FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] This invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to sensing and managing the loads carried by the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Road transportation is widely used for passenger as well as cargo transport. While this mode of transport is cheap and convenient, accidents that ultimately claim lives of passengers and drivers, and also cause damages to vehicle, cargo, and public property which in turn results in financial loss are fairly common. One major reason in the case of vehicles may be overloading cargo in cargo vehicles, overloading in passenger vehicle with passengers above the certified limit, and so on.
[003] Considering the example of cargo vehicles, overloading of a vehicle comprises of loading cargo above a particular limit, wherein the limit is defined in terms of capacity of the vehicle. Every vehicle is designed to carry a certain maximum amount of load. When the load exceeds this set limit, it results in overloading. Overloading of the vehicle may significantly impair the driver’s ability to brake and steer correctly. Overloading may further cause undue strain on tyres that increases risk of tyre failure. Overloading may further affect stability of the vehicle, thus increasing chances of accident.
[004] So, it is important that the driver, owner or any such concerned person be aware of an overloading scenario. One solution currently being used to avoid overloading condition is that the vehicle, after loading the cargo, is weighed using a weighbridge. Disadvantage of this method is that loading or unloading of cargo may have to be done more than once, so as to fill cargo to the extent that the load matches a rated payload of the vehicle. Another system currently being used allows measurement of load, with the help of sensors. However, disadvantage of such systems that are currently being used in the market is that they fail to perform continuous and real-time load measurement.

OBJECT OF INVENTION
[005] The principal object of this invention is to propose methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle, wherein the system is an on-board system.
[006] Another object of the invention is to propose methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle, wherein the system measures the load of the vehicle in a continuous manner and stores the measured load in a suitable location.
[007] Another object of the invention is to propose methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle, wherein the system provides an alert to a user if the measured load exceeds a configured threshold.
[008] Another object of the invention is to propose methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle, wherein the system enables an authorized person to access the stored measured load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[009] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] FIGs. 1a and 1b are diagrams depicting a vehicle configured for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example implementation of contactless sensors in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a process of measuring and storing the load of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0014] The embodiments herein achieve methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0015] The term ‘vehicle’ as used herein can refer to any vehicle, which can be used on a road. Examples of a vehicle can be a car, a motorbike, a scooter, a rickshaw, a van, a bus, truck or any other equivalent means of transport, which can use a road for movement and can carry load. The ‘load’ can comprise of at least one of goods, people, or any other material that can be carried in or on a vehicle.
[0016] Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems using a contact less sensor for sensing of the load on the vehicle. This system herein continuously measures the cargo load and stores the measured cargo load in a suitable location.
[0017] FIGs. 1a and 1b are diagrams depicting a vehicle configured for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle. The vehicle 100, as depicted, comprises of at least one sensor unit 101, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 102, and a memory 103.The memory 103 can be internal to the vehicle 100 (as depicted in FIG. 1a) or external to the vehicle 100 (as depicted in FIG. 1b). The memory 103 can be at least one of an internal memory, an expandable memory, a data server, a file server, the cloud, and so on. The memory 103 can be distributed in nature.
[0018] The sensor unit 101 can be mounted between a body frame longitudinal member 201 and a suspension trailing arm 202 of the suspension of the vehicle on both the left and right hand sides of rear wheels of the vehicle (as depicted in FIG. 2). In an example herein, the sensor unit 101 can be a contactless sensor such as a Hall effect sensor or any other suitable contactless sensor. A first part of the element of the sensor unit 101, a sensing element 101a can be mounted on the longitudinal member 201 and a second part of the sensor unit 101 (which can comprise a magnet), a sensor magnet 101b can be mounted on the suspension trailing arm 202. The output of the sensor unit 101 can be tapped from the sensing element 101a. A load present in the vehicle will be transferred to rear wheels of the vehicle 100 using members such as body frame longitudinal members 201, suspension spring 203, shock absorbers 204 present in the vehicle 100. The suspension trailing arm 202 will be stationary, as the trailing arm 202 is mounted on a wheel axle of the vehicle 100. On a load changing in the vehicle 100, there will be relative motion between the longitudinal member 201 to the trailing arm 202. The magnitude of this relative motion is proportional to the change in the load. The sensor unit 101 will sense the relative motion of the longitudinal member 201 with respect to the suspension trailing arm 202. Due to this motion, the sensor element 101a moves relative to the sensor magnet 101b, hence the output voltage signal of the sensor unit 101 changes from a first voltage level to a second voltage level. If the load present in the vehicle has reduced, the first voltage level can be higher than the second voltage level. If the load present in the vehicle has increased, the first voltage level can be lower than the second voltage level.
[0019] The output of the sensor unit 101 is provided to the ECU 102. In an embodiment herein, the ECU 102 can convert the output voltage signal received from the sensor unit 101 to a format understandable by other systems present in the vehicle 100 such as the indicating means, and so on. The ECU 102 can determine the load on the vehicle, based on the output voltage level. Based on the vehicle 100, the voltage level can be mapped to a load and stored in the memory 103. Based on the mapped load, the ECU 102 can determine the load on the vehicle 100.
