Power closure latch assembly with cinch mechanism having ratchet retention function

A closure latch assembly for use with a closure panel in a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a ratchet moveable between a striker release position whereat the ratchet is positioned to release a striker, secondary and primary striker capture positions whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, and a ratchet overtravel position, the ratchet being biased toward its striker release position;
• a pawl moveable between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl is positioned to hold the ratchet in its primary striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position, the pawl being biased toward its ratchet holding position and being permitted to move into its ratchet holding position when the ratchet is moved into its ratchet overtravel position;
• a latch cinch mechanism including a cinch lever operably interconnected to a cinch link, the cinch link being biased toward a cinch link engaged position whereat the cinch link engages and holds the ratchet in its secondary striker capture position while the pawl is in its ratchet releasing position and being moveable against the bias to a cinch link disengage position whereat the cinch link is disengaged from the ratchet, the cinch lever being moveable from a cinch start position to a cinch stop position while the cinch link is located in its cinch link engaged position for causing the cinch link to move from an uncinched position to a cinched position for causing corresponding movement of the ratchet from its secondary striker capture position into is ratchet overtravel position;
• a power cinch actuator operable in a cinching state to move the cinch lever from its cinch start position to its cinch stop position;
• a cinch disengage mechanism operable for moving the cinch link from its cinch link engaged position to its cinch link disengaged position when the ratchet is held in its primary striker capture position by the pawl in its ratchet holding position;
• and
• a power cinch disengage actuator operable for controlling actuation of the cinch disengage mechanism.

A closure latch assembly for use with a closure panel in a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a ratchet moveable between a striker release position whereat the ratchet is positioned to release a striker, secondary and primary striker capture positions whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, and a ratchet overtravel position, the ratchet being biased toward its striker release position;
• a pawl moveable between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl is positioned to hold the ratchet in its primary striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position, the pawl being biased toward its ratchet holding position and being permitted to move into its ratchet holding position when the ratchet is moved into its ratchet overtravel position;
• a latch cinch mechanism including a cinch link, the cinch link being moveable between a cinch link engaged position whereat the cinch link engages and holds the ratchet in its secondary striker capture position while the pawl is in its ratchet releasing position and a cinch link disengage position whereat the cinch link is disengaged from the ratchet, the cinch link being moveable from an uncinched position to a cinched position while the cinch link is located in its cinch link engaged position for causing corresponding movement of the ratchet from its secondary striker capture position into is ratchet overtravel position;
• a power cinch actuator operable in a cinching state to move the cinch link from the uncinched position to the cinched position;
• a pawl switch operable to detect and provide a pawl position signal when the pawl is located in its ratchet holding position;
• and
• a cinch link switch operable to detect and provide a cinch link position signal when the cinch link is located in its cinch link engaged position.