Light source driving device, light emitting device, and light source driving method

A light source device comprising:

• a plurality of light emitting element groups, which includes a first light emitting element group and a second light emitting element group;
• a driving power supply circuit provided for each of the plurality of light emitting element groups;
• a light combining lens that outputs combined light by combining light emitted from the plurality of light emitting element groups;
• and
• a control circuit that supplies a current that alternately repeats a first period in which a first current is supplied and a second period in which a second current having a current value different from a current value of the first current is supplied to the plurality of light emitting element groups, the second current being supplied to the second light emitting element group in a case where the first current is being supplied to the first light emitting element group, and the first current being supplied to the second light emitting element group in a case where the second current is being supplied to the first light emitting element group,
• wherein a target value of a light intensity obtained by the combined light is a light intensity that is higher than a light intensity obtained in a case where a current having a rated value is applied to any one of the light emitting element groups, and
• wherein a total of the current value of the first current and the current value of the second current is greater than the rated value.

A light source driving method for driving a plurality of light emitting element groups, which includes a first light emitting element group and a second light emitting element group, in a light source device that outputs combined light obtained by combining light emitted from the light emitting element groups, the light source driving method comprising

• supplying a current that alternately repeats a first period in which a first current is supplied and a second period in which a second current having a current value different from a current value of the first current is supplied to the plurality of light emitting element groups,
• wherein the supplying of the current to the plurality of light emitting element groups includes supplying the second current to the second light emitting element group in a case where the first current is being supplied to the first light emitting element group and supplying the first current to the second light emitting element group in a case where the second current is being supplied to the first light emitting element group,
• wherein a target value of a light intensity obtained by the combined light is a light intensity that is higher than a light intensity obtained in a case where a current having a rated value is applied to any one of the light emitting element groups, and
• wherein a total of the current value of the first current and the current value of the second current is greater than the rated value.