ABSTRACT
In the modern world of electronics, there are three different basic approaches available for DC-to-DC conversion. These are the linear approach, the switching approach, and the charge pump approach. In a practical system, one can mix these three techniques to provide a complex but elegant, overall solution with energy efficiency, effective silicon or PCB area, and noise and transient performance to suit different parts of an electronic system. Switch-mode DC-DC converters, which is a very mature approach to the DC power supply requirements of energy-efficient, compact, and portable systems, was developed mostly around a few fundamental transformer-less topologies such as buck (step-down), boost (step-up), and buck-boost (inverting type), and their transformer-isolated derivatives such as the forward-mode converter, flyback converter, etc. These mature techniques utilize controller chips from various power IC manufacturers, and they have proliferated in most consumer electronic families.
