Patent Description:
There is a lighting device that includes a plurality of light source boards each having a wiring pattern formed by a plurality of wires and a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on each light source board and controlled by a control board to be switched on and off (for example, see Patent Document <NUM>).

Such a lighting device is provided, for example, in a display device of a television receiver, a personal computer, or the like. The display device is provided with a display having a display surface on which images are displayed and a back chassis disposed on the back side of the display. The lighting device is disposed, for example, between the display and the back chassis as a backlight.

In a lighting device described in Patent Document <NUM>, a plurality of horizontally long light source boards and a control board that controls switching on and off of light-emitting elements are connected via a relay board. The relay board is connected to the individual light source boards via a plurality of connectors.

By the way, when light is emitted from the light-emitting elements in the lighting device as described above, the light-emitting elements and the light source boards generate heat, and the light source boards and others expand or contract due to temperature changes, which may cause misalignment between the light source boards and the relay board, preventing good connections between the light source boards and the relay board from being ensured.

Therefore, in the lighting device described in Patent Document <NUM>, the connectors are provided with misalignment allowance means for allowing misalignment between the light source boards and the relay board. The misalignment allowance means absorb misalignment between the light source boards and the relay board, ensuring good connections between the light source boards and the relay board and good connections between the light source boards and the control board via the relay board.

Patent Document <NUM> proposes an LED light source device comprises rectangular LED units. A connector is provided on one side of each of the LED units. A respective separate flat cable connects each of the connectors to a respective connector of a drive circuit.

Patent Document <NUM> proposes to couple different lamps via separate wires of a flat cable to an inverter board.

Patent Document <NUM> proposes circuitry to prevent connection failure caused by incorrectly inserting a connector. The circuitry involves a backlight device that includes a chassis with a rectangular bottom plate. LED boards are mounted on the bottom plate, with LEDs arranged on one side of the boards facing away from the bottom plate. Power supply boards provide power to the LEDs, and connectors with two parallel terminals are arranged on the power supply boards. Housings with connection openings are arranged on the LED boards, and the connectors are inserted into these openings to establish electrical connections between the LED boards and the power supply boards. Projection members are also included, extending from the bottom plate towards the LED's emitting sides, rather than towards the connection openings, to ensure proper alignment.

Further relevant prior art is disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and in <CIT>.

However, the lighting device described in Patent Document <NUM> may have increased manufacturing cost for the provision of the misalignment allowance means to the connectors in addition to the provision of the relay board to connect the plurality of light source boards and the control board.

Furthermore, to make the allowance of the misalignment allowance means provided to the connectors sufficient for the expansion or contraction of the light source boards and others due to temperature changes, it is necessary to increase the size of the connectors. In this case, the reduction of the manufacturing cost may be hindered and the sizes of the lighting device and the display device may be increased.

Therefore, it is an object of a lighting device and a display device of the present technology to ensure good connections between light source boards and a control board without causing a rise in manufacturing cost.

The problems are solved by a lighting device and a display device according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the present technology, since a single conductor is electrically connected to wires of at least two different light source boards via the cable-side connector and the board-side connector, the plurality of light source boards is connected to the control board via the flexible flat cable, allowing good connections between the light source boards and the control board to be ensured without causing a rise in manufacturing cost.

Note that the effects described in the present description are merely examples and non-limiting, and other effects may be included.

Hereinafter, a mode for implementing a lighting device and a display device of the present technology will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In an embodiment described below, the display device of the present technology is applied to a television receiver that displays images on a display, and the lighting device of the present technology is applied to a lighting device provided in the television receiver.

Note that the scope of application of the present technology is not limited to television receivers and lighting devices provided in them. The present technology can be widely applied to various display devices such as monitors used in personal computers and the like and lighting devices provided in these various display devices.

In the following description, front-back, up-down, and left-right directions will be described with a direction in which a display surface of the display device (television receiver) faces as a forward direction. However, the front-back, up-down, and left-right directions described below are for convenience of explanation, and the implementation of the present technology is not limited to these directions.

The configuration of a display device (television receiver) <NUM> will be described below (see <FIG>).

The display device <NUM> is formed, for example, in a horizontally long and substantially rectangular shape with a thin thickness in the front-back direction (see <FIG>). For example, the display device1 is placed on a placement surface such as a desktop by a stand (not shown) or mounted on a wall by a bracket or the like (not shown) for use.

The display device <NUM> has a casing <NUM> in which necessary components are disposed (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The casing <NUM> includes a bezel <NUM> located on the front side and a back chassis <NUM> located on the back side.

The bezel <NUM> is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape.

