LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT DRIVE APPARATUS, PLANAR ILLUMINATION APPARATUS, AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY APPARATUS

摘要

A light emitting element drive apparatus that drives light emitting elements reduces power loss caused by variability between forward voltage drops of the light emitting elements. A plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) generate application voltages based on a detection voltage determined based on a maximum forward voltage drop among the forward voltage drops of the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14), and apply the generated application voltages to the light emitting elements (11 to 14). Switching sections (30 and 31) switch between a plurality of voltage applying sections (1, 32 and 33; and 2, 34 and 35) to which the light emitting element arrays (11 to 14) individually connect. Controlling sections (40 to 42) control the switching sections (30 and 31) to switch connection to minimize the difference between forward voltage drops of light emitting element arrays (11 to 14).