Abstract:
A display device includes a backlight assembly and a panel assembly. The backlight assembly includes lamps which emit light when properly powered. Each of the lamps includes a lead terminal, and receives electric power through a lamp socket that is electrically connected to an external power supply. The lamp socket includes a socket cover inserted in the lamp socket. The socket cover supportively embraces a resilient contact terminal within the socket body and thus helps the contact terminal to maintain grip with the lead terminal. The socket cover includes a metal material that is able to absorb and safely dissipate heat impulses from nearby intermittent sparks, so that the socket cover is not substantially deformed by the heat impulses of multiple sparks that occur nearby at contact points between the lamp lead terminal and the socket contact terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent Application No. 2006-106655 filed on Oct. 31, 2006, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present disclosure of invention relates to a lamp socket and a display device having the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lamp socket having improved reliability and a display device having the lamp socket. 
     2. Background Description 
     In general, an image display device includes a panel assembly that displays an image thereon and a backlight assembly that supplies light to the panel assembly. 
     The backlight assembly includes lamps that emit light, inverters that supply high voltage electric power to the lamps and lamp sockets that electrically connect to corresponding lead terminals of the lamps to supply the electric power to the lamps. In general, a thin resilient contact member is used in the lamp socket to make resilient (spring like) electrical contact with the lead terminal of the lamp. The resilient contact member achieves its resiliency in part from its relatively thin construction. 
     When a lamp socket electrically connects to the lead terminal of a lamp unstably, a spark may occur at a contact point between the lead terminal of the lamp and the thin resilient contact member of the lamp socket since a size of a contact area between the lead terminal and the thin resilient contact member becomes smaller than what was designed for and it may occasionally disconnect into a small open circuit gap. When the size of the contact area between the lead terminal and the thin resilient contact member rapidly decreases or temporarily reverts into an open circuit gap, current transmitting from the thin resilient contact member to the lead terminal is often partially discharged as a spark. 
     When the lamp socket is exposed to repeated sparks for long periods of time, the lamp socket tends to become cumulatively deformed by heat generated from the sparks. The progressively increasing deformity may cause further loss of good contact and further sparks and may ultimately cause the lamp socket to become electrically disconnected more permanently from the lead terminal of the lamp, this leading to undesirable lamp outage. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a lamp socket is structured to include a body, a first socket terminal placed in the body and formed to electrically connect with a lead terminal of an external light-emitting device, a second socket terminal placed in the body and formed to electrically connect with the first socket terminal so as to provide an electric power from an external power supply unit to the first socket terminal, and a socket cover made of a metal material. 
     The socket cover is located between the body of the lamp socket and the first socket terminal so as to supportively embrace the first socket terminal, and to more assuredly maintain electrical contact between the lead terminal of a supplied lamp and the first socket terminal. As a consequence of the embracing support provided by the socket cover, the first socket terminal may continue to resiliently grip the lead terminal even after being subjected to heat that might otherwise (without presence of the socket cover) deform the first socket terminal and the first socket terminal may therefore remain electrically connected with the lead terminal stably. 
     The socket cover includes a metal material having good thermal conductivity. Even though a spark may occur at a temporarily decreased contact point between the first socket terminal and the lamp&#39;s lead terminal due to unstable connection between the first socket terminal and the lead terminal, the socket cover is structured so to be not deformed by the heat from the spark, to absorb and dissipate the heat impulse generated by the spark, and the socket cover is thereby able to continue providing embracing support to the first socket terminal so that the first socket terminal continues to stably make contact with the lead terminal of a supplied lamp. 
     In one embodiment, the socket cover further includes a terminal cover composed of metal material that is able to absorb and dissipate the heat impulse generated by a nearby spark. The terminal cover may operate to prevent detachment of the lead terminal from the first socket terminal. 
     Although the lead terminal may be displaced so as to not be fully gripped by the first socket terminal, the lead terminal may nonetheless continue be connected to the first socket terminal electrically since the terminal cover includes the metal material and makes contact with the displaced lead terminal contact as well as making contact with the first socket terminal. 
