Patent ID: 8231504

Claim:
A powertrain comprising: an engine; a transmission having an input member and an output member; a motor/generator having an energizable stator, a first rotor and a second rotor both rotatable via energization of the stator; a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with one of the first and the second rotors; a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the first rotor for common rotation with the second rotor; wherein the transmission input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the other of the first and second rotors; wherein the rotors and the stator are concentric; wherein the first rotor is radially outward of the stator and the second rotor is radially inward of the stator; a battery operatively connected to the stator; and a controller operatively connected to the first torque-transmitting mechanism and to the battery and configured to engage only the first torque-transmitting mechanism when the engine is on and to direct stored energy from the battery sufficiently such that the first rotor generates a stator field of the stator and rotates relative to the stator field of the stator so that the stator field powers the second rotor to drive the transmission thereby establishing an electric torque converter operating mode.