US Patent 7152890 Power-open motor-vehicle latch

A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a fork pivotal on the housing between a bolt-retaining closed position and a bolt-releasing open position, and a pawl pivotal on the housing between a blocking position engaging the fork and retaining it in the closed position and a freeing position allowing the fork to move into the open position. A wheel rotatable about a wheel axis has a radially directed cam surface engageable with the pawl. A drive rotates the wheel and thereby engages the surface with the pawl to displace the pawl into its freeing position. Interengaging formations on the pawl and on the wheel block rotation of the wheel when the pawl is in the freeing position.