Patent ID: 7270029

Claim:
A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected to a door latch, said door latch release system comprising: a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable; a motor including an output shaft selectably engageable with a tensioning gear selectably engageable to drive a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, said ratcheting gearwheel including external teeth engageable with a rack affixed to or formed with said linkage assembly to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch; and at least one pivotable ratcheting pawl selectably engageable with said ratcheting gearwheel to one of allow and prevent rotation of said ratcheting gearwheel, wherein operation of said motor in a first motor rotary direction selectably drives said tensioning gear to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a first gear rotary direction to energize said coil spring, and operation of said motor in a second opposite motor rotary direction selectably disengages said ratcheting pawl to allow stored energy in said coil spring to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a second opposite gear rotary direction to thereby drive said rack to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch.