FURI | Spring 2025

Wired Communication in Optically Isolated System Gate Driving

The research team is developing “Series Input Parallel Output” power converters with high isolation voltage requirements between their inputs and outputs. A challenge that has not yet been tackled is communication between each module. Assuming control signals come from a central “brain,” this research project aims to understand how to use fiber optic modules to establish isolated communication with the switches on the secondary side of the power converter and build a demo board to test this understanding. Depending on its efficiency in signal transmission over wireless signals, this approach will improve control communication in Photovoltaic strings and electric vehicles.