The back chassis <NUM> is formed in a shallow box shape opened forward. A control board <NUM> is mounted, for example, on a central portion of the back surface of the back chassis <NUM>. The control board <NUM> has, for example, a function of supplying current to a display described later and controlling switching on and off of light sources described later. Cable insertion holes (not shown) are formed in central portions of the back chassis <NUM>.

A rear cover <NUM> is attached to the back chassis <NUM> from behind. The rear cover <NUM> is formed in a shallow box shape opened forward. The control board <NUM> is blocked by the rear cover <NUM>.

A display <NUM> is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the bezel <NUM>. The display <NUM> is, for example, a liquid crystal panel formed by a glass substrate, a polarizing sheet, and others stacked on top of each other, and its front surface is formed as a display surface 7a on which images are displayed.

The display <NUM> is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and has a portion other than an outer peripheral portion provided as a display area on which images are displayed. A connection board (not shown) is provided at a lower edge portion of the display <NUM>. The connection board is connected to the control board <NUM> mounted on the back surface of the back chassis <NUM>. Thus, current is supplied from the control board <NUM> through the connection board to the display <NUM>.

A frame-shaped holder <NUM> is disposed inside the bezel <NUM>. The holder <NUM> holds the display <NUM>, a plurality of optical sheets <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and a diffuser plate <NUM> in order from the front side.

The optical sheets <NUM>, <NUM>,. are disposed on the front side of the diffuser plate <NUM> in a laminated state. The optical sheets <NUM>, <NUM>,. have various functions such as a light diffusion function and control of light traveling direction. The optical sheets <NUM>, <NUM>,. provide uniformity in brightness, improvement in brightness, and so on in the display <NUM>. The diffuser plate <NUM> has a function of diffusing light emitted from the light sources for the uniformity of brightness in the display <NUM>.

A reflective sheet <NUM> is disposed between the diffuser plate <NUM> and the back chassis <NUM>. Insertion holes 11a, 11a,. are formed in the reflective sheet <NUM>, spaced up and down and left and right.

A frame-shaped bracket <NUM> is disposed inside the bezel <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is located on the back side of the holder <NUM>. The reflective sheet <NUM> and the back chassis <NUM> are held by the bracket <NUM>.

A lighting device <NUM> is disposed between the diffuser plate <NUM> and the back chassis <NUM>. The lighting device <NUM> includes light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. , board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , flexible flat cables <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>).

The light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are mounted on the front surface of the back chassis <NUM>, spaced up and down and left and right, for example. In the lighting device <NUM>, for example, six light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. spaced up and down constitute one group G, and four groups G of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are disposed side by side up and down and left and right. A wiring pattern <NUM> is formed on each light source board <NUM>. The wiring pattern <NUM> is formed by first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. and second wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>).

The first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. have first ends connected to the corresponding light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and second ends individually provided as connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the board-side connector <NUM>.

The first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are formed on both upper and lower edge portions of the light source board <NUM>, and the second wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are formed on central portions of the light source board <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are spaced left and right on the front surface of each light source board <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). On each light source board <NUM>, for example, ten light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are evenly spaced left and right. As the light-emitting elements <NUM>, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used. Each light-emitting element <NUM> is covered by a light diffusing lens <NUM> from the front, and is connected to the first wire <NUM> and the second wire <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The light diffusing lens <NUM> is inserted through the insertion hole 11a of the reflective sheet <NUM>, and is partly protruded forward from the reflective sheet <NUM>.

Support pins <NUM>, <NUM>,. are attached to each light source board <NUM> (see <FIG>). The support pins <NUM> are formed, for example, of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate. The support pins <NUM> are attached to portions on the light source board <NUM> where the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the second wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are not formed, and are protruded forward from the light source board <NUM>. The support pins <NUM> are inserted through the insertion holes 11a of the reflective sheet <NUM> so that their distal ends can be in contact with the back surface of the diffuser plate <NUM>, and have a function of holding the diffuser plate <NUM> while preventing deformation (bending) of the diffuser plate <NUM>.

The board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are mounted on portions closer to first ends in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>). Each board-side connector <NUM> includes a body <NUM> formed in a horizontally long substantially rectangular tubular shape opened forward and backward, and electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. attached to the body <NUM>. The internal space of the body <NUM> is formed as a coupling hole 24a. The electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are attached to both upper and lower surfaces of the inner peripheral surface of the body <NUM>, arranged at equal intervals left and right.

The body <NUM> of the board-side connector <NUM> is attached to the light source board <NUM>. First end portions of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the corresponding first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. by, for example, soldering or the like. Second end portions of the electrodes <NUM> are provided as elastically deformable leaf springs 25a, and their distal end portions are protruded forward from the body <NUM>.

