The variable-speed accelerator includes an electric device, a transmission device, and a power supply portion that supplies electric power of a constant rated frequency supplied from a power supply to the electric device when the electric device is started. The electric device includes a constant-speed electric motor that rotates a constant-speed input shaft of the transmission device, and a variable-speed electric motor that functions as a generator in a generator mode and also functions as an electric motor in an electric motor mode. When starting the electric device, the power supply portion supplies the electric power generated by the variable-speed electric motor in the generator mode to the constant-speed electric motor after supplying starting power to the constant-speed electric motor and the variable-speed electric motor.

A drive train includes a shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the shaft with the second motor/generator and the first gear set, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.

A variable-speed accelerator includes: an electric device that generates a rotational driving force; and a planetary gear transmission device that changes a speed of the rotational driving force to a constant-speed input shaft and a variable-speed input shaft, and transmits the rotational driving force to a driving target via an output shaft, wherein the electric device includes a constant-speed electric motor including a constant-speed rotor that rotates the constant-speed input shaft in a second direction, and a variable-speed electric motor that includes a variable-speed rotor connected to the variable-speed input shaft, which functions as a generator in a generator mode and as an electric motor in an electric motor mode, and which rotates the output shaft at a maximum rotational speed by rotating the variable-speed rotor at the maximum rotational speed in a first direction.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine, a gearbox, a range gearbox, and two electrical machines to achieve a shift operation from a low range position to a high range position with minimal to no torque interruption and optimal brake regeneration, on the one hand, and a large torque and a lame number of gear steps are achieved on the other hand.

A method is provided for controlling a hybrid powertrain comprising a combustion engine, a gearbox, a range gearbox, and two electrical machines to achieve a shift operation from a low range position to a high range position with minimal to no torque interruption and optimal brake regeneration, on the one hand, and a large torque and a large number of gear steps are achieved on the other hand.

A drive train includes a shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the shaft with the second motor/generator and the first gear set, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.

The invention relates to a method to start a combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain by a) disconnecting rotatable components of a first planetary gear from each other, b) disconnecting rotatable components of a second planetary gear from each other, c) preventing rotation of at least one gear pair, which is connected with the first planetary gear and an output shaft and at least one gear pair, which is connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, prevent rotation of the output shaft, and e) activating a first electrical machine connected to the first planetary gear, and/or a second electrical machine connected to the second planetary gear, so that the combustion engine starts.

A drive train for a vehicle includes an engine having an output shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a first clutch that selectively engages the output shaft of the engine with the second motor/generator, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain that comprises: a combustion engine; a gearbox with input and output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear, connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines, respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; one gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and output shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and output shaft. The method comprises: disconnecting a first planetary wheel carrier and a first sun wheel or disconnecting a second planetary wheel carrier and a second sun wheel from each other; b) controlling the combustion engine to a predetermined engine speed; and c) controlling the first and second electrical machines so that a desired torque is achieved in the output shaft, while a requested total power consumption of the first and the second electrical machines is achieved.