Patent ID: 7395731

Claim:
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising: a longitudinal axis; a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the plurality of balls arranged on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a generally cylindrical idler in contact with the balls, the idler located radially inward of the balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; a shifter mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis, the shifter operably coupled to the idler; a motor operably coupled to the shifter; a motor controller configured to provide motor control signals to the motor; a sensor for detecting a change in a system, said change motivating a change in a speed ratio of the CVT, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of said change to the motor controller; and wherein said change comprises a change in the angular position or angular rotation of a shaft about the longitudinal axis.