Claims:We claim:
1. A safety device (120) for a straddle type vehicle (100), comprising at least one sensor (104, 106) on at least one handle (102, 108) of said vehicle (100), and a controller (110) adapted to detect absence of a hand on said at least one handle (102, 108) using said at least one sensor (104, 106), characterized in that
said controller (110) further adapted to:
control, operation of at least one component (118) of said vehicle (100) based on output of said at least one sensor (104, 106), to regulate speed of said vehicle (100).

2. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller (110) is adapted to operate said at least one component (118) after at least one trigger condition is validated, said at least one trigger condition selected from a group comprising, a vehicle speed above a threshold speed based on a speed sensor (122), and an increasing load demand from a throttle position sensor (124).

3. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one component (118) is selected from a group comprising a fuel injector, a spark plug, a braking system (126) and an electric motor.

4. A method of operation of a safety device (120) for a straddle type vehicle (100), comprising the steps of:
detecting absence of a hand of a driver on at least one handle (102, 108) using a proximity sensor;
detecting at least one of an increasing load demand from a throttle position sensor (124), and vehicle speed above a threshold speed from a speed sensor (122), and
controlling based on the above steps, by a controller (110), at least one component (118) in said vehicle (100) for regulating a speed of said vehicle (100).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one component (118) comprises a fuel injector, a spark plug, a braking system (126) and an electric motor for controlling fuel injection, fuel ignition, braking and driving torque, respectively.

6. A safety device (120) for a straddle type vehicle (100), comprising at least one sensor (104, 106) on at least one handle (102, 108) of said vehicle (100), and a controller (110) adapted to detect absence of a hand on said at least one handle (102, 108) using said at least one sensor (104, 106), characterized in that
said at least one sensor (104, 106) comprising a proximity sensor.

7. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said proximity sensor comprises an Infrared Red (IR) sensor.

8. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller (110) is adapted to operate at least one component (118) of said vehicle (100) to regulate speed of said vehicle (100).

9. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controller (110) is adapted to operate said at least one component (118) on validation of at least one trigger condition selected from a group comprising
a vehicle speed above a threshold speed based on a speed sensor (122), and
a constant load demand from a throttle position sensor (124).

10. The safety device (120) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one component (118) is selected from a group comprising a fuel injector, a spark plug, a braking system (126) and an electric machine.
, Description:Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a safety device for a straddle type vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] In all two wheelers, a driver demand is made using the grip (which actuates the throttle) available at a right side of a handlebar, whereas a left hand side of the handlebar comprises indicator actuation buttons like horn, turn indicator etc. Presence/absence of the left hand in the left side of handle does not affect the power generated by the engine and the speed available at the wheels. Various two wheeler accidents occur due to single handed driving and at the same time vehicle being driven in higher speeds due to the consistent throttle demand.

[0003] According to a patent literature 533/MUM/2015, an auto-responsive handle grip detection for vehicles is disclosed. The patent literature relates to the field of vehicular safety. It describes the system which senses the hand grip of the driver on the handle bars of two-wheeler. Ideally, both of the driver's hand should be present on the handle bars to ensure full control of the vehicle and hence the driver's safety. Presently, handle bars of/ two wheeler do not include mechanism to detect the hand grip. Now-a-days, the problem of road accidents is becoming crucial everywhere. This is mainly caused due to distracted driving. The number of portable electronic devices such as mp3 players, mobile phones etc. is increasing day by day. Use of such devices while driving may encourage driver to take off his hands from the handle bars. Hence, main cause of distracted driving on the road, points towards the use of such electronic devices while driving. This may include texting, calling, receiving calls, scrolling through the music playlist and many more things. Hence it would be beneficial to provide solution to this problem by incorporating the system to the vehicle which will detect hand grip of the driver on the handle bars. The system also will be able to generate visual/ audio warnings depending upon the hand grip detection.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle fit with a safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a method of operation of the safety device, according to the present invention, and
[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the vehicle with the safety device installed on the handlebar, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle fit with a safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 100 is shown to be of a straddle type such as a scooter, a moped, a motorcycle, a bicycle, an e-bike and the like. The vehicle 100 comprises a handlebar, an engine 116, a fuel tank 114 and a lid 112 therefor, a braking system 126 and the like. In one embodiment, the vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle 100 without an engine 116, where the source of power is a battery or fuel cell which drives an electric motor (not shown). In another embodiment, the vehicle 100 is hybrid vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 further comprising a safety device 120 for the vehicle 100. The safety device 120 comprises at least one sensor 104, 106 for at least one handle 102, 108 of the handlebar and connected to a controller 110. The controller 110 is adapted to detect absence of a hand on the at least one handle 102, 108 using the at least one sensor 104, 106. The safety device 120 is characterized by the controller 110, which is further adapted to control operation of at least one component 118 of the vehicle 100 based on the output of the at least one sensor 104, 106 to regulate speed of the vehicle 100.

