Patent ID: 8460142

Claim:
An electrically-variable transmission for a vehicle, comprising: an input member; an output member; a stationary member; a first and a second planetary gear set, each having a sun gear, a carrier member, and a ring gear; wherein the carrier member of the first planetary gear set is continuously connected with the carrier member of the second planetary gear set and with the output member so that the carrier member of the first planetary gear set rotates together with and at the same speed as the carrier member of the second planetary gear set and the output member; a first and a second motor/generator, each having a rotor and a stator; wherein the rotor of the first motor/generator is continuously connected with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set so that the rotor of the first motor/generator rotates together with and at the same speed as the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the rotor of the second motor/generator is continuously connected with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set so that the rotor of the second motor/generator rotates together with and at the same speed as the sun gear of the second planetary gear set; a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to ground the ring gear of the second planetary gear set to the stationary member; and a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set so that the sun gear of the first planetary gear set rotates together with and at the same speed as the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; wherein the transmission is configured with the input member surrounded by at least one of the planetary gear sets, with the first torque-transmitting mechanism radially outward of and aligned with the second planetary gear set, or with the output member extending radially from one of the planetary gear sets.