair 2000, or when the special effect chair 2000 is individually equipped with an audio-visual image output device, other In the case where there is a low need to synchronize the torque effect chair and the feedback provision, as described above, the thermal feedback data is provided to the controller 2600 from the internal memory of the special effect chair 2000 rather than from the central control device 1000. can be useful

The controller 2600 may acquire information about thermal feedback by analyzing the obtained thermal feedback data (S1200).

The obtained thermal feedback data may include thermal feedback information including thermal feedback type information, thermal feedback strength information, and thermal feedback timing information in an encoded state. The controller 2600 may obtain information about the thermal feedback by decoding the thermal feedback data. The controller 2600 may obtain information on power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 by interpreting the information on the thermal feedback. The information on the applied power may include information on a direction in which power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320, information on a current value or voltage value of power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320, and power supply to the thermoelectric element 2320. Information on the time of approval and the time of discontinuation may be included. The time points at which power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 and when power is stopped are time points obtained from the time point of providing the thermal feedback in consideration of the time required for the thermoelectric operation to occur, and may be different from the time point at which the thermal feedback is provided.

If FIG. 9(b) is a graph illustrating thermal feedback information, the information acquired by the controller 2600 is the amount of power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 in order to implement the thermal feedback shown in FIG. 9(b). This is information about the configuration.

The controller 2600 may generate an electrical signal according to the obtained information and apply it to the thermoelectric element 2320 (S1300).

The controller 2600 generates applied power having a voltage value of a predetermined magnitude according to the obtained information on the applied power, applies the power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a predetermined application time, and applies the power in a predetermined direction. can be authorized.

For example, the controller 2600 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a power-on time point corresponding to the start time point T1 of the first feedback period. The applied power may have a voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of thermal feedback of A1. A direction in which the power is applied may be a forward direction. The controller 2600 may stop supplying power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a time point at which power application is stopped corresponding to an end time point T2 of the first feedback period. The controller 2600 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a power-on time point corresponding to the start time point T2 of the second feedback period. The applied power may have a voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of thermal feedback of A2. A direction in which the power is applied may be a forward direction. The controller 2600 may stop supplying power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a time point at which power application is stopped corresponding to an end time point T3 of the second feedback period. Similarly, the controller 2600 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a power-on time point corresponding to the start time point T3 of the third feedback period. The applied power may have a voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the thermal feedback of A3. A direction in which the power is applied may be a forward direction. The controller 2600 may stop supplying power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a time point at which power application is stopped corresponding to an end time point T4 of the third feedback period.

The thermoelectric element 2320 performs a thermoelectric operation in response to power applied at the time when power is applied. As a result, an endothermic operation or an exothermic operation for providing thermal feedback is generated on the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 . On the rear surface 2325 of the thermoelectric element 2320, a thermoelectric operation opposite to the type of thermal feedback occurs due to the nature of the thermoelectric effect. Since the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 is thermally connected to the contact portion 2400, heat generated from the front surface 2324 of the thermoelectric element 2320 - the heat generated from the front surface 2324 is a thermoelectric operation. It has a positive value in the case of a heat-generating operation and a negative value in the case of an endothermic operation - may be transferred to the contact unit 2400 . As the transferred heat is transferred back to the user's body from the contact unit 2400, thermal feedback may be provided to the user.

Power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 is an electric signal generated based on information acquired from thermal feedback data by the special effect controller 2600 in the previous step (S1200). Accordingly, appropriate thermal feedback may be provided in response to thermal events in multimedia contents. For example, the thermoelectric element 2320 may generate a predetermined type of thermal feedback from thermal feedback data. In addition, the thermoelectric element 2320 may start a thermoelectric operation at a predetermined power-on time to provide thermal feedback. In addition, the thermoelectric element 2320 may generate heat of a predetermined size to provide thermal feedback.

The controller 2600 may stop supplying power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 at the time when power application is stopped based on the acquired information (S1400).

When the supply of power is stopped, the thermoelectric element 2320 stops the thermoelectric operation, and the provision of thermal feedback is terminated. In this way, the provision of thermal feedback can be stopped at the point in time when expressing the thermal event as thermal feedback is stopped.

Hereinafter, in the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of transmitting the thermal feedback data from the central control device 1000 to the special effect chair 2000 will be described.

A method of transmitting thermal feedback data may be implemented in various forms.

For example, the central control device 1000 may transmit all thermal feedback information to be provided to the user to the special effect chair 2000 at once in response to all thermal events of the multimedia content. In this case, the controller 2600 may analyze the thermal feedback data while retaining the received thermal feedback data in an internal memory, and apply an appropriate type of power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at an appropriate time. In this case, time synchronization for resetting the current time recognized by each special effect chair 2000 to be the same should be performed so that the same thermal feedback can be provided at the same time in each special effect chair 2000 . This is because, in a theater accommodating a plurality of users, it is common for multimedia contents to be reproduced at the same time and to end at the same time. In particular, when a plurality of users share one audio-visual image output device, this need may further increase.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 11, when the entire thermal feedback included in the multimedia content is transmitted from the central control device 1000 to each special effect chair 2000 at once, the special effect control system provides thermal feedback. The time synchronization function will be mainly described for the method.

First, the central control device 1000 transmits a first time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000 (S2100). Next, a first thermal feedback is provided from each special effect chair 2000 (S2200). The central control device 1000 may transmit a second time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000 during multimedia reproduction (S2300). Next, each special effect chair 2000 may provide a second thermal feedback (S2400). Each special effect chair 2000 stops providing thermal feedback when the thermal feedback obtained from the thermal feedback data ends (S2500).

Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail.

First, the central control device 1000 may transmit a first time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000 (S2100).

Each special effect chair 2000 receives the synchronization signal through the communication unit 2100 and transmits it to the controller 2600. The time synchronization signal may be transmitted in the form of encoded data. The time synchronization signal may include a specific time to be set as the current time at the moment when each special effect chair 2000 processes the time synchronization signal. In each special effect chair 2000, each controller 2600 processes the first time synchronization signal to set the current time as a specific time included in the first time synchronization signal. Accordingly, the controller 2600 in each special effect chair 2000 can recognize the same time as the current time.

