A switching regulator is a circuit that uses an inductor, a tranformer, and a capacitor as energy-storage element to tranfer energy from input to output in discrete packets. Feedback circuitry regulates the energy tranfer to maintain a canstant voltage within the load limits of the circuit.
They use some form of pulse-width modulation to alter the on time relative to the off time to effect control. The device used in this to giveen the constraints of frequency and the speed are power ?fets?
The use of power ?fets? with fast turn-on and turn-off characteristics have made switches that operate comfortable at frequency above 100khz practical.
There are two topologies are used
- Forward converters
- Flyback circuits.
Flybacks are favored for low power applications because they employ a transformer that doubles as the input choke
Using a transformer as the energy-storage element also allows output voltage to be electrically isolated from the input voltage.