Electronic Glove Box Latch With Motor-Driven Rack and Pawl Locking

The patent replaces traditional mechanical latch mechanisms with an electronically controlled motor-driven system. The motor actuates the latch through a gear and rack mechanism, enabling electronic control and improved convenience while maintaining the essential mechanical locking function. This substitution introduces electronic control capabilities without completely eliminating the mechanical components needed for the locking action.

The electronic latch system integrates multiple functions into a single device: motor-driven actuation for electronic control, gear and rack mechanisms for motion conversion, pawls for secure locking, and cam followers for controlled movement. This multi-functional integration achieves electronic control and convenience improvement while managing overall system complexity through functional consolidation.

The latch system is divided into distinct functional modules: the motor unit for actuation, the gear arrangement for motion conversion, the rack for linear movement, and the pawl mechanism for locking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while enabling modular assembly and maintenance, thereby managing complexity through functional decomposition.

The gear and rack act as intermediary mechanisms between the motor's rotational output and the pawl's linear locking motion. The cam follower serves as an intermediary that controls the rack's movement and ensures proper engagement timing. These intermediary components translate and coordinate the actions of different parts, achieving reliable secure locking while organizing the complexity of the multi-component system.