A driver circuit operating in stages that comprise a programming stage and a
reproduction
stage, the circuit comprising: a plurality current paths each of which passes through
the circuit, a current driven element, a transistor connected so as operatively
to control the current supplied to the said element, a capacitor connected for
storing an operating voltage of the transistor during the programming stage, and
switching means which control the current paths, the arrangement being such that
one of the current paths does not include the said element. No current is applied
to the current driven element by the current controlling transistor during the
programming stage and thus the overall power consumption is reduced. Furthermore,
the circuit can be operated from a normal supply voltage rather than requiring
a high bias voltage. During the programming stage, the circuit uses a current sink
rather than a current source. Preferably, the current driven element is an electroluminescent element.