Patent ID: 7224336

Claim:
A display device drive unit, comprising: driving voltage output means configured to generate a display device driving voltage for driving a display device and operable in accordance with (i) a master mode for outputting the display device driving voltage to outside, and (ii) a slave mode for driving the display device based on the display device driving voltage that has been inputted from the outside; mode storage means, being rewritable, and configured to store mode information that indicates whether the driving voltage output means is set to be in the master mode or the slave mode, wherein the driving voltage output means outputs the display device driving voltage when mode information indicative of the master mode is stored in the mode storage means, and stops outputting the display device driving voltage when mode information indicative of the slave mode is stored in the mode storage means: an external power source for providing the display device driving voltage; a feeder for connecting the output sections of the plurality of driving voltage output means to each other; and switching means arranged between the feeder and the external power source and configured to selectively connect the driving voltage output means in the slave mode to the driving voltage output means in the master mode or to the external power source, wherein a plurality of said driving voltage output means have output sections for outputting the display device driving voltage, and each of the output sections are connected to each other so that the display device driving voltage outputted from one of the driving voltage output means is usable in other driving voltage output means.