A miniature proportional pneumatic valve for a tactile display

To return the feeling of touch to a surgeon during robot assisted minimally invasive surgery, a tactile display is necessary. Such a display usually consists of a large array of pins with challenging requirements for the actuators controlling the pins. A pneumatically controlled display has the advantage that the power can be generated at a distance, while the display itself is very simple. While this is not the first time pneumatics is used to actuate a tactile display, a satisfying valve has been missing. This valve is specifically designed to fill that gap. The presented valve is a proportional valve, controlled by a reluctance actuator and capable of dealing with relatively high pressures. To eliminate friction of the piston, an air bearing is included. A prototype offers a proof of concept, but it needs to be optimised to reach a full pressure range.status: publishe