Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Joseph Daniel

Stuart C Salter

Brian James Andonian

Jihong Guo

Andrew Monticello

Gustavo Luis Garcia

An electronic locking differential includes a lock ring and a coil that moves the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential, an energy storage capacitor that powers the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears, and a controller. The controller charges the energy storage capacitor to a first predefined voltage prior to the engagement.

Control of electronic locking differential

A power retractable trailer hitch for a vehicle can include a hitch assembly movably coupled to an external case or support member, and a power actuator engaging the hitch assembly. The power actuator can be operable to move the hitch assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A controller can be operable to control activation of the power actuator. An interlock can be provided requiring a transmission of the vehicle to be in a parked position before the controller can be operable to move the hitch assembly between the retracted position and the extended position. A locking member can be operable by the controller to move between a locked position and a released position with respect to the hitch assembly. The locking member can be operable to be in a locked position, when the hitch assembly is in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position, and in a released position, when the hitch assembly is in transition between the extended position and the retracted position.

Power retractable trailer hitch

An ambient light based illumination control system for motor vehicles. The system incorporates an ambient light sensor and provides control signals for controlling headlamp illumination and illumination of interior instrument panel lighting. The control system provides a variation of intensities for instrument panel lighting in transient ambient light conditions. The system may further be integrated into systems including navigation displays or other vehicle displays to provide adjustments for such displays in response to varying ambient light levels.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Joseph Daniel