Patent ID: 8142318

Claim:
An apparatus to adjust rotational input to output ratios with a planetary gear system, the apparatus comprising: a sun gear that receives a rotational force from a first input; a plurality of planet gears that encircle the sun gear and operably connect with the sun gear, wherein the sun gear transfers rotational force to the plurality of planet gears; a planet gear carrier connected to the plurality of planet gears, wherein the plurality of planet gears transfer rotational energy to the planet gear carrier and wherein the planet gear carrier transfers rotational force to an output; a ring gear encircling the planet gears and operably connected to each of the planet gears, the ring gear comprising a rotor of an electric motor, rotational motion of the ring gear comprising a second input, the second input controlling speed and torque ratios between the first input and the output, the ring gear comprising a plurality of permanent magnets; a stator of the electric motor comprising a plurality of coils aligned with the permanent magnets of the ring gear wherein each coil is of a uniform size with a non-conductive, non-magnetic core and a thin conductive shield surrounding the core and wherein a conductor is wound around the shield, and wherein each coil is positioned between pairs of permanent magnets of the ring gear, the coils of a row of coils each positioned a same radius from the center of the sun gear, and the permanent magnets of a corresponding row of permanent magnets each positioned a substantially similar radius from the center of the sun gear such that the center of the permanent magnets substantially aligns with the center of the corresponding coils, wherein the stator comprises a fixed position with respect to the ring gear, wherein electrically controlling the speed of the ring gear using the stator comprises the second input.