Auxiliary power supply system for high power loads in a hybrid/electric vehicle

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to exchange a high-voltage signal with a high-voltage battery of a vehicle;

a second interface configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from a source external to said vehicle;

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

a converter configured to

generate said high-voltage signal by up-converting said first low-voltage signal while in an up-conversion mode to recharge the high-voltage battery of said vehicle, and

(ii) generate said second low-voltage signal on said power rail by down-converting said high-voltage signal received from said high-voltage battery while in a down-conversion mode; and

a switch configured to route a third low-voltage signal generated by said converter to said power rail in response to a command signal while said apparatus is in a first mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said second low-voltage signal is generated in part from power derived from an internal combustion engine of said vehicle, and

said vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said second low-voltage signal is generated solely from power derived from said high-voltage battery of said vehicle and

said vehicle is an electric vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said second interface is connected to said switch, and

said command signal instructs said switch to route said first low-voltage signal to said power rail while said apparatus is in a second mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a fourth interface connected to said switch and configured to receive a fourth low-voltage signal, wherein said command signal instructs said switch to route said fourth low-voltage signal to said power rail while said apparatus is in a third mode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said switch is further configured to route said first low-voltage signal from said second interface to said converter while said apparatus is in a fourth mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said switch is further configured to route said fourth low-voltage signal from said fourth interface to said converter while said apparatus is in a fifth mode.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a low-voltage battery connected to said power rail, wherein

said switch is a break-before-make switch when changing between modes, and

said low-voltage battery maintains power on said power rail while said switch breaks all connections while changing between modes.

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, and

control said converter between said up-conversion mode and said down-conversion mode.

10. 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.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said power rail has a first voltage in a first range from approximately 10 volts to approximately 50 volts,

said high-voltage battery has a second voltage in a second range from approximately 200 volts to approximately 600 volts, and

said power rail drives one or more loads up to 15,000 watts.

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

exchanging a high-voltage signal between a high-voltage battery of said vehicle and a first interface of a device;

receiving a first low-voltage signal from a source external to said vehicle at a second interface of said device;

presenting a second low-voltage signal to a power rail of said vehicle from a third interface of said device;

generating said high-voltage signal by up-converting said first low-voltage signal while in an up-conversion mode to recharge the high-voltage battery of said vehicle;

generating said second low-voltage signal on said power rail by down-converting said high-voltage signal received from said high-voltage battery while in a down-conversion mode; and

routing a third low-voltage signal to said power rail using a switch in response to a command signal while in a first mode.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein

said second low-voltage signal is generated in part from power derived from an internal combustion engine of said vehicle, and

said vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein

said second low-voltage signal is generated solely from power derived from said high-voltage battery of said vehicle and

said vehicle is an electric vehicle.