Apparatus and method for providing tactile sensation in cooperation with display device

An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation in cooperation with a display device for displaying a virtual image, the apparatus comprising:

• an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image of a user body;
• a communication unit configured to receive content data information;
• a determiner unit configured to determine whether or not a user attempts an interaction with the virtual image by using the image acquired by the image acquisition unit;
• a content analyzer unit configured to acquire a time at which a virtual image is shown and position information of the shown virtual image from the content data information;
• a tactile-sensation provider unit configured to provide a tactile sensation to a preset body part of the user based on a determination result of the determiner unit;
• a tactile-sensation provision controller configured to adjust a position of an ejector nozzle of the tactile-sensation provider unit in correspondence to a position of the virtual image based on a virtual image showing time and position acquired by the content analyzer unit, and
• wherein, when a showing of the virtual image is predicted based on the virtual image showing time, the tactile-sensation provision controller adjusts the position of the elector nozzle in correspondence to the position of the virtual image.

A method for providing a tactile sensation for a virtual image, the method comprising:

• (a) acquiring an image of a user body from a display device for the virtual image;
• (b) receiving information on the virtual image from the display device;
• (c) determining whether or not a user attempts an interaction with the virtual image by using the image acquired in said step (a) and information on the virtual image;
• (d) providing a tactile sensation to a preset body part of the user based on a determination result of said step (c);
• and
• (e) adjusting a position of an ejector nozzle for providing a tactile sensation in correspondence to a position of the virtual image when a showing of the virtual image is predicted.