Next, a first thermal feedback may be provided from the special effect chair 2000 (S2200).

To this end, the central control device 1000 may transmit thermal feedback data to the plurality of special effect chairs 2000 . The thermal feedback data may include information about a plurality of thermal feedbacks that should be provided serially from the start point to the end point of reproduction of the multimedia content. The controller 2600 may obtain information on applied power by interpreting the received thermal feedback data. The obtained information may include information on first power supply time and second power application time for providing the first thermal feedback and the second thermal feedback. The information on the first power-on time and the second power-on time may be set based on the synchronized time according to the time synchronization performed in the previous step. The controller 2600 in each special effect chair 2000 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at a first power application time. The thermoelectric element 2320 in each special effect chair 2000 may provide a first thermal feedback to the user by the applied power. Since the first power application time is the same for each special effect chair 2000, the first thermal feedback can be provided at the same time for each special effect chair 2000.

The thermal feedback data may include not only power application time for providing thermal feedback, but also various information about the direction and size of applied power. However, here, the description will focus on visual synchronization for simultaneously providing thermal feedback in a plurality of special effect chairs 2000 . Therefore, even if only the information on the power-on time for providing thermal feedback is mentioned, it should be understood that information on various types of thermal feedback for providing the thermal feedback is also described.

Here, the first thermal feedback and the second thermal feedback refer to one thermal feedback arbitrarily selected from among a plurality of series of thermal feedbacks, and necessarily refer to the first thermal feedback provided or the second thermal feedback provided in time. It is not.

Here, transmission of thermal feedback data from the central control device 1000 to the special effect chair 2000 does not necessarily have to be performed in a temporally subordinated order to the first time synchronization. The controller 2600 may receive the first time synchronization signal after receiving/interpreting the thermal feedback data. However, it is necessary to apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at the first power application time after performing the first time synchronization in each special effect controller 2600 .

The central control device 1000 may transmit a second time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000 during multimedia reproduction (S2300).

In the previous step, the first time synchronization has been performed immediately before playing multimedia. When a certain amount of time passes after the first time synchronization and thermal feedback is provided a certain number of times or more, an unexpected variable may cause a difference in the current time perceived by each special effect chair 2000 . In preparation for this, the central control device 1000 can remove the time difference that may occur by periodically transmitting a second time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000 during multimedia playback. In each special effect chair 2000, the current time is reset to the synchronized time according to the second time synchronization signal.

Here, the first time synchronization and the second time synchronization refer to randomly selected time synchronization among a plurality of time synchronizations, and the first time synchronization and the second time synchronization do not necessarily have to be consecutive.

The frequency or time interval of transmitting the time synchronization signal may be set in advance by a manager who manages the special effect system. Alternatively, it may be made under the judgment of the central control device 1000 . For example, the central control device 1000 may periodically receive information about the current time recognized by each special effect chair 2000 from each special effect chair 2000 . The central control device 1000 may compare the current time transmitted from each special effect chair 2000 with the current time transmitted from other special effect chairs 2000 . When a difference value of a certain degree or more occurs between the current times of each of the special effect chairs 2000, the central control device 1000 may determine that time synchronization is necessary and transmit a time synchronization signal to each special effect chair 2000. .

Next, each special effect chair 2000 may provide a second thermal feedback (S2400).

The controller 2600 in each special effect chair 2000 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at the time of applying the second power to provide the second thermal feedback. As a result, each special effect chair 2000 can supply power at the same time. A second thermal feedback may be provided accordingly.

The controller 2600 in each special effect chair 2000 ends power supply when the thermal feedback obtained from the thermal feedback data ends (S2500).

By ending the application of power to the thermoelectric element 2320 at the same time in each special effect chair 2000, the provision of thermal feedback may be ended at the same time in each special effect chair 2000. To this end, the central control device 1000 may transmit a thermal feedback end signal to each special effect chair 2000 . The step of sending the thermal feedback termination signal is not always essential. For example, power application may be terminated by including information on thermal feedback termination in the thermal feedback data stored in each special effect chair 2000 .

As another embodiment in which thermal feedback data is transmitted to each special effect chair 2000, the central control device 1000 may divide the thermal feedback data into a plurality of units of thermal feedback data and transmit the same.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 12, a method of providing thermal feedback using a method in which the central control device 1000 divides and transmits thermal feedback to each special effect chair 2000 will be described.

First, the central control device 1000 obtains thermal feedback data and analyzes it to obtain thermal feedback information (S3100). Next, the special effect control system provides first thermal feedback (S3200). Next, the special effect control system provides second thermal feedback (S3300). Finally, the special effect control system ends providing thermal feedback (S3400).

Below, each step is described in detail.

First, the central control device 1000 obtains thermal feedback data and analyzes it to obtain thermal feedback information (S3100).

The thermal feedback information includes thermal feedback type information, thermal feedback strength information, and thermal feedback timing information. From the perspective of applied power, the thermal feedback type information may include a direction in which power is applied. Also, the thermal feedback intensity information may include a voltage value or current value of applied power. Also, the thermal feedback timing information may include a time point at which power is applied and a time point at which power is stopped.

The thermal feedback data may include information about a plurality of thermal feedbacks provided in series from the start point of the multimedia content to the end point. The controller 1300 in the central control device 1000 may divide or classify the obtained information on a plurality of thermal feedbacks into a plurality of unit thermal feedback information. One unit thermal feedback information refers to information about thermal feedback corresponding to one unit thermal event. For example, when the thermal event is a scene in which an explosion occurs, the unit thermal feedback information may be information indicating that a power supply direction is a forward direction in order to provide a sense of warmth feedback corresponding to the explosion scene. Alternatively, the unit thermal feedback information may be information about a time point at which power application is started corresponding to a time point at which the explosion scene starts. Alternatively, the unit thermal feedback information may be information about a voltage value of power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 to express a feeling of heat corresponding to an explosion.

