Patent ID: 7677636

Claim:
A method for controlling a folding roof, the method which comprises: providing a motor vehicle configuration, including: an engine configured to be selectively turned on and off; a vehicle battery configured to be charged when the engine is turned on; a folding roof movable between a closed position and an open position; an electro-hydraulic system connected to the vehicle battery and to the folding roof for moving the folding roof between the closed position and the open position; an electronic control unit operatively connected to the electro-hydraulic system for controlling the electro-hydraulic system; and a display operatively connected to the electronic control unit for providing a driver alert information; determining, with the electronic control unit, a total number of roof actuation requests for actuating the folding roof in a period when the engine of the motor vehicle configuration is off; comparing, with the electronic control unit, the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in the period with the engine of the motor vehicle configuration being off to a given maximum number; blocking, with the electronic control unit, a roof actuation request for moving the folding roof from the closed position to the open position if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in the period with the engine of the motor vehicle configuration being off has reached the given maximum number; and providing the driver alert information on the display of the motor vehicle configuration if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in the period with the engine of the motor vehicle configuration being off has reached the given maximum number.