An inductorless switching regulator uses switches and capacitors—usually in a switched-capacitor charge pump—instead of a magnetic inductor to move energy and change voltage. That can save board space and simplify layout, but it does not mean the circuit needs no external parts: many designs still require capacitors, and the right choice depends on the conversion ratio, load current, ripple, efficiency and thermal limits.
How an inductorless switching regulator works
A conventional buck or boost converter stores and transfers energy through an inductor. A charge pump instead uses integrated switches to charge capacitors and then reconnect them in a different arrangement. The switching action transfers energy and produces a higher or lower voltage according to the device’s topology.
Some circuits use a diode-capacitor network to multiply an input voltage. Analog Devices describes a topology that can double, triple or quadruple the input and deliver 2 mA with comparable line and load regulation, though with somewhat reduced efficiency. That low-current example is not a general performance figure for all charge pumps.
What “inductorless” does—and does not—mean
The main component removed is the external magnetic inductor. Capacitors and switching circuitry still do the work, and external capacitors are common. For example, Analog Devices says the MAX682/MAX683/MAX684 5 V regulators need one resistor and three external capacitors; Texas Instruments specifies four external capacitors for a complete TPS60200/TPS60205 converter. MPS says the MP5418 needs no external inductor and is an adjustable negative regulator.
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Removing the inductor can reduce component placement demands and simplify layout. TI characterizes the TPS60200/TPS60205 supply as low-cost and low-EMI because it uses no inductors, while MPS cites reduced space and simpler design for the MP5418. Those are product-specific advantages, not proof that every inductorless design costs less or takes less total board area than every inductor-based alternative.
How the published examples compare
The figures below come from the named manufacturers’ product information in the supplied material. They describe different devices, topologies and operating purposes, so they are not a like-for-like benchmark. The cited material does not provide a common test setup or all electrical conditions for each figure.
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| Device or family | Use or conversion | Published figures | External parts or topology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analog Devices MAX682/MAX683/MAX684 | Regulated 5 V auxiliary supply | 2.7–5.5 V input; family variants rated at 250 mA, 100 mA and 50 mA. MAX682 is rated up to 250 mA. | One resistor and three capacitors; no inductor. |
| Texas Instruments TPS60200/TPS60205 | Battery-powered 3.3 V rail | Up to 100 mA output; up to 90% efficiency and less than 5 mV peak-to-peak ripple stated for the family. | Push-pull charge pump; four external capacitors. |
| Microchip MCP1256 family | Compact 3.3 V battery designs | 1.8–3.6 V input; up to 100 mA output; 20 mV peak-to-peak ripple; 650 kHz switching. | Small ceramic capacitors; integrated protection. |
| Renesas DA9313 | 2-to-1 conversion | 5.0–10.5 V input; 10 A output, or up to 20 A in master/slave mode; above 98% efficiency. Renesas also claims greater than 50 W in less than 10 mm². | Fully integrated switches, no inductor; WLCSP-43 package. |
| MPS MP5418 | Regulated negative rail | 2.3–5 V input; output-current and efficiency figures are not stated in the supplied material. | Adjustable negative regulator; no external inductor. |
These examples show why “inductorless” does not imply a single current class: the listed product ratings range from the 2 mA diode-capacitor example to the DA9313’s published 10 A output, or up to 20 A in master/slave mode. Those values apply only to their respective devices and published conditions; they should not be treated as interchangeable design guarantees.
When a charge pump is a good fit
Consider an inductorless regulator when its available conversion ratio matches the input and output you need, and its rated load range covers your application. A fixed or limited ratio and a space-conscious design can make a charge pump attractive. Before selecting a part, check:
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- Voltage range and ratio: Verify input limits, output voltage and regulation across the full input range and expected load.
- Current and operating mode: Compare continuous and peak load requirements with the device rating. If a master/slave mode is cited, confirm that your design uses that configuration before relying on its higher figure.
- Efficiency and heat: Check the efficiency at the actual input voltage and load, then assess power dissipation and thermal limits. A headline efficiency figure alone does not establish performance throughout the operating range.
- Ripple and switching: Compare ripple specifications and switching frequency with the needs of the powered circuit and any downstream filtering.
- Capacitors and board area: Count and size the required external capacitors, then consider their placement and the regulator package—not just the missing inductor.
- EMI and operating features: Review the manufacturer’s EMI information, shutdown behavior, protection features and any other requirements of the application.
- Availability and lifecycle: Check the manufacturer’s current status and documentation before committing a design; the figures here do not establish availability.
When to compare an inductor-based converter
An inductor-based converter is the safer comparison when the design needs a broad, continuously variable conversion ratio, isolation, or substantially more power than a suitable charge-pump device is rated to supply. The choice is not simply “small versus large”: compare the complete circuit, including its external components, regulation needs, efficiency and thermal behavior. No universal dollar saving for inductorless designs is established by the product information summarized here.
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