Note that at each light source board <NUM>, for example, five first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. for positive electrodes and five first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. for negative electrodes are formed on both the upper and lower edge portions, and the total ten first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are formed. The number of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. provided is greater than or equal to the number of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on each light source board <NUM>. At each light source board <NUM>, to each of the wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the corresponding one of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. is connected. Thus, the board-side connector <NUM> for each light source board <NUM> has the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. not connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Furthermore, for example, five second wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are formed on each light source board <NUM>, spaced left and right. Each second wire <NUM> connects two adjacent light-emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> in series.

The flexible flat cables <NUM> are connected to the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. via the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. Each flexible flat cable <NUM> is connected to a group G of six light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>). Thus, the lighting device <NUM> is provided, for example, with four flexible flat cables <NUM>, <NUM>,. for four groups. The four flexible flat cables <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged side by side up and down and left and right at positions corresponding to central portions of the back chassis <NUM> in the left-right direction.

Each flexible flat cable <NUM> is formed in a sheet shape, and has a multi-core structure including a flat-shaped insulator <NUM> and a plurality of conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. aligned in a width direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the insulator <NUM> (see <FIG>). The insulator <NUM> includes a resin material, and includes two resin bases in a sheet shape crimped with the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. therebetween. The flexible flat cables <NUM> are inserted through the cable insertion holes of the back chassis <NUM> and connected at first ends in the longitudinal direction to the control board <NUM> mounted on the back surface of the back chassis <NUM>.

Connection holes 26a, 26a,. opened in the thickness direction are formed in the insulator <NUM>. Some conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are exposed through the connection holes 26a, 26a,. (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are attached to the flexible flat cable <NUM>, and are evenly spaced in the longitudinal direction of the flexible flat cable <NUM> (see <FIG>). Each cable-side connector <NUM> includes a base body <NUM> formed in a horizontally long shape and connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. attached to the base body <NUM>. The outer shape of the base body <NUM> is smaller than the outer shape of the body <NUM> of the board-side connector <NUM>. The connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are attached to both upper and lower surfaces of the outer peripheral surface of the base body <NUM>, arranged at equal intervals left and right.

Each cable-side connector <NUM> is attached at the base body <NUM> to the flexible flat cable <NUM>. Each connection terminal <NUM> has a front end portion provided as an elastically deformable connection spring 29a. A distal end portion of the connection spring 29a is protruded forward from the base body <NUM>. With the cable-side connector <NUM> attached to the flexible flat cable <NUM>, the connection springs 29a, 29a. of the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are pressed against the insulator <NUM> or inserted into the connection holes 26a, 26a,. (see <FIG>). Thus, the connection springs 29a, 29a. inserted into the connection holes 26a, 26a,. are pressed against the corresponding conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. to be connected.

Note that the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the cable-side connector <NUM> are connected to the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the board-side connector <NUM>, and only the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. on the light source board <NUM> among the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the flexible flat cable <NUM>. Thus, in the flexible flat cable <NUM>, the connection holes 26a, 26a,. are formed only in portions against which the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. are pressed.

The cable-side connector <NUM> is coupled to the board-side connector <NUM> by inserting the base body <NUM> into the coupling hole 24a. The board-side connector <NUM> and the cable-side connector <NUM> are each provided with, for example, an elastically deformable engaging portion (not shown). By the engaging portions being engaged with each other with the base body <NUM> inserted into the coupling hole 24a, the board-side connector <NUM> and the cable-side connector <NUM> are held in a coupled state.

In the state where the cable-side connector <NUM> is coupled to the board-side connector <NUM>, the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the board-side connector <NUM> are connected to the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the cable-side connector <NUM>. At this time, parts of the connection terminals <NUM> are pressed against the leaf springs 25a, so that the leaf springs 25a are elastically deformed. The leaf springs 25a are connected to the connection terminals <NUM> in an elastically deformed state, ensuring stable connections between the electrodes <NUM> and the connection terminals <NUM>.

Next, a first example of electrical connections in the lighting device <NUM> will be described (see <FIG>). Note that in the first example of the electrical connections, the left-right direction will be described in a front view. In addition, portions shown by flecks or in black in <FIG> indicate portions where electrical connections are made.

As described above, in the lighting device <NUM>, for example, the six light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. spaced up and down constitute one group G, and the four groups G of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are arranged side by side up and down and left and right. One group G includes, for example, light source boards 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, and 13F in order from the top. On each of the light source boards 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, and 13F, for example, ten light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are evenly spaced left and right.

