• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 1 reply
  • Subscribers 63 subscribers
  • Views 343 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

Linear vs Switching DC regulators

Chanh Nguyen1
Intellectual 290 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS62230, TPS82740A

As we've all known, there are two well-known types of DC regulator, consisting of: Linear and Switching. The later is more power dissipation-saving but takes more time for calculation, while the former wastes more power on it but easier to construct an actual one.

Hope you can tell me more significant points when considering between these two kinds of regulators so as to suit our application. For example, with application running in super high speed, Switching type might not be suited for.

  • 0
    TI__Guru**** 150820 points

    As they are completely different topologies, there are numerous differences.  Size, cost, efficiency, noise, BOM count, etc.  Which type to use is entirely application dependent.  

    I would disagree that an SMPS requires more calculation.  The TPS62xxx (TPS62230, for example) family requires essentially 0 calculations.  The TPS82xxx (TPS82740A, for example) family requires literally 0 calculations.  With an LDO, you should always do a power and temperature rise calculation to make sure the design is robust.

    Here's a paper I wrote comparing them: 8015.Switcher_LDO_MCU.pdf