Comparative Analysis of Modulation Shapes on Laser Diode Performance with a High-Efficiency LLC Resonant Converter Driver

Abstract

High-power laser diodes (LDs) are key components in laser-based wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, where end-to-end efficiency is one of the most critical performance metrics. This study investigates the driving performance of an LD powered by a high-efficiency LLC resonant converter under three distinct excitation waveforms-sinusoidal, triangular, and rectified-sine-using a MATLAB/SIMULINK model and an experimental setup designed to reproduce real-world operating conditions. Each waveform is synthesized through frequency modulation of a full-bridge inverter stage and filtered at the output. The analysis examines the impact of modulation shape on output current ripple, converter efficiency, and overall LD efficiency. Experimental validation confirms the simulation trends, underscoring the trade-offs between waveform smoothness, implementation complexity, and efficiency. Beyond confirming that constant-current operation yields the highest LD efficiency, this study explicitly quantifies how low-frequency current ripple induced by different modulation waveforms propagates through the LLC resonant converter, alters RMS current stress, and translates into measurable efficiency degradation at both the driver and LD levels. By experimentally correlating waveform symmetry, ripple magnitude, and loss mechanisms, the work establishes practical design boundaries for waveform-modulated laser drivers in WPT systems.