Patent Publication Number: US-2022228404-A1

Title: Closure latch assembly for front trunk with pedestrian protection features

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/241,422, filed Sep. 7, 2021, of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/168,743, filed Mar. 31, 2021, of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/150,071, filed Feb. 16, 2021, and of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/139,636, filed Jan. 20, 2021, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure related generally to a power-operated closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a closure latch assembly providing power release pedestrian protection functionality and which is well-suited for use with a front hood latching system in a motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is desired to best protect pedestrians against injury resulting from head on collisions with vehicles. When a car hits a pedestrian in a front end collision, the pedestrian can be thrown up and land on the front hood of the vehicle. In an effort to lessen the harshness of the impact of the pedestrian against the vehicle, and in particular to prevent the person&#39;s head from impacting the engine block or other hard object located directly beneath the front hood, it would be desirable to actively space the front hood from the engine block prior to the pedestrian impacting the front hood. In particular, when a front end collision is imminent, it would be desirable to move the front hood in a very short period of time (e.g., in milliseconds) from a fully closed first position, where the front hood is normally located immediately adjacent the engine block, to a second position where the front hood is actively and controllably moved further away from the engine block. The movement of the hood to the second position could provide the pedestrian&#39;s head and/or body with sufficient time and/or cushion space to more gradually decelerate as the pedestrian impacts the front hood, thereby potentially lessening the risk of severe injury to the pedestrian. 
     It is further desired to minimize the cost and complexity of motor vehicle safety systems and components thereof. Further yet, it is desired to be able to provide an ability to drive a vehicle away from an accident site without reasonable concern of the damaged hood opening while driving or otherwise transporting the vehicle. Additionally, it is desired to be able to minimize the number of components needed to be replaced upon actuation of the vehicle safety system. It is further desired to ensure sufficient and ample time exists to fully deploy the motor vehicle safety system prior to a person impacting the front hood of the vehicle, thereby minimizing the potential seriousness of injury the person. These desires, problems and others associated with accidents causing damage to a hood are recognized, as would be readily understood by those skilled in the art of vehicle closure panels. 
     Desired is a hood latch and system therewith which provides solutions to these issues, as well as other issues understood by a person skilled in the art of vehicle hood panels. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the inventive solutions associated with the present disclosure. Accordingly, this section is not intended to be interpreted as a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of all features, aspects, objectives and/or advantages associated with the inventive solutions which are further described and illustrated in the following detailed description and the appended drawings. 
     It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a pedestrian protection feature for use with a front hood latching system of a motor vehicle which addresses at least those issues discussed above. 
     It is a related objective of the present disclosure to further provide a motor vehicle hood latch system for use with any model of motor vehicle. 
     It is a related objective of the present disclosure to further provide a motor vehicle hood latch and closure system therewith for use with front trunk (frunk) hood. 
     It is a further objective of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle hood latch with pedestrian protection feature having an ability to automatically sense an imminent front end impact and release a vehicle hood from a fully closed position to a partially open position without need of action from a driver of the vehicle and prior to a pedestrian impacting the vehicle hood. 
     It is a further objective of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle hood latch and pedestrian protection feature therefor with an ability to prevent the vehicle hood from inadvertently moving to a fully open position while transporting the vehicle after an accident. 
     In accordance with these and other objectives, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a hood latch system with a pedestrian protection feature that embodies the inventive concepts set forth in the following detailed description and illustrations. 
     It is a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide a method of configuring a hood latch system with a pedestrian protection feature that embodies the inventive concepts set forth in the following detailed description and illustrations. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a closure latch system for a hood of a motor vehicle for moving a hood fixed to a striker to a pop-up position in response to an immanent impact is provided. The closure latch system includes a closure latch assembly including a ratchet and at least one pawl. The ratchet is moveable between a striker capture position, whereat the ratchet retains the striker in a fully captured position and whereat the hood is in a fully closed position, a striker partial release position, whereat the ratchet retains the striker in a partially released position and whereat the hood is in a partially open position, and a striker release position, whereat the ratchet releases the striker and whereat the hood can be moved to a fully open position. The at least one pawl is moveable between a primary lock position, whereat the at least one pawl holds the ratchet in the striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the at least one pawl releases the ratchet to the striker partial release position. The closure latch system further includes a pedestrian protection system. The pedestrian closure system includes an actuator configured to translate a slider to cause a hook to move into a striker retaining position to prevent removal of the striker from the closure latch assembly and to move the lift lever into engagement with the striker to move the striker into engagement with the hook, whereat the hood is moved to the pop-up position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the actuator is configured to translate the slider along a straight path to cause the hook to pivot about a hook axis into a striker retaining position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pedestrian protection system further includes a pawl lever, wherein the slider is configured to move the pawl lever to operably move the at least one pawl from the primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the slider can be provided having a first cam surface configured to move the hook into the striker retaining position, a second cam surface configured to move the pawl lever to operably move the at least one pawl from the primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position, and a third cam surface configure to move the lift lever into engagement with the striker to move the striker into engagement with the hook. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the first cam surface can be configured to move the hook into the striker retaining position prior to causing the at least one pawl to move from the primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the first cam surface moves the hook into the striker retaining position prior to the second cam surface causing the pawl lever to allow the at least one pawl to move from the primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position, thereby protecting against an inadvertent release of the striker from the ratchet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the second cam surface can be configured to move the pawl lever to the ratchet releasing position prior to the third cam surface moving the lift lever into engagement with the striker. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the lift lever and the pawl lever can be configured to pivot about a common axis. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the slider, the hook and the lift lever can be configured in coplanar relation with one another to pivot within a common plane. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a release lever can be operably coupled to the hook, the release lever having a rest position, whereat the hook remains in the striker retaining position while the actuator is in the actuated position, and an actuated position, whereat the hook is moved from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position while the actuator is in the actuated position, whereat the striker can be removed from the ratchet and the hood can be moved to the fully open position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a release member can be fixed to the release lever, wherein the release member is configured for manual actuation to move the release lever from the rest position to the actuated position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the release member can be provided as one of a rod or cable. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the release lever is supported for pivotal movement by a pin and the slider is provided having a slot configured for receipt of the pin therein, wherein the pin slides through the slot as the slider moves from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the release lever has a drive feature and the hook has a driven feature, the drive feature being configured for engagement with the driven feature when the release lever moves from the rest position to the actuated position to move the hook from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position while the actuator is in the actuated position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the drive feature includes a finger extending from an end of the release lever and the driven feature includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the hook. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the slider has a rest surface arranged for receipt of the driven feature while the actuator is in the non-actuated position, whereat the hook is in the striker releasing position, a first cam surface arranged for engagement with the driven feature while the actuator is in the actuated position, whereat the hook is in striker retaining position, and an over-travel surface arranged for receipt of the driven feature while the actuator is in the actuated position, whereat the hook is in the striker releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the rest surface extends from a first end of the cam surface and the over-travel surface extends from a second end of the cam surface opposite the first end. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the lift lever has a lift lever driven surface and the slider has a lift lever drive surface, wherein the lift lever drive surface engages the lift lever driven surface to move the lift lever into engagement with the striker to move the striker into engagement with the hook. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the lift lever driven surface is formed in a recess of the lift lever and the lift lever drive surface is formed by a protrusion extending outwardly from the lift lever. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a blocking feature can be configured for movement between a non-blocking position, whereat the lift lever is in the lift lever rest position, and a blocking position, whereat the lift lever is releasably maintained in the lift lever deployed position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the blocking feature is biased to the blocking position when the slider is moved from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the blocking feature is biased from the blocking position to the non-blocking position when the hook is moved from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the blocking feature is biased from the blocking position to the non-blocking position by the release lever when the release lever moves from the rest position to the actuated position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the blocking feature engages the lift lever to move the lift lever from the lift lever rest position to the lift lever deployed position as the blocking feature moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pin is provided to extend laterally outwardly from blocking lever into sliding engagement with a lift lever driven surface of the lift lever. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pin is brought into blocking engagement with an end blocking surface of lift lever when the lift lever is in the lift lever deployed position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the lift lever driven surface of the lift lever is a smooth, arcuate surface, concave surface. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the slider engages the blocking feature to move the blocking feature from the non-blocking position to the blocking position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pin is provided to extend from the slider into engagement with a driven cam surface of the blocking lever, wherein the pin causes cammed movement of the blocking lever from the non-blocking position to the blocking position in response to movement of the slider from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hook blocking pawl moveable between a non-blocking, rest position and a blocking position is provided, wherein the hook blocking pawl is brought into blocking engagement with a lock surface of the hook to maintain the hook in the striker retaining position while the actuator is in the actuated position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, movement of the release lever to its actuated position causes the hook blocking pawl to move from the blocking position to the non-blocking, whereat the hook is moved from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position while the actuator is in the actuated position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the hook blocking pawl is biased toward the blocking position by a biasing member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pedestrian protection system further includes a housing configured to support at least one of the an actuator, slider, hook, and lift lever, the housing having a flange configured to overlie and obstruct the potential upward movement of the hook while in the striker retaining position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pedestrian protection system can be configured to be connected to a latch frame plate of an existing closure latch assembly. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of automatically moving a hood of a motor vehicle from a fully closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian to minimize the potential for injury to the pedestrian upon the pedestrian impacting the hood is provided. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method of automatically moving a hood from a closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian includes: powering an actuator and translating a slide cam member with the actuator and causing movement a hook to a striker retaining position, with a first cam surface of the slide cam member, to prevent removal of a striker, fixed to the hood, from the closure latch assembly. Further, moving a pawl lever with a second cam surface of the slide cam member to operably move at least one pawl from a primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position to cause a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position. Further yet, moving a lift lever into engagement with the striker with a third cam surface of the slide cam member to move the striker toward the hook, whereat the hood is moved to the pop-up position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include causing the actuator to move the slide member from a non-deployed position along a straight path to a deployed position to bring the first cam surface into engagement with the hook, the second cam surface into engagement with the pawl lever, and the third cam surface into engagement with the lift lever, upon powering the actuator. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include pivoting the hook about a hook axis into the striker retaining position via engagement of the first cam surface of the slide member with a hook protrusion extending outwardly from the hook. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include pivoting the hook into the striker retaining position prior moving the at least one pawl from to the ratchet releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include moving the pawl lever to the ratchet releasing position prior to moving the lift lever into engagement with the striker. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include supporting the lift lever and the pawl lever to pivot about a common axis. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include supporting the slider, the hook and the lift lever for pivoting movement within a common plane. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of automatically actuating a closure latch assembly for moving a hood of a motor vehicle from a closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian to minimize the potential for injury to the pedestrian upon impacting the hood, and optionally releasing the hood for movement from the pop-up position to a fully open position, and optionally resetting the closure latch assembly to allow the hood to be moved from the pop-up position to the closed position is provided. The method includes powering an actuator; moving a slide member with the actuator; causing movement a hook from a striker releasing position to a striker retaining position with a first cam surface of the slide member to prevent removal of a striker fixed to the hood from the closure latch assembly; moving a pawl lever with a second cam surface of the slide member to operably move at least one pawl from a primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position to cause a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position; moving a lift lever from a lift lever rest position to a lift lever deployed positon in engagement with the striker with a lift lever drive surface of the slide member to move the striker toward the hook, whereat the hood is moved to the pop-up position; and optionally moving a release lever from a rest position to an actuation position and causing the hook to move from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position, thereby allowing the striker to be removed from the closure latch assembly and the hood to be moved from the pop-up position to the fully open position. 
     The method can further include moving the release lever from the rest position to the actuation position via manual actuation of a release member. 
     The method can further include causing a blocking feature to move from a non-blocking positon into a blocking position, whereat the blocking feature forcibly engages a surface of the lift lever to releasably maintain the lift lever in the lift lever deployed position. 
     The method can further include causing the blocking feature to move from the blocking position to the non-blocking position while moving the release lever from the rest position to the actuation position, whereat the lift lever can be returned to the lift lever rest position to allow the hood to be moved to the closed position. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, there is provided a closure latch system for a hood of a motor vehicle for moving a hood fixed to a striker to a pop-up position, including a closure latch assembly comprising one or more latch components, and a pedestrian protection system including an actuator having a non-actuated position and an actuated position, the actuator being configured to translate a slider from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon moving from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, wherein the slider comprises one or more control surfaces configured to control the one or more components during the slider translating from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, there is provided a closure latch system for a hood of a motor vehicle for moving a hood fixed to a striker to a pop-up position, including a closure latch assembly comprising one or more latch components, and a pedestrian protection system including an actuator having a non-actuated position and an actuated position, the actuator being configured to move a control element, such as a linearly moveable slider or a rotatable cam element as non-limiting examples, from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon moving from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, the one or more control surfaces configured to shift the one or more latch components from a normal state to an active pedestrian protection state during movement of the control element from a non-deployed position to a deployed position, the closure latch assembly further including a release lever for shifting the one or more latch components from the active pedestrian protection state to the normal state without causing at least one of the control element and actuator to return to their non-actuated position from their actuated position. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are only intended to illustrate certain non-limiting objects, aspects, and embodiments which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are only intended to illustrate non-limiting embodiments of a power-operated closure latch assembly and its related structural configuration and functional operation in association with the teachings of the present disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate a progressive sequence of a front hood of a motor vehicle be actuated to move from a fully closed position ( FIG. 1A ) to a pop-up position ( FIGS. 1B and 1C ) via automatic actuation of a pedestrian protection feature constructed according to one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front side view of the pedestrian protection feature constructed according to one aspect of the present disclosure for use with a closure latch assembly of a front hood of a motor vehicle, wherein the pedestrian protection feature is shown in a non-deployed, rest home position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a rear side view of the pedestrian protection feature of  FIG. 2  with a housing removed therefrom for clarity purposes only, wherein the pedestrian protection feature is shown in a non-deployed, rest home position; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear side view of a closure latch assembly for use with the pedestrian protection feature of  FIG. 2 , with the closure latch assembly shown in a striker capture position; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing an actuator moved from a non-actuated position to an initially actuated position to move a slider (slide cam member) from a non-deployed position to an initially deployed position, whereat a hook is caused to move from a non-deployed striker release position to a deployed striker capture position in response to a surface of the slider engaging and driving a surface of the hook, whereat the hook prevents a striker from being released from the closure latch assembly and the pedestrian protection feature; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing primary and secondary pawls of the closure latch assembly moved to a ratchet release position via movement of a pawl lever of the pedestrian protection feature in response to a lug of the pawl lever being driven by the slider; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the actuator moved to an intermediate actuated position to move the slider to an intermediate deployed position causing a lift lever to move into initial engagement with the striker in response to the slider driving a projection of the lift lever; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  showing the actuator moved to a fully actuated position to move the slider to a fully deployed position causing the lift lever to move the striker into engagement with the hook, whereat the front hood of the motor vehicle is moved to the pop-up position of  FIGS. 1B and 1C  in response to the slider driving the projection of the lift lever; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of automatically moving a hood of a motor vehicle from a fully closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian; 
