Patent ID: 8357074

Claim:
A transmission system for transmitting mechanical power flow originating from an engine and an electric machine to an output, comprising: an input, planetary gear sets, torque transfer clutches, a hydraulic circuit, and first and second control modules; the input operatively connected to one of the planetary gear sets; the hydraulic circuit comprising flow management valves and pressure control solenoids selectively operative to apply the torque transfer clutches; the torque transfer clutches selectively actuable to control operation in one of a fixed gear operating range state and a continuously variable operating range state; the first control module: a) operatively connected to the flow management valves and the pressure control solenoids to selectively apply the torque transfer clutches; b) directly signally connected to pressure monitoring devices adapted to monitor the hydraulic circuit; c) operative to execute algorithmic code to detect a fault in the torque transfer clutches affecting the mechanical power flow to the output based upon the signal outputs of the pressure monitoring devices; and, d) operative to execute remedial control upon fault detection; and the second control module: a) operatively connected to an electric power inverter to control electric power flow to the electric machine, b) directly signally connected to a sensing system operative to monitor rotation of the electric machine; c) directly signally connected to a sensing system operative to monitor rotation of the output of the transmission; d) operative to execute algorithmic code to detect a fault affecting the mechanical power flow to the output of the transmission based upon the rotation of the electric machine and output of the transmission; and, e) operative to execute remedial control of the electric machine upon detection of a fault.