Note that one flexible flat cable <NUM> is connected to one group G of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. via the corresponding board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. and cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the configurations and connections of the different groups G, G,. of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the flexible flat cables <NUM> are made similar. Therefore, connections in one group G of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. will be described below as an example.

Pairs of the adjacent light-emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> on each light source board <NUM> are connected in series by the second wires <NUM> without the board-side connector <NUM> and the cable-side connector <NUM>.

Specifically, the ten light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on the light source board 13A are referred to as light-emitting elements 14A1, 14A2, 14A3,. , 14A10 in order from the left. The light-emitting element 14A1 and the light-emitting element 14A2 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A3 and the light-emitting element 14A4 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A5 and the light-emitting element 14A6 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A7 and the light-emitting element 14A8 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, and the light-emitting element 14A9 and the light-emitting element 14A10 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>.

Similarly, the ten light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on the light source board 13B are referred to as light-emitting elements 14B1, 14B2, 14B3,. , 14B10 in order from the left. The light-emitting element 14B1 and the light-emitting element 14B2 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14B3 and the light-emitting element 14B4 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14B5 and the light-emitting element 14B6 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, the light-emitting element 14B7 and the light-emitting element 14B8 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>, and the light-emitting element 14B9 and the light-emitting element 14B10 are connected in series by the second wire <NUM>.

For the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on the light source boards 13C to 13F below, pairs of the adjacent light-emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> are similarly connected in series by the second wires <NUM> without the board-side connector <NUM> and the cable-side connector <NUM>.

The connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13A are referred to as connections 21A1, 21A2,. , 21A10, respectively. The first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. having the corresponding connections 21A1, 21A2,. , 21A10 are connected to the light-emitting elements 14A1, 14A2,. , 14A10, respectively.

At the light source board 13A, for example, the connections 21A8, 21A6, 21A4, 21A2, and 21A10 are aligned in order from the left on the upper edge portion, and the connections 21A7, 21A5, 21A3, 21A1, and 21A9 are aligned in order from the left on the lower edge portion.

Similarly, the connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13B are referred to as connections 21B1, 21B2,. The first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. having the corresponding connections 21B1, 21B2,. , 21B10 are connected to the light-emitting elements 14B1, 14B2,. , 14B10, respectively. At the light source board 13B, for example, the connections 21B8, 21B6, 21B4, 21B2, and 21B10 are aligned in order from the left on the upper edge portion, and the connections 21B7, 21B5, 21B3, 21B1, and 21B9 are aligned in order from the left on the lower edge portion.

The connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source boards 13C to 13F below are also aligned in similar orders.

Each board-side connector <NUM> is provided with the same number of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. aligned left and right on both upper and lower sides. For example, seven electrodes <NUM> are provided for each of the connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. Thus, for example, thirty-five electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are aligned left and right on the upper side, and thirty-five electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are aligned left and right on the lower side.

Similarly, each cable-side connector <NUM> is provided with the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. on both upper and lower sides, for example, thirty-five are aligned left and right on the upper side, and thirty-five are aligned left and right on the lower side.

In the flexible flat cable <NUM>, the number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. is more than or equal to half of the number of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. in the board-side connector <NUM>. The conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are referred to as conductors <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,. from the left.

In the above configuration, the first example of the electrical connections in the lighting device <NUM> will be described in detail mainly with reference to part of the lighting device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Note that <FIG> is a conceptual diagram of a portion including the light-emitting elements 14A9, 14A10, 14B9, and 14B10 of the light source board 13A and the light source board 13B. <FIG> is a conceptual diagram of a portion including the light-emitting elements 14C9, 14C10, 14D9, and 14D10 of the light source board 13C and the light source board 13D. <FIG> is a conceptual diagram of a portion including the light-emitting elements 14E9, 14E10, 14F9, and 14F10 of the light source board 13E and the light source board 13F.

