Parking brake apparatus for a vehicle

A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system and a number of devices providing a plurality of output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors, the parking brake apparatus comprising:

• an electronic controller arranged to (i) monitor the output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors, (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to temporarily apply the parking brakes to activate an anti-rollaway feature when a first one of the plurality of vehicle factors indicates that the vehicle is unparked and at least a second one and a third one of the plurality of vehicle factors have not been met, (iii) provide a post-warning to the driver of the vehicle after the vehicle fails to park in response to a predefined maximum number of tries in attempt to park the vehicle being unsuccessful and (iv) discontinue the post-warning after a predefined time delay.

A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system, the parking brake apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of vehicle factors, wherein the plurality of vehicle factors are selected from retinal scan status, thumb imprint scan status, stop lamp switch status, key ignition switch status, seat belt status, driver-facing camera status, door status, vehicle speed status, brake pressure switch status, switch module status, engine RPM status, throttle position status, steering angle status, clutch position status, electronic controller unit status, a change in acceleration of the vehicle, and a change in position of the vehicle;
• and
• means for applying parking brakes based upon occurrence of the plurality of vehicle factors in a predefined sequence comprising an occurrence of a combination of vehicle speed status, validity of a vehicle shutdown sequence, and loss of vehicle speed status.