Abstract: An electrical latch for a closure system of a motor vehicle and method of operating are provided. The electrical latch includes a latching mechanism having a pawl and ratchet, a cinching mechanism having a cinching lever, and an electric actuator mechanism for actuating at least the cinching lever. The electrical latch further includes a control unit powered by a main power source and having a control circuit controlling operation of the actuator mechanism to affect the position of the cinch lever, and a backup energy source providing power to the control circuit and the actuator mechanism in the event a fault condition is experienced by the main power source. The electrical latch is configured to return the cinching lever to a home uncinched position in response to switching of power from the main power source to the backup energy source.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure member is provided. The latch assembly includes a housing and a ratchet pivotally coupled to the housing for selectively retaining a striker to secure the closure member. A cinch lever assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a cinch lever for engaging the ratchet. The cinch lever cinches the striker in the ratchet in response to the cinch lever being actuated by a cable coupled to the cinch lever assembly to move the closure panel from a partially closed position to a fully closed position. A cinch subassembly is operatively coupled to the cinch lever assembly with the cable coupled to the cinch lever assembly. The cinch subassembly is configured to freely move between a plurality of positions relative to the housing to accommodate a plurality of orientations of the cable coupled to the cinch lever assembly.

Abstract: A power latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system configured to provide a power cinching feature and a power release feature. The power cinching feature is configured to retain the ratchet in a cinched striker capture position with the pawl engaged from the ratchet. The power release feature is configured to move the ratchet from its cinched striker capture position to a cinch release striker capture position for unloading the seals prior to release of the ratchet to its striker release position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle includes a latch mechanism, a power-operated latch release mechanism, and an over-center spring-biased reset mechanism. The power-operated latch release mechanism is operable during a power release operation to shift the reset mechanism from a first over-center operating state into a second over-center operating state.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a vehicular closure system equipped with a latch cinch mechanism for providing a cinching feature and which is configured to retain a ratchet of a latch mechanism in a secondary striker capture position such that the latch mechanism is only required to hold the ratchet in a primary striker capture position.

Abstract: An electrical latch for a closure system of a motor vehicle and method of operating are provided. The electrical latch includes a latching mechanism having a pawl and ratchet, a cinching mechanism having a cinching lever, and an electric actuator mechanism for actuating at least the cinching lever. The electrical latch further includes a control unit powered by a main power source and having a control circuit controlling operation of the actuator mechanism to affect the position of the cinch lever, and a backup energy source providing power to the control circuit and the actuator mechanism in the event a fault condition is experienced by the main power source. The electrical latch is configured to return the cinching lever to a home uncinched position in response to switching of power from the main power source to the backup energy source.

Abstract: A power latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system configured to provide a power cinching feature and a power release feature. The power cinching feature is configured to retain the ratchet in a cinched striker capture position with the pawl disengaged from the ratchet. The power release feature is configured to move the ratchet from its cinched striker capture position to a cinch release striker capture position for unloading the seals prior to release of the ratchet to its striker release position.

Abstract: A latch for a door of motor vehicle having a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker comprising: a ratchet which can assume an opening position, in which ratchet enables engagement and disengagement between latch striker and a seat of ratchet, and a closing position, in which ratchet holds latch striker within seat; a first pawl rotatable about a first axis (B) and in a first rotation direction from a coupled position, in which it keeps, at least indirectly, ratchet in closing position and prevents disengagement of striker from seat, and a decoupled position, in which it permits the movement of ratchet from closing position to opening position; and a second pawl which cooperates with first pawl, cooperates with ratchet at least in a contact point (P) at least when ratchet is in closing position, and which is rotatable about a second axis (D) distinct from first axis (B).

Abstract: A release cable assembly having a release cable and an inertial locking device is provided. The release cable includes a cable wire configured to operably interconnect a release handle to a moveable latch release component of a latch assembly. The inertial locking device is configured to normally permit translational movement of the cable wire, via actuation of the release handle, to move the latch release component from a latched position to an unlatched position when the inertial locking device is exposed to an acceleration that is less than a predetermined acceleration threshold. When the inertial locking device is exposed to an acceleration exceeding the predetermined acceleration threshold, the inertial locking device prevents translational movement of the release cable, thereby preventing unintentional movement of the latch release component from the latched position to the unlatched position.

Abstract: A low release effort eccentric double ratchet, double pawl vehicle latch includes a ratchet, a primary pawl, an auxiliary ratchet and a secondary pawl. A drive mechanism including a gear cam wheel sequences movement of the secondary pawl to open and reset the latch. Upon reset, the drive mechanism actuates the auxiliary ratchet back to a closed state in a soft manner without using a hard stop; instead the latch has a cushioning spring that is used to softly stop the gear train during the reset absorbing motor energy and thus eliminating impact noise.

