Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism and a power cinching mechanism. The latch mechanism is operable in a released state when a closure panel is located in an open position, in a secondary closed state when the closure panel is located in a partially-closed position, and in a primary closed state when the closure panel is located in a fully-closed position. The cinching mechanism interacts with the latch mechanism to establish the secondary closed state and is actuated for shifting the latch mechanism from its secondary closed state into its primary closed state.

Abstract: A vehicle closure panel latch assembly having pivotable actuator lever sealed against the ingress of water into a housing of the latch assembly is provided. The actuator lever is configured for receipt in an opening of the housing and for operable connection to an internal latch component. A seal member is disposed about a portion of the actuator lever to form a water-tight seal between the housing and the actuator lever to prevent the passage of water through the opening.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel includes a housing; a ratchet pivotably mounted for movement between striker capture and a striker release positions; a release lever, and a pawl assembly. Pawl assembly includes a first and second pawls. First pawl is pivotably mounted to housing for movement about a first pivot axis between ratchet checking and ratchet releasing positions in response to movement of release lever. Second pawl is pivotably mounted to first pawl for movement about a second pivot axis spaced from first pivot axis. Second pawl is engaged with ratchet locking surface while first pawl is in the ratchet checking position to releasably maintain ratchet in the striker capture position. Second pawl is pivotal relative to first pawl about second pivot axis when first pawl pivots toward the ratchet releasing position to allow ratchet to pivot to the striker release position.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.

Abstract: A lifter plate assembly for a window of a motor vehicle has a plastic main body. The main body includes a pair of rail guide hooks formed therein. The rail guide hooks are laterally spaced from one another and configured for sliding receipt of window regulator rails therein. A window clamp plate formed of the main body plastic extends in spaced relation from the main body to provide a receptacle configured for receipt of an edge of the window. A fastener assembly includes an elongate threaded member and a nut. The elongate threaded member extends through an opening in the main body and through an opening in the window clamp plate. At least one of the elongate threaded member and the nut is rotatable relative to the other to draw the window clamp plate and the main body toward one another to clamp against the edge of the window.

Abstract: An electronic latch system for a motor vehicle includes an electronic latch (e-latch) including an e-latch controller within a door of the vehicle. A plurality of radar sensors are located within the door for performing non-contact detection of objects around the vehicle. The radar sensors include an outside-face sensor adjacent an outside face of the door to sense an object within a first sensing zone extending from the outside face. The radar sensors also include an inner sensor adjacent an inside surface of the door to sense an object within a second sensing zone extending from the inside surface. The radar sensors also include a shut-face sensor adjacent a shut face of the door to sense an object within a third sensing zone extending from the shut face. The e-latch includes a light source for projecting a warning image and an audio source for generating an audible warning.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for detecting an object is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes at least one radar transmitter configured to emit transmitted radar waves having a first polarization. The sensor assembly also includes at least one radar receiver configured to receive the transmitted radar waves after reflecting from the object as reflected radar waves having a second polarization different than the first polarization and corresponding with a detection of the object relative to the sensor assembly. The at least one radar receiver is additionally configured to reject radar waves having a polarization being different than the second polarization to disregard noise generated by environmental interaction of the transmitted radar waves and from extraneous radar sources.

Abstract: A carrier module for a motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels defining a door panel structure with the inner panel having an opening for selective access to an internal door cavity between the inner and outer panels are provided. The carrier module includes a carrier having an outer periphery configured for attachment to the inner panel to substantially close off the opening with the outer periphery bounding a wall having a variable wall thickness with support regions of the wall having an increased thickness relative to adjacent non-support regions.

Abstract: A non-contact obstacle and gesture detection system and method are disclosed. The system includes first and second electronic control units in communication with one another and obstacle and gesture sensors coupled to the first electronic control unit. First and second power actuators are coupled to the first and second electronic control units for moving first and second closure members, respectively. The first electronic control unit detects the obstacle or gesture using the obstacle and gesture sensors, communicates the detection of the obstacle or gesture to the second electronic control unit, and controls movement of the first closure member using the first power actuator. The second electronic control unit is configured to request the detection of the obstacle or gesture adjacent the motor vehicle from the first electronic control unit and control movement of the second closure member using the second power actuator accordingly.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel is equipped with a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism for releasing the latch mechanism, and an outside backup release mechanism operable, in cooperating with the latch mechanism and the latch release mechanism, to provide an external latch release function and a separate and distinct latch reset function. The external latch release function is initiated by a first-key actuation operation associated with a door-mounted key release mechanism. The latch reset function is initiated, after the external latch release function, via a second key-actuated operation associated with a reset device on the closure latch assembly.

