Powered vehicle door closing system

A powered vehicle door closing system for producing an auto-closing action to automatically move a latch member from a half-latched position to a fully-latched position, said system comprising:

• a reversible motor mechanically linked through a linkage, having a stand by position, to said latch member, for powering a final, low-displacement/high-force movement of a vehicle door;
• first detection means for detecting that said latch member reaches said half-latched position to generate a first signal indicating that said half-latched position is reached;
• second detection means for detecting that said latch member reaches said fully-latched position during normal rotation of said motor to generate a second signal indicating that said fully-latched position is reached;
• third detection means for detecting that said linkage returns to said stand-by position during reverse rotation of said motor to generate a third signal indicating that said stand-by position is recovered;
• control means responsive to said first signal for moving said latch member toward said fully-latched position by said normal rotation, and responsive to said second signal for moving said linkage toward said stand-by position by said reverse rotation, and responsive to said third signal for de-energizing said motor;
• first prevention means for preventing said normal rotation when said fully-latched position is reached;
• and
• second prevention means for preventing said reverse rotation when said stand-by position is reached,
• wherein said second detection means includes a first load detection means for detecting changes in load imparted to said motor when said normal rotation is prevented by said first prevention means, and said third detection means includes a second load detection means for detecting changes in load imparted to said motor when said reverse rotation is prevented by said second prevention means.