For convenience of description, any one of the unit thermal feedbacks is referred to as a first thermal feedback, and another arbitrary unit thermal feedback occurring temporally later than the first thermal feedback is referred to as a second thermal feedback. A time point at which power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 to provide a first thermal feedback is referred to as a first power application time point, and a time point at which power is applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 to provide a second thermal feedback is referred to as a second power application time point. do.

Next, a first thermal feedback may be provided in the special effect control system (S3200).

The central control device 1000 may transmit first thermal feedback information to each special effect chair 2000 . A time point at which the first thermal feedback information is transmitted may be a time point earlier by a predetermined time interval than a time point at which the first power is applied. The predetermined time interval may be a time required for the controller 2600 to process thermal feedback information and apply power.

The controller 2600 within each special effect may receive and analyze the first thermal feedback information to obtain information on a first applied power source. The controller 2600 may provide first thermal feedback by applying first applied power based on the obtained information to the thermoelectric element 2320 . Alternatively, the controller 2600 in the special effect does not interpret the first thermal feedback information, but the central control device 1000 directly analyzes the first thermal feedback information and converts the first applied power to the thermoelectric element 2320 in the form of an electric signal. ) can be applied directly.

The first applied power is maintained only until the point at which the first applied power is stopped, and after the point at which the first applied power is stopped, the first applied power may be stopped. The first applied power interruption point may be included in the first thermal feedback information previously received by the special effect controller 2600 . Alternatively, the central control device 1000 may transmit a signal to stop applying power at a time point ahead of the time point at which the first applied power is stopped by a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be a time taken for the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 to transmit and process a signal for stopping the first applied power to stop the applied power.

In the above description, it has been described that the central control device 1000 transfers only the first thermal feedback information to the special effect chair 2000. However, in some cases, the central control device 1000 may transmit second thermal feedback information to the special effect chair 2000 together with the first thermal feedback information.

Next, a second thermal feedback may be provided in the special effect control system (S3300).

The central control device 1000 may transmit second thermal feedback information to each special effect chair 2000 . A time point at which the second thermal feedback information is transmitted may be a time point earlier than a time point at which the second power is applied by a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be a time required for the controller 2600 to process thermal feedback information and apply power.

The controller 2600 within each special effect may receive and interpret the second thermal feedback information to obtain information on the second applied power. The controller 2600 may provide second thermal feedback by applying second applied power based on the obtained information to the thermoelectric element 2320 . Alternatively, the controller 2600 in the special effect does not interpret the second thermal feedback information, and the central control device 1000 directly interprets the second thermal feedback information to convert the second applied power to the thermoelectric element 2320 in the form of an electric signal. ) can be applied directly.

The second applied power is maintained only until the point at which the second applied power is stopped, and after the point at which the second applied power is stopped, the second applied power may be stopped. The second applied power interruption point may be included in the second thermal feedback information previously received by the special effect controller 2600 . Alternatively, the central control device 1000 may transmit a signal for stopping power application at a time point ahead of the second applied power interruption point by a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be a time required for the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 to transmit and process a signal for stopping the second applied power to stop the applied power.

Finally, the special effect control system ends providing thermal feedback (S3400).

The central control device 1000 transmits a signal to terminate power supply to each special effect chair 2000 . Each special effect chair 2000 stops providing thermal feedback according to the end signal. Here, the time at which the central control device 1000 transmits the signal for terminating the application of the power may be a time before the end of the thermal feedback by a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be a time required for each special effect chair 2000 to transmit/process a signal for terminating power application to actually terminate power application.

Here, the transmission of the thermal feedback end signal is not necessarily an essential step, and the point at which the last thermal feedback is stopped may be understood as the end of the thermal feedback.

In the above, a method of providing thermal feedback in each special effect chair 2000 in association with the central control device 1000 has been described. Hereinafter, a correction method for thermal feedback will be described.

3.4. Calibration of Thermal Feedback

Each user may have a different degree of actual feeling of heat for the same intensity of thermal feedback. Therefore, it is necessary to make corrections to adjust the intensity of thermal feedback. Correction of the strength of the thermal feedback may be performed by adjusting the strength of the voltage applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 .

Hereinafter, correction of the intensity of thermal feedback will be described in detail.

The sensitivity with which the user feels the thermal feedback may vary from user to user depending on differences in physical characteristics of the user and clothing worn by the user. Therefore, it may be necessary for the user to directly adjust the power and strength of the thermal feedback to the extent that each user can feel the optimal thermal experience. To this end, the special effect chair 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a user input unit 4000 that receives a user input. The user input unit 4000 may convert the received user input into an electrical signal and transmit it to the controller 2600 .

13 shows a user input unit 4000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user input unit 4000 may include a power button 4100 capable of selecting on/off of thermal feedback. In addition, the user input unit 4000 may include a feedback intensity control button 4200 capable of adjusting the thermal feedback intensity from a low level to a high level. The intensity of the thermal feedback may be adjusted in the same direction for both the warm feedback and the cool feedback. Alternatively, the intensity of the thermal feedback may be independently adjustable for the warmth feedback and the cold feedback.

The strength control button may have various shapes. For example, it may be provided in the form of a switch, button, wheel, or touch screen.

In some cases, the user input unit 4000 may further include a display. Playback information or feedback strength information of multimedia content may be displayed on the display.

The user input unit 4000 may be provided at any location where a seated user can easily manipulate it. For example, when the seating portion 2200 includes an armrest portion, the user input unit 4000 may be positioned at one end of the armrest portion. The user input unit 4000 may be located at a position where the user's hand is easily reachable in a state where the user's arm is placed on the armrest.

The user input unit 4000 may be attached to and fixed to a portion of the seating portion 2200 or may be detachable from a portion of the seating portion 2200 .

The user input unit 4000 may be communicatively connected to the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 by wire or wirelessly. For example, the user input unit 4000 may wirelessly transmit the received user input to the controller 2600 by including an infrared transmission/reception unit.

In addition to the above description, the user input unit 4000 may be implemented in a form having various interfaces so that the user can adjust the intensity of thermal feedback.

Hereinafter, a method of adjusting the intensity of thermal feedback through the user input unit 4000 will be described with reference to FIG. 14 .