     In one embodiment, the terminal cover covers the lead terminal so that the terminal cover shields against an outward propagation of heat spike generated from a nearby lead terminal due to an intermittent spark and the terminal cover thus prevents the heat (or other radiant energy) from being directed to components that are less tolerant of such heat (or other radiant energy). In one embodiment, the socket cover is substantially composed of a nonmetal material (e.g., a plastic) except for the terminal cover which is composed of the thermal hock-dissipating metal material. In other words, although only the terminal cover includes the metal material, the socket cover may nonetheless be substantially unaffected by heat from the spark due to the shielding function provided by the metal terminal cover. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid crystal display includes a panel assembly, and a backlight assembly providing light to the panel assembly. The backlight assembly includes lamps, and each of the lamps includes a lead terminal formed at two end portions thereof. The lead terminals are electrically connected to spark tolerant lamp sockets such as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other advantages of the disclosed structure will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter and a lamp structured according to the present disclosure of invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane I-I′ shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a lamp socket having a body partially removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a socket cover according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the lamp socket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another exemplary of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter and a lamp according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a socket cover according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the lamp socket of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating another exemplary of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter and a lamp according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a socket cover according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assembly of an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display system according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to herein as being “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all couplings of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms, “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure most closely pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an unreasonably idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter terminal and a lamp according to the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a lamp socket  150  includes an outer body  155  that is formed of a plastic and/or other insulative material. A conductive first socket terminal  180  is placed within the outer body  155  and is formed to electrically and flexibly connect to a relatively rigid lead terminal  132  of a supplied lamp  130 . A conductive second socket terminal  196  (see  FIG. 2B ) is further placed within the insulative outer body  155  and is formed to electrically connect to an inverter terminal  108 . An electrically conductive and heat tolerant socket cover  160  (shown exploded away in  FIG. 1 ) is insertably disposed between the insulative outer body  155  and the resilient first socket terminal  180 . 
     The outer body  155  is provided with a first terminal inserting opening  157  formed at a lower portion thereof to receive and contain the inverter terminal  108 . When the inverter terminal  108  is inserted into the first terminal inserting opening  157 , electric power from the inverter board  105  (typically in the form of a relatively high voltage) may be supplied to the first socket terminal  180  through the second socket terminal  196  (including through a vertical extension  195  thereof—see  FIG. 2A ) and therethrough to the first socket terminal  180  that is connected (not shown) to the second socket terminal  196 . In addition, the electric power supplied to the first socket terminal  180  is thereby applied to the lead terminal  132  of the lamp when the lead terminal  132  is electrically connected to the first socket terminal  180 , so that the lamp can be operated by the electric power. 
     The outer body  155  is partially hollowed as shown at  156  to thereby define a lamp supporting portion or ledge  156  into whose open space a lamp body  130  is received. A portion of the lamp body  130  adjoining the lead terminal  132  is received in the lamp supporting portion  156 , and the lamp supporting portion  156  supports the lamp body  130  to help prevent the lead terminal  132  from being detached from the first socket terminal  180 . 
     The socket cover  160  includes a conductive metal material of sufficient thickness so that it does not substantially deform when exposed to heat. In one embodiment, the conductive metal material may be a copper or a copper alloy such as a bronze so that the socket cover  160  has good electrical conductivity and strength, the conductive metal material of the socket cover  160  is the same as that of the first socket terminal  180  except that the thickness and construction of the socket cover  160  is different as will be detailed in the following description. The conductive socket cover  160  is placed between the conductive first socket terminal  180  and the insulative outer body  155  and is electrically coupled to the first socket terminal  180 . The socket cover  160  embracingly supports two flexible end portions of the first socket terminal  180 , and positions those end portions so that the first socket terminal  180  may continue to resiliently grip the lead terminal  132  even after heat is generated by an intermittent spark. 
