Bi-directional inverter control for high voltage charge/discharge for automobiles

A charging system for a battery of a vehicle, comprising:

• an electrical interface module that includes first and second electrical interfaces;
• and
• an inverter module that communicates with the electrical interface module and the battery and that has a first state and a second state,
• wherein the inverter module is in the first state and allows the battery to be charged through the first electrical interface based on a determination that a voltage source is connected to the first electrical interface, the vehicle is off, and a charge level of the battery is less than a threshold, and wherein the inverter module is in the second state and allows the battery to provide power to the second electrical interface based on a determination that at least one of a voltage source is not connected to the first electrical interface, the vehicle is on, and the charge level of the battery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

A charging system for a battery of a vehicle, comprising:

• an AC electrical outlet that includes an inlet connection and an outlet connection;
• a battery management module that determines a charge level of the battery;
• a vehicle status module that determines whether the vehicle is on or off;
• and
• an inverter module that communicates with the AC electrical outlet, the battery management module, the vehicle status module, and the battery, and that has a first state and a second state,
• wherein the inverter module is in the first state and allows the battery to be charged through the inlet connection based on a determination that a voltage source is connected to the first inlet connection, the vehicle is off, and a charge level of the battery is less than a threshold, and wherein the inverter module is in the second state and allows the battery to provide power to the outlet connection based on a determination that at least one of a voltage source is not connected to the inlet connection, the vehicle is on, and the charge level of the battery is greater than or equal to the threshold.

A method for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprising:

• determining whether a voltage source is connected to an inlet connection of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is off;
• determining whether a charge level of the battery is less than a threshold;
• switching an inverter module from a first state to a second state based on a determination that the voltage source is connected to the inlet connection, the vehicle is off, and the charge level of the battery is less than the threshold;
• receiving a first voltage signal from the inlet connection while in the second state;
• converting the first voltage signal to a second voltage signal for charging the battery while in the second state;
• and
• charging the battery while in the second state.