The first wires <NUM> formed on the light source boards <NUM> are electrically connected to the conductors <NUM> of the flexible flat cable <NUM> via the electrodes <NUM> of the board-side connectors <NUM> and the connection terminals <NUM> of the cable-side connectors <NUM>. Note that the connection <NUM> of each first wire <NUM> is connected to the corresponding seven electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and these seven electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the corresponding connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. Of the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the corresponding seven electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. , only one connection terminal <NUM> is connected to one conductor <NUM> via the connection hole 26a. Thus, the connection <NUM> of each first wire <NUM> is electrically connected to one conductor <NUM> via the electrode <NUM> of the board-side connector <NUM> and the connection terminal <NUM> of the cable-side connector <NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13A, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21A8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21A10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13A, for example, the connection 21A7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21A9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13B, for example, the connection 21B8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21B10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13B, for example, the connection 21B7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21B1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21B9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Thus, in the first example, the connection 21A8 and the connection 21B7 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A6 and the connection 21B5 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A4 and the connection 21B3 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A2 and the connection 21B1 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21A10 and the connection 21B9 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Consequently, the light-emitting element 14A8 and the light-emitting element 14B7 are connected in series via the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A6 and the light-emitting element 14B5 are connected in series via the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A4 and the light-emitting element 14B3 are connected in series via the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the light-emitting element 14A2 and the light-emitting element 14B1 are connected in series via the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the light-emitting element 14A10 and the light-emitting element 14B9 are connected in series via the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Furthermore, in the lighting device <NUM>, since the pairs of the adjacent light-emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> are connected in series by the second wires <NUM> as described above, sets of four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected in series in each set. Specifically, the light-emitting element 14A1, the light-emitting element 14A2, the light-emitting element 14B1, and the light-emitting element 14B2 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A3, the light-emitting element 14A4, the light-emitting element 14B3, and the light-emitting element 14B4 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A5, the light-emitting element 14A6, the light-emitting element 14B5, and the light-emitting element 14B6 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A7, the light-emitting element 14A8, the light-emitting element 14B7, and the light-emitting element 14B8 are connected in series, and the light-emitting element 14A9, the light-emitting element 14A10, the light-emitting element 14B9, and the light-emitting element 14B10 are connected in series.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13C, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21C8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21C10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13C, for example, the connection 21C7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21C9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13D, for example, the connection 21D8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21D10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13D, for example, the connection 21D7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21D1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21D9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Consequently, in the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the light source board 13C and the light source board 13D, the light-emitting element 14C1, the light-emitting element 14C2, the light-emitting element 14D1, and the light-emitting element 14D2 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14C3, the light-emitting element 14C4, the light-emitting element 14D3, and the light-emitting element 14D4 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14C5, the light-emitting element 14C6, the light-emitting element 14D5, and the light-emitting element 14D6 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14C7, the light-emitting element 14C8, the light-emitting element 14D7, and the light-emitting element 14D8 are connected in series, and the light-emitting element 14C9, the light-emitting element 14C10, the light-emitting element 14D9, and the light-emitting element 14D10 are connected in series.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13E, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21E8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21E10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13E, for example, the connection 21E7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21E9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13F, for example, the connection 21F8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21F10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13F, for example, the connection 21F7 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F5 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F3 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21F1 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21F9 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Consequently, in the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the light source board 13E and the light source board 13F, the light-emitting element 14E1, the light-emitting element 14E2, the light-emitting element 14F1, and the light-emitting element 14F2 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14E3, the light-emitting element 14E4, the light-emitting element 14F3, and the light-emitting element 14F4 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14E5, the light-emitting element 14E6, the light-emitting element 14F5, and the light-emitting element 14F6 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14E7, the light-emitting element 14E8, the light-emitting element 14F7, and the light-emitting element 14F8 are connected in series, and the light-emitting element 14E9, the light-emitting element 14E10, the light-emitting element 14F9, and the light-emitting element 14F10 are connected in series.

As described above, in the first example, the pairs of the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the different light source boards <NUM> and <NUM> are connected in series via the board-side connectors <NUM>, the cable-side connectors <NUM>, and the flexible flat cable <NUM>.

Consequently, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the different light source boards <NUM> and <NUM> are simultaneously switched on and off, thus allowing improvement in the degree of freedom in control over the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,.

In addition, since the sets of the four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. adjacent to each other up and down and left and right are connected in series in each set, the positions of these four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are in a positional relationship close to the form of one pixel.

Therefore, it is particularly useful in performing so-called local dimming, which is a technique of dividing a screen into sections, controlling the amount of light of light-emitting elements on a section-by-section basis, and adjusting the amount of light of the light-emitting elements according to the brightness of an image displayed on each section, and can significantly improve the contrast of an image displayed on the screen and can reduce power consumption in the lighting device <NUM>.

Note that in the first example described above, the example in which the four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. adjacent to each other up and down and left and right are connected in series with each other has been described, but the number of the light-emitting elements <NUM> connected in series is not limited to four and may be any number, and further, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected in series may be the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed at whatever positions. Furthermore, in the display device <NUM>, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. may not be connected in series, and all the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. may be individually switched on and off.

