Abstract: An electrical actuator comprises a first actuator body (1) and a second actuator body (3). The first actuator body comprises two diametrically opposed magnetic poles (N) and (S). The second actuator body is made of a soft-magnetic material and comprises three inwardly directed radial teeth (19, 20 and 21). In order to obtain a maximal ratio between the delivered torque and the applied electric power, only two teeth (19 and 21) are provided with exciter coils (29 and 31). In order to minimize detent torques the three teeth are identical to each other and the first actuator body is suitably diametrically magnetized.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which comprises an electrical actuator (2), a current source (35), a actuating unit (37) having a limited operating range, and a control unit (41). The actuator comprises a first actuator body having two diametrially opposed magnetic poles, and a soft-magnetic second actuator body, which is coaxial with the first actuator body and which preferably comprises three circumferentially equi-spaced teeth, which each carry an energizing coil (29, 30, 31). The first actuator body and the second actuator body cooperate with one another via an air gap and are pivotable relative to each other through a specific angle about a pivotable axis. The control unit is constructed to divide the operating range of the actuating unit into a plurality of sub-ranges and, depending on said sub-ranges, to controllably feed a current through one of the energizing coils, through two of the energizing coils, and through all the energizing coils, respectively.