Door lock release mechanism

A vehicle door lock release mechanism, comprising:

• a plate assembly including a base plate, a first sliding plate, and a second sliding plate, the base plate configured to be coupled with a vehicle, the first and second sliding plates configured to move relative to each other along the base plate;
• an elastic member coupled with the first and second sliding plates;
• and
• first and second electromagnets coupled with the base plate, the first electromagnet configured to be energized to magnetically couple with and prevent movement of the first sliding plate, the second electromagnet configured to be energized to magnetically couple with and prevent movement of the second sliding plate,
• the second sliding plate configured to be pulled along the base plate away from the first sliding plate, away from the first electromagnet, and toward the second electromagnet by pulling of a door lock release cable, the elastic member configured to be stretched between the first and second sliding plates by the first electromagnet preventing movement of the first sliding plate and the second electromagnet preventing movement of the second sliding plate after the door lock release cable has been pulled,
• the first electromagnet configured to be de-energized to permit the elastic member to pull the first sliding plate away from the first electromagnet and toward the second sliding plate and thereby release energy stored in the elastic member to open a door of the vehicle.

A method, comprising:

• energizing a first electromagnet to secure a first sliding plate to the first electromagnet during movement of a vehicle, the first sliding plate configured to rotate a door post to open a door of the vehicle when the first sliding plate moves away from the first electromagnet;
• receiving a pulling action on a door lock release cable on a second sliding plate, the pulling action moving the second sliding plate toward a second electromagnet;
• securing the second sliding plate against the second electromagnet by energizing the second electromagnet;
• and
• de-energizing the first electromagnet to release the first sliding plate from the first electromagnet and rotating the door post to open the door of the vehicle.