The invention provides a cost effective way of determining the status of a light emitting device, such as a light emitting device in a non-emitting display device. The apparatus includes a light emitting device, a voltage supply coupled to the light emitting device for making a current flow through the light emitting device, and an electrically conductive device spaced apart from the light emitting device for inducing a voltage proportional to the voltage across the light emitting device. A status determining device determines the status of the light emitting device based on the voltage from the electrically conductive device.