Abstract: In a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight assembly, a lamp assembly is mounted on a receiving container and includes lamps. The lamps are connected in parallel and are turned on by the power voltage supplied from a lamp driving module. Sensors are disposed in the receiving container to face the lamps, and detect operation state of the lamps to output sensing signals. A voltage cut-off module is disposed outside of the receiving container, provides the lamp driving module with a voltage cut-off signal when at least one of the sensing signals has an amplitude smaller than a reference signal. The deterioration of the lamps may be prevented, and the life expectancy of lamps may be increased.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a first surface having a light incident surface and a light reflect surface, a second surface facing the first surface, through which the reflected light exits, a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the second surface, and a second edge surface connected between edges of the light incident surface and the second surface, being opposite to the first edge surface. A light source is disposed on the light incident surface. A light guide plate may also include a stepped edge portion formed at a marginal area of the light guide plate on which a light source is combined. The stepped edge portion includes a light incident surface, a light reflect surface, an upper surface through which the reflected light exits the light guide plate, and a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the upper surface, being opposite to the stepped edge portion.

Abstract: An optical member includes a first liquid crystal assembly and a second liquid crystal assembly. The first liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal layer aligned in a first direction. Light polarized in the first direction is reflected from the first liquid crystal assembly. The second liquid crystal assembly is positioned on the first liquid crystal assembly. The second liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal layer aligned in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Light polarized in the second direction is reflected from the second liquid crystal assembly. Therefore, an image display quality is improved.

Abstract: A flat-type fluorescent lamp and liquid crystal display having minimum pin-shaped holes include a first substrate, a second substrate forming a plurality of discharging spaces together with the first substrate, and external electrodes that cover the outer edge surfaces of the first and the second substrates while perpendicularly extending across the discharging spaces. The second substrate is substantially as thick as the first substrate, especially at the position covered by the external electrodes.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a first surface having a light incident surface and a light reflect surface, a second surface facing the first surface, through which the reflected light exits, a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the second surface, and a second edge surface connected between edges of the light incident surface and the second surface, being opposite to the first edge surface. A light source is disposed on the light incident surface. A light guide plate may also include a stepped edge portion formed at a marginal area of the light guide plate on which a light source is combined. The stepped edge portion includes a light incident surface, a light reflect surface, an upper surface through which the reflected light exits the light guide plate, and a first edge surface connected between edges of the light reflect surface and the upper surface, being opposite to the stepped edge portion.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body having a plurality of discharge spaces, an external electrode that is formed at both ends of the lamp body and intersects the discharge spaces, and an auxiliary electrode coupled to the lamp body and electrically connected to the external electrode. The external electrode includes a main electrode portion intersecting the discharge spaces and a first compensation electrode portion extending from the main electrode portion such that the first compensation electrode portion is formed at the outermost discharge spaces of the discharge spaces. The auxiliary electrode is formed at the outermost discharge spaces where the first compensation electrode portion is formed. Thus, a pin-hole defect of the flat fluorescent lamp may be prevented.

Abstract: A flat-type fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body and a first external electrode. The first external electrode is positioned on an end portion of the lamp body. The first external electrode includes a main electrode portion and a first auxiliary electrode portion. The main electrode portion crosses end portions of the discharge spaces. The first auxiliary electrode portion protrudes from the main electrode portion. The first auxiliary electrode portion corresponds to an outer discharge space adjacent to a side of the lamp body. Therefore, a luminance of the flat-type fluorescent lamp may be made more uniform, thereby improving an image display quality. In addition, operation of the flat-type fluorescent lamp at a low temperature may be improved.

Abstract: In a backlight assembly capable of improving display quality and an LCD apparatus having the backlight assembly, the backlight assembly includes a lamp and an insulating member. The lamp includes a lamp tube and an electrode disposed on an end portion of the lamp tube. The insulating member is combined with the end portion of the lamp so as to surround the electrode and to prevent a heat generated from the electrode from being conducted toward the lamp tube. Therefore, a display quality of the LCD apparatus is improved.

Abstract: In a flat-type fluorescent lamp and a liquid crystal display apparatus, the flat-type fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body having an inner space divided into a plurality of discharge channels, a venting member coupled to the lamp body, and a first external electrode formed on the lamp body. The first external electrode has an opening through which the venting member is exposed. Thus, an electric field between a bottom chassis and the external electrode is made uniform, thereby improving brightness uniformity of the flat-type fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A flat-type light source device includes a first substrate, an electrode, and a second substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first substrate, and spaced apart from a second electrode. The second substrate includes a connection portion. The second substrate is combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge spaces. The second substrate has a recess in the discharge space portions. The recess is formed adjacent to an end portion of the second substrate, which is substantially parallel to the discharge space portion. The connection portion includes a contact hole. The first electrode is partially exposed through the connection portion. Therefore, the electrodes may be easily electrically coupled to an inverter, and a size of the flat-type light source device may decrease.

