Prior art

The USPTO database can be accessed via their Patent Public Search tool to look up specific patent numbers.

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited in US patent 12240457, considering each patent citation and its potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

US11932230B1 - Vehicle gear selection control

• Full Citation: US11932230B1, "Vehicle gear selection control"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: March 19, 2024. Filing date: June 5, 2023.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle gear selection control system where a controller selects a driving direction based on a pattern of steering angle movements, without explicit driver direction input, and preferably with only an indication of approval. It particularly focuses on "unparking" maneuvers, where the vehicle backs out, then shifts to drive. The system may use AI trained on fleet data to determine when an auto-shift is safe and desirable. Approval by the driver is preferably indicated by a non-direction-indicating signal, such as a brake tap or gesture.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent is a direct parent application (continuation-in-part) of US12240457B1, specifically of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/205,823 filed on Jun. 5, 2023, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,932,230. Therefore, it is highly relevant and likely anticipates many aspects of claims 1-22 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, particularly the core concept of automatically offering or enacting a gear shift based on steering patterns and driver approval during unparking maneuvers.

US20240051558A1 - Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis

• Full Citation: US20240051558A1, "Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: February 15, 2024. Priority date: August 12, 2022.
• Brief Description: This patent application, assigned to Tesla, Inc., describes systems for automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis. While the full text is not provided in the prompt, its title suggests a focus on autonomous or assisted driving systems that analyze the environment to influence vehicle direction.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 12, particularly regarding a controller selecting a drive direction based on vehicle operation and environmental factors. The "automated adjustment of vehicle direction" might encompass or be analogous to the offering or enacting of a gear change based on detected driving patterns. Depending on the specifics of its claims, it may anticipate how steering or environmental analysis triggers a proposed direction change.

US20110080305A1 - Vehicle Park Assist System and Method for Parking a Vehicle Using Such System

• Full Citation: US20110080305A1, "Vehicle Park Assist System and Method for Parking a Vehicle Using Such System"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 7, 2011. Priority date: October 7, 2009.
• Brief Description: This Ford Global Technologies patent application describes a vehicle park assist system and method for parking a vehicle. Parking assist systems often involve automated steering and sometimes automated gear changes.
• Potential Anticipation: This likely anticipates systems that automatically assist with parking maneuvers, which inherently involve gear changes (e.g., between drive and reverse). Specifically, it could anticipate elements of claims 1 and 12 related to monitoring vehicle movement and initiating a change in drive mode within the context of parking, even if the driver still provides directional input.

US20130110342A1 - Method for pulling a vehicle into or out of a parking space and corresponding assistance system and vehicle

• Full Citation: US20130110342A1, "Method for pulling a vehicle into or out of a parking space and corresponding assistance system and vehicle"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: May 2, 2013. Priority date: May 12, 2010.
• Brief Description: This Volkswagen AG patent application describes a method for pulling a vehicle into or out of a parking space, and an associated assistance system and vehicle. This directly relates to parking and unparking scenarios.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant to US12240457B1, as the latter explicitly discusses "unparking" as a typical operation. This patent likely anticipates aspects of claims 1 and 12 concerning the vehicle controller monitoring steering and offering or enacting gear changes during parking/unparking maneuvers. The specifics of how "assistance" is provided and whether it includes implicit direction changes without explicit driver input would determine the exact scope of anticipation.

US9085321B2 - Unparking control system and unparking control method using the same

• Full Citation: US9085321B2, "Unparking control system and unparking control method using the same"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: July 21, 2015. Priority date: January 17, 2013.
• Brief Description: This patent, assigned to Mando Corporation, explicitly covers an "unparking control system and unparking control method." This directly addresses the problem space of US12240457B1.
• Potential Anticipation: This is a very strong prior art candidate for claims 1 and 12, given its direct focus on unparking control. It likely anticipates methods where a vehicle system assists with the unparking process, which would involve managing gear changes. The critical factor for anticipation under § 102 would be whether this patent discloses the specific feature of offering a gear change based on steering control without operator indication of a direction, and then enacting it based on a non-directional approval.

US20160075329A1 - Parking assist system and path determination method

• Full Citation: US20160075329A1, "Parking assist system and path determination method"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: March 17, 2016. Priority date: September 12, 2014.
• Brief Description: This Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha patent application describes a parking assist system and a path determination method. Such systems are fundamental to automated or assisted parking.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference could anticipate elements of claims 1 and 12 related to automated parking assistance, which inherently involves coordinated control of steering and propulsion (and thus gear changes). Its relevance depends on whether it describes offering or enacting gear changes based on steering patterns and non-directional driver approval.

