Abstract: A gas injection port structure for a flat fluorescent lap (FFL) is provided. The FFL has a flat lower plate and an upper plate that form a channel therebetween, and at least one gas injection port in communication with the channel. The gas injection port may be formed at a predetermined position on the upper plate so that a height of the gas injection port is level with or lower than a height of the channel. The gas injection port may contain a mercury getter and a sealing material having a passage formed therethrough so that mercury vapor may be injected into the channel and then the channel sealed. The gas injection port minimizes a thickness of the FFL, and improves durability of the FFL.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp (FFL) for display devices, which has an improved electrode structure for plasma discharge, thus being efficiently operated using a low voltage and having high optical efficiency, is disclosed. The FFL of the present invention is provided with a plurality of branch electrodes extending from main electrodes, provided on opposite ends of a lamp body, in opposite directions toward the opposite main electrodes and being parallel to longitudinal axes of the discharge channels. Furthermore, the FFL may include joint electrodes which electrically couple the branch electrodes, provided around each of the opposite ends of the lamp body, to each other. The FFL may further include step electrodes and/or inductive electrodes.