Antenna for automobile radio

An antenna provided in a vehicle window and operative with an array of heating elements, said antenna comprising:

• a vehicle window;
• a conductive heating grid formed in the vehicle window and having a plurality of horizontal and generally parallel conductive elements for heating the vehicle window during a heating operation;
• a first vertical conductive element connected to said horizontal heating elements and arranged substantially orthogonal thereto;
• a second vertical conductive element connected to said horizontal heating elements and arranged substantially orthogonal thereto;
• a first tuneable conductive element connected to said first vertical conductive element, said tuneable conductive element being located substantially orthogonal to said first vertical conductive element and having a first length selected so as to substantially match a characteristic impedance of an RF signal transmission path;
• a second tuneable conductive element connected to said second vertical conductive element, said tuneable conductive element being located substantially orthogonal to said second vertical conductive element and having a second length selected so as to substantially match the characteristic impedance of the RF signal transmission path;
• and
• a feed line coupled to one of the first and second bus bars, wherein the feed line transmits current to the conductive elements during the heating operation and further transmits RF radio wave signals.

An antenna system for a radio of a vehicle, said antenna system comprising:

• a vehicle window;
• a conductive grid formed in the vehicle window and having a plurality of horizontal and generally parallel conductive elements for heating the vehicle window during a heating operation;
• first and second bus bars connecting the horizontal conductive elements at opposite ends;
• a first vertical conductive element formed in the vehicle window and arranged substantially orthogonal to said horizontal conductive elements;
• a second vertical conductive element formed in said vehicle window and arranged substantially orthogonal to said horizontal conductive elements;
• a third vertical conductive element formed in said vehicle window and arranged substantially orthogonal to said horizontal conductive elements;
• a fourth vertical conductive element formed in said vehicle window and arranged substantially orthogonal to said horizontal conductive elements, wherein said first, second, third and fourth vertical conductive elements are spaced apart from one another;
• and
• a feed line coupled to one of the first and second bus bars, wherein the feed line transmits current to the conductive elements during the heating operation and further transmits RF radio wave signals.