Patent ID: 7198586

Claim:
A method for operating a multiple speed ratio transmission that includes an input and an output, a primary gear unit driveably connected to the input and including a first output and producing forward ratios of a speed of the input to a speed of the first output, and an auxiliary gear unit driveably connected to the first output, located in a torque path between the first output and the output, and producing auxiliary ratios of a speed of the first output to a speed of the output, the auxiliary ratios including a direct drive ratio and an overdrive ratio, the method comprising the steps of: producing a first forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in a first forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the direct drive ratio; producing a second forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in the first forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the overdrive ratio; producing a third forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in a second forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the direct drive ratio; producing a fourth forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in a third forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the direct drive ratio; producing a fifth forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in the third forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the overdrive ratio; producing a sixth forward speed ratio by operating the primary gear unit in a fourth forward ratio and the auxiliary gear in the overdrive ratio.