Claim analysis:
Proposed invention is related to the oii level indication using Engine parameters using a control means. The control means also capable to control the engine Operation based on determined oil level such as stopping engine in case of low oii level and further altering the driver in running State of vehicle.
Prior art Dl is mainly focused on measurement of rate of oil consumption with reference to a specific distance traveled whereas present inventions. determ.in.es. the remaining oil. and not oil consumption in a running vehicle and not for a specific travel path. The Prior art Dl discloses method of calculation of oil consumption which is completely different than the method of proposed invention. Specificaily prior art Dl the method as "state Signals of the oii level switch (signat ON / OFF) and the duration of the signal are read and further it also considers path pulses of the vehicle (line 8, for determining the traveied path)" and "on the basis of the calculated data, the oii consumption quantities stored in an oil quantity data field 5 are empirically determined." Further "the calculated value is then passed on to a handheld tester 6 by the evaluating device 4, on which the path-related oil consumption, for example in liters per 1000 kilometers." The prior art measures the oii consumption for a specific duration only when an oil level switch is ON i.e. when the oil is above the minimum level. The rate of oil consumption is measured empirically based on stored data for a specific travel path. If the oil level goes down the oil level switch turns off and the indication is provided. The method disclosed in present invention differs largeiy as we are not providing any switch to determine that the oil is above minimum level and the minimum oil level is determined solely based on qualitative parameters of engine and oil. The proposed method is an indirect method of oil level assessment based on qualitative parameters and it is not a method of precisely determining oil quantity. Therefore the invention does not calculate oil consumption rate and don't consider any Signals from oil level switch, its durations and travel path of vehicle. Further the prior art Dl calcuiates the oil consumption empirically based on various graphs, the proposed method neither störe oil consumption data nor calculate the oil consumption empirically based on above considered parameters, ratherthe oil level is determined qualitatively. Therefore the proposed method is a simple and economicai way as. it uses. existing sensors. such- as- oil. temperature, pressure and engine speed to determine the oil level. The prior art Dl requires separate handheld tester for evaluating the oil consumption whereas no separate evaluation tool is required in present invention and a direct indication of low oil Sevel is given. The control means disclosed in invention is also capable of automaticaliy Controlling engine parameters based on oil level detected whereas the prior art Dl does not disclose the method of Controlling engine based on oil level. Therefore the methodology disclosed in the prior art Dl is completely different than the method described in the patent application.
Focus of our patent application is to monitor the oil level in the engine using a unique method which is completely different than the prior art D2. Primary focus of the prior art D2 is on control mechanism for providing an indication of a need to change lubricating oil in the internal combustion engine based on plurality of parameters one of which is oil level. The oil level is monitored using sensor which a common and weil known technique whereas present invention proposes a novel method of determining oil level qualitatively by combined monitoring of engine and oil parameters which is not disclosed in the prior art. Though the measurement of engine operating parameters such as speed are being monitored however it is not utilized for measuring oil level as against the proposed method. Oil pressure is not being monitored in prior art D2. Hence the proposed invention provides a unique way of measuring oil level which is different from the prior art D2.

