Patent ID: 7287785

Claim:
A door latch assembly of a motor vehicle for selectively engaging a striker between latched and unlatched positions, said door latch assembly comprising: a ratchet for receiving and engaging the striker; a pawl movable between a locked position, in which said pawl engages said ratchet into position for retaining the striker, and an unlocked position, in which said pawl disengages said ratchet for allowing said ratchet to release the striker; an electromagnet disposed adjacent said pawl; a power supply operatively connected to said electromagnet to generate a first electrical current and a second electrical current opposite said first electrical current; and a controller operatively connected to said power supply for controlling activation of said first and second electrical currents wherein said electromagnet selectively generates a first magnetic field to attract said pawl in response to said first electrical current and a second magnetic field opposite said first magnetic field to repel said pawl in response to said second electrical current.