     Since the socket cover  160  is thicker and includes a metal material having electrical and thermal conductivity, the socket cover  160  is not deformed even when thermal stress is applied thereto. Therefore, even though the socket cover  160  is exposed to heat originating from, for example a spark produced at a temporarily decreased contact point between the lead terminal  132  and the resilient thin first socket terminal  180 , the thicker and less resilient socket cover  160  substantially maintains its form and it also preserves the contact clamping force provided by the elasticity of the thinner, smaller first socket terminal  180  that grips the lead terminal  132 . 
     It is desirable that the thin resilient first socket terminal  180  makes direct gripping contact with the lead terminal  132  while the larger socket cover  160  is interposed between the outer socket body  150  and the resilient first socket terminal  180 . The shape and less resilient structure of the socket cover  160  operates to make the first socket terminal  180  grip the lead terminal  132  more strongly. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the socket cover  160  is composed of only the same metal material as that forming the thin resilient first socket terminal  180 . However, in an alternate embodiment, the socket cover  160  may include a mechanically strong plastic material that retains its shape even when heated slightly and the mechanically strong plastic material may be coated with a thermally conductive and electrically conductive metal material that covers a substantial portion of the surface of that plastic material. When the surface of the socket cover  160  is so coated with a heat absorbing and heat dissipating metal material, the socket cover may resist being deformed even when a spike of thermal stress is applied thereto. The interior plastic material of this alternate, metal coated socket cover  160 ′ (not shown) may be the same material as that of the insulative outer body  155 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane I-I′ shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a lamp socket having a body partially removed, and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a socket cover  160  according to the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  3 , the first socket terminal  180  includes a first auxiliary terminal portion  191 , a second auxiliary terminal portion  192 , that are bent and integrally continue from a first connecting portion  195  that integrally supports the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191 - 192  and that electrically connects the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  to each other and also via an L-bend at the bottom of the first connecting portion  195  (see  FIG. 2B ) to the second socket terminal  196 . 
     The first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  each have a round shaped section to grip the lead terminal  132  at opposed sides as seen in  FIG. 2A . The first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  extend toward and merge contiguously with the first connecting portion  195 . The first connecting portion  195  extends toward and merges contiguously with the second socket terminal  196  so as to thereby provide electrical continuity from the second socket terminal  196  to the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192 . 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 2B , the socket cover  160  includes an upper first supporting portion  162  making contact with a side portion of the first auxiliary terminal  191 , an upper second supporting portion  163  making contact with a side portion of the second auxiliary terminal  192 , a lower first coupling portion  164  extended from the first supporting portion  162  to make connection with the first connecting portion  195  of the second socket terminal  196 , a lower second coupling portion  165  extended from the second supporting portion  163  to make connection with the first connecting portion  195  of the second socket terminal  196 , and a back end second connecting portion  168  extended from the first supporting portion  162  to merge contiguously with the second supporting portion  163  as shown for example in  FIG. 3 . 
     The socket cover  160  further includes a lead-circumventing or hooking portion  161 . The hooking portion  161  is formed by bending the second connecting portion  168  in a predetermined direction D as shown in  FIG. 3 . The hooking portion  161  is formed to separate the socket cover  160  and the lead terminal  132  from each other. The determination of whether the socket cover  160  is provided together with the hooking portion  161  and then to what dimension of protrusion in direction D or not depends on the length and shape of the lamp&#39;s lead terminal  132 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2B , the first and the second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  are supported and embraced by the first and second supporting portions  162  and  163  of the cover  160 , so that a terminal contacting force generated by the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  and applied to the lamp terminal  132  may be maintained as long as the cover  160  substantially retains its shape. Therefore, the first and the second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  may apply a gripping and contact force to the lamp&#39;s lead terminal  132  using the supporting or embracing base furnished by the first and second supporting portions  162  and  163  of the cover  160 . 
