Comparative evaluation of buck and switched-capacitor hybrid buck DC-DC converters

For a higher step down ratio hybrid structures of buck DC-DC converters (HBDC), using switched-capacitors or switched-inductors, were presented in the literature. A comparative study of a switched-capacitor HBDC and classical buck DC-DC converters (BDC), in order to have a practical guide needed to a correct choice of these structures for various applications, is the object of this paper. Analytical aspects and digital simulations, validated through experimental results obtained from a laboratory prototype, are presented for this purpose.