Adaptive cinch calibration system and method

A latch comprising:

• a ratchet for retaining a striker coupled to a closure panel of a vehicle in a primary striker capture position and a secondary striker capture position;
• and
• a motor, the motor adapted to move the ratchet during a cinch operation to move the striker from the secondary striker capture position to the primary striker capture position to move the closure panel from a partially opened position to a fully closed position;
• wherein the motion of the ratchet is monitored during the cinch operation and the motor is operated during a subsequent cinch operation based on the monitored motion of the ratchet during the cinch operation.

A method (200,300,400) for calibrating a cinch operation of a latch system coupled to a closure panel of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating an actuator for moving the closure panel from a partially closed position to a closed position using a series of applied forces;
• receiving from one or more sensors a plurality of signals for sensing positions of a ratchet of the latch system in response to each of the series of applied forces, said each of the series of applied forces provided in a respective zone of a series of zones;
• determining a respective speed of the ratchet in each of the respective zones based on the sensed positions;
• comparing each of the respective speeds to a set of calibration data containing one or more predetermined speeds of the ratchet for each of the respective zones of the series of zones;
• and
• based on said comparing, adjusting one or more of the series of applied forces in order to adjust one or more of the respective speeds of the ratchet.