Electronic striker for releasing a compartment door and method of using the same

A method of using an electronic striker to release a door or access panel from a housing for the door or access panel, the housing defining an opening, the method comprising:

• activating a motor of the electronic striker to move a plunger of the electronic striker from a withdrawn position, in which the plunger is withdrawn within a passageway, to a deployed position, in which the plunger is extended within the passageway, the plunger being coupled to the housing and is mounted for movement with respect to the opening;
• simultaneously moving a pawl of the door or access panel during the activating step from a position in which the pawl is positioned within the passageway to a position in which the pawl is positioned either outside or substantially outside of the passageway, thereby releasing the door or access panel from the housing for the door or access panel;
• wherein, upon activating the motor, an output shaft of the motor rotates a gear, and rotation of the gear causes linear translation of the plunger between the withdrawn and deployed positions;
• wherein the gear is a cam lifter gear having a cam surface, and the plunger comprises a cam follower that engages with the cam surface, wherein rotation of the cam surface of the gear causes translational movement of the cam follower, wherein the cam follower is a pin that is fixed to the plunger;
• and
• wherein the cam surface is a continuous surface that rises and falls in a direction that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the cam lifter gear, the cam surface comprising a first sloping surface that slopes up in an upward direction toward of a top end of the cam lifter gear which is followed by and joined to a second sloping surface that slopes in a downward direction toward a bottom end which is opposite the top end of the cam lifter gear, as viewed in a circumferential direction and along the axis of rotation.