1. Hybrid transmission configured to transfer mechanical power to an
output member, comprising:
an input member and an output member;
a transmission case circumscribing first and second differential gear sets, each differential gear set comprising a plurality of meshingly engaged rotatable elements;
the first differential gear set configured with four nodes for transferring mechanical power;
the second differential gear set configured with three nodes for transferring mechanical power;
two of the four nodes of the first differential gear set continuously interconnected to two of the three nodes of the second differential gear set; and
a first torque transfer clutch configured to selectively connect the input member to an internal combustion engine;
first and second brake devices configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets, the transmission case, the input member, and the output member.
2. The hybrid transmission of claim 1, further comprising a second torque transfer clutch configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets to effect fixed gear operation.
3. The hybrid transmission of claim 1, wherein a first one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set comprises a connecting point to selectively ground rotation of a first one of the elements of the first differential gear set to the transmission case by applying the second brake.
4. The hybrid transmission of claim 1, wherein a second one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set comprises a connecting point to continuously interconnect a second one of the elements of the first differential gear set to a first one of the elements of the second differential gear set.
5. The hybrid transmission of claim 4, wherein the second one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set comprises a connecting point to selectively ground rotation of the second one of the elements of the first differential gear set to the transmission case by applying the first brake.
6. The hybrid transmission of claim 4, wherein the second one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set further comprises a connecting point to transfer power between the second one of the elements of the first differential gear set and a first torque machine.
7. The hybrid transmission of claim 1, wherein a third one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set comprises a connecting point to transfer power between a third one of the elements of the first differential gear set and the output member.
8. The hybrid transmission of claim 1, wherein a fourth one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set comprises a connecting point to transfer power between a fourth one of the elements of the first differential gear set and a second one of the elements of the second differential gear set.
9. The hybrid transmission of claim 8, wherein the fourth one of the four nodes of the first differential gear set further comprises a connecting point to transfer power between the fourth one of the elements of the first differential gear set and a second torque machine.
10. Hybrid powertrain system configured to transfer mechanical power to a driveline, comprising:
an internal combustion engine configured to selectively transfer torque to an input member of a hybrid transmission via a first torque transfer clutch device,
a hybrid transmission including the input member, an output member, and a transmission case circumscribing first and second differential gear sets, each differential gear set comprising a plurality of meshingly engaged rotatable elements, the first differential gear set configured with four nodes for transferring mechanical power, the second differential gear set configured with three nodes for transferring mechanical power, two of the four nodes of the first differential gear set continuously interconnected to two of the three nodes of the second differential gear set, and first and second brake devices configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets, the transmission case, the input member, and the output member; and
first and second torque machines configured to transfer torque to selected nodes of one of the first and second differential gear sets.
11. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmission further comprises a second torque transfer clutch configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets to effect fixed gear operation.
12. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the first torque transfer clutch to transfer torque from one of the first and second torque machines to effect an engine start operating state.
13. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid transmission device is configured to spin the input member when the first torque transfer clutch is applied and the first torque machine rotates in a first direction and the second torque machine rotates in a second, opposite direction such that rotational speed of the output member is nil.
14. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid transmission is configured to spin the input member when the first torque transfer clutch is applied and the second torque machine rotates in a first direction such that rotational speed of the output member is in a positive direction.
15. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the engine is in an off state during powertrain operation in one of a reverse operating state, a low speed electric vehicle operating state, and a launch operating state.
16. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 15, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the first brake device to ground one of the elements of the first differential gear set to transfer tractive torque to the output member to effect the launch operating state.
17. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 15, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the first brake device to ground one of the elements of the first differential gear set to transfer tractive torque to the output member to effect the low speed electric vehicle operating state.
18. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 15, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the first brake device to ground one of the elements of the first differential gear set to transfer tractive torque to the output member to effect the reverse operating state.
19. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the second brake device to ground one of the elements of the first differential gear set to transfer tractive torque to the output member to effect a high speed electric vehicle operating state.
20. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 19, wherein the engine is in an off state during powertrain operation in the high speed electric vehicle operating state.
21. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the hybrid transmission applies the first torque transfer clutch to transfer tractive torque from the engine to the hybrid transmission to effect an electrically-variable transmission operating state.
22. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 21, wherein the engine is in an on state during powertrain operation in the electrically-variable transmission operating state.
