What is the main purpose of a buck converter in power supply applications?

The main purpose of a buck converter is to step down voltage by switching the input voltage on and off. This is achieved through a process known as pulse-width modulation (PWM), where the converter switches a transistor on and off at a high frequency to control the amount of energy delivered to the load. By adjusting the duty cycle (the ratio of the on-time to the total time of the cycle), the output voltage can be effectively lowered to the desired level while maintaining high efficiency.

Buck converters are widely used in various applications where lower voltages are needed from a higher voltage power source, such as in battery-powered devices, where efficiency and power management are critical. Their ability to provide a lower voltage output with minimal losses is what makes them essential in modern power supply designs.