Latch system with actuator, position sensor, or actuator and position sensor

A latch system for capturing a striker, the latch system comprising:

• a latch having:
• a striker-receiving recess,
• at least one latch cam mounted to rotate between a closed position and an open position, the at least one latch cam being configured to capture the striker in a central region into which the striker is configured to extend when the at least one latch cam is in the closed position, and
• a trigger mounted to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, the trigger being positioned to contact the at least one latch cam when the trigger is in the locked position, thereby retaining the at least one latch cam in the closed position;
• an actuator having:
• a connector positionable to engage the trigger, the connector being movable linearly along a connector axis between a locking position and an unlocking position, the connector axis being aligned with the central region, and
• a motor coupled to the connector and configured to linearly move the connector between the locking position and the unlocking position;
• and
• a sensor assembly mounted to the latch, the sensor assembly having:
• a sensing arm having a striker contact surface positioned for contact with the striker when the striker is captured by the latch system, the sensing arm also having a sensor contact surface, the sensing arm having a latched position when the striker contact surface of the sensing arm contacts the striker and an unlatched position when the striker contact surface of the sensing arm is not in contact with the striker, and
• a sensor mounted adjacent the sensor arm;
• the trigger of the latch being moved from the locked position toward the unlocked position by the connector when the connector of the actuator is linearly moved by the motor from the locking position toward the unlocking position;
• the trigger of the latch being moveable relative to the connector of the actuator from the locked position toward the unlocked position when the connector of the actuator remains in the locking position, thereby permitting the at least one latch cam of the latch to rotate from the closed position toward the open position when the connector of the actuator remains in the locking position;
• the sensor contact surface of the sensing arm activating the sensor when the sensing arm is in one of the latched position or the unlatched position, and the sensor contact surface of the sensing arm allowing deactivation of the sensor when the sensing arm is in the other one of the latched position or the unlatched position.