Abstract:
An antenna apparatus is for use in connection with a light and a switch for selectively supplying power to the light through associated wiring. The apparatus comprises a circuit connected between the light and the switch, the circuit including a filter, a decoupling circuit, and an antenna formed at least in part by the wiring associated with the light. The apparatus may be used in connection with a light on a vehicle, such as a brake light for a motorcycle, and may thus be concealed from view. Related methods are also disclosed.

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/979,134, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to the antenna arts and, more particularly, to a concealed antenna apparatus that may be especially adapted for use in connection with a vehicle light. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles such as cars or motorcycles typically have a separate freestanding antenna that is used to transmit or receive signals. In some instances, providing such an antenna is inconvenient, such as for example in the case of a motorcycle where the space for locating such an antenna may be limited. In the past, it is known to provide the antenna in the vehicle windshield. However, this requires a specialized antenna and can be costly to implement, especially since it is desirable to make the antenna invisible in use. 
     Accordingly, a need is identified for a solution to these and other problems associated with prior art antennas. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an apparatus for forming an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves using a light on a vehicle (such as a motorcycle) associated with a switch for selectively supplying power through associated wiring to the light upon actuation of the switch is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a circuit connected between the switch and light, the circuit comprising components for isolating the associated wiring from the light. 
     In one embodiment, the circuit comprises one or more high impedance circuit elements, and may further include a common mode choke. One or more inductors may also be provided as part of the circuit, which may take the form of one or more ferrite beads. The circuit may also include a filter for preventing noise from the switch from interfering with the operation of the antenna. A cable may also be provided for connecting a receiver to the portion of the circuit serving as the antenna. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for providing an antenna for a radio associated with a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a light assembly adapted for connection to the vehicle. The light assembly includes at least one light and wiring for supplying power from a power source to the light. The light is positioned within a housing including an at least translucent cover for allowing light to pass external to the housing. A circuit is provided for isolating the wiring for supplying power for the light from the power source, such that at least a portion of the isolated wiring forms an antenna element of the antenna. 
     In one embodiment, the antenna is not visible on the vehicle, which may comprise a motorcycle. The light may comprise a brake light for the motorcycle associated with a switch for controlling the supply of power to the brake light. A cable may be provided to connect the radio to the isolated wiring downstream of the circuit, and a filter may be provided for preventing noise from the switch from interfering with the antenna. 
     A further aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for providing a concealed antenna for a radio. The apparatus comprises a vehicle and a light assembly connected to the vehicle. The light assembly comprises at least one light, a housing including an at least translucent cover for allowing light to pass from the light to external to the housing, and the concealed antenna for receiving radio signals. The concealed antenna is not provided as an upstanding element on the vehicle. 
     The light assembly comprises wiring for supplying power for the light and the wiring is used as an antenna element of the concealed antenna. The vehicle may comprise a motorcycle, and the concealed antenna thus avoids the presence of the upstanding external antenna on the motorcycle, where there may be limited space for it. 
     Also forming part of the disclosure is a method of providing an antenna for a radio associated with a vehicle including a switch for selectively providing power through wiring to a light. The method comprises isolating a first portion of the wiring used to supply power from the switch to the light, and receiving radio signals using a second portion of the wiring, such that the second portion of the wiring receives radio signals. The isolating may comprise providing a decoupling circuit between the switch for controlling the light and the light. The method may further include the step of providing a filter for filtering noise from the switch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a light assembly including the antenna apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view if the light assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the antenna apparatus; and 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a motorcycle including the antenna apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a description is provided of one possible embodiment of an antenna apparatus  10  according to the disclosure. In the illustrated example, the antenna apparatus  10  comprises a circuit for use in connection with a vehicle (such as a straddle vehicle in the form of a motorcycle  100 ; see  FIG. 4 ) and, in particular, an existing light  12  for providing illumination in connection with the operation of the vehicle (such as for example, a tail light assembly for indicating the application of braking by an operator of the vehicle). 
