A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) is a type of power supply that uses a switching regulator to efficiently convert electrical energy from one form to another. It is commonly used in electronic devices to convert AC voltage to a lower DC voltage for powering the device.
A switched-mode power supply works by rapidly switching a power transistor on and off, which controls the flow of current to the output. This allows for efficient conversion of electrical energy and also allows for regulation of the output voltage.
Some advantages of using a switched-mode power supply include higher efficiency, smaller size, and lighter weight compared to traditional linear power supplies. They also have better regulation and can handle a wider range of input voltages.
The main difference between a switched-mode power supply and a linear power supply is the method of voltage regulation. Switched-mode power supplies use a switching regulator while linear power supplies use a linear regulator. This results in the differences in efficiency, size, and weight mentioned earlier.
A low pass filter is used in a switched-mode power supply to smooth out the output voltage and reduce any unwanted ripple or noise. It filters out any high frequency components of the output signal, resulting in a cleaner and more stable output voltage.