Analog and electronic circuits

Compared with a linear regulator (such as an LDO), which is a characteristic of a switching regulator?

  1. ALower efficiency but very low noise
  2. BIt outputs AC
  3. CHigh power-conversion efficiency, but switching tends to produce noise
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Answer: C. High power-conversion efficiency, but switching tends to produce noise

A switching regulator rapidly turns transistors on and off and transfers energy through inductors and capacitors, so it achieves high efficiency even with a large input-output voltage difference. However, it tends to produce ripple and noise from switching, so noise-sensitive circuits sometimes combine it with a linear regulator.

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