Method for controlling an electromagnetic valve drive mechanism for a gas exchange valve in an internal combustion piston engine

A method for actuating an electro-magnetic actuator for activating a cylinder valve provided with a valve stem in a piston-type internal combustion engine, with possible valve play between the valve stem and a guide rod for the actuator that acts upon the valve stem and is connected to an armature that is guided back and forth between pole faces of two electromagnets, arranged at a distance from each other, counter to the force of at least one restoring spring, wherein the current supply to the electromagnets is respectively controlled with the aid of a sensor arrangement and via an engine control unit, said method comprising:

• controlling the current such that the current supply to the electromagnet being approached by the armature so as to move the armature with a low movement speed toward the respective pole face, and, in order to regulate a valve play during the closing movement of the cylinder valve, further controlling the current supply to the electromagnet being approached such that initially the valve touches down softly on its seat and, following the valve play, the armature touches down softly on the respective pole face.