Driving a Diode laser with an Analog Signal

[SeaJay]

I was wondering if anyone had experience driving a laser diode with a modulated intensity.

For a side project I am toying with, I want to modulate an audio signal onto the intensity of a red laser say [something like this](https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/3215790.pdf)

I imagine I can use a linear voltage regulator to get the voltage right for this application, but I am a little stuck on how to vary the current.

I imagine there is a method of making an OpAmp do this, but I don't have a whole lot of experience with the electronics side of things. So I was hoping others here might be able to point me in the right direction

Cheers!

 

[SeaJay]

Ths link didn't get formatted correctly. But it is a pretty standard 3 pin, 635nm 7mW diode laser

 

[Anthony P]

"The Laser Cookbook" by Gordon McComb has several methods in great detail.

 

[SeaJay]

"The Laser Cookbook" by Gordon McComb has several methods in great detail.

Brilliant, chapter 13 describes the thing i am trying to do exactly!

In case any future readers stumble across the thread, here is the circuit diagram the book suggests. (since there is nothing worse when googling than finding a thread describing your problem, shortly followed by a "I fixed it" and no answer)