The type of power supply regulator can have a significant impact on the complexity, cost, and performance of the power supply circuit. A power supply regulator must provide adequate power to the GTM transceiver with a minimum amount of noise while meeting the overall system thermal and efficiency requirements. There are two major types of power supply voltage regulators available for regulating the GTM transceiver analog voltage rails, linear regulators, and switching regulators. Each of these types of regulators has advantages and disadvantages. The optimal choice of regulator type depends on system requirements such as:
- Physical size
- Thermal budget
- Power efficiency
- Cost