The present disclosure relates to a closure latch for a vehicle door, and more particularly to a closure latch for a vehicle door equipped with a passive entry feature. To this end, the present disclosure relates to the use of a bidirectional power release mechanism operable in a first mode to release a latch mechanism under normal operating conditions and which is operable in a second mode to release the latch mechanism under emergency operating conditions.

A vehicle latch system, including: a latch assembly; an electronic control unit removably attached to an exterior of a housing of the latch assembly, the electronic control unit having a printed circuit board assembly secured into a housing of the electronic control unit, wherein the printed circuit board assembly when inserted into the housing of the electronic control unit is press fit into electrical communication with a first pair of terminals molded into the housing of the electronic control unit, wherein the first pair of terminals are configured to have an interference fit with a second pair of terminals molded into a housing of the latch assembly when the electronic control unit is secured to the latch assembly.

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.

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.

The vehicle power supply apparatus includes: a drive power supply that supplies electric power to a motor for generating drive power; an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to a motor controller and door lock controllers; and a backup power supply. A control method for the vehicle power supply apparatus includes: discharging the in-vehicle equipment by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply when it is determined that a vehicle has collided with an obstacle; and operating the door lock controllers by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply after a lapse of a specified time period since initiation timing of the discharging step so as to unlock doors.

The vehicle power supply apparatus includes: a drive power supply that supplies electric power to a motor for generating drive power; an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to a motor controller and door lock controllers; and a backup power supply. A control method for the vehicle power supply apparatus includes: discharging the in-vehicle equipment by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply when it is determined that a vehicle has collided with an obstacle; and operating the door lock controllers by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply after a lapse of a specified time period since initiation timing of the discharging step so as to unlock doors.

A door latch power supply device includes an electricity storage unit, a charger, a discharger, a contactless power receiver, an input port configured to be connected to an external power supply, an output port configured to be connected to an actuator, and an operation signal receiver configured to receive an operation signal sent in response to an operation for opening a door. While an input voltage input to the input port is higher than or equal to a first input threshold, the charger operates using power supplied from the external power supply so as to cause a storage voltage of the electricity storage unit to become a first storage voltage value, and the discharger outputs power in the electricity storage unit to the output port to place the actuator in the unlatched state in response to the operation signal received by the operation signal receiver. While the input voltage is lower than the first input threshold, the charger operates using power supplied from the contactless power receiver so as to cause the storage voltage to become a second storage voltage value, and then the discharger outputs power in the electricity storage unit to the output port to place the actuator in the unlatched state in response to the operation signal received.

A door latch power supply device includes an electricity storage unit, a charger, a discharger, a contactless power receiver, an input port configured to be connected to an external power supply, an output port configured to be connected to an actuator, and an operation signal receiver configured to receive an operation signal sent in response to an operation for opening a door. While an input voltage input to the input port is higher than or equal to a first input threshold, the charger operates using power supplied from the external power supply so as to cause a storage voltage of the electricity storage unit to become a first storage voltage value, and the discharger outputs power in the electricity storage unit to the output port to place the actuator in the unlatched state in response to the operation signal received by the operation signal receiver. While the input voltage is lower than the first input threshold, the charger operates using power supplied from the contactless power receiver so as to cause the storage voltage to become a second storage voltage value, and then the discharger outputs power in the electricity storage unit to the output port to place the actuator in the unlatched state in response to the operation signal received.

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.

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.