Method of controlling an electromagnetic actuator

A method of controlling an electromagnetic actuator having an excitation coil and a movable armature is presented. An actuating event is triggered by applying a control signal to move said armature from a rest position thereof towards an actuating position. The method comprising the steps of: determining a switch-off time (t off ) at which the armature returns to its rest position; determining a time (t max ) at which the armature reaches an extremum of its stroke during the actuation event; computing a switch-on time on the assumption that the switch-on time (t on ) is separated from the switch-off time by an actuating duration (t act ), which represents approximately twice the time separating the extremum stroke time (t max ) from the switch-off time (t off ).