Systems and methods for vehicle-to-load charging

1. An apparatus comprising:

a multi-function DC power unit comprising a rechargeable battery and a load; and

an interface unit configured to perform battery recharging between a donor battery-powered device and a receiver battery-powered device, the interface unit comprising an auxiliary power device port configured to receive the multi-function DC power unit;

wherein the multi-function DC power unit is further configured to be received within and receive a charge from a recharging component included in a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device when removed from the auxiliary power device port of the interface unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-function DC power unit is further configured to be handheld.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the load of the multi-function DC power unit includes an illumination device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit includes:

a first connector configured to electrically connect to the donor battery-powered device;

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the receiver battery-powered device; and

DC-to-DC circuit components configured to connect to the first and second connectors and the multi-function DC power unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the DC-to-DC circuit components include:

a controller;

a donor communication device being configured to communicate with the donor battery-powered device via the first connector; and

a receiver communication device being configured to communicate with the receiver battery-powered device via the second connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the interface unit includes:

a first component configured to convert a voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into an operational voltage for the controller, the donor communication device and the receiver communication device; and

a second component configured to convert the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into a pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a pre-charge signal from a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device via the communication devices; and

in response to receiving the pre-charge signal:

command the second component to convert the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into the pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and

command the first component to stop conversion of the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into the operational voltage.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a charging interface unit configured to perform battery charging between a donor battery-powered device and a receiver battery-powered device, the charging interface unit comprising an auxiliary power device port configured to receive a DC power unit comprising a rechargeable battery and a load to power the charging interface unit;

wherein the DC power unit is configured to be received within and receive a charge from a recharging component included in a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device when removed from the auxiliary power device port of the charging interface unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device are vehicles.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the load of the DC power unit includes an illumination device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the interface unit includes:

a first connector configured to electrically connect to the donor battery-powered vehicle;

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the receiver battery-powered vehicle; and

DC-to-DC circuit components configured to connect to the first and second connectors and the DC power unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the DC-to-DC circuit components include:

a controller;

a donor communication device being configured to communicate with the donor battery-powered vehicle via the first connector; and

a receiver communication device being configured to communicate with the receiver battery-powered vehicle via the second connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the interface unit includes:

a first component configured to convert a voltage supplied by the DC power unit into an operational voltage for the controller, the donor communication device and the receiver communication device; and

a second component configured to convert the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into a pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and the controller is configured to:

receive a pre-charge signal from a vehicle chosen from the donor battery-powered vehicle and the receiver battery-powered vehicle via the communication devices; and

in response to receiving the pre-charge signal:

command the second component to convert the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into the pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and

command the first component to stop conversion of the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into the operational voltage.

14. A method comprising:

removing a multi-function DC power device comprising a rechargeable battery and a load from a recharging component included in a device chosen from a donor vehicle and a recipient load device;

inserting the multi-function DC power device into an auxiliary power device port of a vehicle-to-load recharging unit;

connecting the vehicle-to-load recharging unit to the donor vehicle and the recipient load device;

converting voltage from of the multi-function DC power device to an operational voltage; and

supplying the operational voltage to a controller of the vehicle-to-load recharging unit.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

in response to receiving a predefined event:

converting the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power device into a pre-charge value;

pre-charging the DC-to-DC electronics using the pre-charge voltage; and

stop supplying the operational voltage to the controller.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving an instruction from a device chosen from the donor vehicle and the recipient load device, the instruction includes instructions to discontinue pre-charging and begin active charging.