In the past, inefficient linear regulators were used for their cost and ease of design advantages. However, switching converters are increasingly displacing linear regulators as their cost decreases, current requirements rise and energy efficiency requirements intensify. A power module combines the efficiency and power handling capability of a switching converter with the design ease similar to a linear regulator. By integrating the DC/DC controller(s), power switches, a modest amount of input and output bypass capacitance, compensation circuitry and in most cases the power inductor(s) within a single package, a complex power solution becomes simple again. Linear Technology addresses this growing market with their µModule® (LTM) product family.