Semiconductor light-emitting element and flash-light device

A flash light device provided with a semiconductor light-emitting element, the semiconductor light-emitting element comprising a first semiconductor layer having a first electrical conductivity, a second semiconductor layer having a second electrical conductivity that is different from said first electrical conductivity, an active layer disposed between said first semiconductor layer and said second semiconductor layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode respectively disposed on surfaces of the first and second semiconductor layers, wherein:

• said first electrode comprises a plurality of electrode pieces separated at a distance from each other;
• each of said plurality of electrode pieces comprises a power feed pad and an extended portion that is connected to said power feed pad and that extends in a direction away from said power feed pad, wherein a terminal end portion of said extended portion of one of said plurality of electrode pieces is opposed to a terminal end portion of said extended portion of another of said plurality of electrode pieces across a gap;
• the flash light device comprises a controller for feeding drive current to said semiconductor light-emitting element via each of said plurality of electrode pieces;
• and
• said controller switches between a flash light-emitting mode for feeding drive current to each of said plurality of electrode pieces so that said semiconductor light-emitting element emits a photoflash, and a continuous light-emitting mode for feeding drive current that is less than the drive current in said flash light-emitting mode to some of said plurality of electrode pieces so that said semiconductor light-emitting element emits continuous light.