To my knowledge (and I could be wrong, but I'm probably not), there are only two methods of DC voltage regulation used in ecigs: linear and switched.
Linear regulators require an input voltage higher than the output, are pretty inefficient, and are for the most part no longer used. Examples of linear regulated mods are Notcigs' IPro and BuzzPro, and VariCool box mods. They just use a resistance circuit to reduce the voltage and bleed it off as heat.
Switched regulators are used in almost all VV/VW PVs (from the top-end units right down to eGo and little Joye 510 cig-alikes) because of their efficiency. They can be buck-boost (reducing or increasing voltage) or boost-only (no voltage lower than the battery's input). The output from all switched regulators is a pulse train signal (PWM). The pulses can be filtered or of such a high frequency that there is very little noticeable variation of the output voltage during use, but the output is still being generated by switching the current on and off. But, regardless of the smoothness of their output signal, they are still PWM.
I know there is one or more VW mods using an AC output from an inverter instead of a DC regulator, but I don't know anything about it or them.
I wondered about that. I asked PBusardo about the Provari and he said it has the cleanest signal frequency of any Mod around. If you look at it on the oscilloscope it is perfectly straight no small vibrations at all. Thats the one thing I like about his reviews he shows you everything.