Magna Closures Inc.

A latch assembly for a motor vehicle including a ratchet assembly for retaining and releasing a striker, a pawl assembly for holding the ratchet assembly in one of a primary latched position and a secondary latched position, and for allowing the ratchet assembly to move to a fully unlatched position to release the striker, and a power release mechanism having a motor and a power release gear, where the motor is operable to rotate the power release gear in a first direction to move the pawl to allow the ratchet assembly to move from the primary latched position to the secondary latched position, and to rotate the power release gear in a second opposite direction to move the pawl to allow the ratchet assembly to move from the secondary latched position to the fully unlatched position.

A latching mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising: a first latch mounted in a first location, the first location positioned on a first side of the vehicle, the first latch coupling the closure panel to the body of the vehicle when engaged with a corresponding first mating latch component; a second latch mounted in a second location, the second location positioned on a second side of the vehicle, the second latch coupling the closure panel to the body of the vehicle when engaged with a corresponding second mating latch component; wherein one of the first latch and the second latch is maintained in a latched state and the other of the first latch and the second latch is in an unlatched state when the closure panel is moved between an open position and a closed position.

A hinge based counterbalance mechanism for operating a hinge of a closure panel of a vehicle to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel between a closed position and an open position about a pivot axis, the hinge drive mechanism including: a hinge having a body side portion for connecting to a body of the vehicle and a panel side portion for connecting to the closure panel, the body side portion and the panel side portion coupled via the pivot axis; a torsion element having a fixed end coupled to the body and a free end coupled to the body side portion, the fixed end inhibited from rotating relative to the free end and the free end able to rotate about a torsion axis of the torsion element; and a mechanical coupling mechanism coupling the free end to the panel side portion, the mechanical coupling mechanism providing for variability in torque output of the torsion element applied from the torsion element to the panel side portion as the hinge moves between the open position and the closed position.

A system and method for vehicle access system for a motor vehicle that has a closure panel for facilitating access to the motor vehicle by a user of the motor vehicle are provided. The system includes two or more sensors for detecting at least one approach characteristic of the user. The system also includes an actuator unit for moving the closure panel. A controller is connected to the two or more sensors and is connected to the actuator unit. The controller is adapted to determine a confidence level representative of an intent of the user approaching the motor vehicle to access the motor vehicle based on the at least one approach characteristic of the user. The controller controls the actuator unit based on the confidence level.

A carrier module including a pair of carrier members operably coupled to one another via at least one cable is provided. The carrier members are configured for substantially free movement relative to one another to facilitate installation of the carrier members into an internal door cavity through an opening formed in the inner panel, wherein at least one of the carrier members is adjustable along at least one of cross-vehicle, aft/forward, and up/down directions.