LED drive circuit with improved flicker performance, and LED lighting device comprising same

A light emitting diode (LED) lighting device comprising:

• a rectification unit configured to rectify an alternating current (AC) voltage and to output a rectified voltage as a first drive voltage;
• a loop-back compensation unit configured to charge a second drive voltage by using the rectified voltage;
• a LED light emitting unit comprising a first LED group and a second LED group, wherein at least one of the first LED group and the second LED group are configured to emit light upon receiving the rectified voltage as the first drive voltage from the rectification unit in a first period and to emit light upon receiving the second drive voltage from the loop-back compensation unit in a second period;
• and
• a LED drive controller comprising a first constant current switch and a second constant current switch and configured to control driving of the first LED group and the second LED group based on a level of the rectified voltage,
• wherein:
• the loop-back compensation unit is connected between a cathode of the first LED group and the first constant current switch;
• and
• an LED drive current flowing through the LED light emitting unit is substantially constant during the first and second periods.