     If the lamp&#39;s lead terminal  132  electrically connects to the first and the second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  unstably, and a spark occurs around the area of the lead terminal  132 , heat may be generated in that vicinity. However, since the socket cover  160  includes the heat absorbing, heat dissipating and heat tolerating metal material at least on its outer surface, the socket cover  160  is not cumulatively deformed by exposure to the heat of repeated sparks. Therefore, even though the socket cover  160  may be exposed to the heat shocks of multiple sparks, the shape of the socket cover  160  may be substantially maintained over a very long period of time. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment the lower left, first coupling portion  164  is formed by extending from the upper first supporting portion  162  toward the second socket terminal  196  and the lower left, first coupling portion  164  is partially bent as shown to provide a plurality of first convex portions  164   a  and  164   b . Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , the outer body portion  155  includes a first body coupling portion  158  that is opened or otherwise shaped to receive the lower left, first coupling portion  164 , for example by removal of a portion of the outer body portion  155  to create a receiving opening in portion  158 . The first coupling portion  164  is inserted into engagement with the first body coupling portion  158  so as to thereby mechanically couple the socket cover  160  with the insulative outer body  155 . 
     In addition to the first body coupling portion  158  being shaped to receive the first coupling portion  164  of the cover  160 , an inner side of the first body coupling portion  158  is left open to receive the first convex portions  164   a  and  164   b  in a wedging or clamping like fashion so the first coupling portion  164  may be coupled with the first body coupling portion  158  more strongly. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the lower right second coupling portion  165  of the cover  160  is formed by integrally extending from the second supporting portion  163  toward the second socket terminal  196  and by partially bending it to provide second convex portions  165   a  and  165   b  as shown. The outer body  155  includes a second body coupling portion  159  formed for example by removal of a portion of the body portion  155  to receive the lower right second coupling portion  165  of the cover  160 . The second coupling portion  165  is inserted in the second body coupling portion  159  to couple the socket cover  160  with the body  155 . 
     In addition to the second body coupling portion  159  being shaped to receive the second coupling portion  165 , an inner side of the second body coupling portion  159  is removed to receive the second convex portions  165   a  and  165   b  in a wedging or clamping like fashion so that the second coupling portion  165  may be coupled with the second body coupling portion  159  more strongly. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view showing the lamp socket of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  directly grip the lead terminal  132 . The first and the second supporting portions  162  and  163  of the cover  160  embrace the first and second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  and thus provide a counterforce base to help to maintain the gripping forces of the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  to grip the lead terminal  132 . 
     One portion of the outer body  155  adjoining the lead terminal  132  receives and connects to the hooking portion  161  of the conductive cover  160 . The insulative outer body  155  may be further provided with a hooking recess cover (not shown) which couples to and insulatively covers the conductive hooking portion  161  of the cover  160 . 
     If the lead terminal  132  electrically connects to the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  unstably, and a spark occurs around the lead terminal  132 , the heat energy generated by the spark is transmitted to, and absorbed by the upper first and the second supporting portions  162  and  163  that are located nearest to the lead terminal  132 . However, since the socket cover  160  includes the heat absorbing, heat conducting and heat tolerating metal material surface, the socket cover  160  is not substantially deformed by the heat of the spark. Therefore, the first and the second supporting portions  162  and  163  of the socket cover  160  may maintain their shape and provide support for the grasping force of the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192 , thereby preventing the lead terminal  132  from becoming progressively detached from the first and second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  due to heat-induced deformation. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter and a lamp according to the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a socket cover according to the present disclosure. In the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 5-6 , only the socket cover  170  has a different configuration from that of the first described socket cover  160  of  FIG. 3 , and thus, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the same reference numerals denote the same other elements in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and the detailed descriptions of the same other elements will be omitted here. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the alternate socket cover  170  includes an upper first supporting portion  172  making contact with the first auxiliary terminal portion  191 , an upper second supporting portion  173  making contact with the second auxiliary terminal portion  192 , a lower first coupling portion  174  extended from the first supporting portion  172  toward the second socket terminal  196 , a lower second coupling portion  175  extended from the second supporting portion  173  toward the second socket terminal  196 , and a backend second connecting portion  179  connecting the first supporting portion  172  and the second supporting portion  173 . 
     The socket cover  170  further includes a hooking portion  171 . The hooking portion  171  is formed by bending the backend second connecting portion  179  in the direction D, so that the socket cover  170  and the lead terminal  132  are separated from each other by the hooking portion  171 . Thus, whether the socket cover  170  includes the hooking portion or not is depends on the length of the lead terminal  132 . 
