Patent ID: 7902691

Claim:
A cigarette lighter adapter (CLA), comprising: a body, a barrel portion extending from said body, said barrel portion including first and second contacts arranged to be connected within and powered from a vehicle cigarette lighter, at least one primary electronic circuit arranged within said body and connected directly or indirectly to said contacts, said at least one primary electronic circuit operatively connected to at least one output arranged to receive a power signal, an antenna arranged within said body and in electrical communication with said at least one primary electronic circuit, the at least one primary electronic circuit configured to deliver at least one of an antenna signal, an electronically processed version of said antenna signal, and data derived from the electronic processing thereof via said output, to the at least one output in conjunction with the power signal, the power signal being received from the first and second contacts and also providing power to the primary electronic circuit, a rechargeable alternate power source arranged within said body and in electrical connection with said at least one primary electronic circuit thereby providing power to said circuit in the absence of power from the first and second contacts, and one or more secondary electronic circuits configured to provide at least one of power management, regulation, switching and recharging functions.