# US 10,501,082 B2 · Electronic locking differential > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,082 B2 - Document ID: US10501082B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/804,180 - Filed: 2017-11-06 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-06 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Gustavo Luis Garcia; Jacob Martin Povirk; Jihong Guo; Filip Tomik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501082B2 ## CPC - B60W 30/18109: {Braking} - F16H 48/24: using positive clutches or brakes - B60W 10/16: Axle differentials, e.g. for dividing torque between left and right wheels - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 30/02: Control of vehicle driving stability - B60W 30/18172: {Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels} - B60W 2710/125: Locking status - F16H 48/10: with orbital spur gears - F16H 48/40: characterised by features of the rotating cases - F16H 2048/205: {using the steering as a control parameter} - F16H 2048/346: {using a linear motor} - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A vehicle includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a stability control system (SCS), and an electronic locking differential. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to unlock the differential in response to activation of the ABS or the SCS. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the deactivation of the activated one of the ABS and the SCS, inhibit locking of the differential for a predefined period of time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: an anti-lock braking system (ABS); a stability control system (SCS); an electronic locking differential; and a controller programmed to: unlock the differential in response to activation of the ABS or the SCS, and responsive to deactivation of the activated one of the ABS and the SCS, inhibit locking of the differential for a predefined period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to expiration of the predefined period of time, command locking of the differential. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to a request to lock the differential and engagement conditions being met, command locking of the differential. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to command locking of the differential responsive to a request to lock the differential, engagement conditions being met, and expiration of the predefined period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the engagement conditions include a steering angle being less than a threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the period of time begins when the activated one of the ABS and the SCS is deactivated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the period of time is 0.5 to 2 seconds, inclusive. ### Claim 8 A vehicle comprising: an anti-lock braking system (ABS); a stability control system (SCS); a locking differential including an electronically controlled locker configured to lock the differential; and a controller programmed to, energize the locker to lock the differential in response to (i) vehicle speed being less than a threshold, (ii) accelerator-pedal position being less than a threshold, and (iii) a steering angle being less than a threshold, de-energize the locker to unlock the differential in response to activation of at least one of the ABS and the SCS, and responsive to deactivation of the activated one of the ABS and the SCS, inhibiting energization of the locker for a predefined period of time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to expiration of the time, re-energize the locker to lock the differential. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is further programmed to re-energize the locker to lock the differential in response to (i) expiration of the time, a request to lock the differential, and (iii) engagement conditions being meet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the engagement conditions include steering angle being less than a threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the locker includes an electric coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the period of time begins when the activated one of the ABS and the SCS is deactivated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the period of time is 0.5 to 2 seconds, inclusive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising an activation mechanism configured to send a lock-differential signal to the controller, and wherein a driver requests locking of the differential via the activation mechanism. ### Claim 16 A method of controlling an electronic locking differential, comprising: locking the differential in response to engagement conditions being present; unlocking the differential in response to activation of at least one of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and a stability control system (SCS); and inhibiting locking of the differential for a predefined period of time that starts in response to deactivation of the activated one of the ABS and the SCS. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising relocking the differential in response to expiration of the period of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising relocking the differential in response to (i) expiration of the time and (ii) engagement conditions being meet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the engagement conditions include steering angle being less than a threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the period of time is 0.5 to 2 seconds, inclusive.