     The first and the second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  are embracingly supported with the first and second supporting portions  172  and  173 , of the cover  170  thereby maintaining the grasping force of the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192 . Therefore, the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  may grip the lead terminal  132  stably. 
     The socket cover  170  further includes a capping or terminal cover  178  that connects upper portions of the first and the second supporting portions  172  and  173  to each other. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the first auxiliary terminal portion  191  includes a curve shaped first lower gripping portion  191   a  and another curve shaped first upper gripping portion  191   b . The second auxiliary terminal  192  similarly includes a second lower grip portion  192   a  and a second upper grip portion  192   b.    
     In one embodiment, the terminal cover  178  is composed of the same material as the socket cover  170  proper. In the case where the lead terminal  132  is deviated toward the terminal cover  178 , the displaced lead terminal  132 ′ may continue to be electrically connected to the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  through the first and second upper grip portions  191   b  and  192   b  since the terminal cover  178  prevents the displaced lead terminal  132 ′ from becoming fully displaced apart from the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192 . 
     Additionally, the terminal cover  178  is not deformed although a spike of heat energy might be applied thereto from the occurrence of a spark at a nearby unstable contact point between the deviated lead terminal  132 ′ and one of the first and second upper grip portions  191   b  and  192   b . The reason is because the terminal cover  178  is able to absorb the spike of heat energy and dissipate it to the rest of the thermally conductive material of the cover  170 . Consequently, the deviated lead terminal  132 ′ may continue to be electrically connected in the long term to the first and second upper grip portions  191   b  and  192   b  even though it may sporadically disconnect due to its deviated state. 
     The lower first coupling portion  174  is formed by downwardly extending the first supporting portion  172  and partially bent to provide first convex portions  174   a  and  174   b . The body  155  includes a first body coupling portion  158 , and the first coupling portion  174  is inserted into the first body coupling portion  158 , thereby connecting the socket cover  170  to the body  155 . 
     The first body coupling portion  158  is formed by removal of a portion of the body  155  to receive the first supporting portion  172 . Additionally, an inner side of the body  155  defining the first body coupling portion  158  is partially removed to receive the first convex portions  174   a  and  174   b , thereby coupling the first coupling portion  174  with the first body coupling portion  158  more strongly. 
     The second coupling portion  175  is formed by downwardly extending the second supporting portion and partially bent to provide second convex portions  175   a  and  175   b . The body  155  includes a second body coupling portion  159 , and the second coupling portion  175  is inserted into the second body coupling portion  159 , thereby connecting the socket cover  170  to the body  155 . 
     The lower second body coupling portion  159  is formed by removal of a portion of the body  155  to receive the second supporting portion  173 . In addition, an inner side of the body  155  defining the second body coupling portion  159  is partially removed to receive the second convex portions  175   a  and  175   b , thereby coupling the second coupling portion  175  with the second body coupling portion  159  more strongly. 
       FIG. 7  is a top sectional view showing the lamp socket of  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 7 , the same reference numerals denote the same elements in  FIG. 4 , and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , although the lead terminal  132 ′ is upwardly deviated from normal contact with the first and second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192 , the deviated lead terminal  132 ′ may remain electrically connected to the cover  170  by action of the terminal cover  178 . During assembly, the cover  170  can be snap inserted into the lamp socket after the lamp electrode  132  is inserted. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a lamp socket coupled with an inverter and a lamp according to the present disclosure, and  FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a socket cover according to the present disclosure. In the third embodiment, only the socket cover  170 ′ has a different configuration from those of the socket cover  170  in  FIG. 6 , and thus, in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the same reference numerals denote the same elements in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the lamp socket  170 ′ includes a first supporting portion  172 ′ making contact with a first auxiliary terminal  191 , a second supporting portion  173 ′ making contact with a second auxiliary terminal  192 , a first coupling portion  174 ′ extended from the first supporting portion  172 ′ toward a second socket terminal  196 , a second coupling portion  175 ′ extended from the second supporting portion  173 ′ toward the second socket terminal  196 , and a second connecting portion  179 ′ extended from the first supporting portion  172 ′ toward the second supporting portion  173 ′. 
