US Patent 7874609 Smooth unlatch system and method

A powered vehicle door system and method in which a motor-driven door opening and closing mechanism and a motor-driven latching mechanism cooperate to enable the door to open from a latched, fully-closed position with improved noise control and improved smoothness of operation. The door can be a tailgate or a swinging or sliding door, and the opening and closing mechanism is operative to place the door in an over-closed position, thus reducing or eliminating the inherent tension placed upon the latch from the compressive force of the seal interposed between the door and the door frame. Optionally, the door latching mechanism assists the door opening and closing mechanism in placing the door in the over-closed position.