Claims:We Claim

1. An engine control unit (14), said engine control unit (14) adapted to:
receive a signal from a plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to a handle gripping device (12), the signal comprising a positive resistance value that is indicative of the number of the plurality of sensors (16) that are gripped by a human hand when the human hand grips the handle gripping device (12), and wherein a magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors (16) is directly proportional to a pressure exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device (12).

2. The engine control unit (14) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the engine control unit (14) processes the signal received from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12), wherein a total signal received from the plurality of sensors (16) comprising the positive resistance value is indicative of a width of the human hand that grips the handle gripping device (12).

3. The engine control unit (14) in accordance with Claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) transmits the signal to the engine control unit (14) when each of the plurality of sensors (16) is gripped by the human hand.

4. The engine control unit (14) in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors (16) is equal to an algebraic sum of the magnitude of the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors (16), wherein the magnitude of the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors (16) is directly proportional to the pressure exerted by the human hand on each of the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12).

5. The engine control unit (14) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the engine control unit (14) is adapted to actuate a Switching device switch (18) to engage a power source (20) with a prime mover (22) when the signal received from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) is greater than a threshold resistance value, thereby indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device (12) covers a width on the handle gripping device (12) that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by a user.

6. The engine control unit (14) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the engine control unit (14) is adapted to actuate a Switching device switch (18) to engage a power source (20) with a prime mover (22) when the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) is lesser than a threshold pressure exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device (12), thereby indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device (12) is compressing against the handle gripping device (12) with a pressure that is lesser than a threshold pressure of the human hand that is predetermined by a user.

7. A method of engaging a Switching device switch (18) between a power source (20) and a prime mover (22) of a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a signal from a plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to a handle gripping device (12), the signal comprising a positive resistance value that is indicative of a number of the plurality of sensors (16) that are gripped by a human hand when the human hand grips the handle gripping device (12); and
actuating a Switching device switch (18) to engage the power source (20) with the prime mover (22) of the vehicle when the signal received from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) is greater than a threshold resistance value, thereby indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device (12) covers a width on the handle gripping device (12) that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user.

8. The method of engaging a Switching device switch (18) between the power source (20) and the prime mover (22) in accordance with Claim 7 further comprising
receiving the signal from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12), wherein a magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors (16) is directly proportional to a pressure exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device (12); and
actuating the Switching device switch (18) to engage the power source (20) with the prime mover (22) when the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) is lesser than a threshold pressure, thereby indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device (12) compresses against the handle gripping device (12) with a pressure that is lesser than a threshold pressure of the human hand that is predetermined by the user.

9. The method of engaging the Switching device switch (18) between the power source (20) and the prime mover (22) in accordance with Claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) transmits the signal to an engine control unit (14) when each of the plurality of sensors (16) is gripped by the human hand.

10. The method of engaging the Switching device switch (18) between the power source (20) and the prime mover (22) in accordance with Claim 7 wherein receiving the signal from the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12) further comprises receiving a total signal from the plurality of sensors (16) comprising the positive resistance value is indicative of a width of the human hand that grips the plurality of sensors (16) that are coupled to the handle gripping device (12).
, Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a prime mover of a vehicle such as an electric motor or an IC engine, and more specifically to a method for controlling power supplied to the prime mover of the vehicle.

Background of the invention
[0002] IN 3544/CHE/2013 describes a hand held tool that comprises an electrical motor to drive a shaft of the handheld tool and a trigger switch adapted to provide a trigger signal to a switching apparatus. The trigger signal will be in a first state when the trigger switch is in a first position, and when the trigger signal will be in a second state when the trigger switch is in a second position. The switching apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors that can be placed on outside surface of the handheld tool. The switching apparatus is adapted to generate an actuating signal for the electric motor, when the trigger signal is in first state and at least a predefined number of sensors detect proximity of a hand of a user.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling power supplied to an electric motor of the vehicle.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling power supplied to a spark plug of the vehicle.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] An engine control unit 14 is described. The engine control unit 14 is adapted to receive a signal from a plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to a handle gripping device 12. The signal comprises a positive resistance value that is indicative of the number of the plurality of sensors 16 that are gripped by a human hand when the human hand grips the handle gripping device 12. A magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 is directly proportional to a pressure exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device 12. The engine control unit 14 processes the signal received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12. A total signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 comprising the positive resistance value is indicative of a width of the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12.

