Abstract: A method for estimating the end-of-stroke positions of moving members of electromagnetic actuators for the actuation of intake and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines in which an actuator is coupled to a respective intake or exhaust valve and comprises a moving member actuated magnetically in order to control the movement of the valve, a sensor supplying a position signal representative of a current position of this moving member and a first and a second electromagnet disposed on opposite sides of the moving member, wherein this moving member can move between a first end-of-stroke position in which it is disposed in contact with the first electromagnet and a second end-of-stroke position in which it is disposed in contact with the second electromagnet. The method comprises the stages of checking whether the condition of stationary contact of the moving member exists and determining a magnitude correlated with this current position, if the stationary condition is verified.

Abstract: A method for controlling electromagnetic actuators for operating induction and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines where one actuator, connected to a control unit, is coupled to a respective valve having a real position and includes a movable element magnetically driven by means of a resultant force to control the movement of the said valve between a closure position and a fully open position, the control unit is further connected to a piloting unit and includes a supervision block, an open loop control block, a closed loop control block and a selector block commanded by a switching signal generated by the supervision block. The method includes the steps of: operating in an open loop control mode of the real position; operating in a closed loop control mode of the real position; and alternatively selecting the open loop control mode and the closed loop control mode.