Semiconductor light emitting device and display device using the same

Abstract

A semiconductor light emitting device has a blue LED and a green LED which each have a protection circuit connected in parallel thereto. The protection circuit has two Zener diodes that are connected in series in opposite directions to each other. When an AC voltage below a breakdown voltage of the protection circuit is applied to the semiconductor light emitting device and when the voltage is in forward direction, a current passes through the blue and green LEDs to emit lights. A current is intercepted by the protection circuit when the voltage is in reverse direction. When an high AC voltage above a breakdown voltage of the protection circuit is applied, a current passes through the protection circuit whether the current in forward direction or in reverse direction, so that the green and blue LEDs are protected. Even when the semiconductor light emitting devices are connected to one another in a matrix form and subject to dynamic driving, a leakage current is intercepted by the protection circuits. The semiconductor light emitting device has a red LED which is connected in series to voltage compensating diodes. The voltage compensating diodes increase an apparent forward direction threshold voltage of the red LED to compensate difference in forward direction threshold voltages among the blue, green and red LEDs.