Automatic transmission with one or more dynamically controllable one way clutches

A transmission system for a vehicle, comprising:

• an input configured to couple to a prime mover of the vehicle;
• a first gear ratio;
• a second gear ratio;
• a first dynamic controllable clutch (DCC) operable in an engaged state, a disengaged state, and a one-way clutch state;
• a second dynamic controllable clutch (DCC) operable in the engaged state, the disengaged state, and the one-way clutch state;
• an output;
• and
• a controller comprising instructions stored in non-transitory memory that are executable by the controller to:
• during a first setting, operate the first DCC and the second DCC, wherein the first DCC is in the engaged state, and torque is transferred from the input to the output via the first DCC while maintaining the second DCC in the disengaged state;
• and
• during a second setting, transition the first DCC from the engaged state to the disengaged state;
• transition the second DCC to the one-way clutch state from the disengaged state;
• synchronize the input and the output, wherein change of a first rotational speed of the input is approximately the same as a second rotational speed of the output;
• and transition the second DCC from the one-way clutch state to the engaged state.

A method for shifting gears in a transmission, comprising:

• operating with a first dynamic controllable clutch (DCC) and a second dynamic controllable clutch (DCC) in a first setting, wherein the first DCC is in an engaged state to transfer torque from a first input to a first output and selectively couples a first shaft to a second shaft via a first reduction set, and the second DCC is in a disengaged state to not transfer torque from a second input to a second output and does not selectively couple the first shaft to the second shaft via a second reduction set that is complementary to the second DCC;
• transitioning the first DCC and second DCC from the first setting to a second setting, such that:
• the first DCC transitions to the disengaged state, wherein the first DCC does not transfer torque from the first input to the first output, and decouples the first reduction set from coupling the first shaft to the second shaft;
• the second DCC transitions from the disengaged state to a partially engaged state, wherein the second DCC transitions to a one-way clutch mode, and wherein the second DCC transfers torque from the second input to the second output during rotation in a first direction;
• a difference in rotational speed between the second input and the second output reduces below a threshold of rotational speed;
• and
• the second DCC transitions from the partially engaged state to the engaged state, wherein the second DCC transfers torque from the second input to the second output during rotation in the first direction or a second direction, and wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.