Voltage dividing vehicle heater system and method

1. An apparatus comprising:

a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle;

a power supply coupled to the rechargeable battery pack, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, wherein the power supply is coupleable to a power source external to the electric vehicle;

a heater, wherein said heater is coupleable to a recharging circuit to provide a voltage divider circuit within said recharging circuit;

a switching circuit, the switching circuit coupled to the heater and to the power supply,

the switching circuit operable in a first mode to couple the power supply and the power source to the heater and to the rechargeable battery pack to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, wherein said heater provides said voltage divider circuit within said recharging circuit used during charging operations when the switching circuit operates in said first mode,

the switching circuit operable in a second mode to couple the power supply and the power source to the rechargeable battery pack without coupling the heater to the recharging circuit to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, wherein the heater is bypassed within said recharging circuit when the switching circuit operates in said second mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , including:

a charging control circuit coupled to the switching circuit, the charging control circuit operable to configure one or more switches within the switching circuit in order to provide either the first mode or the second mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the switching circuit connects the heater in series with one connection of the power source and with one input connection to the power supply.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the switching circuit connects the heater in series with one output connection of the power supply and with one terminal of the rechargeable battery pack.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the switching circuit operable in a third mode to connect the heater directly to the power supply and the power source without connecting the power supply and the power source to the rechargeable battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the switching circuit operable in a fourth mode to disconnect the heater from the power supply, and to connect the heater directly to the rechargeable battery pack in order to power the heater using electrical power provided by the rechargeable battery pack.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a comparator circuit to compare a battery voltage level of the rechargeable battery pack to a line voltage offset value, wherein said comparator circuit calculates said line voltage offset value from a line voltage level of said power source, and to provide an output signal when the battery voltage level is less than said line voltage offset value, the line voltage offset value calculated based on an offset value added to said line voltage level; and

a charging control circuit configured to receive the output signal of the comparator circuit, wherein the charging control circuit selects said first mode for the switching circuit upon receipt of the output signal from the comparator circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the comparator includes a microcontroller, and wherein the offset value added is stored in software accessible by the microcontroller.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the comparator includes a digital signal processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack is comprised of a plurality of 18650 form-factor lithium-ion cells.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the offset value is selected from negative values, positive values and zero.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein when the switching circuit is operating in said first mode said comparator circuit provides a second output signal when the battery voltage level is less than a bypass threshold value for said line voltage offset value, and wherein said charging control circuit selects said second mode for the switching circuit upon receipt of the second output signal from the comparator circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said comparator circuit outputs a second signal when the battery voltage level is not less than said line voltage offset value, and wherein said charging control circuit selects said second mode for the switching circuit upon receipt of the second output signal from the comparator circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a comparator circuit to compare a battery voltage level of the rechargeable battery pack to a line voltage offset value, wherein said comparator circuit calculates said line voltage offset value from a line voltage level of said power source, and to provide an output signal when the battery voltage level is less than a bypass threshold value for said line voltage offset value, the line voltage offset value calculated based on an offset value added to said line voltage level; and

a charging control circuit configured to receive the output signal of the comparator circuit, wherein the charging control circuit selects said second mode for the switching circuit upon receipt of the output signal from the comparator circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heater is coupled to a battery pack heating system, and wherein said heater is operable to heat a fluid circulated within said battery pack heating system and through said rechargeable battery pack.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a cooling system coupled to said battery pack heating system, wherein said cooling system is operable to cool said fluid circulated within said battery pack heating system and through said rechargeable battery pack.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a network of tubing in thermal contact with a plurality of cells comprising said rechargeable battery pack, wherein said fluid circulates through said network of tubing, and wherein said fluid is operable to conduct heat to or away from said plurality of cells.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heater is comprised of a resistive type heating element.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor for monitoring a heater temperature; and

a vehicle management system coupled to said temperature sensor, wherein said vehicle management system is operable to disconnect said heater from a source of electrical power if said heater temperature exceeds a preset temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a thermally operated safety switch coupled to said heater, wherein said thermally operated safety switch disconnects said heater from a source of electrical power if a temperature at said heater exceeds a preset temperature.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a battery pack temperature sensor for monitoring a rechargeable battery pack temperature;

a battery pack heating/cooling system coupled to said rechargeable battery pack; and

a charging control circuit coupled to said battery pack temperature sensor and said battery pack heating/cooling system, wherein if said rechargeable battery pack temperature is not within a preset temperature range said charging control circuit prevents said charging operations, and wherein if said rechargeable battery pack temperature is not within said preset temperature range said charging control circuit operates said battery pack heating/cooling system to adjust said rechargeable battery pack temperature.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a heater/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein said heater is coupled to said HVAC system.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heater corresponds to a heating element within a seat heater.