US 12240456

US Patent 12240456, titled "Vehicle gear selection control," was invented by Bennet Langlotz and is assigned to Bulletproof Property Management LLC. The application for this patent was filed on October 27, 2024, and the patent was issued on March 4, 2025.

Abstract:
The patent describes a motor vehicle designed for driver operation, featuring a frame with wheels and a motor. A steering control is connected to the wheels to establish a steering angle. A controller, operably connected to the steering control, motor, and wheels, can drive the wheels in a forward (drive mode) or rearward (reverse mode) direction. Crucially, this drive system can select a direction for driving the wheels in response to a pattern of steering angle movements, eliminating the need for the operator to explicitly indicate a direction.

Independent Claims Overview:

Claim 1:
This claim describes a motor vehicle that includes a frame, wheels, a motor, and a steering control that sets a steering angle. It further specifies a "drive system" connected to the steering, motor, and wheels. This drive system is capable of moving the vehicle forward or backward. The core of the invention lies in this drive system's ability to automatically choose the vehicle's driving direction (forward or reverse) based on a detected pattern of steering wheel movements, without the driver having to manually select the direction.

Litigation Status:
The patent family for US12240456 is currently involved in litigation. A "First worldwide family litigation" has been filed. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Texas Western District Court (case number 1:25-cv-00665). A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2026-00228, has also been filed and is pending.

Known litigation involving US patent 12240456 includes the following:

District Court Litigation:

• Plaintiff(s): Bulletproof Property Management LLC
• Defendant(s): Tesla Inc, JOHN DOES Nos. 1-20, and unknown persons
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-00665
• Filing Date: May 5, 2025
• Current Status: Ongoing ("진행중")
• Patents in Case: This case involves US12240456 along with several other related patents: US11932230, US12221104, US12227184, US12233871, US12240457, and US12240458.
• Alleged Infringing Products: Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y.

PTAB Litigation:

• Case Number: IPR2026-00228
• Current Status: Pending

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 12240456, which is currently pending. This means the patent has not yet been subjected to a final validity determination by the PTAB, and its claims remain untested through this specific IPR process. The current defensive posture for a defendant is that the claims are presumed valid and the IPR is in its early stages.

IPR2026-00228 — Tesla, Inc. v. Bulletproof Property Management LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-01-23
• Status: Pending. This IPR is in the preliminary stages, with the institution decision not yet issued. The statutory deadline for the institution decision is typically six months from the petition's filing date.
• Judge panel: The judge panel information is not yet publicly available through general web search for this pending proceeding.
• Petition grounds: Specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103) are not yet publicly detailed through general web search. This information would typically be found in the filed petition, which is not readily accessible via public search results at this early stage.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The decision on whether to institute the IPR is expected around July 2026 (six months from the filing date).
• Final Written Decision: Not yet issued, as the IPR is still in the institution phase.
• Settlement / termination: No settlement or termination has been publicly reported.
• Appeal: No appeal activity, as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that at least one party, Tesla, Inc., is challenging the patentability of claims in US12240456. However, given its pending status, it offers no immediate defensive leverage beyond the existence of the challenge itself. The outcome of the institution decision and any subsequent Final Written Decision will be crucial for assessing the patent's strength.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims of US12240456 remain UNTESTED by a Final Written Decision from the PTAB. IPR2026-00228 is in its initial phase, with no institution decision yet rendered, meaning no claims have been cancelled or sustained through this process.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if IPR2026-00228 is instituted, Tesla, Inc. (and its privies) would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting invalidity grounds that were raised or reasonably could have been raised during the IPR against the instituted claims. However, this estoppel only applies after a Final Written Decision. Until then, all prior-art grounds remain potentially available.

A pattern signal is that Tesla, Inc. is the petitioner in this IPR, which aligns with their position as a defendant in the related district court litigation (case 1:25-cv-00665). This suggests a coordinated defense strategy against Bulletproof Property Management LLC's patent assertions.

