UNIVERSAL BUCK CONVERTER

The invention relates to a buck converter comprising an input for receiving an input voltage, an output node for providing an output voltage to a load, a rectifier circuit coupled to the input, a first switch coupled between a first output of the rectifier circuit and a switching node, a second switch coupled between the switching node and a second output of the rectifier circuit, an inductor coupled between the switching node and the output, a first capacitor coupled between the first output of the rectifier and the output, a second capacitor coupled between the output and the second output of the rectifier and a controller. The controller controls the first switch and the second switch and arranged to operate the buck converter in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode an output connection is formed between the output node and the second output of the rectifier circuit, the first switch is arranged to operate as a buck converter switch, the second switch is arranged to operate as a synchronous freewheel switch. In the second mode an output connection is formed between the first output of the rectifier circuit and the output node, the first switch is arranged to operate as the synchronous freewheel switch, the second switch is arranged to operate as a buck converter switch and wherein the controller is arranged to receive a mode control signal for operating the buck converter in the first mode or the second mode.