Using Pulse-Width Modulation to Improve the Efficiency of a Power-over-Fiber System

The problem of low efficiency of power supply systems with energy transmission over optical fiber (Power-over-Fiber, PoF), belonging to the class of optoelectronic devices and systems, is investigated. It is shown that a significant decrease in efficiency occurs in the dynamic mode of operation under varying complex load. To solve this problem, a method based on the use of pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the laser diode pump current is proposed. This method allows maintaining high efficiency of the key system components even when operating at low average power levels. Computer simulation of the system was carried out in the MATLAB Simulink environment using digital twins. It is shown that the transition to the pulsed mode increases the system efficiency by 1–6% in the average optical power range of 0.75–15 W compared to the continuous mode, leveling its value to 12–14% over the entire operating range. The proposed method improves the efficiency and reliability of advanced optoelectronic systems for remote sensing, monitoring, and power supply in challenging electromagnetic and temperature conditions.