Recommended next steps

• Monitor IPR2026-00228: The next significant milestone for this IPR is the institution decision, which is anticipated around July 23, 2026. This decision will determine whether the PTAB will proceed with a full trial on the challenged claims. Monitoring the PTAB's Electronic Filing System for updates on this case is crucial.
• Review Petition Filings: If access to the PTAB E2E system is available, review the full petition for IPR2026-00228 to understand the specific claims challenged, the prior art cited, and the arguments presented by Tesla, Inc. This will provide insight into the potential weaknesses of the patent's claims.

Inventors

The sole named inventor is Bennet Langlotz. He assigned his interest in the invention to Bulletproof Property Management LLC prior to the patent application's filing. His employer at the time of filing is not explicitly stated in the patent document, but the assignment suggests he was likely associated with Bulletproof Property Management LLC, or it was an early assignment to the entity that would pursue the patent.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Bulletproof Property Management LLC. Based on available public information, Bulletproof Property Management LLC does not appear to ship products embodying the claims of US12240456, which pertains to vehicle gear selection control. Their primary line of business, as evidenced by the ongoing litigation against Tesla, Inc. regarding this patent and others in the same family, appears to be patent assertion and licensing. The company is currently active as a plaintiff in patent infringement litigation.

Assignment timeline

Only one assignment is recorded for US12240456:

• 2024-01-03 (executed) / recorded 2024-10-27 — Reel 069032/0826
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: LANGLOTZ, BENNET
  • Assignee: BULLETPROOF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC
  • Correspondent: Not readily available in USPTO Assignment Center summary.
  • Context: Inventor assigned patent rights to the entity that would become the original assignee and patent applicant.

The USPTO Assignment Center search for patent 12240456 at https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html shows only one record.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12240456
    2023 : Priority date
    2024 : Inventor assigned to Bulletproof PM LLC
         : Application filed by Bulletproof PM LLC
    2025 : Patent issued to Bulletproof PM LLC
         : Litigation 1:25-cv-00665 filed
    2026 : IPR2026-00228 filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. There is no recorded transfer from an operating assignee to a licensing-only LLC. However, the original assignee, Bulletproof Property Management LLC, exhibits characteristics of a shell entity (generic name, no apparent product, solely engaged in patent litigation in this technical area).
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Bulletproof Property Management LLC is currently asserting this patent against Tesla, Inc. in district court case 1:25-cv-00665. This identifies them as a patent asserter.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. With only one recorded assignment from the inventor to the original assignee (Reel 069032/0826), there is insufficient data to determine if a repeat correspondent pattern exists.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. Only one assignment from the inventor to the current assignee is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The assignment from the inventor to Bulletproof Property Management LLC (recorded 2024-10-27) occurred well before the district court litigation was filed on May 5, 2025. This was a typical pre-filing assignment of invention rights.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No information suggests the assignment resulted from a bankruptcy proceeding.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While the patent is being asserted against an operating company (Tesla, Inc.), there is no public information to indicate that another operating company transferred the patent to Bulletproof Property Management LLC to assert on their behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is currently being asserted in litigation, not held by a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on two strong signals: the current assignee, Bulletproof Property Management LLC, is identified as a known asserter actively engaged in patent litigation against an operating company (Tesla, Inc.). Furthermore, Bulletproof Property Management LLC appears to be a shell entity itself, given its generic name ("Property Management LLC") and the lack of any evidence indicating it manufactures or sells products embodying the claimed vehicle technology. This entity seemingly exists primarily for patent assertion.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search for US12240456: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12240456, I will examine the "Citations" section of the patent document. This section lists the prior art references considered by the patent examiner.

Based on the provided patent text for US12240456, here's an analysis of the cited prior art:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US12240456

The patent itself identifies prior art in its "Background and Summary" and "Citations" sections. The core of US12240456 lies in a drive system that selects a driving direction based on steering angle patterns, without operator indication of a direction (Claim 1). This differentiates it from prior systems requiring explicit directional input or those limited to initial movements from a stopped position.

