Buck converter support and training
Everything you need to know about buck converters in one location
Whether you are looking to learn what a buck converter is, or looking to optimize a current design, our buck (step-down) converter support and training resources are your go to resource. Included here are application notes, white papers, training videos, blogs, and much more.
Featured material
The essential collection of DC/DC buck switching regulator tech documentation
TI’s diverse portfolio of DC/DC buck switching regulators provides best-in-class power solutions for any application. The family of products spans power modules, converters, and controllers.
Buck converter curriculum
The following sections provide an introduction to both the fundamental functional concepts of the step-down converter as well as critical design considerations to be made when selecting a device for your system. Each topic includes a mix of training videos and technical documentation intended to provide a good understanding of each subject.
Fundamentals
| Title | |
|---|---|
| What is a switching regulator? | Learn the basics of a switching regulator - how it works, what components are needed, and advantages and disadvantages. |
| Intro to the concept of buck converter control | The control system is the brains of the converter. In this video, learn how the converter control network helps to maintain a stable, regulated output voltage. |
| What is a buck? | An overview of the basic principles and components of a buck regulator. |
| What is the difference between converters and controllers? | Learn about the differences between converters and controllers, and how to determine which one is right for your design. |
Control architectures
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Overview of buck converter control modes | An introduction to some of the basic components of buck converter construction and the major control modes. |
| Current Mode vs. Emulated Current Mode | A thorough discussion of both the current mode and emulated current mode control architectures. |
| Multi-phase control | A discussion of multi-phase architectures used to achieve higher levels of output current. |
| Voltage mode control | Learn everything you need to know about the voltage mode control architecture. |
| Hysteretic control | Watch and learn the advantages and disadvantages of the hysteretic control mode |
| DCAP control vs. fixed-frequency control modes | In-depth comparison of voltage mode, current mode control vs DCAP2 and DCAP3 control modes for step down DC/DC converters. |
| Control mode quick reference guide | An overview of various control modes for non-isolated DC/DC step-down controllers and converters and the advantages of each. |
| Buck converter control modes training video | An overview of the twelve types of control architectures |
| Designing with TI's series capacitor buck converter | Learn the features and benefits of TI's new DC/DC power topology, the series capacitor buck converter, and get started using it in your space-constrained design. |
Common device features
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| PMBus | Learn how a buck converter with PMBus can enhance performance in your design. |
| BOOT capacitor | Certain applications require that output voltage regulation be maintained shen the input voltage is only slightly higher than the output voltage. For a buck converter, these low headroom operating conditions require high duty cycle operation that may approach 100%. |
| How to control turn on/off thresholds in voltage regulators | When using a voltage regulator, it often happens that the converter will attempt to regulate the output even before the voltage on its input has reached the acceptable design level. As a result, in this condition, the converter will demand more current from the power supply, potentially current-limiting the power source. |
| Understanding ECO-MODE™ operation | Learn how to reduce switching losses and increase efficiency at low output current with Eco-Mode operation. |
Applications
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Generate a negative output voltage | Watch as Anston discusses how to transform the LM4360x and LM4600x synchronous buck converters into inverters for applications that require a negative input voltage.. |
| Adding hysteresis to a buck converter | Use the calculator to add Enable hystersis to your buck converter design |
Maximizing performance
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Increasing power density | Learn how to manage buck converter heat dissipation, even as power levels rise and power supply PCB area shrinks |
| Addressing EMI | Everything you need to know about achieving low noise and low EMI performance with DC/DC switching regulators |
| Increase light load efficiency with lower quiescent current | In this training, we discusses how to achieve high light load efficiency with a DC/DC converter via pulse frequency modulation. Further, discover the key device parameters to keep output voltage ripple low and ensure a seamless transition between PFM (pulse frequency modulation) and PWM (pulse width modulation) modes. |
| Common mistakes in DC/DC converters and how to fix them | Address these common mistakes in buck converter design to improve power supply performance. |
Packaging
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Wettable flanks for automotive | Make automatic optical inspection easy thanks to packages with wettable flanks. |
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