Obviousness

The independent claim 1 of US12240456 describes a motor vehicle with a drive system operable to select a driving direction (forward or rearward) in response to a pattern of steering angle movements, without explicit operator indication of a direction. An obviousness analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 considers whether this invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention, based on prior art.

All elements of Claim 1 related to the basic components of a motor vehicle (frame, wheels, motor, steering control, and a drive system capable of forward and reverse movement) are well-known in the art and are implicitly or explicitly taught by multiple prior art references, including US11932230B1. The distinctiveness of Claim 1, as presented in US12240456, resides in the drive system's ability to automatically select a driving direction based on a pattern of steering angle movements, without requiring the operator to indicate the desired direction.

A strong argument for obviousness can be made by combining US11932230B1 with CNET Cars, "Elon Musk explains Auto Shift feature in Model S," and general knowledge of parking assist systems as evidenced by US9085321B2 and US20130110342A1.

Combination of Prior Art References:

1. US11932230B1 (Vehicle gear selection control): This patent is a direct parent application of US12240456 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. It discloses an "automated vehicle-proposed direction system" that can "select a direction automatically when initially proceeding from a parked condition". A key feature described is that the driver confirms the proposed direction using a "control input that conveys no direction information" (e.g., a brake tap), distinguishing it from traditional directional inputs like a shift stalk or touchscreen swipe. However, US12240456 explicitly states that this prior system is "limited to starting from a stopped condition" and is "unsuitable for gear changes while underway and operating the vehicle," particularly in routine parking and unparking maneuvers where explicit user selection of direction is typically required.

2. CNET Cars, "Elon Musk explains Auto Shift feature in Model S" (YouTube, Jun. 11, 2021): This non-patent literature, published prior to the priority date of US12240456, discusses Tesla's "Auto Shift" feature in the Model S. While the specific details of its operation regarding steering patterns for shifts between Reverse and Drive during unparking may not be fully detailed in the provided text snippet, its presence highlights the existing trend and desire in the automotive industry for more intuitive and automated gear selection. The patent itself mentions "Modern vehicles may employ computer touchscreen control, such as swiping up...to go forward and down to go in reverse," suggesting awareness of such systems.

3. US9085321B2 (Unparking control system and unparking control method using the same, Mando Corporation): This patent specifically describes an "unparking control system" and method. Unparking maneuvers inherently involve a sequence of driving in reverse, significant steering angle changes, stopping, shifting to drive, and steering in the opposite direction. A control system for unparking would necessarily monitor and react to steering angle changes to guide the vehicle out of a parking spot.

4. US20130110342A1 (Method for pulling a vehicle into or out of a parking space and corresponding assistance system and vehicle, Volkswagen Ag): This reference describes an assistance system for maneuvering a vehicle into or out of a parking space. Such systems rely on sensing vehicle parameters, including steering angle, to understand the vehicle's position and intended path during parking maneuvers.

5. US20240051558A1 (Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis, Tesla, Inc.): This patent publication describes an automated system for adjusting vehicle direction based on environmental analysis. A PHOSITA would understand that "environment analysis" for vehicle direction adjustment implicitly includes interpreting driver inputs like steering wheel movements as critical cues for determining the intended direction during maneuvers.

Motivation for Combination and Obviousness Analysis:

A PHOSITA in vehicle control systems, familiar with the automatic direction proposal and non-directional confirmation of US11932230B1, would also be aware of the stated limitation that this system was "unsuitable for gear changes while underway and operating the vehicle" in common scenarios like unparking. Recognizing the inconvenience and potential distraction of manual gear selection (e.g., touchscreen swipes) during unparking (as acknowledged in US12240456's background), the PHOSITA would be motivated to improve this system to provide a more seamless and intuitive experience.

The PHOSITA would naturally turn to existing solutions for parking and unparking assistance (such as those described in US9085321B2 and US20130110342A1). These systems inherently monitor vehicle state, including steering angle and velocity profiles, to execute or assist in maneuvers. It would be an obvious step to integrate this rich information about steering angle patterns—which reliably indicate a driver's intent during an unparking sequence (e.g., turning the wheel sharply in reverse, then straightening or turning the other way to prepare for forward motion)—with the automated direction selection logic already established in US11932230B1.

Furthermore, the general concept of "Auto Shift" (CNET Cars) and "Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis" (US20240051558A1) would provide further motivation and support for using vehicle context and driver input cues, such as steering patterns, to automate directional changes. It would be a logical and predictable design choice to use steering angle patterns, which are integral to the physical act of unparking and clearly signal the driver's intent, as the trigger for an automated gear shift (from reverse to drive) without requiring explicit directional input. This eliminates the "distraction" explicitly identified in the background of US12240456. The concept of driver approval via a non-directional input (e.g., a brake tap) is also taught by US11932230B1.

Conclusion:

Claim 1 of US12240456 would be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art based on the combination of:

• US11932230B1 for the foundational vehicle architecture and the concept of an automated direction proposal with non-directional driver confirmation.
• US9085321B2 and US20130110342A1 for the established understanding and use of steering angle monitoring and control during complex parking and unparking maneuvers.
• The general knowledge of "Auto Shift" features (CNET Cars) and automated direction adjustment systems (US20240051558A1) that seek to improve driver convenience by intelligently anticipating and executing directional changes.

The motivation to combine these elements stems from the recognized need to extend the convenience of automated gear selection beyond initial vehicle movement from park to dynamic maneuvers like unparking, by utilizing readily available and highly indicative driver inputs such as steering angle patterns, thereby reducing driver distraction and improving overall driving experience.