Patent ID: 6949892

Claim:
A drive device for driving light emitting elements, comprising: at least one driver having one end connected to a terminal to which one corresponding light emitting element series is connected, said driver turned ON or OFF in accordance with an instruction signal such that, when said driver is turned ON, said driver provides said light emitting element series with a current for emission of light; at least one bypass means, connected in parallel with said at least one driver, for providing said light emitting element series with a current that is insufficient for said light emitting elements thereof to emit light when said driver is turned OFF; wherein said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes; and a control circuit is adapted to: generate said instruction signals; receive at a feedback voltage terminal of said control circuit a detection voltage generated by dividing the output voltage of a power supply circuit supplying a drive voltage to said light emitting elements; and compare said detection voltage with a reference voltage to generate, at a control signal output terminal of said control circuit, said control signal to said power supply circuit based on the comparison of said detection voltage.