Furthermore, in the first example, the plurality of connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. is provided on each cable-side connector <NUM>, the connection holes 26a, 26a,. are formed in the insulator <NUM> of each flexible flat cable <NUM> to expose some of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are inserted into the connection holes 26a, 26a,. to be connected to the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Thus, the connection terminals <NUM> are inserted into the connection holes 26a to be connected to the conductors <NUM>, and some of the plurality of conductors <NUM> are electrically connected to the first wires <NUM>, so that connection between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM> and insulation between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM> can be facilitated.

Moreover, by forming the connection holes 26a in the insulator <NUM> of each flexible flat cable <NUM> for connection and insulation between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM>, the wiring patterns <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. need not be changed at each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. Thus, the same light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be used to connect the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , allowing a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the lighting device <NUM>.

Note that the above has described the example in which the connection holes 26a are formed in each flexible flat cable <NUM> for connection and insulation between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM>, but, for example, the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. may be provided on each board-side connector <NUM> only at positions to be connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. may be connected to some of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>).

Thus, each cable-side connector <NUM> is provided with the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. each connected to the corresponding one of the plurality of conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and each board-side connector <NUM> is provided with the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to some of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. , so that the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and some of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are electrically connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Thus, connection between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM> and insulation between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM> are provided by the presence and absence of the electrodes <NUM> for the connection terminals <NUM>. Consequently, the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. having the same wiring patterns <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be used to reduce the manufacturing cost of the lighting device <NUM>.

Furthermore, on the contrary, each cable-side connector <NUM> may be provided with the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. only at positions to be connected to the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. , so that the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to some of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Next, a second example in electrical connections in the lighting device <NUM> will be described (see <FIG>).

Note that the second example in the electrical connections described below is different from the first example in the electrical connections described above only in that all of the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the cable-side connectors <NUM> are connected to the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the flexible flat cable <NUM> via the connection holes 26a, 26a,. , and the wiring patterns <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are different from each other. Therefore, in the second example, only parts different from those in the first example will be mainly described in detail, and the other parts are assigned the same reference numerals as the reference numerals assigned to similar parts in the first example to omit or abbreviate description.

Note that in the second example of the electrical connections, the left-right direction will be described in a front view. In addition, portions shown by flecks or in black in <FIG> indicate portions where electrical connections are made. In addition, portions shown by flecks in <FIG> indicate portions where electrical connections are made.

Note that the connections 21A1, 21A3, 21A5, 21A7, and 21A9 are united.

On the light source board 13A, for example, the connections 21A8, 21A6, 21A4, 21A2, and 21A10 are aligned in order from the left on the upper edge portion, and the connections 21A1, 21A3, 21A5, 21A7, and 21A9 are united on the lower edge portion.

Similarly, the connections <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13B are referred to as connections 21B1, 21B2,. The first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. having the corresponding connections 21B1, 21B2,. , 21B10 are connected to the light-emitting elements 14B1, 14B2,. , 14B10, respectively. At the light source board <NUM>, for example, the connections 21B8, 21B6, 21B4, 21B2, and 21B10 are aligned in order from the left on the upper edge portion, and the connections 21B7, 21B5, 21B3, 21B1, and 21B9 are aligned in order from the left on the lower edge portion.

The connections of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13C and the light source board 13D below are configured like the connections of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13A and the light source board 13B, respectively. Furthermore, the connections of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13E and the light source board 13F are configured like the connections of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the light source board 13A and the light source board 13B, respectively.

Each board-side connector <NUM> is provided with the same number of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>,. aligned left and right on both the upper and lower sides, for example, thirty-four are aligned left and right on the upper side, and thirty-four are aligned left and right on the lower side.

Similarly, each cable-side connector <NUM> is provided with the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. on both the upper and lower sides, for example, thirty-four are aligned left and right on the upper side, and thirty-four are aligned left and right on the lower side.

In the above configuration, the second example of the electrical connections in the lighting device <NUM> will be described in detail mainly with reference to part of the lighting device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The first wires <NUM> formed on the light source boards <NUM> are electrically connected to the conductors <NUM> of the flexible flat cable <NUM> via the electrodes <NUM> of the board-side connectors <NUM> and the connection terminals <NUM> of the cable-side connectors <NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13A, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21A8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21A10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13A, for example, the united connections 21A1, 21A3, 21A5, 21A7, and 21A9 are electrically connected to the conductors <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>.

Thus, in the second example, the connection 21A8 and the connection 21B7 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A6 and the connection 21B5 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A4 and the connection 21B3 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21A2 and the connection 21B1 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21A10 and the connection 21B9 are both electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>.

