Auxiliary power supply system for high power loads in a vehicle

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from a first power rail of a vehicle;

a first converter configured to generate a high-voltage signal by up-converting said first low-voltage signal;

a high-voltage battery configured to store said high-voltage signal;

a second converter configured to generate a second low-voltage signal by down-converting said high-voltage signal;

a second interface configured to present said second low-voltage signal to a second power rail of said vehicle;

a switch configured to route said second low-voltage signal to said second power rail while said apparatus is in a first mode; and

a charger plug connected to said switch and configured to receive a third low-voltage signal from a source external to said vehicle, wherein (i) said first power rail is electrically separated from said second power rail and (ii) said switch is configured to route said third low-voltage signal to said second power rail while said apparatus is in a second mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first low-voltage signal is generated from power derived from an internal combustion engine of said vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said switch is further configured to disconnect said second low-voltage signal from said second power rail while said apparatus is in said second mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third interface connected to said switch and configured to receive a fourth low-voltage signal from an exterior power source, wherein said switch is further configured to route said fourth low-voltage signal to said second power rail while said apparatus is in a third mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said switch is further configured to disconnect said third low-voltage signal from said second power rail while said apparatus is in said third mode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a low-voltage battery connected to said second power rail, wherein (i) said switch is a break-before-make switch when changing between modes and (ii) said low-voltage battery maintains power on said second power rail while said switch breaks all connections while changing between modes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said switch is further configured to route said third low-voltage signal from said charger plug to said second converter while said apparatus is in said second mode.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said second converter is further configured to recharge said high-voltage battery by up-converting said third low-voltage signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an electronic control unit configured to control a mode of said apparatus in response to a plurality of commands received from a user interface device of said vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to control said second converter between an up-conversion mode and a down-conversion mode.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said electronic control unit is further configured to report a status of said switch to said user interface device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein (i) said first power rail has a first voltage in a first range from approximately 10 volts to approximately 50 volts, (ii) said high-voltage battery has a second voltage in a second range from approximately 200 volts to approximately 600 volts, and (iii) said second power rail drives one or more loads up to 15,000 watts.

13. A method for auxiliary power distribution in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first low-voltage signal from a first power rail of said vehicle;

generating a high-voltage signal by up-converting said first low-voltage signal;

storing said high-voltage signal;

generating a second low-voltage signal by down-converting said high-voltage signal;

presenting said second low-voltage signal to a second power rail of said vehicle;

routing said second low-voltage signal to said second power rail while in a first mode; and

receiving a third low-voltage signal from a source external to said vehicle, wherein (i) said first power rail is electrically separated from said second power rail and (ii) said third low-voltage signal is configured to be routed to said second power rail while in a second mode.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from a first power rail of a vehicle;

a first converter configured to generate a high-voltage signal by up-converting said first low-voltage signal;

a high-voltage battery configured to store said high-voltage signal;

a second converter configured to generate a second low-voltage signal by down-converting said high-voltage signal;

a second interface configured to present said second low-voltage signal to a second power rail of said vehicle;

a switch configured to route said second low-voltage signal to said second power rail while said apparatus is in a first mode; and

an electronic control unit configured to control a mode of said apparatus in response to a plurality of commands received from a user interface device of said vehicle, wherein (i) said first power rail is electrically separated from said second power rail and (ii) said electronic control unit is further configured to control said second converter between an up-conversion mode and a down-conversion mode.