Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a receiving container having a receiving space, a flat-type light source, an optical member, and an inverter. The flat-type light source has a plurality of light emitting spaces spaced apart from each other and is received into the receiving space. The optical member has a prism pattern formed in areas corresponding to areas between adjacent light emitting spaces and disposed at a light emitting direction of the flat-type light source. The inverter generates a voltage for the flat-type light source. The prism pattern 1o includes prisms having a substantially trigonal prism and continuously connected one after another. Thus, the backlight assembly may improve brightness uniformity thereof and have a reduced thickness.

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 flat fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body and an external electrode. The lamp body includes a plurality of discharge spaces. Each of the discharge spaces includes a first discharge region having a first space width and a first space length, a second discharge region having a second space width and a second space length, and a third discharge region having a third space width and third space length. The second discharge region is disposed between the first and third discharge regions. The second space width is smaller than the first and third space widths, and the second space length is smaller than the first and third space lengths. Thus, an electrode part of the flat fluorescent lamp is prevented from being blackened due to dendrite generated at the electrode part, so that the display quality of the liquid crystal display device having the flat fluorescent lamp can be improved.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same is provided. The flat fluorescent lamp includes a first substrate and a second substrate combined with the first substrate to form a discharge space between the first and second substrates. The flat fluorescent lamp also includes a getter disposed in the discharge space. The getter includes a body portion and a wing portion for securing the body portion.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp includes a first substrate, a second substrate combined with the first substrate to define a plurality of discharge spaces, and a first external electrode formed on the outer surface of the second substrate to cross the discharge spaces. A first region of the second substrate corresponding to an outermost discharge space has a thickness thinner than that of a second region of the second substrate corresponding to remaining discharge spaces not disposed outermost. Thus, the outermost discharge space may have a compensated luminance, thereby improving luminance uniformity of light emitted from the flat fluorescent lamp and display quality of the liquid crystal display device including the flat fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: In a flat-type light source and an LCD device incorporating the flat-type light source, the flat-type light source includes a lamp body, external electrodes and hollow electrodes. The lamp body has a plurality of discharge spaces. The external electrodes are disposed on an outer surface of the lamp body, and are partially overlapped with the discharge spaces. Each of the hollow electrodes is disposed on an inner surface of the lamp body, and is disposed in each of the discharge spaces. The hollow electrode may have a rectangular or other suitable tube shape. As a result of this construction, a discharge voltage to operate the flat-type light source may be decreased, and discharge efficiency may be increased.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp includes a body and a fluorescent layer. The body generates invisible radiation. The fluorescent layer has a luminance-enhancing pattern formed thereon. The fluorescent layer converts the invisible radiation into visible light. Therefore, a surface area of the fluorescent layer is increased to increase an amount of visible light, so that luminance of a display device employing the flat fluorescent lamp is enhanced.

Abstract: A light generating device includes a body having discharge spaces generating light in response to a voltage signal, and electrodes providing the voltage signal to the discharge spaces. The discharge spaces are apart from each other and arranged substantially parallel with each other. The electrodes are disposed at external portions of the body. The body includes a first substrate, and a second substrate disposed on the first substrate. The second substrate includes space forming members and space dividing members. The discharge spaces are each formed between corresponding one of the space forming members and the first substrate. The space dividing members are each disposed between the adjacent space forming members. The space dividing members include connecting passages each connecting adjacent ones of the discharge spaces.

Abstract: A surface light source device includes a light source body, first and second electrodes, a light reflecting layer, and a fluorescent layer. The light source body is configured to generate light. The first and second electrodes are each disposed adjacent to a corresponding opposite end portion of the light source body. The first and second electrodes receive a discharge voltage that creates a potential difference across the light source body. The light reflecting layer is disposed at an internal surface of the light source body. The light reflecting layer includes light diffusing particles having at least two sizes. The fluorescent layer is disposed at selected regions of the light source body. Therefore, the light reflecting layer is not deformed by heat and enhances reflectivity without changing a color coordinates.

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 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 device includes a lamp body, a space dividing member, a discharge gas supplying member and a voltage applying part. The lamp body includes a flat shaped space and a fluorescent layer disposed in the flat shaped space to convert an invisible light into a visible light. The space dividing member divides the flat shaped space into a plurality of discharge spaces. The discharge gas supplying member is disposed to pass through the space dividing member and is fixed to the space dividing member, and supplies the discharge spaces with a discharge gas that generates the invisible light. The voltage applying part applies a discharge voltage to the discharge gas. Therefore, the lifetime of the surface light source device generating a planar light is increased, and the luminance of the light becomes uniform so that the display quality of an image is improved.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a surface light source, a plurality of partition walls is formed on a lower substrate. The partition walls generate a first stress in the lower substrate along a first direction. A reflective layer is formed on the lower substrate. The reflective layer generates a second stress in the lower substrate along a second direction. After forming a fluorescent layer on the reflective layer and beneath an upper substrate, the upper and lower substrates are sealed to form discharge spaces between the upper and lower substrates.

Abstract: In a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display apparatus, a plurality of lamps disposed in a receiving space of the backlight assembly is spaced apart from each other by various intervals between the lamps depending upon positions at which the lamps are disposed. Each of the lamps may also have an external electrode having a different area from each other or due to the positions at which the lamps are disposed. Furthermore, each of the lamps may have a different amount of discharge gas injected thereinto due to the positions at which the lamps are disposed. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display apparatus may provide a uniform brightness, and prevent deterioration of display quality thereof.

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: A bioreactor system of probing toxic materials using microorganisms comprises two reactors. A first-step reactor serves as a microorganism reservoir in which the microorganisms are continuously cultured in a constant phase and a second-step reactor, provided with fiber optics, offers a place in which the microorganisms meet the toxic materials for the first time. Since the microorganisms are so genetically recombinant as to luminesce upon reaction with toxic materials, light is generated in the second-step reactor and, then, transmitted along the fiber optics to a luminometer where the change in the intensity of the light is monitored over time. The microorganisms can be stably provided from the reservoir, so that it is possible to continuously monitor the light intensity and thus, to trace the pollution of the toxic materials. The toxic materials may come from any of the sources including rivers, waste water, sewage, agricultural and industrial water, household water, tap water, atomic power plants, etc.