The heart of the modern electronic power supply is the dc-dc converter. It provides the transitions from one voltage level to multiple other voltage levels. The dc-dc converter is available as an IC that’s the core of your own design, as a module, and as a brick (see "What is a Brick?" at the end of the article). The latter two types eliminate a considerable amount of original design by delivering a product that’s ready to integrate into a larger power supply.
Over the years, the dc-dc converter has become the main component that sets and maintains operational voltages and improves efficiency while increasing power density. This summary update of the venerable devices illustrates how it has changed to meet multiple driving factors.