Prior art D3 is related to measurement of oil level in an engine however the underlined technique of oii level measurement is compieteiy different than the proposed technique. D3 discloses measurement of oil level using a Single capacitor and compensates the sensed capacitance for changes in dielectric constant. Measurements are made for two different running conditions of engine. The proposed method of oil level indication is soleiy based on engine operating parameters and associated sensors. Present invention neither uses any capacitor nor monitors the changes in capacitance or dielectric constant. Therefore the method disclosed in the patent application is compieteiy different than the method of prior art D3.
Prior art D4 relates to measurement of oil level .using an oil gauge which is quite old technique of oil level measurement. The proposed technique is an advance method of oii level detection using various Parameters such as Oil temperature, Oil pressure, engine speed etc. and based on these sensed Parameters oil level is predicted. Further in prior art D4 oil level is measured only at the Start or for a certain period of time following starting of engine tili engine reaches at its operating speed which is measured using sensor and it is not continues monitoring . Therefore the speed sensor is not utilized in measuring oil level and it is just to monitor the State of engine. The proposed method measures the oil level continuously even when the vehicle is in running condition. Therefore proposed method of oil level measurement is technically advanced and different from the cited prior Bit.
Present invention is related to determination of oil level in an engine by considering plurality of engine operating parameters such as Oil temperature, Oil pressure and engine speed. The propose method is a simple method without any complex system and less costly as the existing sensors of monitoring engine speed and Oil pressure and temperature are utilized for monitoring the oil level.
The proposed method is for "indication of oil level" and not for determining precise quantity of oil level. Thus the invention provides an indirect method of assessing an oil amount. A precise level determination, as such, is not required this makes the System less complex and simple. Further control means disclosed in proposed invention is programmed to relate the combination of sensed engine operating parameters to a qualitative^ assessed amount of oil present in the lubricating system and initiate a control action based on the qualitative^ assessed level or amount of oil. None of prior art Dl, D2, D3 & D4 discloses this concept of co-relating engine operating parameters with qualitative^ assessed amount of oil to initiate a control action.
In present invention oil level is indicated continuously even during vehicle is running and is not restricted to particular time or travel path. The Prior Art Dl and D4 has these restrictions. Therefore, the techniques disclosed in the cited prior art are older and compieteiy different. The proposed method is technically advanced method of oil level measurement over the prior arts. None of the prior arts Dl, D2, D3 & D4 independently or combinedly shows, motivates or teaches determination of oil level by co-reiating the engine operating parameters with qualitative assessment of oil level and Initiate an control action including Controlling engine parameters.
Considering this, the present invention has inventive step and is not obvious in view of the document Dl, D2, D3 & D4. Therefore this objection of lack of inventiveness and obviousness may be waived off.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method for providing an indication of oil level in a lubricating System
of an engine (1), the method comprising characterized in:
sensing a plurality of engine operating parameters; and characterized in combining the parameters to provide an indication of oil level.
2. The method as claimed in Claim 1 where the engine (1) is in a running condition.
3. The method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 where one of the engine operating parameters is lubricating oil temperature.
4. The method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 where one of the engine operating parameters is lubricating oil pressure.
5. The method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 where one of the engine operating parameters is engine speed.
6. A method of Controlling the Operation of an engine (1), comprising the steps of providing an indication of oil level as claimed in any preceding Claim using a control means (8), and Controlling the Operation of the engine (1) on the basis of the output of the control means (8).
7. The method as claimed in Claim 6 where control means (8) activates Visual or audio alert (10) to the vehicle Operator if the assessed quantum of lubricating oil is lowerthan a predetermined value.
8. The method as claimed in Claim 6 where control means (8) activates engine shut off System if the assessed quantum of lubricating oil is lowerthan desired.

9. The method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, where the quantum of lubricating oil is assessed as LOW when oil pressure is below a predetermined value and other engine Parameters meet predefined conditions, the predetermined value representing an oil pressure which of itself is acceptable for engine Operation.
10. A control means for Controlling an engine (1), the control means (8) arranged to receive information relating to a plurality of sensed engine Parameters and to combine the Parameters to provide an indication of oil level, wherein the control means is characterized to relates with the combination of sensed engine operating parameters to a qualitative^ assessed amount of oil present in the lubricating System and initiates a control action based on the qualitatively assessed amount of oil.
11. The control means as claimed in Claim 10 where one of the sensed Parameters is lubricating oil temperature.
12. The control means as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 where one of the sensed parameters is lubricating oil pressure.
13. The control means as claimed in Claim 12 where the control action is initiated when oil pressure is below a predetermined value and other engine parameters meet predefined conditions, the predetermined value representing an oil pressure which of itself is acceptable for engine Operation.
14. The control means as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 where one of the sensed parameters is engine speed.
15. The control means (8) as claimed in Claim 10 where the control means (8) is a micro Controller.

16. The control means as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 15 where the control means initiates the control action if the assessed quantum of lubricating oil is lower than a predetermined value.
17. The control means (8) as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16 where the control action is the sounding of an audio alert device (10).
18. The control means as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16 where the control action is the dispiay of a Visual alert device (9).
19. The control means as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16 where the control action is the activation of an engine stop switch.
20. The method or control means as substantially claimed in Claim 1 to 19 above and is_applied to an automotive vehicle.
21. The method or control means as substantially claimed in Claim 1 to 19 above and is applied to a two wheel vehicle.
22. The method or control means as substantially claimed in claim 1 to 19 abovo and is applied to a three wheel vehicle.