         FIG. 10  is another flow diagram illustrating a method of automatically moving a hood of a motor vehicle from a fully closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a front side view of the pedestrian protection feature constructed according to another aspect of the present disclosure for use with a closure latch assembly of a front hood of a motor vehicle, wherein the pedestrian protection feature is shown in a non-deployed, rest home position; 
         FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 11  showing an actuator of the pedestrian protection feature moved to a fully actuated position to move a slider to a fully deployed position causing a lift lever to move a striker into engagement with a hook, whereat the front hood of the motor vehicle is moved to the pop-up position of  FIGS. 1B and 1C ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  illustrating a view with the slider removed for clarity purposes only to show aspects associated with a lift lever of the pedestrian protection feature in accordance with further aspects of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 12B  is a view similar to  FIG. 12A  looking from an opposite side; 
         FIG. 12C  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  looking from an opposite side of a housing of the pedestrian protection feature; 
         FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  showing an initial actuation of a release lever for moving the hook from a striker retaining position to a striker releasing position; 
         FIG. 14  is a view similar to  FIG. 13  showing completion of actuation of the release lever with the hook moved to the striker releasing position; 
         FIGS. 15A-15D  illustrate a sequence of actuating the actuator of the pedestrian protection feature to move the hook to the striker retaining position and the lift lever to a lift lever deployed position to move the hood to the pop-up position and then actuating the release lever to move the hook from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position to allow the hood to be moved from the pop-up position to an open position; 
         FIG. 16  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of automatically actuating a closure latch assembly for moving a hood of a motor vehicle from a closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian to minimize the potential for injury to the pedestrian upon impacting the hood, and optionally releasing the hood for movement from the pop-up position to a fully open position, and optionally resetting the closure latch assembly to allow the hood to be moved from the pop-up position to the closed position; 
         FIG. 17A  is a perspective end view of a closure latch assembly of a front hood of a motor vehicle having a pedestrian protection feature constructed according to another aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17B  is a view similar to  FIG. 17A  looking from an opposite end of the closure latch assembly; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a front side view of the pedestrian protection feature of the closure latch assembly of  FIGS. 17A and 17B  shown in a non-deployed, rest home position; 
         FIG. 19  is a view similar to  FIG. 18  showing an actuator of the pedestrian protection feature of the closure latch assembly of  FIGS. 17A and 17B  as it moves from the rest home position to a fully actuated position, in dashed lines, to move a slider from a rest position (shown in solid) to a fully deployed position (shown in transparency) causing a lift lever to move from a rest position (shown in solid) to a deployed position (shown in transparency) to move a striker into engagement with a hook, whereat the front hood of the motor vehicle is moved to the pop-up position of  FIGS. 1B and 1C ; 
         FIG. 20  is a view similar to  FIG. 18  showing in more detail various components of the pedestrian protection feature of the closure latch assembly of  FIGS. 17A and 17B  while in the non-deployed, rest home position; 
         FIG. 21  is a view similar to  FIG. 20  showing the actuator of the pedestrian protection feature moving toward a fully actuated position (shown in intermediate position) to move a slider toward a fully deployed position (shown in intermediate position) causing a hook to move to a striker retaining position; 
         FIG. 22  is a view similar to  FIG. 21  showing the actuator moved to the fully actuated position and the slider moved to the fully deployed position causing a lift lever to move a striker into engagement with the hook, whereat the front hood of the motor vehicle is moved to the pop-up position of  FIGS. 1B and 1C ; 
         FIG. 23  is a view similar to  FIG. 22  showing an actuation of a release lever of the pedestrian protection feature for moving the hook from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position; 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a disengagement lever of the pedestrian protection feature of the closure latch assembly of  FIGS. 17A and 17B ; and 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a blocking lever of the pedestrian protection feature of the closure latch assembly of  FIGS. 17A and 17B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Example embodiments of a power-operated pedestrian protection system for use with a closure latch assembly of a closure latch system of a motor vehicle will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. To this end, the example embodiments of the closure latch system and closure latch assembly are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey its intended scope to those who are skilled in the art. Accordingly, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of particular embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparently to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that the example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that the example embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some parts of the example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     In the following detailed description, the expression “closure latch assembly” will be used to generally indicate any power-operated latch device adapted for use with a vehicle closure panel and which is configured to provide at least one of a power cinch feature and a power release feature. Additionally, the expression “closure panel” will be used to indicate any element mounted to a structural body portion of a motor vehicle and which is moveable between a fully-open position and a fully-closed position, respectively opening and closing an access to a passenger or storage compartment of the motor vehicle. Without limitations, closure panel herein is described in relation to front hoods of motor vehicles. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “compromises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are no to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrates a motor vehicle  10  having a body  11  defining a front compartment  14 , which in some embodiments may be an engine compartment and in other embodiments may be a storage compartment, otherwise known as a front trunk, sometimes referred to as “frunk”, not having an engine but located in the forward region of the vehicle. In this non-limiting example of motor vehicle  10 , a closure panel, configured as a front hood, also referred to simply as hood  12 , is pivotably mounted to body  11  for movement relative to the front compartment between a fully-closed position  FIG. 1A , and a partially-open or pop-up position  FIGS. 1B and 1C . Illustratively, the closure panel  12  is a hood provided at the front of the motor vehicle  10  for enclosing an engine bay or a frunk, also referred to as stowage compartment. Hood  12  may be manually released from within a passenger compartment of vehicle  10  and which functions to actuate a latch release mechanism associated with a closure latch assembly  16  for releasing hood  12  and permitting subsequent movement of hood  12  to its pop-up position or to a fully-open position. Closure latch assembly  16  is, in this non-limiting embodiment, secured to a structural portion of vehicle body  11  adjacent to the front compartment and is configured to releasably engage a striker  22  mounted in fixed relation to an underside of hood  12 . The present disclosure is directed to providing a pedestrian protection feature, also referred to as pedestrian protection system (PPS)  20 , configured to cooperate in operable communication with closure latch assembly  16  to form a closure latch system  17 , with a power release function (automatically actuatable via a sensor/controller system) to automatically move hood  12  to the pop-up position in imminent anticipation of a pedestrian P coming into forcible contact with hood  12 . Accordingly, if a pedestrian P impacts the hood  12  after actuation of PPS  20 , a cushioned effect of the slightly raised hood  12  is provided, which lessens the impact force to the pedestrian, and can ultimately reduce the potential of the pedestrian P impacting the engine (if present beneath hood  12 ), thereby reducing the potential for injury to the pedestrian P. 
     A detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment of a power-operated version of closure latch assembly  16  and closure latch system  17  therewith, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, will now be provided with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Closure latch assembly, referred to hereafter as latch  16  includes a ratchet  24 , a primary pawl  26 , a secondary pawl  28 , and a coupling link, also referred to as coupling lever  30 . The ratchet  24  is movable between a primary closed position, also referred to as primary striker capture position, a secondary closed position, also referred to as secondary striker capture position, and an open position, also referred to as striker release position, in response to selective movement of the primary and secondary pawls  26 ,  28  from ratchet retaining positions (see for example  FIG. 4 ) to ratchet releasing positions (see for example  FIG. 6 ). In the primary and secondary closed positions, the ratchet  24  prevents the withdrawal of the striker  22 . When in the primary closed position, the ratchet  12  holds the striker  22  relatively deeper within a slot, commonly referred to fishmouth of housing, wherein the hood  12  is in a fully closed state, as compared to when ratchet  24  is in the secondary closed position, wherein the hood  12  is in a partially closed state, but prevented from being moved to the fully open position by ratchet  24 . Thus, in the primary closed position the ratchet  24  holds the striker  22  at a first depth in the fishmouth whereat the hood  12  is in a fully closed position, and in the secondary closed position the ratchet  24  holds the striker  22  at a second depth in the fishmouth of the housing whereat the hood  12  is in the partially closed, pop-up position, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , pedestrian protection system  20  is shown in a rest, home position. Pedestrian protection system  20  includes a housing  40  for receipt and support of various components, including a power-operated actuator  42 , a slide cam member, also referred to as slide member or slider  44 , a striker retention hook, also referred to as hook member or hook  46 , a striker lift lever, also referred to as lift lever  48 , and a pawl opener, also referred to as pawl lever  50 . 
     Now turning to  FIGS. 1A-1C , a sequence events is illustrated showing detection of pedestrian P in a pedestrian protection zone Z and actuation of the power actuator  42  of PPS  20  in response to the detection of pedestrian P in the pedestrian protection zone Z to lessen the impact force experienced by the pedestrian P upon impacting the hood  12  of the motor vehicle  11 . 
