Patent ID: 7235032

Claim:
A multi-speed automatic transmission comprising: an input; an output; a first clutch, a second clutch, and a third clutch; a first power path producing a first speed ratio and including the first clutch and the second clutch; a second power path producing a second speed ratio, higher than said first fixed speed ratio, and including the third clutch; a first brake associated with the first power path; a second brake associated with the second power path; a planetary gear system comprising a first and second gear units, each gear unit including a sun gear, a ring gear, planet pinions meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier rotatably supporting the planet pinions, the sun gear of the first gear unit being secured to the sun gear of the second gear unit, a first ring gear of the first gear unit being secured to the output, a second ring gear of the first gear unit being secured to the carrier of the second gear unit; the first clutch being operable to connect the ring gear of the second gear unit to the input through said first power path, the second clutch being operable to couple the sun gears to the input through said first power path, the third clutch being operable to couple the carrier of the first gear unit to the input through the second power path, the first brake being operable to hold the carrier of the first gear unit against rotation, and the second brake being operable to hold the sun gears against rotation.