Furthermore, in the lighting device <NUM>, since the pairs of the adjacent light-emitting elements <NUM> and <NUM> are connected in series by the second wires <NUM>, sets of four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected in series in each set. Specifically, the light-emitting element 14A1, the light-emitting element 14A2, the light-emitting element 14B1, and the light-emitting element 14B2 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A3, the light-emitting element 14A4, the light-emitting element 14B3, and the light-emitting element 14B4 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A5, the light-emitting element 14A6, the light-emitting element 14B5, and the light-emitting element 14B6 are connected in series, the light-emitting element 14A7, the light-emitting element 14A8, the light-emitting element 14B7, and the light-emitting element 14B8 are connected in series, and the light-emitting element 14A9, the light-emitting element 14A10, the light-emitting element 14B9, and the light-emitting element 14B10 are connected in series.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13C, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21C8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21C2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21C10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13C, for example, the united connections 21C1, 21C3, 21C5, 21C7, and 21C9 are electrically connected to the conductors <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the upper edge portion of the light source board 13E, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection 21E8 is electrically connected to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E6 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E4 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, the connection 21E2 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the connection 21E10 to the conductor <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, in the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed on the lower edge portion of the light source board 13E, for example, the united connections 21E1, 21E3, 21E5, 21E7, and 21E9 are electrically connected to the conductors <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>.

Thus, also in the second example, as in the first example, the pairs of the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed on each of the different light source boards <NUM> and <NUM> are connected in series via the board-side connectors <NUM>, the cable-side connectors <NUM>, and the flexible flat cable <NUM>.

Therefore, it is particularly useful in local dimming, and can significantly improve the contrast of an image displayed on the screen and can reduce the power consumption in the lighting device <NUM>.

Note that in the second example described above, the example in which the four light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. adjacent to each other up and down and left and right are connected in series with each other has been described, but the number of the light-emitting elements <NUM> connected in series is not limited to four and may be any number, and further, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. connected in series may be the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. disposed at whatever positions. Furthermore, in the display device <NUM>, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. may not be connected in series, and all the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. may be individually switched on and off.

Furthermore, in the second example, the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. have the different respective wiring patterns <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and at least one of the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. of each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. having the different wiring patterns <NUM>, <NUM>,. is connected to different conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Thus, due to the differences in the wiring patterns <NUM>, the first wires <NUM> are connected to the different conductors <NUM> to provide connection between the conductors <NUM> and the first wires <NUM> and insulation between the conductors <NUM> and the wires. Consequently, it becomes possible to use the plurality of board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. and cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the same structures, individually, allowing a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the lighting device <NUM>.

As described above, in the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM>, at each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , some conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the plurality of conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are electrically connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the light source board <NUM> via the cable-side connector <NUM> and the board-side connector <NUM>.

Thus, some conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the plurality of conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. in the flexible flat cable <NUM> connected to the control board <NUM> are electrically connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. at each of the light source board <NUM>, <NUM>,. via the cable-side connector <NUM> and the board-side connector <NUM>. Consequently, the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. is connected to the control board <NUM> via the flexible flat cable <NUM>.

Thus, in the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM>, the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the control board <NUM> by the flexible flat cables <NUM> having a high degree of flexibility. Therefore, even in a case where the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. or the control board <NUM> expands or contracts due to temperature changes, causing a misalignment between them, the flexible flat cables <NUM> sufficiently absorb the misalignment, ensuring good connections at connection portions from the light source board <NUM>, <NUM>,. to the control board <NUM>.

Furthermore, since some conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the plurality of conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are connected to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. at each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the required number of the flexible flat cables <NUM> is reduced, and the flexible flat cables <NUM> are thin and inexpensive connection means, contributing to reductions in size and manufacturing cost of the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM>.

This ensures good connections between the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the control board <NUM> in the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM> without causing a rise in manufacturing cost.

Moreover, since the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. is connected to the control board <NUM> via the flexible flat cables <NUM>, switching on/off control over the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be performed in addition to achieving reductions in size and manufacturing cost of the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM>.

Further, since the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. is connected to the flexible flat cables <NUM> via the board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the lighting device <NUM> can be easily assembled and electrical connections between the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be facilitated without increasing the number of parts.

Furthermore, the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. is spaced in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the plurality of light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. is spaced in the longitudinal direction of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the plurality of cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. is coupled to the board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. attached to the corresponding light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Consequently, the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the flexible flat cables <NUM> are disposed at right angles, so that space savings can be provided for an arrangement space of the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the flexible flat cables <NUM>.

A flexible flat cable 16X that is an example of a shape different from that of the flexible flat cable <NUM> will be described below (see <FIG>).

The flexible flat cable 16X is connected to the plurality of light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. via the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the board-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,.

