Patent ID: 8342583

Claim:
A vehicle panel control system for a vehicle that has a latch mechanism, comprising: a vehicle panel that includes an extension; a handle that includes a pivot body pivotably connected to the vehicle panel and movable about a pivot point in a first direction to mechanically unlatch the latch mechanism from the panel; a switch positioned to be closed when the handle is sufficiently moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, closure of the switch operable to electronically unlatch the latch mechanism from the panel, unlatching of the latch mechanism from the panel thereby being accomplished by either of two different motions; and wherein the switch includes a switch body mounted to the pivot body and a contact element so that when the handle is sufficiently moved in the second direction, the switch body is pivoted to engage the extension on the panel to contact the contact element, thereby closing the switch and causing the electronic unlatching of the latch mechanism.