     In  FIG. 1A , a pedestrian P is illustrated in the predetermined pedestrian protection zone Z of motor vehicle  11 . The range of distance or pattern of pedestrian protection zone Z can be selected as desired, such as between about 0.1 to 2 meters from a front end of motor vehicle  11 , by way of example and without limitation. Within or outside of pedestrian protection zone Z, an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) can be activated to automatically steer and/or brake vehicle  11  as needed to avoid or lessen impact with another vehicle and/or pedestrian P. The ADAS system can be in operable communication with one or more sensors  39 ′, such as non-contact, radar emitting sensor(s) ( FIGS. 1A-1C and 9 ), such as provided in a front end region of motor vehicle  11 , by way of example and without limitation, and/or one or more other sensors  39 ″, such as vehicle crash sensors, including accelerometers, radar emitting sensors, located in desired regions of the motor vehicle  10 , by way of example and without limitation, as well as with a body control module (BCM), also referred to as vehicle controller  37 ′, and/or a latch controller  37  ( FIG. 9 ). 
     Upon pedestrian P having entered pedestrian protection zone Z, sensor  39 ′ detects an imminent side or frontal crash/impact with pedestrian P, thus, sensor  39 ′ communicates with vehicle controller  37 ′ and/or directly with latch controller  37  to actuate power actuator  42  of pedestrian protection feature  20  to automatically move slider  44 , thereby causing primary and second pawls  26 ,  28  to move to their ratchet release positions from ratchet retaining positions. Accordingly, ratchet  24  is automatically permitted to move to its striker release position. 
     In more detail, upon sensing an imminent impact with a pedestrian P, such as when the pedestrian P enters a pedestrian protection zone Z ( FIG. 1A ), the actuator  42  is automatically moved, via actuation from a signal from vehicle controller  37 ′ and/or directly with latch controller  37 , to an initially actuated position ( FIG. 5 ) to translate slider  44  from a non-deployed position along a straight path extending along an axis A to an initially deployed position causing hook  46  to move, such as via being pivoted, as indicated by arrow r 1 , about a hook axis, also referred to as first axis  46 ′, from a striker release position to a striker capture position, also referred to as striker retention position. During initial translation of slider  44  along axis A, a first drive member, also referred to as first cam surface  52  of slider  44 , located adjacent a first end  53  of slider  44 , is brought into camming engagement with a hook driven member, also referred to as hook protrusion  54  extending outwardly from a first end  45  of hook  46  proximate hook axis  46 ′, to pivot hook  46  clockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 5 , about hook axis  46 ′ to bring a hook-shaped second or free end  47  into blocking, overlying relation with striker  22 , thereby preventing striker  22  from passing by hook free end  47  and being released from the pedestrian protection feature  20 . As slider  44  is further translated along axis A, an upper, generally flat first cam surface plateau  52 ′ maintains hook  46  in an actuated position with hook-shaped second end  47  in overlying relation with striker  22 . 
       FIG. 6  shows pawls  26 ,  28  of the closure latch assembly  16  moved from a primary lock position to a ratchet release position via movement, via counterclockwise rotational movement (as viewed in  FIG. 6 ) of a pawl opener lever, referred to hereafter as pawl lever  50 , of PPS  20  about a second axis  57 , as indicated by arrow r 2 , in response to a pawl drive member, also referred to as lug  56  ( FIG. 3 ) extending laterally outwardly from pawl lever  50 , of the pawl opener lever  50  being driven by a second drive member, also referred to as second cam surface  58  of the slider  44  ( FIG. 3  illustrates lug  56  being engaged by second cam surface  58 ). Second cam surface  58  is shown as a sloped surface located intermediate first end  53  and a second end  55  of slider  44 . The sloped surface of second cam surface  58  transitions to a generally flat, second cam surface plateau  58 ′. 
     Rotational movement of pawl lever  50  in the direction of arrow r 2  causes coupling link  30  to move along the direction of arrow A 1  ( FIG. 6 ), whereupon a drive member, shown as a protrusion  60  of coupling link  30 , engages and pivots primary pawl  26  about a primary pawl axis  27  to its ratchet release position, while linked connection  61  between coupling link  30  and secondary pawl  28  causes secondary pawl  28  to move pivotably about a secondary pawl axis  29  to its ratchet release position. As slider  44  continues to translate along axis A, lug  56  moves onto second cam surface plateau  58 ′, whereat primary and secondary pawls  26 ,  28  are maintained in their respective ratchet releasing positions. 
       FIG. 7  shows actuator  42  moved further to an intermediate actuated position to move slider  44  along axis A to an intermediate deployed position. While in the intermediate position, a third cam surface  62  of the slider  44 , located adjacent second end  55  of slider  44 , is brought into driving engagement with a lift lever projection  64  of the lift lever  48 , thereby causing lift lever  48  to move pivotably about axis  57  in the direction of arrow r 3 . As lift lever  48  pivots about axis  57 , a free end  49  of lift lever  48  is brought into initial engagement with striker  22 . Lift lever  48  and pawl lever  50  are shown supported about a common pin P for rotation about the common axis  57 . Projection  64  is located proximate axis  57  adjacent an end  51  of lift lever  48  opposite free end  49 , thereby minimizing the amount of force required to pivot lift lever  48  about axis  57 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the actuator  42  moved to a fully actuated position to move slider  44  along axis A to a fully deployed position whereat third cam surface  62 , via engagement with lift lever projection  64 , causes the lift lever  48  to move the striker  22  upwardly toward the hook-shaped free end  47  into engagement or close proximity with the hook-shaped free end  47  of hook  46 . With the hook-shaped free end  47  being maintained in overlying relation with striker  22  via continued engagement of elongate, planar first cam surface plateau  52 ′ with hook protrusion  54 , hook  46  prevents striker  22  from being released from pedestrian protection feature  20  and the front hood  12  of the motor vehicle  10  is moved to, and maintained in, the pop-up position ( FIGS. 1B and 1C ). Lift lever projection  64  is held in the fully deployed, pop-up position on a generally flat third cam surface plateau or stop surface  62 ′ adjacent second end of slider  44  until desired to be moved therefrom, such as in a reset operation. 
     Slider  44 , hook  46  and lift lever  48  are generally coplanar with one another, which allows hook projection  54  to remain in engagement with first cam surface plateau  52 ′ as second cam surface  58  engages lug  56  and maintains lug  56  on second cam surface plateau  58 ′, while third cam surface  62  engages lift lever projection  64  and maintains lift lever projection  64  on third cam surface plateau  62 ′ upon translating slider  44  along the straight axis A to its fully deployed position. The aforementioned arrangement and interrelation of slider  44 , hook  46  and lift lever  48  provides a compact structure, thereby minimizing the amount of space needed for incorporation into closure latch system  17 . As illustrated, second cam surface plateau  58 ′ is slightly off-set in lateral relation from a plane along which first cam surface plateau  52 ′ and third cam surface plateau  62 ′ are aligned. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure,  FIG. 10  illustrates steps of a method  1000  of automatically moving a hood  12  of a motor vehicle  11  from a closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian P is provided. The method  1000  includes: a step  1100  of powering an actuator  42  and a step  1200  of translating a slide cam member  44  with the actuator  42  and a step  1300  of causing movement a hook  46  to a striker retaining position, with a first cam surface  52  of the slide cam member  44 , to prevent removal of a striker  22 , fixed to the hood  12 , from the closure latch assembly  16 . Further, a step  1400  of moving a pawl lever  50  with a second cam surface  58  of the slide cam member  44  to operably move at least one pawl  26 ,  28  from a primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position to cause a ratchet  24  to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position. Further yet, a step  1500  of moving a lift lever  48  into engagement with the striker  22  with a third cam surface  62  of the slide cam member  44  to move the striker  22  toward the hook  46 , whereat the hood  12  is moved to the pop-up position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  1600  of causing the actuator  42  to move the slide member  44  from a non-deployed position along a straight path to a deployed position to bring the first cam surface  52  into engagement with the hook  46 , the second cam surface  58  into engagement with the pawl lever  50 , and the third cam surface  62  into engagement with the lift lever  48 , upon powering the actuator  42 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  1700  of pivoting the hook  46  about a hook axis  46 ′ into the striker retaining position via engagement of the first cam surface  52  of the slide member  44  with a hook protrusion  54  extending outwardly from the hook  46 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  1800  of pivoting the hook  46  into the striker retaining position prior moving the at least one pawl  26 ,  28  from to the ratchet releasing position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  1900  of moving the pawl lever  50  to the ratchet releasing position prior to moving the lift lever  48  into engagement with the striker  22 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  2000  of supporting the lift lever  48  and the pawl lever  50  to pivot about a common axis  57 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method  1000  can further include a step  2100  of supporting the slider  44 , the hook  46  and the lift lever  48  for pivoting movement within a common plane. 
