My vision:

I'd imagne there would be a nice metal connection/interface on the edge of t-top and on the edge of the lip on the roof, so a connection is made when you slide it in.. Sorta Like your cordless phone when you put it back on the base. This supplies power and control access.


Like the current design, there are two pins, one on each side of the outer edge that slide into the roof to lock in place. These pins are are electronically actuated with a little servo inside the t-top.. Controlled by a lighted rocker? switch in a cabin.. One side depics lock/other side depics unlock.

On the t-top itself, will be a small window that shows the physical metal pin that locks the t-top inplace.. If its locked, its black/matching the color of the interior.. If its unlocked, the bright red part shows. Thus, giving the user a direct feedback if the t-top is locked. Optional manual access slot for emergency unlocking/locking the pins in case the servo fails.. Be nice if you can use the key to do this.

T-tops will attempt to lock themselves if placed on the roof in the unlock postion for extended periods of time with the car on.. A ding and a lightup of "lock" if it succeeds.. Warning chimes if it detects the t-tops unlocked, which is overrided by hitting the unlock side.

When you store the t-tops in the back, they will autolock themselves in place when placed in the groove.

Only problem I see, is trying to keep all the connections clean and all the electronics working... Just keeping the connections clean would probably be a huge pain.. I can imagine lots of TSB's and calls about dirty connections.

Which is why I think I'd just perfer the manual lever and keylock in the end.

 

The simplest solution is usually the best.

 

but then we might not even have power windows or locks today with that kind of thinking

 

well, powerdoors and locks.. the everything is sealed inside the door, and shound be protected from the elements... so once you can prove the switches, motors, gears, etc won't wear out, your set..

But with t-tops, unless something things of something clever with the connections, I just see problems with contacts exposed to the elements..


besides, what is the real value in making the t-top locks electronic? Because in the end, you still have to manually take the panels out and move em to storage by hand.. not to mention the electornics may make the t-tops heavier.


I'd be much happier if they just better implement the keylock and the lever with better quality parts..

 

i'm not saying the latest t-tops are bad
not at all (my dad has a 95 camaro and i like them the best so far)
i just think it's a tad inconvenient to go and unlock them when you want them off (not trying to be lazy, just practical, but take it as you will)
i'm just throwing this up in the air for you guys to think about

but as saying it's unneccesary, i think the button door opener or whatever on the corvette is a little more unneccesary than this (why not just use a standard door handle? not like the doors are that heavy )

btw, am i spelling 'unneccesary' right here?

 

i don't think you got the spelling right, but I wouldn't worry about it, I never get it right either.

I think you're right. There's always room for improvment in just about everything. Sometimes the hardest thing to overcome in a new design is the user's/customer's perception.

Who's to say GM doesn't have some sort of latch-less or non-mechanical lock already designed and tested, but it hasn't passed clinics?

 

Why not just make them latch the way a trunk does? I used to own an '89 CRX and a '90 Civic hatchback, and the mechanisms for both were quite compact. The inside edge of the T-top could 'hook' to the center support, and then the outside edge could be pivoted down and latched. It would be locked just from the action of pushing it down, and you could have a small lever or button to release it.

 

heh, I ilke that idea better than mine..

 

I have no experience with the T-tops, but that idea is VERY attractive, ot only from a mechanical standpoint but from the user's.