[SOLVED] Etymology of “Buck” in “Buck converter”

[bobsun]

Hi,

Does anyone have idea of the etymology of “Buck” in “Buck converter”?

Buck converter simply means switched-mode step-down converter, according to Buck converter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. But how did the word “buck” acquire this sense?

“buck”:

1. Male deer
2. Jump as a buck
3. Cheer up
4. of the lowest grade within a military category <a buck private>

Except for (4), none seems to suggesting the meaning of “step-down”.

Does anyone know the story?



Bob

 

[jpanhalt]

One meaning of "buck" is to oppose, as in to buck a trend or to buck traffic. (See #2 here: **broken link removed**). Thus, a buck converter would be one that opposed or did the opposite of a boost converter. I suspect the terms evolved together. Besides, they make a catchy phrase with the iteration of the beginning sound.

BTW, cutting up a felled tree into smaller logs is called bucking (Log bucking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). The inventor of the term may have been thinking of that use too, but it is an uncommon use of the word compared to its use to mean oppose -- unless you are a logger.

John

 

[Orson Cart]

Indeed the inductor bucks or opposes the voltage when the switch is on - Regards, Orson Cart.

 

[bobsun]

jpanhalt and Orson,

I will note this down. Thanks for the explanation.

Bob