[0020] The ECU 102 can compare level of the voltage signal to a pre-defined threshold level. The threshold level can depend on factors such as the vehicle 100, and the maximum load that can be carried by the vehicle 100 safely. The threshold level can be pre-configured for the vehicle. The threshold level can correspond to the voltage level at which the vehicle 100 can be considered to be overloaded. If the voltage level is equal to or greater than the threshold level, the ECU 102 can consider that the vehicle is overloaded. The ECU 102 can then provide an alert to a user of the vehicle. The alert can be provided in the vehicle using a suitable means such as an instrument cluster present in the vehicle 100, the infotainment system present in the vehicle 100, a dedicated indicator present in the vehicle, and so on. The alert can comprise of at least one of a visual alert (such as a blinking alert, a steady alert, and so on), and an audio alert (such as a pre-configured sound, and so on). The ECU 102 can also provide an alert using a communication network such as an email, a SMS (Short Messaging Service), a chat message, and so on.
[0021] The ECU 102 can also store the output voltage signal from the sensor unit 101 in a suitable location such as the memory 103. The ECU 102 can also store the signals corresponding to overload conditions in the memory 103. An authorized person can access the stored data, on providing the appropriate authorization means. The authorized person can download the stored data, using a suitable means such as a wired means, a wireless means, and so on.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a process of measuring and storing the load of the vehicle. The sensor unit 101 senses (301) the load present in the vehicle 100. The sensor unit 101 checks (302) for a change in the load. On the load changing, there will be relative motion between the longitudinal member 201 to the trailing arm 202. The magnitude of this relative motion is proportional to the change in the load. On detecting a change in load, the sensor unit 101 senses the relative motion of the longitudinal member 201 with respect to the suspension trailing arm 202. Due to this motion, the sensor element 101a moves relative to the sensor magnet 101b, and the output voltage signal of the sensor unit 101 changes (303) from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, which the sensor unit 101 provides (304) to the ECU 102. The ECU 102 compares (305) the level of the voltage signal to the pre-defined threshold level. The threshold level corresponds to the voltage level at which the vehicle 100 can be considered to be overloaded. If the voltage level is equal to or greater than the threshold level, the ECU 102 considers that the vehicle is overloaded and then provides (306) an alert to the user of the vehicle. The ECU 102 determines (307) the load on the vehicle, based on the output voltage level. The ECU 102 also stores (308) the output voltage signal from the sensor unit 101 in a suitable location such as the memory 103. The various actions in method 300 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted.
[0023] Embodiments herein can be used in vehicles for the customer/driver to know/alert about the overloading status of his vehicle. Embodiments herein can also give a manufacturer/workshop/garage/service center/government authority about the load data of the vehicle 100.
[0024] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The network elements shown in Fig. 1 include blocks, which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.
[0025] The embodiment disclosed herein describes methods and systems for measuring and managing the load of the vehicle. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in a preferred embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g. Very high-speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.
[0026] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A method for sensing load present in a vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting output voltage level of at least one sensor unit by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), wherein the sensor unit comprises of a sensing element and a sensor magnet; and
determining load present in the vehicle using the output voltage level by the ECU.
2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is a contactless sensor.
3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing element is mounted on a longitudinal member of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinal member is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing magnet is mounted on a suspension trailing arm of the vehicle, wherein the suspension trailing arm is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
5. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises
comparing the output voltage level to a pre-defined voltage level threshold by the ECU; and
raising an alert by the ECU, if the output voltage level is greater than a pre-defined voltage level threshold.
6. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises storing the output voltage level by the ECU in a memory.
7. A system for sensing load present in a vehicle, the system comprising at least one sensor unit and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), further the at least one sensor unit comprising of a sensing element and a sensor magnet, the system configured for
detecting output voltage level of the sensor unit by the ECU; and
determining load present in the vehicle using the output voltage level by the ECU.
8. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensor unit is a contactless sensor.
9. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensing element is mounted on a longitudinal member of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinal member is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
10. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensing magnet is mounted on a suspension trailing arm of the vehicle, wherein the suspension trailing arm is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
11. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system is further configured for
comparing the output voltage level to a pre-defined voltage level threshold by the ECU; and
raising an alert by the ECU, if the output voltage level is greater than a pre-defined voltage level threshold.
12. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system is further configured for storing the output voltage level by the ECU in a memory.
13. A vehicle configured for sensing load present in the vehicle, the vehicle comprising at least one sensor unit and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), further the at least one sensor unit comprising of a sensing element and a sensor magnet, the ECU further configured for
detecting output voltage level of the sensor unit; and
determining load present in the vehicle using the output voltage level.
14. The vehicle, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor unit is a contactless sensor.
15. The vehicle, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensing element is mounted on a longitudinal member of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinal member is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
16. The vehicle, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensing magnet is mounted on a suspension trailing arm of the vehicle, wherein the suspension trailing arm is associated with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle.
17. The vehicle, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system is further configured for
comparing the output voltage level to a pre-defined voltage level threshold by the ECU; and
raising an alert by the ECU, if the output voltage level is greater than a pre-defined voltage level threshold.
18. The vehicle, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system is further configured for storing the output voltage level by the ECU in a memory.