Abstract: A light source for generating a planar light includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a first external electrode. The second substrate includes a plurality of discharge space portions, a plurality of space dividing portions and a plurality of recesses formed on end portions of a predetermined number of the discharge space portions. The discharge space portions are spaced apart from the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge spaces. The space dividing portions make contact with the first substrate between the discharge space portions. The recesses are recessed toward the first substrate. The first external electrode is formed on the second substrate. Therefore, a luminance of the planar light is uniformized to improve an image display quality.

Abstract: A backlight assembly apparatus, including a conductive receiving container, a flat fluorescent lamp provided over the conductive receiving container, and an insulating member positioned between the conductive receiving container and the flat fluorescent lamp to provide insulation.

Abstract: A device for generating light capable of uniformly distributing discharge gases in discharge areas, as well as preventing charge drift. The device includes a first substrate, a second substrate assembled with the first substrate to form a discharge space between the first and second substrates. The second substrate includes at least one sinking portion extending toward the first substrate to divide the discharge space into at least two discharge areas, and at least one connection passage is formed on the first substrate to connect the discharge areas to each other.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a light emitting body disposed on a substrate, which has light emitting sections apart from each other, a light generating member assembled with the light emitting body, and a light reflecting member disposed on the substrate between the light emitting sections. The light generating member receives driving voltages to generate light from the light emitting body, and the light reflecting member reflects light traveling onto the light reflecting member. The light emitting device also includes a light reflection body and a supporting member disposed on the substrate between the light emitting sections. A display device includes the light emitting device, a display panel receiving the light from the light emitting body, which displays images using the light and image data externally provided, and a container receiving the light emitting device and the display panel.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light emitting body, a pair of main electrodes and a pair of sub electrodes. The light emitting body includes discharge spaces disposed substantially parallel to each other. The main electrodes are disposed at opposite end portions of the light emitting body, respectively. The main electrodes induce an electrical discharge of a gas in the discharge spaces between the main electrodes. The sub electrodes are disposed between the main electrodes. The sub electrodes induce an electrical discharge of a gas in the discharge spaces between the sub electrodes. Resultantly, power consumption is reduced and uniformity of luminance is enhanced. Therefore, display quality of the display apparatus is enhanced.

Abstract: A surface light source device includes a body, a partition member, a first providing member and a visible light generating unit. The body includes a first substrate having first main and sub regions alternatingly formed with each other, and a second substrate having second main and sub regions facing the first main and sub regions, respectively. The partition member is interposed between the first and second sub regions to form discharge spaces between the first and second main regions. The partition member has a passage connecting between the discharge spaces. The first providing member is disposed on the passage, and the providing member provides the discharge space with operation gas. The visible light generating unit generates a visible light from the operation gas of the discharge spaces. Therefore, process of manufacturing the surface light source device is simplified to enhance productivity.

Abstract: A surface light source has a body including a first substrate, a second substrate facing with the first substrate, and a space-dividing member. The first substrate has first fluorescent patterns to convert an invisible ray into a visible ray. The first fluorescent patterns are formed in parallel by a first interval. The space-dividing member is interposed between the first and second substrates to form a discharge space. The space-dividing member has a width less than the first interval to emit the visible ray between the space-dividing member and the first fluorescent patterns. A power supply member generates the invisible ray in the discharge space. Thus, the surface light source enhances brightness of the visible ray emitted from the body.

Abstract: A planar-light source device includes a light source body, partition members, a movement restriction member and an electrode. The light source body has a discharge space. The partition members are disposed in the discharge space to divide the discharge space into sub-spaces connected to each other. The movement restriction member is disposed at one of or both the side portions of the respective partition members to restrict plasma movement between the sub-spaces of the discharge space. The electrode surrounds the light source body, and is overlapped with the movement restriction member.

Abstract: A surface light source device capable of emitting the light having uniform brightness with lower power consumption is provided. The surface light source device includes a light source body and at least one discharge voltage applying part. The light source body includes a bottom plate; a top plate which is disposed over the bottom plate to form a flat receiving space between the bottom plate and the top plate, the flat receiving space receiving discharge gas; and at least one space-dividing wall which is disposed on the bottom plate and divides the flat receiving space into at least two discharge spaces. The discharge voltage applying part is disposed on an outer surface of the light source body and applies discharge voltage to the light source body.

Abstract: In a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight assembly, a lamp assembly is mounted on a receiving container and includes lamps. The lamps are connected in parallel and are turned on by the power voltage supplied from a lamp driving module. Sensors are disposed in the receiving container to face the lamps, and detect operation state of the lamps to output sensing signals. A voltage cut-off module is disposed outside of the receiving container, provides the lamp driving module with a voltage cut-off signal when at least one of the sensing signals has an amplitude smaller than a reference signal. The deterioration of the lamps may be prevented, and the life expectancy of lamps may be increased.