Rapid-transition DC-DC converter

A rapid-transition switch-mode direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter for delivering electrical power to a dynamically varying load, comprising:

• a first switch;
• an inductor having a first terminal coupled to said first switch;
• a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of said inductor;
• and
• a second switch connected in series with said capacitor,
• wherein during times the dynamically varying load is active said first switch alternately and repeatedly couples and decouples the first terminal of said inductor to and from an input power supply and said second switch is closed, and wherein immediately upon and as the dynamically varying load is transitioning from an active state to an inactive state said first and second switches are both configured to be maintained in an open position.

A method of rapidly disabling a direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter, comprising:

• converting an DC input voltage to an DC output voltage while supplying power to a load;
• and
• disabling the DC-DC converter to halt power delivery to the load,
• wherein disabling the DC-DC converter includes electrically isolating and preventing current flow through an output capacitor of the DC-DC converter immediately upon and as the DC-DC converter is being disabled.