First, the controller 2600 obtains a reference voltage value according to each feedback intensity (S4100). The controller 2600 may obtain a correction amount according to a user input (S4200). The controller 2600 may obtain an applied voltage value according to a user input (S4300).

Hereinafter, a method for adjusting the intensity of thermal feedback will be described in detail for each step.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain a reference voltage value according to each feedback intensity (S4100).

The thermal feedback intensity may include, for example, the lowest intensity - the smallest voltage value of the applied power - from the first step to the strongest - the largest voltage value of the applied power - the third step. have. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a sense of temperature feedback will be described as an example. The intensity of the first step is the intensity of the on-sense feedback provided in a scene in which the main character drinks hot tea within the multimedia content. The intensity of the second step is an intensity that provides a stronger sense of warmth than the intensity of the first step. For example, it is the intensity of the sense of warmth provided in a scene where the main character is warming up a bonfire. The intensity of the third step may provide a stronger sense of warmth than that of the intensity of the second step. For example, it is the strength of the sense of warmth provided in a scene in which an explosion occurs at a close distance from the main character.

In order to provide the intensity of the thermal feedback corresponding to each stage, a voltage value of the applied power may be set differently for each thermal feedback corresponding to the stage. Here, the voltage value of the applied power set in correspondence with each feedback step is referred to as the reference voltage value. A voltage value corresponding to the first temperature feedback step is referred to as a first reference voltage value, and a voltage value corresponding to the second temperature feedback step is referred to as a second reference voltage value. A voltage value corresponding to the third temperature feedback step is referred to as a third reference voltage value.

Each of the reference voltage values may be included in information about thermal feedback. The controller 2600 may receive information about the thermal feedback from the central control device 1000 . The controller 2600 may obtain a reference voltage value for each step by analyzing the information on the thermal feedback.

For example, the first reference voltage value corresponding to the first level of the warmth feedback intensity may be set to any voltage value in a positive direction. The second reference voltage value may be a voltage value greater than the first reference voltage value. The third reference voltage value may be a voltage value greater than the second reference voltage value.

In some cases, thermal feedback is provided without a signal for correction being input through the user input unit 4000 . In this case, the controller 2600 may set a voltage value of power applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 according to each feedback step as a reference voltage value corresponding to each feedback step.

Next, the controller 2600 may acquire a correction amount according to a user input (S4200).

The user may press the 'warm sense feedback intensity increase button' of the user input unit 4000 . The user input unit 4000 may detect the user's input and transmit it to the controller 2600 in the form of an electrical signal. The controller 2600 may interpret the user input. The controller 2600 may obtain a correction amount in response to a user input. The correction amount refers to the magnitude of the voltage added to the reference voltage value of each feedback step in response to the user's input. The correction amount may be a different value for each feedback step. Alternatively, it may be the same value for each feedback step.

When a user's input for increasing the strength of the sense of touch feedback is received one or more times, the amount of correction is increased by the number of user inputs.

The correction amounts corresponding to each user's input may have different values.

The correction amount is determined according to a specific purpose by the manager who manages the special effect control system - the specific purpose is, for example, as the feedback intensity is corrected, so that the on-sense feedback provided at each step increases by the same amount of heat or at each step It may be a preset value so that the provided temperature feedback rises by the same temperature. The correction amount may be a value included in thermal feedback data.

Next, the controller 2600 may acquire an applied voltage value according to a user input (S4300).

The applied voltage value refers to a voltage value applied to the thermoelectric element 2320 by the controller 2600 to provide thermal feedback. The applied voltage value may be obtained by adding the correction amount to the reference voltage value. Therefore, the applied voltage value is obtained as a value greater than the reference voltage value - because the correction amount is a positive value when a signal increasing the intensity of the temperature feedback is input. The applied voltage value may be obtained as a different value for each feedback step. The applied voltage value may be obtained as a different value according to the number of received user inputs. Then, when providing temperature feedback, the controller 2600 applies power having the applied voltage value to the thermoelectric element 2320 . Accordingly, the user may be provided with a stronger sense of warmth feedback by pressing the increase button of the intensity of the sense of warmth feedback.

In addition to the above description, the same steps may be applied even when the user manipulates the warmth feedback intensity reduction button. However, in this case, the correction amount has a negative value. Accordingly, an applied voltage value obtained by adding the correction amount to the reference voltage value may be smaller than the reference voltage value. In this way, the user may be provided with a weak sense of warmth feedback.

The above description has been described based on sense of touch feedback. However, the above description can also be applied to correction of the intensity of cooling feedback. At this time, the direction of power application may be reversed.

Unlike the above description, the intensity of the thermal feedback can be corrected for both the intensity of the warmth feedback and the intensity of the cold feedback by a single user input. In this case, the correction amount may have a positive value for the intensity of the warmth feedback, and may have a negative value for the intensity of the cold feedback. The magnitudes of the correction amount for the intensity of the warm feedback and the correction amount for the intensity of the cool feedback may be different from each other. When the input for the correction of the intensity of the warm and cool feedback is input multiple times, correction amounts corresponding to each correction may be different from each other.

If necessary, the controller 2600 may notify the central control device 1000 through the communication unit 2100 that the thermal feedback intensity has been corrected.

In addition, when the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a temperature sensor to obtain a heat dissipation request message, a change in the reference temperature value and the cooling reference value is accompanied in response to correction of the intensity of thermal feedback. It can be. This will be described in detail later in the control method of heat dissipation operation.

4. Control method of heat dissipation operation

Hereinafter, a method of controlling a heat dissipation operation performed by a special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

4.1. Overview of heat dissipation operation

The heat dissipation operation is an operation for discharging waste heat accumulated in the special effect chair 2000 to the outside of the special effect chair 2000 by the thermoelectric operation of the thermoelectric element 2320 as described above. If the heat dissipation operation is not performed in time, the accumulated waste heat may affect the sensitivity of the thermal feedback, and may cause problems with the durability of the special effect chair 2000 or become a risk factor of causing burns to the user's body.

In the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, it may be necessary to obtain a heat radiation request message in order to perform a heat radiation operation.

In the special effect control system according to another embodiment of the present invention, it may be necessary to obtain a heat radiation permission message in order to perform a heat radiation operation.

