LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT LIGHTING DEVICE, LIGHT-EMITTING MODULE, ILLUMINATING APPARATUS, AND LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT LIGHTING METHOD

摘要

A light-emitting element lighting device includes: a step-down chopper circuit which outputs current to a light-emitting element; a current command circuit which selects between (i) light-emission mode for causing a light-emission current larger than a constant rated current, which flows to the light-emitting element when continuous light-emission is caused, to flow and (ii) detection mode for causing an abnormality detection current smaller than the rated current, to flow for detecting a light-emitting element abnormality; a voltage detection circuit which detects a both-end voltage of the light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the step-down chopper circuit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the both-end voltage detected by the voltage detection unit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at a time when the light-emitting element is turned ON.

主权项

1. A light-emitting element lighting device which turns ON a light-emitting element, the light-emitting element lighting device comprising:
a current generation unit configured to output a current that flows to the light-emitting element; a mode selection unit configured to select between (i) a light-emission mode for causing a light-emission current, which is larger than a rated current, to flow and (ii) a detection mode for causing an abnormality detection current, which is smaller than the rated current, to flow for detecting an abnormality in the light-emitting element, the rated current being a constant current that is caused to flow to the light-emitting element when the light-emitting element is caused to emit light continuously; a voltage detection unit configured to detect a both-end voltage of the light-emitting element; and a current control unit configured to cause the current generation unit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the both-end voltage detected by the voltage detection unit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at a time when the light-emitting element is turned ON.