Abstract: A micromechanical actuator includes a plunger, having two magnet heads spaced from each other and joined to move together, that is supported for linear movement on a substrate. A magnetic core is supported on the substrate and has gaps in the core adjacent to the heads of the plunger. At least one permanent magnet is mounted to the plunger to move with it and forms, with the core, first and second magnetic circuits for flux which pass through the first and second heads of the plunger. A coil is coupled to the magnetic core to provide flux to the core. When the coil is supplied with DC current in one direction, the flux from the coil opposes the flux from the permanent magnet in one of the gaps and augments the flux in the other gap, causing the plunger to move in the direction of the gap having the augmented flux. After the plunger has switched positions, the electrical current in the coil is turned off, leaving the plunger latched in its switched position due to the flux from the permanent magnet.