     The light  12  may be contained within a housing  13  and may be a filament lamp or an LED. The housing  13  may include a backing portion  13   a  and a transparent or translucent cover  13   b  for allowing light energy to emanate from the apparatus  10 , such as in connection with the braking of the associated vehicle). The light  12  is illustrated as having a generally rectangular configuration, but may be square, round, oval, triangular, or any other shape, without limitation. The light  12  also need not be included within any housing in order to achieve the benefits described herein. 
     The light  12  may be actuated, or have power supplied thereto from a power supply  15 , via a switch  14  connected to the light by associated wiring  16 . The switch  14  may be, for example, one associated with a foot or hand brake in the case of a braking light as is known in the art. However, the apparatus may also be used in connection with any other light on the vehicle as well. 
     At least a portion of the wire within the antenna apparatus  10  for supplying the light  12  with power serves as an antenna element  17  of the antenna apparatus  10  for receiving or, in another possible embodiment, transmitting electromagnetic or radio waves. In particular, and with reference to  FIG. 3 , the apparatus  10  may include an antenna  20  formed in part by the wiring/antenna element  17 , which may be connected to a decoupling circuit  22 , which as discussed below in more detail may include an input filter  28  (e.g., an active filter, an LC filter, or a multistage filter, among others), and a high impedance circuit  30 . The decoupling circuit  22  functions to isolate the antenna  20  from the brake light switch  14  and associated wiring  16 , and to prevent noise from combining with a received signal. 
     The antenna  20  provides the received signal to a device  24 , such as a radio or the like, a CB device, or other types of communication devices which rely on the transmission and receipt of electromagnetic waves (e.g., motorcycle to motorcycle communication devices). The antenna  20  may be connected to the device  24  at a remote location on the vehicle by way of a coaxial cable  26 . It should be noted that other suitable cable types may likewise be utilized. 
     In this particular embodiment, the decoupling circuit  22  comprises an input filter  28  to prevent electrical noise associated with the upstream brake light switch  14  from interfering with the electromagnetic waves received by the antenna element  17  within the antenna  20 . The high impedance circuit  30  serves to electrically isolate the antenna  20  from the filter  28 , the brake light switch  14 , and the associated wiring  16  within the vehicle. As can be appreciated, the entire assembly forming the apparatus  10  may be provided as a single cable with appropriate leads for connecting the brake light to the switch  14  and device  24  (e.g., radio), respectively. 
     In the illustrated example, the high impedance circuit  30  comprises a common mode choke  32   a  providing a high impedance for isolating the wiring serving as the antenna element  17  within the AM broadcast band. The common mode choke  32   a  may be associated with optional capacitors  32   b ,  32   c . These capacitors  32   b ,  32   c  may be omitted if the antenna  20  functions properly in the AM band regardless. 
     In this example, the high impedance circuit  30  further comprises one or more inductors with high impedance for electrically isolating the antenna  20  within the FM broadcast band. These high impedance inductors are ferrite beads  34   a ,  34   b  in the present example. However, the high impedance circuit  30  could also take different forms besides the common mode choke  32   a  and the ferrite beads  34   a ,  34   b , such as one or more inductors with higher impedance in the desired radio bands. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates a vehicle in the form of a motorcycle  100  including the antenna apparatus  10  as part of a brake light assembly  112 . Selective control of the light assembly  112  may be achieved using a hand lever  114 . As can be appreciated, the concealment of the antenna apparatus  10  in this manner means that it cannot be seen on the motorcycle  100  serving as the exemplary vehicle for purposes of illustration, which is contrasted with prior approaches where the antenna is an upstanding element associated with the vehicle. 
     In summary, an antenna apparatus  10  is provided for use in combination with a circuit for a light, such as in a vehicle. The apparatus  10  filters electrical noise to avoid interference with electromagnetic signals received by an antenna  20 , which utilizes wire within the light circuit as an antenna element  17 , and electrically isolates the brake light switch  14  and associated wiring  16  that would otherwise become part of the antenna element  17  from the antenna  20 . Use of the apparatus may avoid the need for a conventional upstanding antenna on vehicles where space is limited, such as a motorcycle, or where otherwise inconvenient, such as a convertible. 
     The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments are provided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Modifications or variations are also possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments described above were chosen to provide the best application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosed inventions in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention.