Light emitting element drive device and electronic device having light emitting element

摘要

An electronic apparatus is equipped with light emitting elements (21-26) such as LEDs. The light emitting elements are driven by a power supply circuit of the drive device (10) at a high step-up voltage (Vh). The drive device (10) has a multiplicity of constant-current drivers (12-14), a selection circuit (18), and a control circuit (11). The drivers are turned ON or OFF in accordance with respective instruction signals (S1-S3) supplied thereto to provide associated series with currents to activate the series for emission of light when associated drivers are turned ON. The selection circuit (18) selects the lowest one of the voltages impressed on the drivers and outputs the selected lowest voltage as a detection voltage. The control circuit (11) automatically controls the voltage Vh so as to equilibrate the detection voltage with a low reference voltage at which the drivers can perform required constant-current operations. Thus, the drive device can fully activate the light emitting elements for emission of light while suppressing energy loss in the drivers.