[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling power supplied to an electric motor 22 of the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, an engine control unit 14 is described. The engine control unit 14 is in electronic communication with a plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to a handle gripping device 12. The handle gripping device 12 is positioned on a handle of a vehicle and is secured to the handle of the vehicle. When a user throttles the vehicle by rotating the handle of the vehicle, the user’s hand is positioned on the handle gripping device 12. The engine control unit 14 is adapted to receive a signal from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12. The signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 comprises a positive resistance value. More specifically, the positive resistance value is transmitted from each sensor that is coupled to the handle gripping device 12 to the engine control unit 14 when the human hand comes in contact with the sensor of the handle gripping device 12. The positive resistance value that is received by the engine control unit 14 from each sensor of the handle gripping device 12 when the human hand comes in contact with each sensor is indicative of the number of the plurality of sensors 16 that are gripped by a human hand when the human hand grips the handle gripping device 12.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, a magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 is directly proportional to the pressure exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device 12. More specifically, when the human hand grips the handle gripping device 12, the width of the human hand covers the plurality of sensors 16 that are secured to the handle gripping device 12. Therefore, when the human hand grips the plurality of sensors 16 that are secured to the handle gripping device 12, the magnitude of the signal that is transmitted from the plurality of sensors 16 to the engine control unit 14 is directly proportional to the pressure that is exerted by the human hand on the handle gripping device 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the engine control unit 14 processes the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12. More specifically, the total positive resistance value of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 is indicative of a width of the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12. When the width of the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 is low, the number of sensors that are in contact with the human hand is low. Correspondingly, the total signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 and processed by the engine control unit 14 is low. Conversely, when the width of the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 is high, the number of the plurality of sensors 16 that are in contact with the human hand are high. Correspondingly, the total signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 and processed by the engine control unit 14 is high.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 transmits the signal to the engine control unit 14 when each of the plurality of sensors 16 is gripped by the human hand. Therefore, if any one of the plurality of sensors 16 is not gripped by the human hand, a signal is not transmitted from that specific sensor to the engine control unit 14. Therefore, the engine control unit 14 receives signals from only those plurality of sensors 16 that are gripped by the human hand. Correspondingly, the total signal that is received and processed by the engine control unit 14 is proportional to the width of the human hand.
[0009] The magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 is equal to an algebraic sum of the magnitude of the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors 16. If any one of the plurality of sensors 16 is not gripped by the human hand, that corresponding sensor will not transmit a signal to the engine control unit 14. Correspondingly, the magnitude of the signal that is received from that corresponding sensor will be equal to zero. The magnitude of the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors 16 is directly proportional to the pressure exerted by the human hand on each of the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12. Therefore, if the pressure exerted by the human hand is high, the magnitude of the signals that is received from each of the plurality of sensors 16 by the engine control unit 14 is high. When the pressure exerted by the human hand is low, the magnitude of the signals that is received from each of the plurality of sensors by the engine control unit 14 is low.

[0010] Once the engine control unit 14 has processed the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors 16, the engine control unit 14 is adapted to actuate a Switching device switch 18 to engage a power source 20 with a prime mover 22. More specifically, one of the conditions for the engine control unit 14 to actuate the Switching device switch 18 to engage the power source 20 with the prime mover 22 is when the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is greater than a threshold resistance value that is indicative that the human hand covers a surface area on the handle gripping device 12 is that of an adult human hand. Another condition for the engine control unit 14 to actuate the Switching device switch 18 to engage the power source 20 with the prime mover 22 is when the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is lesser than a threshold magnitude of the signal that is indicative that the human hand that applies a lower pressure on the handle gripping device 12 is that of an adult human hand. If the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is greater than the threshold resistance value, and the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is lesser than a threshold magnitude of the signal, it is indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by a user, and that the human hand is that of an adult human hand. Therefore, when the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the engine control unit 14 is adapted to actuate the Switching device switch 18. When the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is lesser than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the engine control unit 14 does not actuate the Switching device switch 18. When the engine control unit 14 actuates the Switching device switch 18 to a closed position, the power source 20 supplies power to the prime mover 22 for engaging with the wheels of the vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment, the prime mover 22 of the vehicle is a DC motor. Therefore, when the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than the threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the actuation of the Switching device switch 18 by the engine control unit 14 engages the power source 20 with the DC motor. The engagement of the power source such 20 as a battery with the DC motor as is in the case of an electric vehicle, causes the movement of the vehicle as is required by the user.

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram illustrating a system for controlling power supplied to a spark plug 24 of the vehicle. Once the engine control unit 14 has processed the signals that are received from each of the plurality of sensors 16, the engine control unit 14 is adapted to actuate a Switching device switch 18 to engage a power source 20 with a prime mover 24. More specifically, one of the conditions for the engine control unit 14 to actuate the Switching device switch 18 to engage the power source 20 with the prime mover 24 is when the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is greater than a threshold resistance value that is indicative that the human hand covers a surface area on the handle gripping device 12 is that of an adult human hand. Another condition for the engine control unit 14 to actuate the Switching device switch 18 to engage the power source 20 with the prime mover 24 is when the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is lesser than a threshold magnitude of the signal that is indicative that the human hand that applies a lower pressure on the handle gripping device 12 is that of an adult human hand. If the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is greater than the threshold resistance value, and the magnitude of the signal that is received from the plurality of sensors 16 that are coupled to the handle gripping device 12 is lesser than a threshold magnitude of the signal, it is indicative that the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by a user, and that the human hand is that of an adult human hand. Therefore, when the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the engine control unit 14 is adapted to actuate the Switching device switch 18. When the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is lesser than a threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the engine control unit 14 does not actuate the Switching device switch 18. When the engine control unit 14 actuates the Switching device switch 18 to a closed position, the power source 20 supplies power to the spark plug for combusting the fuel that is within the combustion cylinder of the vehicle. Therefore, when the human hand that grips the handle gripping device 12 covers a width on the handle gripping device 12 that is greater than the threshold width of the human hand that is predetermined by the user, the actuation of the Switching device switch 18 by the engine control unit 14 engages the power source 20 such as the battery with the spark plug 24 of the vehicle. The engagement of the power source 20 with the spark plug 24 of the vehicle as is in the case of an internal combustion engine vehicle, causes the movement of the vehicle as is required by the user.

[0012] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.