Apparatus for driving light emitting element

1. An apparatus for driving a light emitting element, the apparatus comprising:

a power unit supplying driving power;

a light emitting element array comprising a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series between an anode terminal connected to the power unit and a cathode terminal;

a constant-current circuit unit maintaining a constant current flowing through the light emitting element array according to a first tuning voltage; and

a voltage limiting circuit unit connected between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and the constant-current circuit unit, and dividing a total voltage applied between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and a ground according to a second tuning voltage to limit a voltage applied to the constant-current circuit unit below a predetermined voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the constant-current circuit unit comprises:

a first metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor comprising a drain connected to a connection node between the voltage limiting circuit unit and the constant-current circuit unit, a gate connected to a first tuning voltage terminal, and a source;

a sensing resistor connected between the source of the first MOS transistor and the ground, and sensing a current flowing through the first MOS transistor to output a first detection voltage; and

a comparator comparing the first detection voltage with a predetermined first reference voltage to supply the first tuning voltage to the first MOS transistor according to a difference between the first detection voltage and the first reference voltage, thereby maintaining the constant current flowing through the light emitting element array.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises a second MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises:

a second MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal; and

a voltage dividing resistor connected between the drain and the source of the second MOS transistor.

5. An apparatus for driving a light emitting element, the apparatus comprising:

a power unit supplying driving power;

a light emitting element array comprising a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series between an anode terminal connected to the power unit and a cathode terminal;

a constant-current circuit unit maintaining a constant current flowing through the light emitting element array according to a first tuning voltage;

a voltage limiting circuit unit connected between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and the constant-current circuit unit, and dividing a total voltage applied between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and a ground according to a second tuning voltage to limit a voltage applied to the constant-current circuit unit; and

a voltage division controller detecting a first voltage applied to the constant-current circuit unit and supplying the second tuning voltage to the voltage limiting circuit unit according to a magnitude of the first voltage to control a magnitude of a divided voltage applied to the voltage limiting circuit unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the constant-current circuit unit comprises:

a first metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor comprising a drain connected to a connection node between the voltage limiting circuit unit and the constant-current circuit unit, a gate connected to a first tuning voltage terminal, and a source;

a sensing resistor connected between the source of the first MOS transistor and the ground and sensing a current flowing through the first MOS transistor to output a first detection voltage; and

a comparator comparing the first detection voltage with a predetermined first reference voltage to supply the first tuning voltage to the first MOS transistor according to a difference between the first detection voltage and the first reference voltage to maintain the constant current flowing through the light emitting element array.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises a second MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises:

a second MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal; and

a voltage dividing resistor connected between the drain and the source of the second MOS transistor.

9. An apparatus for driving a light emitting element, the apparatus comprising:

a power unit supplying driving power generated using pulse width modulation (PWM);

a light emitting element array including a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series between an anode terminal connected to the power unit and a cathode terminal;

a constant-current circuit unit maintaining a constant current flowing through the light emitting element array according to a first tuning voltage;

a voltage limiting circuit unit connected between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and the constant-current circuit unit, and dividing a total voltage applied between the cathode terminal of the light emitting element array and a ground according to a second tuning voltage to limit a voltage applied to the constant-current circuit unit;

a voltage division controller detecting a first voltage applied to the constant-current circuit unit and supplying the second tuning voltage to the voltage limiting circuit unit according to a magnitude of the first voltage to control a magnitude of a divided voltage applied to the voltage limiting circuit unit; and

a PWM switching controller switching on/off an output terminal of the constant-current circuit unit and an input terminal of the voltage division controller in synchronization with the driving power generated using the PWM.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the constant-current circuit unit comprises:

a first MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to a current output terminal of the voltage limiting circuit unit, and a gate and a source;

a sensing resistor connected between the source of the first MOS transistor and the ground, and sensing a current flowing through the first MOS transistor to output a first detection voltage; and

a comparator comparing the first detection voltage with a predetermined first reference voltage and supplying the first tuning voltage to the gate of the first MOS transistor according to a difference between the two voltages to maintain a constant current flowing through the light emitting element array.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the PWM switching controller comprises:

a first switch connected between the comparator of the constant-current circuit unit and the first MOS transistor;

a second switch connected to a first voltage detection line of the voltage division controller; and

a PWM controller switching on/off the first switch and the second switch in synchronization with the driving power generated using PWM.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises a second MOS transistor comprising a drain connected to a cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voltage limiting circuit unit comprises:

a second MOS transistor including a drain connected to a cathode terminal of the light emitting element array, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to a second tuning voltage terminal; and

a voltage dividing resistor connected between the drain and the source of the second MOS transistor.