     The socket cover  170 ′ further includes a hooking portion  171 ′. The hooking portion  171 ′ is formed by bending the second connecting portion  179 ′ in the direction D, so that the socket cover  170 ′ and the lead terminal  132  are separated from each other. Thus, whether the socket cover  170 ′ includes the hooking portion or not is depends on the length of the lead terminal  132 . 
     The outer body  155  is made of a plastic material. Additionally, the first supporting portion  172 ′, the second supporting portion  173 ′, the first coupling portion  174 ′, the second coupling portion  175 ′, and the hooking portion  171 ′ are also made of a plastic material (e.g., a heat tolerant thermoplastic). 
     The first and the second auxiliary terminal portions  191  and  192  are indirectly supported and embraced by the first and the second plastic supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′, so that the grasping force of the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  can be maintained. Thus, the first and the second auxiliary terminals  191  and  192  can grip the lead terminal  132 . 
     The socket cover  170 ′ further includes a terminal cover  178 ′ that is made of a metal material having good thermal and electrical conductivity, a good ability to absorb and dissipate a spike of heat energy and which is coupled with the first and the second plastic supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the first auxiliary terminal portion  191  includes a first lower grip portion  191   a  and a first upper grip portion  191   b , and the second auxiliary terminal portion  192  includes a second lower grip portion  192   a  and a second upper grip portion  192   b.    
     The two end portions of the terminal cover  178 ′ are attached onto the first and second supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′, respectively. Otherwise, the two end portions of the terminal cover  178 ′ are bent to be coupled with the first and second supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′, respectively. In case that the two end portions of the terminal cover  178 ′ are bent, the metal terminal cover  178 ′ may be fastened to the first and second supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′ by its elasticity without need for a separate affixing means. If desired however, an appropriate glue or another fastening mechanism may be used to affix the metal terminal cover  178 ′ to the plastic first and second supporting portions  172 ′ and  173 ′. 
     The terminal cover  178 ′ includes the heat tolerating and electrically conductive metal material, so that the lead terminal  132  may be electrically connected to the first and second upper grip portions  191   b  and  192   b  by action of the terminal cover  178 ′ after the lead terminal  132  is deviated from the first and second grip portions  191   a  and  192   a.    
     In addition, even if a spark occurs at an unstable contact point between the deviated lead terminal  132 ′ and one of the first and second upper grip portions  191   b  and  192   b , the terminal cover  178 ′ is not deformed by the spike of heat energy generated from the spark. Moreover, the terminal cover  178 ′ may block the heat from the spark that occurs around the deviated lead terminal  132 ′. 
     Therefore, when the metal terminal cover  178 ′ is used, the socket cover  170 ′ may be made of a plastic material with the exception of the terminal cover  178 ′ being made of metal. In other words, the socket cover  170 ′ can have durability against the heat from the spark that occurs around the deviated lead terminal  132 ′ even though only the terminal cover  178 ′ is made of the metal material. During assembly of the system, the metal terminal cover  178 ′ may be resiliently inserted after the lamp is inserted into the lamp socket. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exemplary assembly of a liquid crystal display system according to the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the liquid crystal display  500  includes a backlight assembly  200  and a panel assembly  400 . 
     The backlight assembly  200  includes a light emitting unit  210 , a diffusing plate  220 , an optical sheet  230 , a reflecting plate  240 , and a bottom chassis  250 . 
     The light emitting unit  210  includes plural lamps for emitting light, plural lamp sockets each which is electrically connected to a corresponding lead terminal formed at two end portions of the lamps, and socket alignment frames  152  and  153  aligning the lamp sockets. 
     The lamps extend in a first direction and arranged at a distance in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, the lamp sockets have the same configurations as those of the lamp socket  150  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), and thus the detailed descriptions of the lamp sockets will be omitted in order to avoid redundancy. 
