DC-DC Converter Tutorial from Maxim/Dallas – Switching power supplies: Buck, Boost Converters, Inverter, Flyback. (Application note).
Switching power supplies are now even more popular than traditional linear power supplies, generally because they can offer higher efficiency than traditional linear power supplies. They can step-up, stepdown, and invert. Some designs can isolate output voltage from the input. The AN2031 application note from Maxim/Dallas outlines the different types of switching regulators used in DC-DC conversion. It also reviews and compares the various control techniques for these converters.
This app note explains basic DC/DC topologies:
- Buck converter topology
- Boost converter
- Inverting topology
- Transformer flyback topology
Beacause traditional linear regulators are now less and less popular, it is good to learn basic swithing power supply theory, and how to use DC/DC converters in our designs. More information in the AN2031 application note.