Patent ID: 8299738

Claim:
A multi-tasking power processor ( 104 ) for a vehicle electric system ( 100 ), comprising: a low voltage direct current bus connection ( 201 ); a high voltage direct current bus connection ( 202 ); a motor interface ( 203 ); and converter circuitry ( 200 ) selectively configurable as a direct current boost converter and a direct current buck converter between the low voltage direct current bus connection ( 201 ) and the high voltage direct current bus connection ( 202 ), and further configurable as a motor drive between the motor interface ( 203 ) and the high voltage direct current bus interface ( 202 ); wherein the converter circuitry ( 200 ) further comprises motor interface contactors (K 1 ) and low voltage direct current bus connection contactors (K 2 , K 3 ) selectively configurable to electrically connect and disconnect the motor interface ( 203 ) and the low voltage direct current bus connection ( 201 ) to the converter circuitry ( 200 ); wherein the converter circuitry ( 200 ) further comprises a plurality of switches ( 205 ) disposed between a high side ( 206 ) and a low side ( 208 ) of the high voltage direct current bus connection ( 202 ) to control current flow on a plurality of phases ( 210 , 212 , 214 ), and further wherein the plurality of phases ( 210 , 212 , 214 ) are electrically connected to the motor interface contactors (K 1 ); and wherein the plurality of switches ( 205 ) provide a variable voltage and variable frequency on the plurality of phases ( 210 , 212 , 214 ) when the converter circuitry ( 200 ) is selectively configured as the motor drive.