In the special effect control system according to another embodiment of the present invention, in order for a heat radiation operation to occur, 1) obtaining a heat radiation request message and 2) acquiring a heat radiation permission message may be required.

From here. The expression 'acquisition' of the message may be understood to mean that a predetermined condition is satisfied when determining whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied in one controller.

For example, the heat dissipation request message and the heat dissipation permission message may be in the form of a control signal generated at a point in time when a certain condition is satisfied.

For example, there may be specific conditions in which it is necessary to perform a heat dissipation operation. When the heat dissipation requirement as described above is satisfied, it may be regarded that the heat dissipation request message is acquired. In addition, there may be specific conditions in which it is possible to perform the heat dissipation operation temporally/spatially. It can be seen that the heat radiation permission message is obtained when the above heat radiation permission condition is satisfied.

In order to determine whether a heat dissipation requirement or a heat dissipation permission condition is satisfied—that is, whether a heat release request message or a heat release permission message is obtained—the controller may receive information from a separate sensor/information obtaining unit. The received information may be, for example, a temperature value, a noise value, a heat radiation start/stop time point, an acceleration value, and the like. The information may be determined to determine a heat dissipation requirement or a heat dissipation permission condition, and may not necessarily be used only for determining any one condition.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 15, a heat dissipation operation method including obtaining a heat release request message and acquiring a heat release permission message will be described. For convenience of description, the heat release request message acquisition step will be described first, but the heat release request message acquisition step and the heat release permission message acquisition step do not necessarily have to exist in an order. Accordingly, the step of acquiring the heat dissipation permission message may be performed first, or the above two steps may be performed simultaneously.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S5100). Next, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S5200). The controller 2600 may perform a heat dissipation operation (S5300).

Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S5100).

The heat dissipation request message is a message notifying the controller 2600 that a heat dissipation operation needs to be performed. That is, when waste heat is accumulated more than necessary, the heat dissipation request message may be obtained.

A method of acquiring the heat dissipation request message may be various. For example, the heat dissipation request message can be obtained by interpreting the heat dissipation data. For another example, heat dissipation data may be obtained by measuring the temperature of a part of the special effect chair 2000 . In addition to the above examples, the heat dissipation request message may be obtained by a method capable of determining that a certain amount or more of waste heat is accumulated.

The timing at which the heat dissipation request message is obtained may vary. For example, the heat dissipation request message may be obtained at an intermediate point between a heat dissipation operation start time included in the heat dissipation data and a heat dissipation operation stop time point. For another example, the heat dissipation request message may be obtained when the temperature of a portion of the special effect chair 2000 becomes equal to or greater than a reference temperature value. In addition to the above example, the heat dissipation request message may be obtained at a point in time when waste heat is accumulated over a certain amount.

A method, time, and condition for obtaining a heat dissipation request message will be described later in detail.

Next, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S5200).

As described above, the heat dissipation permission message is a message indicating that the conditions for performing the heat dissipation operation have been met.

Factors that can be considered to permit a heat dissipation operation may vary.

The condition for performing the heat dissipation operation may mean, for example, a time interval in which the heat dissipation operation may be performed temporally. Alternatively, it may mean that a place where a heat dissipation operation can be spatially performed is secured. Alternatively, it may refer to a condition in which a user does not interfere with enjoying multimedia content even when a heat dissipation operation is performed for other reasons.

An example of a heat dissipation permission message will be described. The heat dissipation operation may sometimes cause noise in driving the heat dissipation module 2500 . The induced noise may be a factor that interferes with the user's enjoyment of multimedia content. Accordingly, the controller 2600 performs the heat dissipation operation only when noise is generated around the special effect chair 2000, thereby minimizing the possibility that the heat dissipation operation becomes an obstacle. To this end, the controller 2600 in the special effect chair 2000 may be connected to the noise sensor. The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message when certain conditions are satisfied by interpreting and processing noise information measured from the noise sensor.

Another example of the heat dissipation permission message will be described. The seating portion 2200 may perform an operation such as rotation or vibration as a kind of special effect. If the seat unit 2200 performs the heat dissipation operation at the time of performing the special effect operation, the heat dissipation operation may be performed in a situation in which the user is not aware of it. Accordingly, the user's enjoyment of multimedia content may not be disturbed. To this end, the controller 2600 may detect that the seating portion 2200 is performing a special effect operation such as rotation or vibration. For example, the controller 2600 may be connected to an acceleration sensor. Alternatively, data including information on the special effect operation may be analyzed. The controller 2600 can determine that the seating portion 2200 is performing the special effect operation by using an acceleration sensor or information on the special effect operation. The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message when detecting the execution of the special effect operation.

The above-described embodiments will be described later in detail.

The controller 2600 may stop transmission of the control signal if the control signal is being transmitted to the heat dissipation module 2500 when the heat dissipation permission message is not obtained. As a result, the heat dissipation operation may be stopped. The controller 2600 may not transmit a control signal to the heat dissipation module 2500 until the heat dissipation request message and the heat dissipation permission message are obtained again.

However, there may be exceptional cases in which the heat dissipation operation must be performed even though the heat dissipation permission message has not been acquired. For example, when the temperature value of the contact unit 2400 rises to the extent of endangering the user's body, the heat dissipation permission message is obtained. It is necessary to perform the heat dissipation operation only with the heat dissipation request message regardless of whether or not the heat dissipation request message is present. In preparation for this case, the heat dissipation request message may include information about whether a heat dissipation operation is urgently required. When the heat radiation operation is urgent, the controller 2600 may determine to perform the heat radiation operation even if the heat radiation permission message is not obtained. The controller 2600 may determine not to perform a heat dissipation operation when the heat dissipation operation is not urgent. As described above, determining whether a heat dissipation operation is urgently required may not be an essential step.

Next, the controller 2600 may perform a heat dissipation operation (S5400).

The controller 2600 may perform a heat radiation operation when the heat radiation request message and the heat radiation permission message are obtained. The controller 2600 may transmit a control signal for generating a heat dissipation operation to the heat dissipation module 2500 to perform the heat dissipation operation. For example, the controller may determine the start time of the heat release operation, the stop time of the heat release operation, and the strength of the heat release operation based on the information used to determine whether the heat release request message or the heat release permission message has been obtained. .