     In  FIGS. 11-15 , a pedestrian protection system (PPS)  120  constructed in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure present disclosure is shown, wherein the same reference numerals, offset by a factor of 100, are used to identify similar features as discussed above for PPS  20 . PPS  120  is configured to cooperate in operable communication with closure latch assembly  16 , as discussed above for PPS  20 , to form a closure latch system  117 , with a power release function (automatically actuatable via a sensor/controller system) to automatically move hood  12  to the pop-up position in imminent anticipation of a pedestrian P coming into forcible contact with hood  12 , as discussed above for closure latch system  17 . Discussion hereafter is directed to PPS  120 , with it to be understood that the closure latch assembly  16  of closure latch system  117  is the same as discussed above for closure latch system  17 . 
     PPS  120  includes similar features discussed above with regard to PPS  20 , including a PPS housing  140 , also referred to as frame plate or plate, an actuator  142 , as slider  144 , a hook  146 , a lift lever  148 , and a pawl lever  150 . These features, as discussed in more detail hereafter, function similarly as discussed above for the corresponding features of PPS  20 . 
     The actuator  142  has a non-actuated position ( FIGS. 11 and 15A ) and an actuated position ( FIGS. 12-14 and 15B-15D ). The actuator  142  is configured to translate slider  144  from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon moving from the non-actuated position to the actuated position to cause hook  146  to move into a striker retaining position to prevent removal of the striker  22  from the closure latch assembly  16  and to move lift lever  148  from a lift lever rest position into engagement with the striker  22  to a lift lever deployed position to move the striker  22  into engagement with the hook  146 , whereat the hood  12  is moved to the pop-up position, thereby providing a pedestrian protection feature via an enhanced cushion provided by hood  12 . 
     In more detail, as discussed above, upon sensing an imminent impact with a pedestrian P, the actuator  142  is automatically moved, via actuation from a signal from vehicle controller  37 ′ and/or directly with latch controller  37 , to the actuated position ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) to translate slider  144  from a non-deployed position along a straight path extending along an axis A to the deployed position. To facilitate straight translating movement of slider  144 , housing  140  can have a guide feature, such as straight slot  41  ( FIG. 12C ), by way of example and without limitation, configured for receipt of a protrusion or pin  43  of slider  144  therein for guided translation therethrough. Translation of slider  144  to the deployed position causes hook  146  to move, such as via being pivoted, as indicated by arrow r 1  ( FIG. 12 ), about a hook axis, also referred to as first axis  146 ′, from a striker release position to a striker capture position, also referred to as striker retention position. To facilitate releasably holding slider  144  in the deployed position when desired, lift lever  148  can be provided having a stop member or stop surface fixed thereto, shown as a protrusion  38  formed as a monolithic piece of material with lift lever  148 . Stop surface  38  is shown as confronting pin  43  of slide member  144 , such that as long a blocking feature  74  is in locked engagement with lift lever  148 , slider  144  is held in the deployed position. The slider  144  has a rest surface  68  arranged for receipt of a driven feature  154  of hook  146  while the actuator  142  is in the non-actuated position, whereat the hook  146  is in the striker releasing position. During translation of slider  144  along axis A, a first drive member, also referred to as first cam surface  152  of slider  144 , located between a first end  153  of slider  144  and a second end  155  of slider  144 , is brought into camming engagement with hook driven feature or member, also referred to as hook protrusion  154  extending outwardly adjacent a first end  145  of hook  146  proximate hook axis  146 ′, to pivot hook  146  clockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 12 , about hook axis  146 ′ to bring a hook-shaped second or free end  147  into blocking, overlying relation with striker  22 , thereby preventing striker  22  from passing by hook free end  147  and being released from the pedestrian protection feature  120  and releasably maintaining hook  146  in an actuated position with hook-shaped second end  147  in overlying relation with striker  22 . Thereafter, when desired to release hood  12  from the pop-up position, whereat hook  146  is in striker retaining position, to the fully open position, hook protrusion  154  can be moved by a release lever  80 , while the actuator  142  remains in the actuated position, to an over-travel surface  69  of slider  144  arranged for receipt of the hook protrusion  154 , whereat the hook  146  is moved to the striker releasing position. The rest surface  68  is shown extending from a first end  71  of the cam surface  152  and the over-travel surface  69  is shown extending from a second end  73  of the first cam surface  152  opposite the first end  71 , and thus, first cam surface  152  extends between the rest surface  68  and the over-travel surface  69 . 
     Pawls  26 ,  28  of the closure latch assembly  16  are moved from a primary lock position to a ratchet release position via movement, via clockwise rotational movement (as viewed in  FIG. 12 ) of pawl lever  150  about a second axis  157  in response to a pawl drive member, also referred to as lug  156  extending laterally outwardly from pawl lever  150 , of the pawl opener lever  150  being driven by a second drive member, also referred to as second cam surface  158  of the slider  144 . Second cam surface  158  is shown as a raised plateau generally opposite first cam surface  152 , also formed as a raised plateau. 
     Rotational movement of pawl lever  150  in the clockwise direction causes coupling link  30  to move along the direction of arrow A 1  ( FIG. 6 ), whereupon a drive member, shown as a protrusion  60  of coupling link  30 , engages and pivots primary pawl  26  about a primary pawl axis  27  to its ratchet release position, while linked connection  61  between coupling link  30  and secondary pawl  28  causes secondary pawl  28  to move pivotably about a secondary pawl axis  29  to its ratchet release position. As slider  144  translates along axis A, lug  156  moves onto second cam surface  158 , whereat primary and secondary pawls  26 ,  28  are maintained in their respective ratchet releasing positions. Slider  144  is an example of a control element which can be moved by an actuator  42  to transition the closure latch assembly  16  from a normal state (see for example  FIG. 2 ) to an active pedestrian protection state (see for example  FIG. 8 ). 
     As actuator  42  is moved to the actuated position and slider  144  is moved along axis A to the deployed position ( FIGS. 12-14 and 15A-15C ), a lift lever driven surface  164  of lift lever  148  is engaged and driven by a lift lever drive surface  162  slider  144 , wherein the lift lever drive surface  162  moves the lift lever  148  into engagement with the striker  22  to move the striker  22  into engagement with the hook  146 . Lift lever driven surface  164  can be formed along a surface of a recess  70  of the lift lever  148 , and the lift lever drive surface  162  can be formed by a protrusion, such as a pin, lug or the like, extending outwardly from the lift lever  148 , shown as extending transversely in laterally outwardly extending relation therefrom. Lift lever  148  is caused to move pivotably about axis  157  in a clockwise direction against a bias, such as imparted by a spring member  72 , wherein spring member  72  acts to bias lift lever  148  toward a non-deployed, home position ( FIGS. 11 and 15A ) absent being lifted forcibly against the bias. Lift lever  148  and pawl lever  150  are shown supported about a common pin P for rotation about the common axis  157 . Lift lever driven surface  164  is located proximate axis  157 , thereby minimizing the amount of force required by lift lever drive surface  162  to pivot lift lever  148  about axis  157 . Accordingly, the force required to be exerted by actuator  142  on slider  144  can be minimized. 
