Question
Which of the following is characteristic of a switchmode power supply as compared to a linear power supply?
Answer Options
- A) Faster switching time makes higher output voltage possible
- B) Fewer circuit components are required
- C) High-frequency operation allows the use of smaller components
- D) Inherently more stable
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
A switchmode power supply (SMPS) operates by rapidly switching voltage on and off at a high frequency (often tens or hundreds of \text{kHz}), rather than regulating voltage linearly. The high-frequency pulsed power is then filtered and regulated.
The main advantage of this design is that the high switching frequency allows the use of smaller components, particularly the power transformer and filter capacitors/inductors. Since the size of these components is inversely proportional to the operating frequency, an SMPS can be made much lighter and more compact than a comparable linear power supply, leading to a much higher power-to-weight ratio.
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