Synchronous Buck Converter

Step down converters, also referred to as Buck converters, are used in a variety of applications, including management of power and voltage regulator modules (VRMs), to reduce the DC input voltage. A MOSFET, which offers a low resistance route, is used in place of the free-wheeling diode in a Synchronous Buck converter to lower the conduction losses. But this makes the gate drive circuitry more complicated. This work designs a synchronous buck converter, investigates how it works, and assesses how well it performs in terms of efficiency increase when compared to a typical buck converter that operates at a high switching frequency of 200 kHz. Both synchronous and conventional buck converters can generate up to 1A of current and are made to provide a 5V DC output from a 12V DC supply. The circuit is simulated using Matlab/Simulink. The outcomes of the simulation and the real-world circuits are evaluated and contrasted.