23. Hybrid transmission configured to transfer mechanical power to an output member, comprising:
an input member and an output member;
a transmission case circumscribing first and second differential gear sets, each differential gear set comprising a plurality of meshingly engaged rotatable elements;
the first differential gear set configured with four nodes for transferring mechanical power;
the second differential gear set configured with three nodes for transferring mechanical power;
two of the four nodes of the first differential gear set continuously interconnected to two of the three nodes of the second differential gear set; and
a first torque transfer clutch configured to selectively connect the input member to an internal combustion engine;
first and second brake devices configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets, the transmission case, the input member, and the output member;
a first torque machine configured to transfer torque to the second differential gear set; and
a second torque machine configured to transfer torque to the first differential gear set.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for using void pantographs, the method comprising:
generating a test sheet including multiple void pantographs, each of the multiple void pantographs including a pantograph foreground and a pantograph background;
printing the test sheet;
identifying from the printed test sheet at least one of the multiple void pantographs having a covert or semi-covert pantograph foreground and background;
scanning the printed test sheet;
identifying from the scanned test sheet at least one of the multiple void pantographs having an overt pantograph foreground; and
developing a workflow for the at least one of the multiple void pantographs having both i) the covert or semi-covert pantograph foreground and background after printing, and ii) the overt pantograph foreground after scanning.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to developing the workflow, the method further comprises:
segmenting the at least one of the multiple void pantographs having both i) the covert or semi-covert pantograph foreground and background after printing, and ii) the overt pantograph foreground after scanning, thereby identifying at least one region of interest for the at least one of the multiple void pantographs; and
analyzing the at least one region of interest;
wherein the workflow is based upon the analysis.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein analyzing the at least one region of interest includes:
performing a pattern recognition process on the at least one region of interest; and
from the pattern recognition process, identifying with statistical significance a printer used to print the at least one of the multiple void pantographs.
4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein analyzing the at least one region of interest includes associating image characteristics of the at least one of the multiple void pantographs with previously stored image characteristics of an other void pantograph previously printed with at least one printer.
5. The method as defined in claim 4, further comprising identifying with statistical significance a printer used to print the at least one of the multiple void pantographs from the analysis.
6. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein after printing and scanning the method further comprises:
identifying a plurality of the multiple void pantographs having both i) the covert or semi-covert pantograph foreground and background after printing, and ii) the overt pantograph foreground after scanning; and
selecting, for the segmenting step, at least one of the plurality of the multiple void pantographs having a most distinguishable pantograph foreground compared to its corresponding pantograph background after scanning.
7. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein segmenting includes:
thresholding the at least one of the multiple void pantographs, thereby binarizing the pantograph into black and white areas;
performing erosion of connected black areas of the pantograph, thereby reducing at least some pixels and eliminating at least some other pixels within the connected black areas of the pantograph;
performing dilation of any remaining pixels for the pantograph; and
forming the at least one region of interest with the dilated remaining pixels.
8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein developing the workflow includes compiling a list of deployment specifications for the at least one of the multiple void pantographs.
9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the list of deployment specifications includes at least one of a printer to be used for deployment, a substrate to be used for deployment, a copier or scanner that optimally develops the at least one of the multiple void pantographs, pantograph foreground characteristics, pantograph background characteristics, a database for storing image features, characteristics used to classify the at least one of the multiple void pantographs, characteristics used to link the at least one of the multiple void pantographs to a printer, or combinations thereof.
10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein developing the workflow includes generating instructions to be encoded in the at least one of the multiple void pantographs prior to subsequent deployment.
11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
deploying the at least one of the multiple void pantographs in a printed region on an object;
scanning the printed region, thereby rendering the pantograph foreground of the deployed void pantograph overt; and
correctly reading the deployed void pantograph, thereby initiating the workflow.
12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein correctly reading the deployed void pantograph is accomplished manually via a human, and wherein the method further comprises initiating the workflow via the human.
13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein correctly reading the deployed void pantograph is accomplished automatically using software, and wherein the method further comprises:
decoding the deployed void pantograph; and
in response to the decoding, initiating a next appropriate software task.
14. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein correctly reading the deployed void pantograph includes:
segmenting the deployed void pantograph, thereby identifying at least one region of interest; and
performing a pattern recognition process on the at least one region of interest; and
grading the deployed void pantograph using a set of quality metrics.
15. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to generating the test sheet, the method further comprises generating each of the multiple void pantographs using respective images.