LASER diode driver circuit

Question

I have some problems on understanding how this circuit works. Its aim is that of:

• bias correctly the LASER diode at left
• send a signal (DATA) to the LASER diode
• stabilize the working point of the LASER diode through the feedback system at right

My doubt is about the feedback system at right. I'd say that it will be useful if:

• when the light power is too high, the photodetector makes the bias current of the LASER reduce;
• when the light power is too low, the photodetector makes the bias current of the LASER increase;

But this schematic confuses me (also because GND and VCC have are taken in a different way). Suppose the light emitted power is too high: the photodetector (a photodiode, I suppose) is flown by a higher current from GND to -5.2V. What does this current cause to the operational amplifier? It is an inverting op amp but I do not know how it works in this case, since I do not know if the current provided by the photodetector goes towards the amplifier output through the feedback, or if it goes towards the resistor where it is written VDC.

Answer 1

The pot labeled Vdc and the photodiode both supply variable amounts of current to the negative node of the op amp. As such, the output must respond by going lower in order to compensate. As long as the op amp is within its operating range, the output will do what is needed to keep the negative input at the same voltage as the positive input: -5.2V.

When the op amp output goes lower, the LED current is decreased due to the reduced voltage drop across Rb.

Answer 2

This circuit can't work :

If you take the sign-convention that currents entering the - input of the AOP are "positive", then the currents coming from the photodiode and from Vdc are both positive,

This implies that the output of the AOP try to be more negative than -5.2V.

If the negative power supply of the AOP is -5.2V then the transistor (the one at its output) is blocked.

If the negative power supply of the AOP is -15.V then the transistor is dead (inverse Vbe max not respected).