[0009] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one component 118 is selected from a group comprising a fuel injector (not shown), a spark plug (not shown), a braking system 126, the electric motor and the like.

[0010] The controller 110 is adapted to operate the at least one component 118 after validating at least one trigger condition. The at least one trigger condition is selected from a group comprising a vehicle speed to be above a threshold speed as detected from a speed sensor 122, and an increasing load demand as detected from a throttle position sensor 124.

[0011] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 110 is either an Engine Management System (EMS), a Motor Control Unit (MCU) or an independent connectivity box. The connectivity box comprises a control unit which communicates with different control units of the vehicle 100 such as the EMS, the MCU, a Battery Control Unit (BCU), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and the like. The connectivity box communicates with the different control units through the Control Area Network (CAN), and externally through different wireless and wired communication means such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Infrared, Zigbee, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and the like. The connectivity box may also comprises a navigation system such as Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0012] The vehicle 100 is considered to have electronic intelligence in the form of a complete Engine management system (EMS) or a Capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system or a Thyristor/Transistor Controlled Ignition (TCI) system or an Inductive Discharge Ignition (IDI) system in the vehicles 100 comprising internal combustion engines, whereas the MCU alone manages the driving requirement in case of electric vehicles 100. Further, in a hybrid vehicle 100 both the EMS and/or CDI/TCI/IDI along with MCU are used. The EMS implements speed control by fuel cut-off, and the CDI/TCI/IDI implements speed control by ignition cut-off. The present invention is explained considering the EMS system with mechanical throttle body fit with a throttle position sensor 124. However, the present invention is equally applicable for system comprising CDI/TCI or IDI. In still another embodiment, the vehicle 100 comprises both the EMS and the CDI/TCI/IDI, where both the fuel ignition and fuel injection are controllable.

[0013] For example: a motorcycle comprising a throttle actuation grip on a right side handle 102. The sensor 104, 106 is installed on the left side handle 108 and not on the right side handle 102. If the driver drives the vehicle 100 with a single hand and further if at least one of the trigger condition is also detected i.e. vehicle 100 driven at a speed greater than the threshold speed, or load demand is increased by throttle actuation from the right side handle 102, the controller 110 initiates or starts the controlling of the at least one component 118 to regulate speed of the vehicle 100. The controller 110 is adaptable to control speed of the vehicle 100 by controlling/limiting the fuel injection, or controlling the fuel ignition or braking the wheel of the vehicle 100 or controlling the supply of current or voltage to electric motor or a combination thereof.

[0014] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one sensor 104, 106 is installed on the handle 108 other than the handle 102 where the throttle grip is provided. Alternatively, one sensor 104, 106 is installed on each of the two handles 102, 108 of the vehicle 100.