Here are the prior art references that appear most relevant to the distinct claims of US12240456, particularly those that deal with automated parking or gear selection:

1. US11932230B1 (Vehicle gear selection control)

   • Full Citation: US11932230B1, "Vehicle gear selection control," published 2024-03-19.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2023-06-05. Publication date: 2024-03-19. This patent is explicitly cited as a parent application of US12240456, making it highly relevant.
   • Brief Description: This patent is titled identically to US12240456 and is a direct continuation-in-part of US18/205,823, which later issued as US11932230B1. It likely covers foundational or related aspects of automated gear selection control in vehicles. The detailed description of US12240456 states, "This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/403,221 filed on Jan. 3, 2024, entitled “VEHICLE GEAR SELECTION CONTROL,” which is a Continuation-in-Part 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, entitled “VEHICLE GEAR SELECTION CONTROL,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein." This establishes a direct lineage.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Given its direct relationship, this patent could potentially anticipate all claims of US12240456, depending on the scope of claims in US11932230B1 and how they overlap with the specific "pattern of steering angle movements, without operator indication of a direction" claimed in US12240456. Further analysis of US11932230B1's claims would be needed for a precise determination.

2. US9085321B2 (Unparking control system and unparking control method using the same)

   • Full Citation: US9085321B2, "Unparking control system and unparking control method using the same," to Mando Corporation, published 2015-07-21.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2013-01-17. Publication date: 2015-07-21.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for unparking a vehicle. The description in US12240456 emphasizes "unparking" as a typical operation for its system. This reference is directly related to the application context.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate claims related to automated gear selection during unparking maneuvers, specifically where the selection is based on vehicle state or driver actions, if it teaches selection "without operator indication of a direction." For example, elements of Claim 1 related to driving in a forward/rearward direction in response to patterns, or claims 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 which refer to specific thresholds or sequences of steering/velocity/distance, could be impacted if the Mando patent discloses similar automated unparking logic.

3. 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," to Volkswagen Ag, published 2013-05-02.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2010-05-12. Publication date: 2013-05-02.
   • Brief Description: This publication describes an assistance system and method for maneuvering a vehicle into or out of a parking space. This is highly relevant as US12240456 focuses on gear selection control during parking and unparking.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to US9085321B2, this reference could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1, as well as claims 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10, if it teaches automated direction selection during parking maneuvers based on vehicle parameters or driver inputs, particularly if it explicitly or implicitly removes the need for explicit directional input from the driver.

4. US20240051558A1 (Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis)

   • Full Citation: US20240051558A1, "Automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environment analysis," to Tesla, Inc., published 2024-02-15.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2022-08-12. Publication date: 2024-02-15.
   • Brief Description: This Tesla publication concerns automated adjustment of vehicle direction based on environmental analysis. Given Tesla is the defendant in the litigation, this is a highly relevant internal prior art for them, potentially describing systems that could be seen as infringing or anticipatory. The abstract of US12240456 specifically mentions "vehicle vision of other sensors may detect a circumstance in which there is an obstacle... The system may then offer the driver that proposed direction...".
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference could potentially anticipate Claim 1 and its dependent claims if it describes selecting a direction for driving the wheels in response to a pattern of steering angle movements or environmental factors, without requiring explicit operator indication of direction. The "automated adjustment of vehicle direction" implies a degree of automation that could overlap.

5. CNET Cars, "Elon Musk explains Auto Shift feature in Model S," YouTube, Jun. 11, 2021.

   • Full Citation: CNET Cars, "Elon Musk explains Auto Shift feature in Model S," YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4bskxzZvEA, Jun. 11, 2021, Accessed Mar. 25, 2024.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: June 11, 2021.
   • Brief Description: This non-patent literature describes Elon Musk explaining the "Auto Shift" feature in the Tesla Model S. This is highly relevant as it directly discusses a vehicle's automatic gear shifting, particularly from a well-known manufacturer that is also a litigant. The patent itself mentions "Modern vehicles may employ computer touchscreen control, such as swiping up on the left edge of the screen to go forward and down to go in reverse. All these controls have a direction or element associated with each direction, and the driver indicates by the control operation which direction is desired." This suggests the patent is building upon or differentiating itself from existing automated shifting features.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims: This video could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 if it demonstrates or describes a vehicle's ability to select a drive direction (e.g., from reverse to drive during an unparking maneuver) based on steering patterns, without requiring the driver to manually select the direction via a traditional shifter or touchscreen swipe. Specific details in the video about how the "Auto Shift" works would be crucial for a direct comparison against the "pattern of steering angle movements, without operator indication of a direction" element of Claim 1 and its dependent claims.

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.