Abstract: An e-latch assembly for a closure member and a method of operating the e-latch assembly coupled to a closure member are provided. The e-latch assembly includes an actuation group operable to selectively secure the closure member. An electronic control circuit is coupled to the actuation group and includes a control unit configured to manage a plurality of handle activation signals. The control unit is also configured to receive a plurality of signals indicative of the state of a vehicle. Additionally, the control unit is configured to control the actuation group to selectively allow the closure member to be opened in response to receiving the plurality of signals indicative of the state of the vehicle and based on the plurality of handle activation signals.

Abstract: A two-motor power latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system configured to provide a power cinching feature and a power release feature. The power cinching feature is configured to retain the ratchet in a cinched striker capture position with the pawl disengaged from the ratchet. The power release feature is configured to move the ratchet from its cinched striker capture position to a cinch release striker capture position for unloading the seals prior to release of the ratchet to its striker release position.

Abstract: A safety-relevant system (S) in a vehicle comprises an electrical unit (EE) with at least one signal line input (SE). The signal line input (SE) is connected to a signal line. The electrical unit (EE) additionally comprises a supply connection (VA) for feeding the electrical unit (EE) with electrical energy. For supplying electrical energy to the electrical unit (EE), the signal line is in addition electrically coupled to the supply connection (VA) of the electrical unit (EE).

Abstract: A method of making an electrical latch assembly for a door of a vehicle. The method includes providing an electrical housing having a fluid-tight open interior and an opening. The method also includes positioning a printed circuit board in the fluid-tight open interior, wherein the printed circuit board has an electrical control unit. The method further includes connecting a latch mechanism to the electrical housing about the opening, the latch mechanism including an electric motor. The method also includes extending an electrical connector from the printed circuit board, through the opening of the latch mechanism and to the electrical motor to establish an electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the electric motor.

Abstract: An electrical vehicle latch including a support assembly, a releasable closure mechanism carried by the support assembly and adapted to releasably engage a striker, an electrically-operated actuator assembly carried by the support assembly and which can be selectively activated to release the closure mechanism from the striker or to lock the closure mechanism in a condition of engagement with the striker, and an electrical control unit having a printed circuit board for controlling operation of the actuator assembly. The support assembly including a first support body carrying at least a ratchet of the closure mechanism in a position parallel to a first plane (P1), and a second support body carrying at least the printed circuit board in a position parallel to a second plane (P2) transvere to the first plane (P1).

Abstract: An electrical latch assembly for a vehicle door is provided. The assembly includes an electrical housing having a fluid-tight open interior and an opening. A printed circuit board is disposed in the fluid-tight open interior between the first and second cover pieces and includes an electrical control unit. A latch mechanism is connected with the electrical housing around the opening and includes an electric motor. At least one electrical connector extends from the printed circuit board through the opening and establishes an electrical connection between the printed circuit board in the open interior of the electrical housing and the electric motor of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A latch release backup system for a latch assembly of a motor-vehicle door is provided with a key cylinder configured to receive a vehicle key and which is rotatably mounted to the motor-vehicle door, and a mechanical coupling arrangement mounted within the motor-vehicle door and operable to convert a rotation of the key cylinder into actuation of an actuation group of the latch assembly for causing latch release. The key cylinder defines an electrical interface socket designed to receive the vehicle key. An electronic control unit is mounted within the motor-vehicle door and is electrically connected to the electrical interface socket to receive identification information (Id) from the vehicle key when plugged into the electrical interface socket.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly including a vehicle door latch having a ratchet and pawl combination. The vehicle door latch assembly also includes a key receiver in which a key is rotatable. In addition, the vehicle door latch assembly includes a key receiver mechanical advantage means that is mechanically connected to the key receiver. The key receiver is operatively connected mechanically via the key receiver mechanical advantage means to the ratchet and pawl combination for release of the ratchet and pawl combination under movement of at least a part of the key receiver when mechanically engaged by the key.

Abstract: A control system (14) for controlling a brushless electric motor (1) for an automotive power actuator (10), having a rotor (3) operable to rotate with respect to stator windings (2a, 2b, 2c), the control system (14) is provided with: a position sensing unit (4a-4c, 30) coupled to the rotor (3), to sense its angular position and to provide a sensed position (?); and a generation unit (24), to generate driving voltages and/or currents for the stator windings (2a, 2b, 2c), as a function of the angular position of the rotor (3). A position estimation module (25) is coupled to the position sensing unit (4a-4c, 30), to receive the sensed position (?) and to correct the value of the sensed position (?), thereby providing a corrected angular position (?r) to the generation unit (24).