Patent ID: 7507176
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: B60K,F16H,G01D

Abstract:
1. An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a first shaft rotatably positioned in the housing; a second shaft rotatably positioned in the housing; a power transfer mechanism positioned in the housing, the power transfer mechanism selectively transmitting rotary power between the first shaft and the second shaft; an actuator having a linearly moveable member, the actuator being operable to drivingly engage the moveable member with the power transfer mechanism to cause power transmission between the first shaft and the second shaft; and a sensor circuit positioned within the housing and operable to output a signal indicative of the linear position of the moveable member, the sensor circuit including first and second Hall effect sensors electrically connected such that only two electrical terminals extend through the housing, the first Hall effect sensor defines a first operating range of magnetic field density to change output states and the second Hall effect sensor defines a second operating range of magnetic field density to change output states.