1. A method of controlling clutches in a multi-speed transmission, comprising:
beginning a current shift, wherein the current shift changes the transmission from a starting gear to an initial target gear;
determining whether the current shift is a downshift, such that the initial target gear has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear;
determining jump-stage eligibility of a first clutch, including:
determining whether the first clutch is a holding clutch for the current shift; and
determining whether the first clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to an adjusted target gear, which has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear;
if the first clutch is not jump-stage eligible, maintaining pressure of the first clutch at a current pressure; and
if the first clutch is jump-stage eligible, reducing the pressure of the first clutch from the current pressure to a staging pressure, wherein the staging pressure is greater than a slipping pressure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining jump-stage eligibility of the first clutch further includes:
determining whether the current shift has exceeded a jump limit, wherein the jump limit corresponds to a clock timer.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining jump-stage eligibility of the first clutch further includes:
determining whether the current shift has exceeded a jump limit, wherein the jump limit corresponds to slipping of an off-going clutch for the current shift to the initial target gear.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to the adjusted target gear includes:
determining whether there is only one on-coming clutch between the adjusted target gear and the starting gear; and
determining whether the first clutch is the only off-going clutch between the adjusted target gear and the starting gear.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
executing an adjusted shift from the starting gear to the adjusted target gear, wherein executing the adjusted shift includes reducing pressure of the first clutch to below the slipping pressure.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining the staging pressure for the first clutch from one of a physics-based algorithm and a look-up table.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining jump-stage eligibility of a second clutch, including:
determining whether the second clutch is a holding clutch for the current shift; and
determining whether the second clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to an adjusted target gear, which has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear;
if the second clutch is not jump-stage eligible, maintaining pressure of the second clutch at a current pressure; and
if the second clutch is jump-stage eligible, reducing the pressure of the second clutch from the current pressure to a staging pressure for the second clutch, wherein the staging pressure is greater than a slipping pressure for the second clutch.
8. A method of controlling clutches in a multi-speed transmission, comprising:
beginning a current shift, wherein the current shift changes the transmission from a starting gear to an initial target gear;
determining whether the current shift is a downshift, such that the initial target gear has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear;
determining jump-stage eligibility of a first clutch, including:
determining whether the first clutch is a holding clutch for the current shift;
determining whether the first clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to an adjusted target gear, which has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear; and
determining whether the current shift has exceeded a jump limit;
if the first clutch is not jump-stage eligible, maintaining pressure of the first clutch at a current pressure; and
if the first clutch is jump-stage eligible, reducing the pressure of the first clutch from the current pressure to a staging pressure, wherein the staging pressure is greater than a slipping pressure for the first clutch.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining the staging pressure for the first clutch from one of a physics-based algorithm and a look-up table.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the first clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to the adjusted target gear includes:
determining whether there is only one on-coming clutch between the adjusted target gear and the starting gear; and
determining whether the first clutch is the only off-going clutch between the adjusted target gear and the starting gear.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the jump limit corresponds to a clock timer.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the jump limit corresponds to slipping of an off-going clutch for the current shift to the initial target gear.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
determining jump-stage eligibility of a second clutch, including:
determining whether the second clutch is a holding clutch for the current shift; and
determining whether the second clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the starting gear to an adjusted target gear, which has a higher speed ratio than the starting gear;
if the second clutch is not jump-stage eligible, maintaining pressure of the second clutch at a current pressure; and
if the second clutch is jump-stage eligible, reducing the pressure of the second clutch from the current pressure to a staging pressure for the second clutch, wherein the staging pressure is greater than a slipping pressure for the second clutch.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A tampon comprising a generally elongated absorbent core comprising absorbent material, and an outer cover comprising an apertured polymeric formed film, the apertured polymeric formed film comprising a land region having a multiplicity of openings therein; each said opening being defined by a first aperture and sidewalls extending in a substantially uniform direction from the first aperture and terminating in a second aperture; and open area formed cumulatively by the second apertures comprising less than about 35% of the surface area of the apertured polymeric formed film; wherein the outer cover is oriented on the tampon such that the second apertures are adjacent the absorbent core.
2. The tampon of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the second apertures are bridged by polymeric fibrils.
3. The tampon of claim 2 wherein at least 50% of the second apertures are bridged by polymeric fibrils.
4. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core has at least one generally elongated surface, the outer cover being present over a substantial portion of the at least one generally elongated surface.
5. The tampon of claim 4 wherein the absorbent core has two end surfaces, at least one end surface being substantially covered by the outer cover.
6. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core comprises absorbent fibers.
7. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the apertured polymeric formed film comprises a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate and polypropylene.
8. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the apertured polymeric formed film comprises a blend of polypropylene and low density polyethylene.
9. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core is generally cylindrical.
10. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the open area comprises about 2% to about 35% of the surface area of the apertured polymeric formed film.
11. The tampon of claim 10 wherein the open area comprises about 2% to about 25% of the surface area of the apertured polymeric formed film.
12. A method of making a tampon having a generally elongated absorbent core and an outer cover of apertured polymeric formed film, the method comprising:
forming a portion of absorbent material into a generally elongated blank having a generally elongated surface and two end surfaces;
applying a length of apertured polymeric formed film to the absorbent material such that the film substantially covers the generally elongated surface to form a covered blank;
attaching a withdrawal cord to the blank; and
compressing the covered blank.;
wherein the apertured polymeric formed film comprises a land region having a multiplicity of openings therein, each said opening being defined by a first aperture, and sidewalls extending in a uniform direction and terminating in a second aperture; and open area formed cumulatively by the second apertures comprising less than about 35% of the surface area of the apertured polymeric formed film.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the length of apertured polymeric formed film is applied before the absorbent material is formed into a generally elongated blank.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the length of apertured polymeric formed film is applied after the absorbent material is formed into a generally elongated blank.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the length of apertured polymeric formed film further covers at least one end surface.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the absorbent core is generally cylindrical.