Patent ID: 7264568

Claim:
A differential gear mechanism including a gear case rotatably disposed within an outer housing and defining an axis of rotation, and a gear chamber; differential gearing disposed in said gear chamber including at least one input gear and first and second output gears; means operable to limit rotation of said first output gear relative to said gear case for common rotation therewith; actuation means for said means operable to limit rotation, said actuation means being operable in response to an input, to move said rotation limiting means from an unactuated condition to an actuated condition, said means operable to limit rotation including an axially moveable member between a first position corresponding to said unactuated condition of said rotation limiting means, and a second position corresponding to said actuated condition, characterized by: (a) a sensor assembly being fixedly mounted to said outer housing and including a sensor element disposed adjacent said gear case and external thereto; (b) said axially moveable member including a sensed portion which causes a first electrical output from said sensor element when said axially moveable member is in said first position and causes a second electrical output from said sensor element when said axially moveable member is in said second position.