Patent ID: 7973877

Claim:
An illumination device comprising: a plurality of light emitting element arrays, each light emitting element array in which a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light with an application of a voltage are connected in series; a plurality of current bypass elements that are individually connected in parallel to the light emitting elements of the light emitting element array and that are changed from a disconnected state where no current flows to a connected state where current flows when a predetermined voltage higher than that applied to the light emitting elements in an lighting state is applied thereto; a power source unit that is connected to the light emitting element array in series and that applies a voltage to the light emitting elements; and a plurality of terminal units for voltage detection connected to a connection path extending from a power source unit to a ground portion through the light emitting elements, wherein each terminal unit includes: a terminal body; and a switching element having a control terminal, the switching element being connected between the connection path extending from the power source unit to the ground portion through the light emitting elements and the terminal body, and being completely switched between the disconnected state and the connected state in accordance with a control signal applied to the control terminal, wherein the terminal bodies of the terminal units connected to different light emitting element arrays are connected to each other.