     With actuator  142  moved to a fully actuated position, lift lever  148  moves the striker  22  upwardly toward the hook-shaped free end  147  into engagement or close proximity with the hook-shaped free end  147  of hook  146 . With the hook-shaped free end  147  being maintained in overlying relation with striker  22  via continued engagement of elongate, planar first cam surface plateau  152  with hook protrusion  154 , hook  146  prevents striker  22  from being released from pedestrian protection feature  120  and the front hood  12  of the motor vehicle  10  is moved to, and maintained in, the pop-up position ( FIGS. 1B and 1C ). Lift lever  148  can be held and releasably locked in the fully deployed, pop-up position by a blocking feature  74  configured for movement between a non-blocking position ( FIGS. 11, 14, 15A and 15D ), whereat the lift lever  148  is in the lift lever rest position, and a blocking position ( FIGS. 12-13 and 15B-15C ), whereat the lift lever  148  is releasably maintained in the lift lever deployed position, such as in a reset operation. The blocking feature  74  can be biased clockwise to the blocking position to bring a free blocking end  75  of the blocking feature  74  into locking engagement a locking surface of the lift lever  148 , shown as a surface or locking surface  77  immediately adjacent the lift lever driven surface  164 , by way of example and without limitation. As shown in  FIGS. 12A and 1B , locking surface  77  can be formed as a protrusion or notch in lift lever  148 , and shown as a notch  77 , by way of example and without limitation, being sized for receipt of free blocking end  75  therein. The bias on the blocking feature  74  can be imparted via a spring member indicated schematically be arrow  76  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ), by way of example and without limitation, when the slider  144  is moved from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. The blocking feature  74  can be maintained in the non-blocking position against the bias of biasing member  76  by a surface  78  of lift lever  148  while lift lever  148  is in the lift lever rest position ( FIGS. 11 and 15A ), and can be biased from the blocking position back to the non-blocking position (or out from blocking relation with the lift lever  148 ) when the hook  146  is moved from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position. The blocking feature  74 , in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, is biased from the blocking position to the non-blocking position by the release lever  80  when the release lever  80  is moved from a rest position ( FIGS. 11-13 and 15A-15C ) to an actuated position ( FIGS. 14 and 15D ). 
     The release lever  80  is operably coupled to the hook  146  for movement of the release lever  80  between a rest position, whereat the hook  146  remains in the striker retaining position while the actuator  142  is in the actuated position, and an actuated position, whereat the hook  146  is moved from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position while the actuator  142  is in the actuated position. Accordingly, when release lever  80  is moved to the actuated position, the striker  22  can be removed from the ratchet  24  and the hood  12  can be moved to the fully open position. 
     To facilitate moving the release lever  80  to the actuated position, a release member  82  can be fixed to the release lever  80 , wherein the release member  82  can be configured for manual and/or powered actuation from any suitable internal and/or external location on motor vehicle  10  and/or via a powered actuator  83  ( FIG. 12A ) to move the release lever  80  from the rest position to the actuated position, thereby moving hook  146  from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position. Release member  82  can be provided as a rod or flexible cable, by way of example and without limitation. 
     The release lever  80  is shown supported for pivotal movement by a pin  84 . The slider  144  can be provided having a slot  86  configured for receipt of the pin  84  therein, wherein the pin  84  slides through the slot  86  as the slider  144  moves in translation from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. The release lever  80  has a drive feature  88  and the hook  146  has a driven feature  154 , with the drive feature  88  being configured for driving engagement with the driven feature  154  when the release lever  80  is moved from the rest position to the actuated position, thereby causing move hook  146  to move from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position while the actuator  142  remains in the actuated position. To facilitate pivotal movement of hook  146 , drive feature  88  pushes driven feature  154  along first cam surface  152  and off first cam surface  152  into receipt with over-travel surface  92  of slider  144 . According, hook  146  is able to freely pivot about pin  84 . Accordingly, although actuator  142  remains in it fired, actuated position, hood  12  can be selectively moved to the fully open position upon selectively actuating release member  82 , when desired. The drive feature  88  is shown being formed by a finger or protrusion extending from an end  90  of the release lever  80 , and the driven feature  154  is shown as protrusion  154  extending laterally outwardly from the hook  146 . 
     As release lever  80  is moved from the rest position to the actuation position, in addition to causing hook  146  to be moved to the striker releasing position, a drive lug, also referred to as drive flange  92 , extending from end  90  of release lever  80  is configured to forcibly engage a free end  94  of blocking feature  74  to cause blocking feature  74  to pivot out from blocking engagement with lift lever  148 , thereby resetting blocking feature  74  for engagement with surface  78  of lift lever  148 . Lift lever  148 , if desired, is able to move back to the lift lever rest position ( FIGS. 11 and 15A ), thereby allowing striker  22  to be returned within ratchet  24  to the striker capture position. Accordingly, closure latch system  117  can be reset to allow hood  12  to be returned to the fully closed positon upon actuator  142  be moved to its actuated position. Accordingly, closure latch system  117  can be reset, for example manually reset by a positive intentional action of a user moving a reset lever (e.g. release lever  80 ,  280 ) to allow hood  12  to be returned to the fully closed positon after actuator  42 ,  142  has been moved to its actuated position without having to move the actuator  42 ,  142  (e.g. plunger  39 ,  239 ) back to its non-actuated position and/or without having to move slider  44 ,  144  from its actuated position to its non-actuated position, which may be difficult for a user due to for example a pressure build up in the actuator  42 ,  142  caused by a previous chemical pressurized actuation during deployment effectively hindering or preventing the return of the plunger  39 ,  139  of the actuator  42 ,  142  from its actuated position (see for example  FIG. 8 ) to its pre-actuated position (see for example  FIG. 2 ), or due to for example a re-compression of a large spring if actuator  42 ,  142  is so configured, as examples. 
     In  FIG. 16 , in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method  2000  of automatically actuating a closure latch assembly  12  for moving a hood  12  of a motor vehicle  10  from a closed position to a partially open, pop-up position in advance of impacting a pedestrian P to minimize the potential for injury to the pedestrian P upon impacting the hood  12 , and optionally releasing the hood  12  for movement from the pop-up position to a fully open position, and optionally resetting the closure latch assembly  12  to allow the hood  12  to be moved from the pop-up position to the closed position is provided. The method  2000  includes a step  2050  of powering an actuator  142 ; a step  2100  of moving a slide member  144  with the actuator  142 ; a step  2150  of causing movement a hook  146  from a striker releasing position to a striker retaining position with a first cam surface  152  of the slide member  144  to prevent removal of a striker  22  fixed to the hood  12  from the closure latch assembly  16 ; a step  2200  of moving a pawl lever  150  with a second cam surface  158  of the slide member  144  to operably move at least one pawl  16 ,  18  from a primary lock position to the ratchet releasing position to cause a ratchet  24  to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position; a step  2250  of moving a lift lever  148  from a lift lever rest position to a lift lever deployed positon in engagement with the striker  22  with a lift lever drive surface  162  of the slide member  144  to move the striker  22  toward the hook  146 , whereat the hood  12  is moved to the pop-up position; and optionally a step  2300  of moving a release lever  80  from a rest position to an actuation position and causing the hook  146  to move from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position, thereby allowing the striker  22  to be removed from the closure latch assembly  16  and the hood  12  to be moved from the pop-up position to the fully open position. 
     The method can further include a step  2350  of moving the release lever  80  from the rest position to the actuation position via manual actuation of a release member  82 . 
     The method can further include a step  2400  of causing a blocking feature  74  to move from a non-blocking positon into a blocking position, whereat the blocking feature  74  forcibly engages a surface  77  of the lift lever  148  to releasably maintain the lift lever  148  in the lift lever deployed position. 
     The method can further include a step  2450  of causing the blocking feature  74  to move from the blocking position to the non-blocking position while moving the release lever  80  from the rest position to the actuation position, whereat the lift lever  148  can be returned to the lift lever rest position to allow the hood  12  to be moved to the closed position. 
