A DC-DC converter having conversion efficiency that is not lowered by
input voltage change. A mode control circuit of the DC-DC converter
monitors the input voltage, output voltage generated from the input
voltage, and output current. The output current changes in accordance
with the output voltage. Based on the input voltage, output voltage, and
consumption current of a controller of the DC-DC converter, the mode
control circuit generates a signal that is in accordance with load
current in which efficiency of a switching regulator and efficiency of a
linear regulator are substantially the same. The mode control circuit
further compares a signal corresponding to the output current and the
signal that is in accordance with the load current to generate a mode
control signal. The controller operates the DC-DC converter as the
switching regulator or the linear regulator in accordance with the mode
control signal.