Abstract: A digital imaging system and method of image data processing are provided. The system includes a main lens configured to focus light from a field of view for a plurality of depths of field and project a plurality of intermediary images representing the depths of field. An image sensor assembly is in a spaced relationship with the main lens and includes a light sensors grouped into sensor sub-arrays. An intermediate microlens array is disposed between the main lens and the image sensor assembly and includes intermediate micro lenses adjacent to and abutting one another to focus the intermediary images onto one of the sensor sub-arrays from a different perspective than another adjacent micro lens. A control unit captures and stores image data associated with the intermediary images and creates a three-dimensional depth map. The control unit also calculates distance information of objects to detect a gesture or obstacle.

Abstract: A latch assembly and system therewith configured for retaining a closure panel of a motor vehicle in a closed position relative to a vehicle body during and upon the latch assembly experiencing an impact force during a crash condition and prior to the latch assembly having been intentionally actuated to move to an unlatched state.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel includes a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position. The actuation rod may have a first segment connected to a door handle and a second segment connected to a key cylinder, where either segment may provide the mechanical release.

Abstract: An active hinge including a hood bracket for attachment to a vehicle hood and a body bracket for attachment to a vehicle body. A deploy bracket is pivotally attached to the hood bracket and the body bracket. The hood bracket is pivotable relative to the deploy bracket between a non-deployed position and a deployed position. At least one link interconnects, and is pivotally connected to the deploy bracket and the body bracket. A pawl is pivotally mounted to one of the hood bracket, the body bracket, the deploy bracket, and the at least one link. A bolt for engagement by the pawl is connected to another of the hood bracket, the body bracket, the deploy bracket, and the at least one link. An actuator is provided for disengaging the pawl from the bolt to allow the deploy bracket to move relative to the hood bracket and the body bracket.

Abstract: A window regulator system for a window coupled to a door and movable between fully open and closed positions and a short drop position and method of operation are disclosed. The system includes rails with window regulator lifter plate assemblies being moveable along the rails by cables. A motor winds the cables to move the window. An electronic control unit detects operation of at least one of a door handle and a latch of the door to identify a short drop request corresponding to the door shut or opened. The electronic control unit ensures that no freeplay exists in the window regulator system to provide accurate movement of the window and controls the motor to selectively raise the window to the fully closed position in response to the door being shut and temporarily lower the window to the short drop position in response to identifying the short drop request.

Abstract: A power closure latch assembly with a manually actuatable release link, vehicle door therewith and method of allowing a power actuatable closure latch assembly to be converted for selective manual actuation is provided. The release link is configured to operably communicate an actuator lever with a release lever for conjoint movement therebetween, to provide power-assisted movement of a pawl between ratchet releasing and ratchet holding positions, when the release link is in a “normal” first operating position. The release link is further configured to allow the release lever to move independently from the actuator lever when the release link is in a manually deployed “override/reset” second position to provide spring-biased movement of the pawl from the ratchet releasing position back to the ratchet holding position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicular latching system configured to provide an anti-chucking locking function in cooperation with a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism has a ratchet that is moveable by a striker between a striker release position, a striker capture position, and a striker over-travel position. A pawl is operable in a ratchet holding position to hold the ratchet when the ratchet is in the striker capture position and operable in a ratchet releasing position to release the ratchet to allow the ratchet to return to its striker release position. A latch release mechanism operates to move the pawl between its ratchet holding and ratchet releasing positions. The anti-chuck locking function is provided by the pawl having a lock tooth and the ratchet having a lock notch for locking engagement therebetween when the pawl holds the ratchet in its striker capture position for muting vibrations of the latch assembly.

Abstract: A touch pad for operating an e-latch assembly of a motor vehicle entry system that includes a control circuit with a backup energy source and method of operating the entry system are provided. The touch pad includes a touch pad controller in communication with the control circuit of the e-latch assembly. The touch pad also includes at least one entry input sensor coupled to the touch pad controller for outputting a signal indicative of a touch to operate the e-latch assembly. The touch pad further includes a mechanical emergency switch assembly adjacent the at least one entry input sensor and including a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the control circuit for operating the e-latch assembly when the at least one input sensor is not operable due to one of a power loss and malfunction of the at least one input sensor.

Abstract: An isolated fixing system for attaching an actuator to a vehicle door including an actuator fixing clip having a head portion, an engagement portion, and a guide portion, an isolation grommet with a flange and a receiving portion configured to engage the fixing clip, and a receiver integrated with the actuator to secure the actuator to a vehicle. The system may include an actuator fixing clip, a head portion, an engagement portion, and a guide portion of the actuator fixing clip that may be configured to engage an opening in a vehicle door and that, when inserted into the vehicle door, may be rotatable via the head portion from an unlocked position to a locked position, fixing the actuator to the vehicle door.