     In  FIGS. 18-23 , a pedestrian protection system (PPS)  220  constructed in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure present disclosure is shown, wherein the same reference numerals, offset by a factor of 200, are used to identify similar features as discussed above for PPS  20 ,  120 . PPS  220  is configured to cooperate in operable communication with closure latch assembly  216 , as discussed above for PPS  20 ,  120  to form a closure latch system  217 , with a power release function (automatically actuatable via a sensor/controller system) to automatically move hood  12  to the pop-up position in imminent anticipation of a pedestrian P coming into forcible contact with hood  12 , as discussed above for closure latch system  17 . Discussion hereafter is directed to PPS  220 , with it to be understood that the closure latch assembly  216  of closure latch system  217  is the same as discussed above for closure latch system  17 . 
     PPS  220  includes similar features discussed above with regard to PPS  120 , including a PPS housing  240 , an actuator  242 , as slider  244 , a hook  246 , a lift lever  248 , a pawl release lever, also referred to as pawl lever  250 , a blocking feature, also referred to as blocking lever  274 , and a disengagement lever, also referred to as release lever  280 , as examples of latch components which are controlled accordingly in response to activation of the actuator  242 . These features, as discussed in more detail hereafter, function similarly as discussed above for the corresponding features of PPS  120 . Slider  244  is an example of a control element which can be moved by an actuator  242  to transition the PPS  220  from a normal state ( FIG. 20 ) to an active pedestrian protection state ( FIG. 22 ). 
     The actuator  242  has a non-actuated position corresponding to the one or more latch components in a normal state ( FIGS. 18 and 20 ) and a fully actuated position corresponding to the one or more latch components in an active pedestrian protection state ( FIGS. 19 , in dashed line, and  22 ). The actuator  242  is configured to translate slider  244  from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon moving from the non-actuated position to the actuated position to cause hook  246  to move into a striker retaining position to prevent removal of the striker  22  from the closure latch assembly  216  and to move lift lever  248  from a lift lever rest position into engagement with the striker  22  to a lift lever deployed position to move the striker  22  into engagement with, or into close proximity with the hook  246 , whereat the hood  12  is moved to the pop-up position, thereby providing a pedestrian protection feature via an enhanced cushion provided by hood  12 . Translation of slider  244  causes control surfaces provided on the slider  244 , such as cam surfaces (e.g.  258 ), rest surfaces (e.g.  268 ), drive surfaces (e.g.  262 ), overtravel surfaces (e.g.  269 ), to control or actuate the one or more latch components. As illustrated, control surfaces may be provided as stepped or flat regions connected with positively or negatively sloped regions provided on slider  244 , as notches or indentations formed in slider  244 , as well as may be provided as other forms of tabs or protrusions such as circular rivets or pins extending from slider  244 . Control surfaces may be configured to interface with controlled surfaces (e.g. pine  112 ,  256 ) coupled with an associated latch component. Controlled surfaces may be illustratively provided have a curvature for facilitating sliding contact between the control surfaces of the slider  244  and the controlled surfaces of the latch components. Once activated and in an active pedestrian protection state, the one or more latch components may interact with the slider  244  so as not to urge the slider  244  to move and change the position from its deployed position which may affect the actuation of the one or more latch components e.g. reset of the latch components to a normal state from an active pedestrian protection state. For example, a bias applied to the pawl lever  250  about a second axis  257  may not cause pin  256  to act on slider  244  so as to return the slider from the actuated position to the non-actuated position. As illustratively shown in  FIG. 12 , pin  156  when resting against the second cam surface  158  of the slider  144  may impart a force F (see  FIG. 13 ) against the slider  144  that is orthogonal to the axis AA (see  FIG. 13 ) of extension of actuator  142 , thereby any biasing force acting on the one or more latch components may not affect the position of the slider  144  once moved to the actuated position. Compared to some known devices where the bias of the one or more latch components may act to reset an active pedestrian mechanism after activation by applying a force in line with the axis of extension of an actuator. Alternatively, in some known devices an actuator may be provided as non-resettable (not able to be returned to a retracted or non-deployed position) causing the one or more latch components to remain in an activated position after an active pedestrian event without possibility of returning the one or more latch components to a pre-active pedestrian protection state. Therefore, provided is a closure latch system for a hood of a motor vehicle for moving a hood fixed to a striker to a pop-up position, including a closure latch assembly comprising one or more latch components, and a pedestrian protection system including an actuator having a non-actuated position and an actuated position, the actuator being configured to move a control element from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon moving from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, one or more control surfaces configured to control the one or more components from a normal state to an active pedestrian protection state during movement of the control element from a non-deployed position to a deployed position, the closure latch assembly further having a release lever ( 80 ,  280 ) for resetting the one or more latch components from the active pedestrian protection state to the normal state without resetting at least one of the control element and actuator to their non-actuated positions from their actuated positions. 
     In more detail, as discussed above, upon sensing an imminent impact with a pedestrian P, the actuator  242  is automatically moved, via actuation from a signal from vehicle controller  37 ′ and/or directly with latch controller  37 , to the actuated position ( FIG. 22 ) to translate slider  244  from a non-deployed position along a straight path extending along an axis A to the deployed position. To facilitate straight translating movement of slider  244 , housing  240  can have a guide feature, such as straight slot  241  ( FIGS. 20-23 ), by way of example and without limitation, configured for receipt of a protrusion or pin  243  therein for guided translation therethrough. The pin  243  can be operably connected to slider  244  via an intermediate connector or fixed directly to slider  244  as an integral component thereof via any desired fixation mechanism, including a mechanical fastener, weld joint, adhesive, or combination thereof. Translation of slider  244  to the deployed position causes hook  246  to move, such as via being pivoted, as indicated by arrow r 1 ′ ( FIG. 21 ), about a hook axis, also referred to as first axis  246 ′, from a striker release position to a striker capture position, also referred to as striker retention position. To releasably hold hook  246  in the striker retention position when desired, a stop member, also referred to as stop surface or hook blocking pawl  96  can be biased from a non-blocking, rest position into a blocking position ( FIGS. 21 and 22 ), whereat a lug  97  of hook blocking pawl  96 , shown as a laterally extending tab, by way of example and without limitation, is brought into blocking engagement with a lock surface  98  of hook  246 , with lock surface being shown as a shoulder  98  of a recessed notch. To facilitate biasing hook blocking pawl  96  to its blocking position, a hook blocking pawl biasing member  100 , such as a torsion spring, can be provided to bias hook blocking pawl  96  into engagement with hook  246 , shown as being biased in a clockwise direction by arrow  101  about a pin  103 . As such, as hook  246  is biased by slider  244  to its striker retaining position, as discussed further below, hook blocking pawl  96  is biased to pivot in the clockwise direction of arrow  101  to bring lug  97  into locked, blocking engagement with lock surface  98 . Hook blocking pawl  96  extends from pin  103  to a free end  104 , wherein free end  104  is aligned for select engagement with hook  246 , as shown in  FIG. 23 , to facilitate releasing hook blocking pawl  96  from blocking engagement with hook  246  when desired to open hood  12 , as discussed further hereafter. 
     The slider  244  has a rest surface  268  arranged for receipt of a driven feature  254  of hook  246  while the actuator  242  is in the non-actuated position, whereat the hook  246  is in the striker releasing position. During translation of slider  244  along axis A, a first drive member, also referred to as first cam surface  252  of slider  244 , located between a first end  253  of slider  244  and a second end  255  of slider  244 , is brought into camming engagement with hook driven feature or member, also referred to as hook protrusion  254  extending outwardly adjacent a first end  245  of hook  246  proximate hook axis  246 ′, to pivot hook  246  clockwise, as viewed in  FIG. 21 , about hook axis  246 ′ to bring a hook-shaped second or free end  247  into blocking, overlying relation with striker  22 , thereby preventing striker  22  from passing by hook free end  247  and being released from the pedestrian protection feature  220  and releasably maintaining hook  246  in an actuated position with hook-shaped second end  247  in overlying relation with striker  22 . Thereafter, when desired to release hood  12  from the pop-up position, whereat hook  246  is in striker retaining position, to the fully open position, hook protrusion  254  can be moved by release lever  280 , while the actuator  242  remains in the actuated position, to an over-travel surface  269  of slider  244  arranged for receipt of the hook protrusion  254 , whereat the hook  246  is moved to the striker releasing position. The rest surface  268  is shown extending from a first end  271  ( FIG. 20 ) of the cam surface  252  and the over-travel surface  269  is shown extending from a second end  273  of the first cam surface  252  opposite the first end  271 , and thus, first cam surface  252  extends between the rest surface  268  and the over-travel surface  269 . 
