Introduction to switching voltage regulators?

[Spike101]

Hi,

In my recent projects i often had to use voltage regulators that can output some higher current, and most of the time i just used what the TI Webench spit out. But I'd really like to know how these things actually work, so i can design the circuits by myself or at least know what's going on if something doesn't work as expected.
I know the basic principle of buck regulators, but the more complex switching regulators need a high-side and a low-side mosfet. The recent one i used has a CBOOT pin which is a "High side bootstrap connection". I don't even know what that means.. Also it's possible to select the switching frequency, synchronize them up etc..

Can you recommend some resources where I can learn more about the features and working principle of more advanced switching regulators (something a bit more beginner-friendly than the actual datasheet...)?

[EEVblog]

Try this video to see just how similar switchmode and linear regulators are:

[Spike101]

Thanks, great video.
But why do some switchmode regulator ICs require two external mosfets (high-side and low-side) instead of one transistor? Just for efficiency? Or does it have better characteristics for the output voltage?

[CoolBeer]

The ones with high and low side mosfets use the low side one to replace the diode for better efficiency. It's a bit more complex to drive though.

[Spike101]

The ones with high and low side mosfets use the low side one to replace the diode for better efficiency. It's a bit more complex to drive though.

Ah i see - Thanks, it starts to make some sense...