4.2. heat dissipation request message

Hereinafter, an implementation example of a heat dissipation request message will be described in detail.

16 describes a method of using heat release data as an embodiment of the heat release request message obtaining step.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain heat dissipation data (S6100). Next, the controller 2600 may obtain heat dissipation operation information (S6200). Next, the controller 2600 may determine whether to acquire the heat release request message according to the heat release request message acquisition condition (S6300). The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S6400). Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain heat dissipation data (S6100). The heat dissipation data is data that includes information on a heat dissipation operation in association with the thermal feedback data. The information on the heat dissipation operation may be information on a start time point (t _i ) of the heat dissipation operation, a stop time point (t _e ), and intensity of the heat dissipation operation. The heat dissipation operation start time (t _i ), the stop time point (t _e ), and the intensity of the heat dissipation operation are linked with thermal feedback data and inserted at a time when it is determined that heat dissipation is necessary in consideration of the number, duration, and intensity of thermal feedback. It became.

The special effect chair 2000 may receive heat dissipation data from the central control device 1000 through the communication unit 2100 . The heat dissipation data may include information on a plurality of heat dissipation operations. The central control device 1000 may transmit information on the plurality of heat dissipation operations as a whole at once. Alternatively, the information on the plurality of heat dissipation operations may be divided or classified into information on a plurality of unit heat dissipation operations. The central control device 1000 may transmit information on the divided unit heat dissipation operation to the special effect chair 2000 several times.

Next, the controller 2600 may obtain heat dissipation operation information (S6200). The controller 2600 may interpret the heat dissipation data to obtain information about a start time point (t _i ), a stop time point (t _e ) of the heat dissipation operation, and intensity of the heat dissipation operation.

Next, the controller 2600 may determine whether to acquire the heat release request message according to the heat release request message acquisition condition (S6300). The condition for obtaining the heat release request message may be a condition of comparing a current time with a start time point (t _i ) and a stop time point (t _e ) of the heat release operation. The controller 2600 may itself know information about the current time t. The controller 2600 determines whether the current time t has not reached the heat dissipation start point t _i , or the current time t has reached the heat dissipation stop point t e , or the heat dissipation stop point _{t e .} If it passes, it may be determined that there is no need to perform the heat dissipation operation. At this time, the controller 2600 cannot obtain a heat dissipation request message.

When the controller 2600 does not obtain the heat dissipation request message, the controller 2600 does not perform a heat dissipation operation. In addition, the heat dissipation request message acquisition condition determination step may be performed again.

The controller 2600 has the current time t reach the heat dissipation start time t _i , including the case where the current time t is the same time as the heat dissipation start time t _i , and the heat dissipation stop time ( If t _e ) is not reached, it can be determined that heat dissipation operation is necessary.

The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S6400). The controller 2600 may obtain a heat radiation request message when it is determined that a heat radiation operation is necessary. Acquisition of the heat dissipation request message may not necessarily mean that a heat dissipation operation is performed.

Hereinafter, a method of using a temperature sensor as an embodiment of the heat dissipation request message obtaining step will be described with reference to FIG. 17 .

First, the controller 2600 may acquire temperature information of a part of the special effect chair (S7100). The controller 2600 may determine whether a heat dissipation request message acquisition condition is satisfied based on the acquired temperature information (S7200). Next, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S7300).

Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 may acquire temperature information of the heat output module 2300 (S7100).

The special effect chair 2000 may further include a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a portion of the special effect chair 2000 . The temperature value T measured by the temperature sensor may be provided to the controller 2600 . A location where the temperature sensor is provided may be a portion of the thermoelectric element 2320 or a portion of the contact portion 2400 . Alternatively, due to the structural characteristics of the special effect chair 2000, a temperature sensor may be provided at a location where waste heat is easily accumulated. The controller 2600 may analyze the temperature value T to determine whether a heat dissipation operation is required.

The controller 2600 may determine a heat dissipation request message acquisition condition based on the obtained temperature information (S7200).

The condition for obtaining the heat dissipation request message may be a condition for comparing a reference temperature value and the acquired temperature information. A plurality of the reference temperature values may be set. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a case in which the reference temperature value is two is assumed and described.

The controller 2600 may store a first reference temperature value T _R 1 and a second reference temperature value T _R 2 in advance. When a thermoelectric operation is repeated in the thermoelectric element 2320, a part of the special effect chair 2000 may be heated to an extent that inhibits the sensitivity of thermal feedback. If the thermoelectric operation is repeated a greater number of times, the durability of the special effect chair 2000 may be deteriorated beyond the level of inhibiting the sensitivity of the sense of warmth and may reach a level of causing danger to the user. A temperature value when the temperature value T measured by the temperature sensor reaches a level that inhibits the sensitivity of the above-described thermal feedback is referred to as a first reference temperature value T _R 1 , and the measured temperature value T is A temperature value at which durability of the special effect chair 2000 deteriorates or reaches a level that causes danger to users is referred to as a second reference temperature value T _R 2 . Accordingly, the second reference temperature value T _R 2 may be greater than the first reference temperature value T _R 1 .

The controller 2600 may compare the temperature value T measured by the temperature sensor with a first reference temperature value T _R 1 and a second reference temperature value T _R 2 . When the measured temperature value T is less than the first reference temperature value T _R 1 , the controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation is unnecessary.

When the measured temperature value T is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature value T _R 1 and less than the second reference temperature value T2 , the controller 2600 may determine that a heat dissipation operation is necessary.

When the measured temperature value T is equal to or greater than the second reference temperature value T _R 2 , the controller 2600 may determine that a heat dissipation operation is urgently needed.

A condition for obtaining a heat dissipation request message will be described with reference to FIG. 18 by giving some examples of the measured temperature values. The vertical axis represents the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor. The horizontal axis is an axis for displaying the measured temperature values separately.

The first temperature value B1 is less than the first reference temperature value _TR 1 . Accordingly, when the measured temperature value T is the first temperature value B1, the controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation is unnecessary.

