Patent ID: 8655525

Claim:
Method to control a powertrain comprising a plurality of torque generative devices, a transmission input shaft, and a planetary gear set connecting the torque generative devices to a first end of the transmission input shaft, the method comprising: monitoring a desired configuration of the powertrain, wherein the transmission input shaft comprises the first end coupled to the planetary gear set and a second end coupled to a transmission; selectively grounding a ring gear of the planetary gear set with a selectable one way clutch based upon a desired setting of the selectable one way clutch, wherein the planetary gear set comprises the ring gear, a sun gear engaged to one of the plurality of torque generative devices and a plurality of planet gears engaged to the first end of the transmission input shaft; determining the desired setting of the selectable one way clutch based upon the desired configuration of the powertrain, wherein determining the desired setting comprises selecting between: the selectable one way clutch freewheeling in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the ring gear is permitted to rotate in both the first and second directions, the selectable one way clutch being locked in the first direction and freewheeling in the second direction, wherein the ring gear is grounded in the first direction and permitted to rotate in the second direction, the selectable one way clutch being locked in the second direction and freewheeling in the first direction, wherein the ring gear is grounded in the second direction and permitted to rotate in the first direction, and the selectable one way clutch being locked in the first direction and the second direction, wherein the ring gear is grounded in both the first direction and the second direction.