Author(s): Lukas Schneider and Marie Lefèvre

Abstract: Power efficiency is a critical design constraint in embedded systems where limited energy availability directly affects performance, reliability, and operational lifetime. DC-DC converters, particularly buck and boost topologies, are widely used to regulate voltage levels for microcontrollers, sensors, and wireless modules. This research presents a comparative analysis of power efficiency in buck and boost converters under varying load conditions and input voltages relevant to embedded applications. Key efficiency metrics, including conversion efficiency, ripple characteristics, switching losses, and thermal behavior, are evaluated using analytical modeling and simulation-based assessment. The analysis highlights how duty cycle variation, component selection, and switching frequency influence energy conversion efficiency across operating regions. Results demonstrate that buck converters exhibit superior efficiency during step-down operation at moderate to high load currents, while boost converters show increased losses under high conversion ratios due to inductor current stress and diode conduction losses. The research further examines the impact of synchronous versus asynchronous rectification on efficiency improvement. Practical design considerations such as trade-offs between efficiency, size, cost, and electromagnetic interference are discussed to guide converter selection in resource-constrained systems. By providing a structured efficiency comparison grounded in realistic operating conditions, this work supports informed power management decisions for embedded system designers. The findings contribute to optimizing battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications by aligning converter topology with load profiles and system requirements, thereby extending device lifespan and enhancing overall system sustainability. Furthermore, the abstract emphasizes methodological transparency, reproducibility, and applicability to low-power design workflows commonly adopted in academic and industrial development, ensuring that the conclusions remain transferable across different semiconductor processes, controller architectures, and deployment environments. These insights collectively assist designers in selecting efficient topologies while balancing regulation accuracy, dynamic response, and long-term reliability in compact embedded platforms. Overall, the research reinforces efficiency-centered power conversion as a cornerstone of embedded system design practice.

DOI: 10.33545/27075923.2026.v7.i1a.117

Pages: 01-05 | Views: 109 | Downloads: 64

Download Full Article: Click Here