Patent ID: 7946261

Claim:
An electromagnetic actuator comprising an actuating member associated with an armature and able to move between two extreme positions under the action of an elastic member and of two electromagnets that are designed to attract the armature to one of the extreme positions, said electromagnets each comprising: a coil; a core configured to channel a flux of the coil so that the core forms a return path in the armature; and at least one permanent magnet associated with the core so that the latter channels a flux of the permanent magnets so that the core forms a return path in the armature, wherein the at least one permanent magnet of one of the electromagnets is configured to exert a force on the armature sufficient to retain the armature in the associated extreme position against the springs, whereas the at least one permanent magnet of the other of the electromagnets is designed to exert a force on the armature insufficient to retain the armature in the associated extreme position against the springs, and wherein the at least one permanent magnet associated with the one of the electromagnets which is configured to retain the armature is placed in the form of a V in a first central branch of the associated core, wherein the associated coil is wound around the first central branch, and wherein the at least one permanent magnet associated with the other of the electromagnets is placed flat, parallel to the armature, in a second central branch of the associated core, wherein the associated coil is wound around the second central branch.