US20200404192A1 - Vehicle-mounted device

• Full Citation: US20200404192A1, "Vehicle-mounted device"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: December 24, 2020. Priority date: March 9, 2018.
• Brief Description: This Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. patent application relates to a "vehicle-mounted device." This is a broad category, but the citation in the context of gear selection suggests it likely pertains to vehicle control or driver assistance.
• Potential Anticipation: Without further details on the specific "vehicle-mounted device," it is difficult to precisely assess its anticipation. However, given its citation in US12240457B1, it might describe components or methods used in vehicle control systems, possibly related to sensing, processing, or driver interaction that could be relevant to the gear selection control, especially for claims 1 and 12 if it touches upon automated functions and driver input.

US20210300349A1 - Vehicle movement assist system

• Full Citation: US20210300349A1, "Vehicle movement assist system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: September 30, 2021. Priority date: March 31, 2020.
• Brief Description: This Honda Motor Co., Ltd. patent application focuses on a "vehicle movement assist system." Such systems typically aid drivers in various maneuvers, including parking or low-speed operations.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is likely to anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 12, as "vehicle movement assist" would almost certainly involve controlling the drive system and potentially suggesting or automating gear changes. The key differentiating factor for US12240457B1 would be the absence of explicit directional input from the driver for the gear change itself, relying instead on approval.

Other cited patents:

The remaining cited patents appear to be less directly relevant to the core novelty of US12240457B1 as defined by its independent claims, which focus on offering a gear change based on steering patterns without explicit directional input and awaiting driver approval. Many of these relate to general vehicle control, braking, or broader parking assist systems. While they contribute to the overall landscape of vehicle control, their direct anticipation of claims 1 and 12 regarding the specific interaction of steering-based offering and non-directional approval for gear shifts is less apparent from their titles alone.

• US5436833A - Shift-to-neutral reminder prompt system/method: This likely covers systems that remind a driver to shift to neutral, which is different from automatically offering a drive/reverse shift based on steering and accepting non-directional input.
• US20130144492A1 - Parking mode selection apparatus and method: This may involve driver selection of a parking mode, but not necessarily an automated direction change without explicit directional input.
• US20130184979A1 - Method and System for Detection of Motor Vehicle Movement to Avoid Collisions: Focuses on collision avoidance, not direct gear selection control based on steering patterns for routine maneuvers.
• US9219887B2 - Drive assist device: Broad title, but likely covers various assist functions, not necessarily the specific gear selection mechanism claimed. (Note: The search results for this patent number provided information for "Delayed release pancreatin compositions", which is clearly unrelated. This suggests that the patent number US9219887B2 cited in the Google Patents listing for US12240457B1 may be a typo or refers to a different patent.)
• US9381922B2 - Detection of parking maneuver in a motor vehicle: Focuses on detecting a parking maneuver, which is a precursor to the claimed invention, but not the inventive step of offering a direction change without explicit directional input.
• US20200207334A1 - System, method, infrastructure, and vehicle for automated valet parking: While involving automated parking, the emphasis is on "valet parking," which often implies a higher level of autonomy than the driver-approved shift in US12240457B1.
• US11001301B2 - Method for moving a motor vehicle out of a parking space with at least semi-autonomous manoeuvring of the motor vehicle up to an end position, driver assistance system and motor vehicle: This is highly relevant as it addresses moving out of a parking space (unparking) with semi-autonomous maneuvering. It could be close prior art if it describes a system that offers a direction change without explicit driver direction input and accepts non-directional approval.
• US20210269019A1 - Parking Assistance System for Automated Pulling-Out of a Longitudinal Parking Space With a Reversing Move as the Last Pulling-Out Move: This is also very relevant to unparking, specifically from longitudinal spaces. Similar to the above, its anticipation hinges on the specific interaction of offering and non-directional approval.
• US11623636B2 - Display device for vehicle and parking assist system: Focuses on the display aspect of a parking assist system, not necessarily the core logic of automatic gear selection based on steering patterns and non-directional approval.
• US12049217B2 - Parking support device: Broad, but generally related to parking assistance.
• US12084047B2 - Vehicle driving assist system: Broad, covers general driving assistance.
• US12151677B2 - Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, program, and vehicle: Broad, covers general vehicle control.

Correction Regarding US9219887B2:
Upon closer inspection of the search results, the USPTO entry for patent number US9219887B2 shows the title "Delayed release pancreatin compositions". This is a clear contradiction with the expected subject matter of "Vehicle gear selection control" given its presence as a citation in US12240457B1. It appears there might be an error in the Google Patents citation list for US12240457B1, or a different patent with this number exists in another jurisdiction which is not being returned by a US-specific search. For the purpose of this analysis, based on the USPTO search result, US9219887B2 (Delayed release pancreatin compositions) is not relevant prior art to US12240457B1.