Switching power supply classifics many many types, and power converter is one of the switching power supply. but power converter doesn’t means the switching power supply, So what is the difference between switching power supply and power converter?This article will analyse the question through the definition, use, composition, principles, etc.
# 1 Definition
A switched-mode power supply (switching-mode power supply, switch-mode power supply, switched power supply, SMPS, or switcher) is an electronic power supply that incorporates a switching regulator to convert electrical power efficiently. Like other power supplies, an SMPS transfers power from a DC or AC source (often mains power) to DC loads, such as a personal computer, while convertingvoltage and current characteristics. In simple, the switching power supply is defined with respect to the linear power supply, and its interior is working with Dozens of K to a few trillion of frequency.
power converter has defines the length,width and height of the power module in order to replace or instead and convenience usage, the pin size and distance also have the international standard regulation measure, for the internal principle, the structure is not defined much, such as four port network learned from our school books.
# 2 Usage and composition
What is the difference in usage:
Power converter, output voltage, remote control circuit, input protection circuit.
Switching power supply, control switch opening and closing time ratio, to maintain a stable output voltage .
What is the difference in composition:
Switching power supply: composed of pulse width modulation (PWM) control IC and MOSFET.
Power converter: made up of the power module, and connect with a small amount of discrete components.
# 3 Working principle
Power converter can be mounted directly on a printed circuit PCB board. It is characterized by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a memory, a field programmable gate array FPGA and other digital or analog loads. In reality, this module is named point-of-load (POL) power supply system or a point-of-use power supply system (PUPS). As the advantages of power modular structure, the module power is widely used in switching equipment, access equipment, mobile communications, microwave communications and optical transmission, routers and other communications and automotive electronics, aerospace and so on.
Switching power supply use modern power electronics technology to control the switch time ratio on and off, to maintain a stable output voltage. Switching power supply products are widely used in industrial automation and control, military equipment, scientific research equipment, LED lighting, industrial equipment, communications equipment, electrical equipment, instrumentation, medical equipment, semiconductor refrigeration and other fields.