     Pawls  26 ,  28  of the closure latch assembly  216  are moved from a primary lock position to a ratchet release position via movement, via clockwise rotational movement (as viewed in  FIG. 21 ) of pawl lever  250  about a second axis  257  in response to a pawl drive member, also referred to as pin or lug  256  extending laterally outwardly from pawl lever  250 , of the pawl lever  250  being driven by a second drive member, also referred to as second cam surface  258  of the slider  244 . Second cam surface  258  is shown as a raised plateau generally opposite first cam surface  252 , also formed as a raised plateau. 
     Rotational movement of pawl lever  250  in the clockwise direction causes coupling link  30  to move along the direction of arrow A 1  ( FIG. 6 ), whereupon a drive member, shown as a protrusion  60  of coupling link  30 , engages and pivots primary pawl  26  about a primary pawl axis  27  to its ratchet release position, while linked connection  61  between coupling link  30  and secondary pawl  28  causes secondary pawl  28  to move pivotably about a secondary pawl axis  29  to its ratchet release position. As slider  244  translates along axis A, lug  256  moves onto second cam surface  258 , whereat primary and secondary pawls  26 ,  28  are maintained in their respective ratchet releasing positions. 
     As actuator  242  is moved to the actuated position and slider  244  is moved along axis A to the deployed position ( FIGS. 19, 22 and 23 ), a lift lever cam surface, also referred to as lift lever driven surface  264 , of lift lever  248  is engaged and driven by a lift lever drive surface, shown as being formed by a pin  262  extending laterally outwardly from blocking lever  274  into sliding engagement with lift lever driven surface  264 . Upon slider  244  reaching the deployed position, and lift lever  248  being cammed upwardly to its fully deployed position, pin  262  is brought into blocking engagement with an end blocking surface  277  of lift lever  248  so that lift lever  248  is prevented from inadvertent return toward a non-deployed, home position ( FIG. 20 ). To facilitate smooth camming motion of lift lever  248  to its deployed position, lift lever driven surface  264  can be formed as a smooth, arcuate surface, shown as a concave surface, thereby enhancing the camming movement of lift lever  248  between its. Lift lever  248  is caused to move pivotably about axis  257  in a clockwise direction against a bias, such as imparted by a spring member  272 , wherein spring member  272  acts to bias lift lever  248  toward its non-deployed, home position absent being lifted forcibly against the bias of spring member  272 . Lift lever  248  and pawl lever  250  are shown supported about a common pin P′ for rotation about the common axis  257 . Lift lever driven surface  264  extends generally radially from axis  257 , providing a lever arm to increase torque, thereby minimizing the amount of force required by lift lever drive surface  262  to pivot lift lever  248  about axis  257 . Accordingly, the force required to be exerted by actuator  242  on slider  244  can be minimized. 
     As actuator  242  moves toward its fully actuated position, pin  243  engages a driven cam surface  106  of blocking lever  274  to cause blocking lever  274  to move pivotably about a pin  108 , thereby driving pin  262  forcibly against blocking lever  274  and slidably along driven surface  264 . As such, lift lever  248  moves the striker  22  upwardly toward the hook-shaped free end  247  into engagement with or close proximity with the hook-shaped free end  247  of hook  246 . With the hook-shaped free end  247  being maintained in overlying relation with striker  22  via continued engagement of elongate, planar first cam surface plateau  252  with hook protrusion  254 , hook  246  prevents striker  22  from being released from pedestrian protection feature  220  and the front hood  12  of the motor vehicle  10  is moved to, and maintained in, the pop-up position ( FIGS. 1B and 1C ). To further enhance the striker retention strength of hook-shaped free end  247 , an anti-deformation feature provided as an overhanging lip, also referred to as flange  109  can be provided to overlie and obstruct the potential upward movement of the hook-shaped free end  270  when the hook  246  is in the striker retaining position. Flange  109  can be formed as a monolithic piece of material with housing  240 , such as in a bending or stamping operation, by way of example and without limitation, or as an add-on feature, such as via any suitable mechanical fastener and/or weld joint and/or adhesive material. Flange  109  inhibits the elastic and plastic deformation of hook-shaped free end  270  when the hook  246  is in the striker retaining position, thereby providing added assurance that the striker  22  will be retained by hook-shaped free end  270  when the hook  246  is in the striker retaining position. It is to be recognized that the flange  109 , as well as the entirety of pedestrian protection system  220 , can be provided as an aftermarket mechanism to be retrofitted to an existing latch. 
     Lift lever  248  can be held and releasably locked in the fully deployed, pop-up position by blocking lever  274 . The blocking lever  274  can be biased counterclockwise toward the blocking position to facilitate moving the blocking lever  274  out from locking engagement with the lift lever  248 , when desired. The blocking lever  274  is shown as being generally L-shaped, having a free end  110  at an opposite end from the location of pin  108 , with free end  110  being brought into engagement with a pin  112  extending laterally outwardly adjacent an end  114  of release lever  280  when in the fully deployed, blocking position. Accordingly, pin  112  inhibits blocking lever  274  from moving beyond its blocking position when in the deployed position. 
     The release lever  280  is operable to move between a rest position ( FIG. 22 ), whereat the hook  246  remains in the striker retaining position due to being held by lug  97  of hook blocking pawl  96  and whereat lift lever  248  remains in the deployed position due to be blocked by driving pin  262  of lift lever  248  while the actuator  242  is in the actuated position, and an actuated position ( FIG. 23 ), whereat the hook  246  is moved from the striker retaining position to a striker releasing position and simultaneously lift lever  248  is moved to its non-deployed, home position while the actuator  242  is in the actuated position. Accordingly, while actuator  242  is in its actuated position, striker  22  can be selectively and intentionally removed from the ratchet  24  and the hood  12  can be moved to the fully open position. In particular, movement of release lever  280  to its actuated position brings an edge surface  118  of release lever  280  into engagement with free end  104  of hook blocking pawl  96 , thereby causing hook blocking pawl  96  to be pivoted counterclockwise against the bias of hook blocking pawl biasing member  100 , which causes lug  97  to be removed from blocking engagement with lock surface  98  of hook  246 , and allow hook  246  to move under a spring bias to its striker releasing position. Movement of release lever  280  to its actuated position further causes pin  112  to move out from blocking engagement with free end  110  of blocking lever  274 , with pin  112  shown as being received in a recess, also referred to as notch or pocket  116  ( FIG. 25 ) formed in a region where one leg joins the other leg of blocking lever  274 , thereby allowing blocking lever  274  to move counterclockwise under the bias out from blocking engagement with lift lever  248  such that lift lever  248  returns to its non-deployed, home position. 
     To facilitate moving the release lever  280  to the actuated position, a release member  282  can be fixed to the release lever  280 , wherein the release member  82  can be configured for manual and/or powered actuation from any suitable internal and/or external location on motor vehicle  10  and/or via a powered actuator  83  ( FIG. 12A ) to move the release lever  280  from the rest position to the actuated position, thereby moving hook  246  from the striker retaining position to the striker releasing position. Release member  282  can be provided as a rod or flexible cable, by way of example and without limitation. 
     The release lever  280  is shown supported for pivotal movement by a pin  284 . The slider  244  can be provided having a slot  286  configured for receipt of the pin  284  therein, wherein the pin  284  slides through the slot  286  as the slider  244  moves in translation from the non-deployed position to the deployed position, as discussed above for slider  144 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.