A buck-boost converter comprising: an inductance having a first and a second connection; an electronic switch A configured to cause the first connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to an input voltage source; an electronic switch B configured to cause the first connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a ground; an electronic switch C configured to cause the second connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a ground; an electronic switch D configured to cause the second connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a load output; a capacitance configured to filter the load output; and a switch controller configured to cause switch A, B, C, and D to be open when, respectively, switch B, A, D, and C is closed and to cause switches A, B, C, and/or D to cyclically close based on a control signal such that switches A and D are closed during an interval of each cycle that is modulated by the controller to regulate the voltage at the output, characterized in that the switch controller is configured to cause switches A, B, C, and D to cyclically close in accordance with the following patterns: during a buck mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and D are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches B and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle; and during a boost mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and C are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches A and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle. an inductance having a first and a second connection; an electronic switch A configured to cause the first connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to an input voltage source; an electronic switch B configured to cause the first connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a ground; an electronic switch C configured to cause the second connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a ground; an electronic switch D configured to cause the second connection to the inductance to be controllably coupled to a load output; a capacitance configured to filter the load output; and a switch controller configured to cause switch A, B, C, and D to be open when, respectively, switch B, A, D, and C is closed and to cause switches A, B, C, and/or D to cyclically close based on a control signal such that switches A and D are closed during an interval of each cycle that is modulated by the controller to regulate the voltage at the output, characterized in that the switch controller is configured to cause switches A, B, C, and D to cyclically close in accordance with the following patterns: during a buck mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and D are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches B and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle; and during a boost mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and C are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches A and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle. during a buck mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and D are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches B and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle; and switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and D are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches B and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle; and during a boost mode of operation: switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and C are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches A and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle. switches B and C are closed during one fixed-duration interval of the cycle; switches A and C are closed during another interval of the cycle; and switches A and D are closed during a still further interval of the cycle.