The second temperature value B2 is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature value T _R 1 and less than the second reference temperature value T _R 2 . Accordingly, when the measured temperature value T is the second temperature value B2, the controller 2600 may determine that a heat dissipation operation is necessary.

The third temperature value B3 is equal to or greater than the second reference temperature value T _R 2 . Accordingly, when the measured temperature value T is the third temperature value B3, the controller 2600 may determine that a heat dissipation operation is urgently needed.

The controller 2600 does not obtain a heat radiation request message when it is determined that the heat radiation operation is unnecessary. In this case, if the heat dissipation operation is in progress, the controller 2600 may control the ongoing heat dissipation operation to stop. Then, the controller 2600 may obtain temperature information again.

Next, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation request message (S7300).

The controller 2600 may obtain a normal heat dissipation request message when it is determined that a heat dissipation operation is necessary. Here, the normal heat dissipation request message may not necessarily mean that the heat dissipation operation is performed (S7310).

The controller 2600 may obtain an emergency heat dissipation request message when it is determined that a heat dissipation operation is urgently needed. When the urgent heat dissipation request message is obtained, the controller 2600 may perform a heat dissipation operation (S7320). When the emergency heat dissipation request message is obtained, the controller may determine that the heat release permission message is obtained or perform a heat release operation regardless of whether or not the heat release permission message is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 18 , when the temperature value T measured by the temperature sensor has the magnitude of the first temperature value B1, the controller 2600 does not obtain the heat dissipation request message. When the measured temperature value T has the magnitude of the second temperature value B2, the controller 2600 obtains a normal heat dissipation request message. When the measured temperature value T has a magnitude of the third temperature value B3, the controller 2600 obtains an emergency heat dissipation request message.

The normal heat dissipation request message and the emergency heat dissipation request message may include information about the intensity of the heat dissipation operation. Intensities of heat dissipation operations included in the normal heat dissipation request message and the emergency heat dissipation request message may be different from each other. For example, the fact that the emergency heat dissipation request message is provided may mean that a heat dissipation operation should be performed with a higher intensity. Accordingly, the heat dissipation operation strength included in the emergency heat dissipation request message may be stronger than the heat dissipation operation included in the normal heat dissipation request message.

Here, the reference temperature value may vary in response to the correction of the thermal feedback intensity.

The second reference temperature value T _R 2 may be maintained at a constant value even if the thermal feedback intensity is corrected. The second reference temperature value T _R 2 is a temperature value set in relation to device durability and user safety. Accordingly, the second reference temperature value T _R 2 may be maintained at a constant value regardless of the correction of the thermal feedback intensity.

The first reference temperature value T _R 1 may need to be changed according to the correction of the thermal feedback intensity. When the intensity of the thermal feedback increases, the amount of heat provided to the contact portion 2400 by the heat feedback increases. Accordingly, when heat feedback is provided, the temperature of the contact portion 2400 increases. Through the increased temperature of the contact unit 2400, the user may feel a sense of warmth feedback. In this case, since the temperature of the contact part 2400 is increased, the temperature value of the contact part 2400 that inhibits the sensitivity of the temperature feedback may also increase. Accordingly, the first reference temperature value T _R 1 needs to be corrected to increase. To this end, for example, the controller 2600 may store a table in which the intensity of thermal feedback and the corresponding first reference temperature value T _R 1 are set in an internal memory. When the controller 2600 recognizes that the thermal feedback intensity has been corrected, the controller 2600 may call the first reference temperature value T _R 1 corresponding to the corrected thermal feedback intensity with reference to the table. The controller 2600 may determine whether to obtain the heat dissipation request message based on the obtained first reference temperature value T _R 1 .

4.3. Thermal permission message

Hereinafter, the step of obtaining a heat dissipation permission message in the special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described through a specific embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 19 , a flowchart of a method of using the level of noise around special effects as an example of a method of acquiring a heat dissipation permission message can be seen.

When the heat dissipation module 2500 is driven, for example, noise may be generated due to the operation of the heat dissipation fan. The generated noise may be a factor that interferes with the enjoyment of multimedia content. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the generated noise. To this end, the heat dissipation operation may be designed to be performed only at a time when the noise generated around the special effect chair 2000 by an audiovisual image or other special effects provided to the user is sufficiently high.

First, the controller 2600 may acquire noise information (S8100). The controller 2600 may determine whether the acquired noise information satisfies a condition for obtaining a heat radiation permission message (S8200). The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S8300).

Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 may acquire noise information (S8100).

The controller 2600 may be connected to a noise sensor. The noise sensor may measure the level of noise generated around the special effect chair 2000 . The controller 2600 may receive a noise value N indicating the level of noise from the noise sensor.

The controller 2600 may determine whether the acquired noise information satisfies a condition for obtaining a heat radiation permission message (S8200).

The controller 2600 may store the reference noise value N _R . The reference noise value N _R refers to a level of noise that is determined to not interfere with the user's immersion even when a heat dissipation operation is performed because the noise is sufficiently loud in the surroundings. Here, the reference noise value N _R may be one or more different values, but for convenience of description, only a case with one reference noise value NR will be described. The controller 2600 may compare the noise value N measured by the noise sensor with the reference noise value N _R . The controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation should not be performed when the measured noise value N is less than the reference noise value N _R . In this case, the controller 2600 cannot obtain a heat dissipation permission message. The controller 2600 may acquire noise information again.

The controller 2600 may determine that the heating operation may be performed when the measured noise value N is greater than or equal to the reference noise value N _R .

The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S8300).

When it is determined that the heat radiation operation may be performed, the controller 2600 may obtain a heat radiation permission message. Acquisition of the heat dissipation permission message may not necessarily mean that the heat dissipation module 2500 performs a heat dissipation operation.

Hereinafter, a method of utilizing motion information such as rotation/vibration of the seating unit 2200 as another embodiment of acquiring a heat dissipation permission message will be described with reference to FIG. 20 .

First, the controller 2600 may obtain motion information of the seating portion 2200 (S9100). Next, the controller 2600 may determine whether the obtained motion information satisfies a condition for obtaining a heat release permission message (S9200). The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S9300).

Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.

First, the controller 2600 may obtain motion information of the seating portion 2200 (S9100).

The controller 2600 may obtain motion information in various ways. For example, motion information of the seating portion 2200 may be included in motion data. The motion information may include information about when a motion effect including rotation/vibration of the seating part 2200 starts and stops. The controller 2600 may receive the motion data from the central control device 1000 . The controller 2600 may acquire the motion information by interpreting the motion data.

As another example of obtaining motion information by the controller 2600, the controller 2600 may be connected to an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor may detect a change in acceleration that occurs when the seating portion 2200 performs an operation such as rotation/vibration. The controller 2600 may receive acceleration information from the acceleration sensor. The controller 2600 may obtain motion information of the seating portion 2200 by interpreting/processing the acceleration information. The motion information may include information about how much rotation/vibration occurs in the seating part 2200 .

Next, the controller 2600 may determine whether the obtained motion information satisfies a condition for obtaining a heat release permission message (S9200).

For example, when the obtained motion information is obtained from motion data, the controller 2600 may compare the current time with the motion information.

The controller 2600 can know the current time. The controller 2600 determines if the current time has not reached the motion effect start point or if the current time has reached the motion effect stop point - if the current time and the motion effect stop point are the same or if the current time has passed the motion effect stop point It may be determined that the heat dissipation operation should not be performed in - including the case. The controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation may be performed when the current time reaches the motion effect start point but does not reach the motion effect stop point.

As another example, when the obtained motion information is obtained from an acceleration sensor, the controller 2600 may use a reference acceleration value. The reference acceleration value is an acceleration value that means the degree to which the degree of immersion of the user is not disturbed even when a heat dissipation operation is performed when rotation/vibration of the seating part 2200 occurs. The reference acceleration value may be one or more different values from each other, but for convenience of description, a case of having one reference acceleration value will be described below.

The controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation should not be performed when the acceleration value measured by the acceleration sensor is less than the reference acceleration value. In this case, the controller 2600 cannot obtain a heat dissipation permission message. The controller 2600 may obtain exercise information of the seating portion 2200 again.

The controller 2600 may determine that the heat dissipation operation may be performed when the acceleration value measured by the acceleration sensor is greater than or equal to the reference acceleration value.

The controller 2600 may obtain a heat dissipation permission message (S9300).

The controller 2600 may obtain a heat radiation permission message when it is determined that the heat radiation operation may be performed. The fact that the heat dissipation permission message is obtained may not necessarily mean that the heat dissipation operation is performed.

5. How to detect whether someone is seated

The special effect control system according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect whether a user is seated on the seating portion 2200, and use the obtained seating information to provide thermal feedback and heat radiation only in the special effect chair 2000 in which the user is seated. You can control it to perform an action.

A considerable amount of power is consumed to drive the special effect chair 2000. The special effect control system can minimize power consumption by preventing special effects including thermal feedback from being provided to the special effect chair 2000 in which a user is not seated.

To detect whether a person is seated, the special effect chair 2000 may further include a sensor for detecting whether a person is seated. The occupancy detection sensor may be communicatively connected to the controller 2600 .

The seating detection sensor may be, for example, a pressure sensor provided in the seating portion 2200 . The pressure sensor may determine whether the user is seated by sensing the weight of the seated user. Alternatively, the seating presence detection sensor may be a sensor that measures a biosignal. The biosignal sensor may determine whether the user is seated by contacting a part of the user's body and measuring a biosignal when the user is seated. Alternatively, it may be a sensor that measures a change in electrical resistance.

The special effects control system according to another embodiment of the present invention may use movie theater seat usage information to detect seat availability. It is common for movie theaters to collect seat use information through reservation information in order to prevent overlapping use of seats and acquire seat occupancy. The special effect control system may receive the seat use information from a server storing the seat use information. The central control device 1000 may determine whether a user is seated in each special effect chair 2000 based on seat use information.

The central control device 1000 may provide special effect data including thermal feedback and heat dissipation data only to the special effect chair 2000 determined to be seated by the user.

The special effect control system can continuously detect whether or not the user is seated. For example, when a user leaves while playing multimedia content, the operation of the special effect chair 2000 needs to be stopped. Accordingly, the controller 2600 may control each special effect providing device to stop providing special effects.

In some cases, other adjacent special effect chairs 2000 continue to provide special effects, so individually stopping the operation of only the special effect chair 2000 from which the user leaves may cause danger. Therefore, even when the user leaves, the controller 2600 can control to maintain the provision of special effects. Regarding whether to stop the special effect when the user leaves, it may be preset and stored in the controller 2600 in the central control device 1000 or the special effect chair 2000 according to the situation of the movie theater.

In the above, the configuration and characteristics of the present invention have been described based on the embodiments according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore such changes or modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1000: central control unit 1100: communication unit
1200: memory 1300: controller
2000: Special effect chair 2100: Ministry of Communications
2200: seating part 2300: heat output module
2310: substrate 2320: thermoelectric element
2321: thermocouple 2322: thermocouple group
2323: thermocouple array 2324: front
2325: rear 2330: power terminal
2400: contact part 2500: heat dissipation module
2510: heat transfer unit 2520: waste heat release unit
2600: controller 4000: user input unit
4100: power button 4200: feedback intensity control button

Claims (1)

As a special effect chair that provides thermal feedback to the user in conjunction with the reproduction of multimedia contents,
a communication unit for receiving thermal feedback data;
a seating unit in which a user can sit;
a thermal output module including a thermoelectric element generating heat by a thermoelectric operation and a power supply terminal supplying power to the thermoelectric element;
a contact part contacting a part of the user's body and transferring heat generated from the thermoelectric element by contacting the thermoelectric element to the part of the user's body by a heat conduction method;
a heat dissipation module for dissipating waste heat generated in the special effect chair, wherein the waste heat is different from thermal feedback provided to the user; and
A controller controlling operations of the heat output module and the heat dissipation module so that thermal feedback is provided based on the thermal feedback data;
Special effect chair.

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