Light Emitting Element Driving Apparatus

A light emitting element driving apparatus for controlling a light emitting unit including serially connected light emitting element arrays, the apparatus comprising:

• a rectifying unit configured to provide a rectified signal to the light emitting unit according to a result of rectifying an alternating current (AC) signal;
• a switching unit configured to selectively connect one of a plurality of output terminals to a first node, each of the output terminals corresponding to one of the light emitting element arrays;
• a sensing resistor connected between the first node and an electrical ground;
• an amplifying unit configured to amplify each of a plurality of unique reference voltages and a voltage of the first node to generate first amplified signals configured to control the switching unit according to an amplification result;
• and
• a power factor correction unit connected between the electrical ground and a second node to which one terminal of the rectifying unit outputting the rectified signal and the light emitting unit are connected,
• wherein the power factor correction unit includes a capacitor including one terminal connected to the second node and includes a voltage regulator connected to an other terminal of the capacitor, and
• wherein the power factor correction unit is configured to cause current flowing into the electrical ground from the second node to be charged in the capacitor when a voltage level of the rectified signal is greater than a reference voltage level and causes the current charged in the capacitor to be discharged to the light emitting unit through the second node when the voltage level of the rectified signal is less than a reference voltage level.