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates a method of operation of the safety device, according to the present invention. The method of operation of the safety device 120 for the straddle type vehicle 100, comprises plurality of the steps. A step 202 comprises detecting absence of a hand of the driver on the at least one handle 102, 108 of the handlebar using a proximity sensor 104, 106. A step 204 comprises detecting an increasing load demand from a throttle position sensor 124 or detecting vehicle speed above a threshold speed from a speed sensor 122. A step 206 comprises controlling by a controller 110, based on the steps 202 and 204, at least one component 118 in the vehicle 100 for regulating the speed of the vehicle 100 to a safe limit. The at least one component 118 comprises a fuel injector, a spark plug, a braking system 126, an electric motor and the like, for controlling fuel injection, fuel ignition, braking and a driving torque respectively.

[0016] If the above conditions are satisfied, then the controller 110 confirms/validates that the vehicle 100 is being driven single handed at high speed or with a consistent demand from the driver. The controller 110 is adapted to take suitable measure to ensure that speed limitation is initiated. The speed limitation is introduced in a very gradual way to prevent any additional jerks but at the same time speed reduction is felt by the driver.

[0017] Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the vehicle with the safety device installed on the handlebar, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The safety device 120 for a straddle type vehicle 100 is disclosed. The safety device 120 comprises at least one sensor 104, 106 for at least one handle 102, 108 of the handlebar of the vehicle 100, which is connected to the controller 110. The controller 110 is adapted to detect absence of the hand on the at least one handle 102, 108 using the at least one sensor 104, 106. The safety device 120 is characterized by the at least one sensor 104, 106 comprising a proximity sensor.

[0018] Example of the proximity sensor is an Infrared Red (IR) sensor. The IR sensor is placed/positioned on the handle 102, 108. The IR sensor work by using a specific light sensor to detect a light wavelength in the IR spectrum. By using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) to emit light at a specific wavelength and using a detector to detect the reflected light, the controller 110 determines the intensity of the received light. If the hand is present on the handle 102, 108, the IR sensor receives the light emitted by LED. If the hand is not present on the handle 102, 108, the IR sensor does not receive the reflected light. The proximity sensor comprising the light emitter and detector are placed on the same side of the handle.

[0019] Alternatively, the emitter and detector of the proximity sensor are across the place where the hand rests. Here, if the hand is present on the handle 102, 108, the IR sensor does not receives the light emitted by LED. If the hand is not present on the handle 102, 108, the IR sensor receives the reflected light. The controller 110 is configured based on the type and position of the at least one sensor 104, 106. Other examples for proximity sensor are but not limited to a capacitive sensor, a pressure sensor, a Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR), etc. Based on the type of sensors 104, 106 used, the chosen sensors 104, 106 are installed on the handlebar or in a place on the vehicle 100 to detect the presence or absence of the hand on the handle 102, 108.

[0020] The controller 110 is adapted to operate at least one component 118 of the vehicle 100 to regulate speed of the vehicle 100. The controller 110 is adapted to operate the at least one component 118 on validation of at least one trigger condition selected from a group comprising a vehicle speed above a threshold speed and a constant load demand from a throttle position sensor 124. The at least one trigger conditions are checked/ validated after detecting absence of at least one hand of the driver on the handle 102, 108 of the handlebar.

[0021] The at least one component 118 is selected from a group comprising a fuel injector, a spark plug, a braking system 126 and an electric machine.

[0022] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, a speed limitation is activated in case the vehicle 100 is being single hand driven, in order to provide additional safety, so that driver feels and reacts to the speed limitation accordingly. As a result, the chances of accidents are reduced considerably. Even when the accident occurs, the present invention enables to bring down the impact of accident as the vehicle 100 is decelerated once single hand driving is detected. The presence or absence of the left/right hand on the handle 102, 108 is detected with the help of proximity sensors which are low cost and easy to implement. Further, the speed limitation is implemented in a gradually and not as a sudden so that the vehicle 100 decelerates gradually in order to avoid jerks which may lead to drivability issues. The present invention is applicable to be implemented in those vehicles 100 where speed control is possible.

[0023] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.