     The diffusing plate  220  is placed at an upper position of the light emitting unit  210 . The diffusing plate  220  diffuses the light emitted from the lamps to improve the uniformity of brightness. The diffusing plate  220  has a plate-like shape, and is separated from the lamps in a predetermined distance. The diffusing plate  220  includes a transparent material and a diffuser dispersed in the transparent material to diffuse the light. 
     The optical sheet  230  is arranged at an upper portion of the diffusing plate  220 . The optical sheet  230  changes paths of the light that exits from the diffusing plate  220  to improve the brightness of the light. For example, the optical sheet  230  may include at least one of a prism sheet condensing the light to improve front brightness of the light and a diffusing sheet diffusing the light to improve the uniformity of the light. 
     The reflecting plate  240  is disposed under the lamps. The reflecting plate  240  reflects the light emitted from the lamps toward the optical sheet  220  to improve the light efficiency. 
     The light emitting unit  210  and the reflecting plate  240  are received in the bottom chassis  250 . The bottom chassis  250  includes a bottom  250  on which the reflecting plate  240  is settled and a sidewall  252  extended from an end portion of the bottom  250  to provide a receiving space for the light emitting unit  210 . 
     The backlight assembly  200  further includes inverter boards  104  and  105  on which inverter circuits are disposed for providing the lamps with an electric power. The inverter boards  104  and  105  are provided with plural inverter terminals  108  formed at one side of the inverter boards  104  and  105 . 
     The inverter circuits on boards  104  and  105  boost an alternating current power having a low voltage level from a power supply unit (not shown) to output the alternating current power having a high voltage level suitable for driving the lamps. 
     The inverter boards  104  and  105  are located at the rear side of the bottom chassis  250  and arranged at two ends of the lamps, respectively. 
     The backlight assembly  200  further includes a first side mold frame  281  and a second side mold frame  282 . The first and second side mold frames  281  and  282  are arranged at the two ends of the lamps, respectively. The first and second side molds  281  and  282  cover the lamp holders and fix the lamp holders to the bottom chassis  250 , so that the lamp holders (sockets  150 ) are not outwardly exposed. The diffusing plate  220  and the optical sheet  230  are disposed on the first and second side mold frames  281  and  282 . The first and second side mold frames  281  and  282  support the end portion of the diffusing plate  220  and guide the position of the diffusing plate  220 . 
     The panel assembly  400  includes a liquid crystal display panel  410 , a source printed circuit board  420 , source tape carrier packages  430 , and gate tape carrier packages  440 . 
     The liquid crystal display panel  410  is placed at the upper position of the optical sheet  230  and displays an image using the light. The liquid crystal display panel  410  includes two substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates. The source printed circuit board  420  is electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel  410  by the source tape carrier packages  430 . The source printed circuit board  420  outputs a data driving signal corresponding to the image and provides the source tape carrier packages  430  with the data driving signal. The gate tape carrier packages  440  are attached onto the liquid crystal display panel  410  to output a gate driving signal. 
     The panel assembly  400  further includes a middle mold  480  in which the liquid crystal display panel  410  is received. The middle mold  480  is coupled with the sidewall  252  of the bottom chassis  250  while supporting the end portions of the diffusing plate  220  and the optical sheet  230 . The bigger the size of the middle mold  480  is, the harder the manufacturing of the middle mold  480  with the all-in-one design, so that the middle mold  480  may be divided into two or four parts. 
     The panel assembly  400  further includes a top chassis  490  guiding a position of the liquid crystal display panel  410 . The top chassis  490  is coupled with the bottom chassis  250  to fix the liquid crystal display panel  410  to the middle mold  480 . Thus, the source printed circuit board  420  is arranged between the sidewall  252  of the bottom chassis  250  and the top chassis  490 . 
     According to the above, a socket cover is provided that maintains the grasping force of the resilient socket terminal into which the lead terminal of a lamp is received and the socket cover has durability against the heat impulse of a nearby electrical spark, so that the lamp lead terminal may remain stably connected to the socket terminal even it intermittently sparks. Thus, although the display device is operated in a long-time mode, the display device may provide a high-quality image. 
     Although exemplary embodiments have been described, it is understood that the present disclosure should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art after appreciation of the above and within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.