The flexible flat cable 16X is formed in a sheet shape, and is formed in a staircase shape with the left-right width changing in the longitudinal direction. The flexible flat cable 16X includes different-width portions 16a, 16b,. , 16f having different left-right widths according to the number of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. to be connected.

The numbers of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed in the different-width portions 16a, 16b,. , 16f depend on the left-right widths. The number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed in the different-width portion 16a of the narrowest width is the smallest, and the number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed in the different-width portion 16f of the widest width is the largest.

In such a flexible flat cable 16X, the number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. electrically connectable to the first wires <NUM>, <NUM>,. of the light source boards <NUM> increases as the left-right width becomes wider in the different-width portions 16a, 16b,.

In the lighting device <NUM>, as described above, the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. electrically connected to each of the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are partially different, so that smaller numbers of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. need to be positioned for the light source boards <NUM> located farther from the control board <NUM>. For example, in the example of <FIG> described above, the number of the conductors <NUM> required for the light source board 13E is eight in total, the five conductors <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM> and the three conductors <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>. The number of the conductors <NUM> required for the light source board 13F is thirteen in total, the five conductors <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>, the five conductors <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>, and the three conductors <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM> at portions connected to the control board <NUM>. Therefore, in this example, the required number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. positioned for each light source board <NUM> located farther from the control board <NUM> is fewer by five.

On the basis of such a configuration, the flexible flat cable 16X has smaller numbers of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. at portions located for the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. located farther from the control board <NUM>, and is reduced in the left-right width accordingly. The number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed in the different-width portion 16a located farthest from the control board <NUM> is the smallest, and the number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. formed in the different-width portion 16f located closest to the control board <NUM> is the largest.

Therefore, using the flexible flat cable 16X ensures efficient connections with the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and allows a reduction in the size of the flexible flat cable.

Furthermore, also in the flexible flat cable 16X, some of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. are electrically connected to the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , individually. Therefore, each of the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. may be provided with the same number of the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. as the number of the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. electrically connected thereto. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, by changing the attachment positions of the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. in the left-right direction at each of the different-width portions 16a, 16b,. , 16f, the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be electrically connected regardless of the position of connection with the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. in each of the different-width portions 16a, 16b,. <FIG> shows an example of the position of connection between the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. in each of the different-width portions 16a, 16b,. , 16f and the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. as connection positions 29x, 29x,. Thus, in this example, the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. are provided only at the connection position 29x of each cable-side connector <NUM>.

In a case of using the flexible flat cable 16X in this way, the same cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be used by changing the attachment positions of the cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. in the left-right direction at each of the different-width portions 16a, 16b,. Consequently, it is not necessary to form different cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. according to the positions of connection with the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the manufacturing cost of the lighting device <NUM> can be reduced.

Note that even in a case of using the flexible flat cable 16X, the cable-side connectors <NUM> provided with as many connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM>,. as all the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>,. (see <FIG>) may be used. In this case as well, the same cable-side connectors <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be used.

Note that the flexible flat cable 16X can be used in a curved state in the width direction, and further can be used in a curved state in the thickness direction.

Next, other structures of light source boards will be described (see <FIG>). Note that in the drawings referred to for the other structures of the light source boards described below, the light source boards and the light-emitting elements are shown in a simplified manner for ease of explanation.

Light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are mounted on the back chassis <NUM>, spaced left and right, with the longitudinal direction set, for example, in the up-down direction (see <FIG>). Light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are evenly spaced up and down on the light source boards <NUM>.

Inside each light source board <NUM>, fluid spaces 30a, 30a,. extending up and down are formed at intervals left and right (see <FIG>). The fluid spaces 30a are formed, for example, from a position near the upper end to a position near the lower end of the light source board <NUM>.

Working fluid <NUM>, <NUM>,. is sealed in the individual fluid spaces 30a, 30a,. (see <FIG>). The working fluid <NUM> has a property of changing from liquid to gas when the temperature rises to a certain temperature, and changing from gas to liquid when the temperature drops to the certain temperature. The working fluid <NUM> is not sealed in the entire fluid spaces 30a, but is sealed in by an amount corresponding to a part of the volume of each fluid space 30a. Consequently, the working fluid <NUM> is sealed in a lower end portion of each fluid space 30a by gravity in a liquid state.

When light is emitted from the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. and the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. generate heat. With this heat generation, the temperatures of the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. , the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and the working fluid <NUM>, <NUM>,. are raised. When the temperature of the working fluid <NUM> is raised, the working fluid <NUM> is changed from liquid to gas, and the working fluid <NUM> changed to gas flows upward in the fluid spaces 30a.

By the working fluid <NUM> flowing upward in the fluid spaces 30a, the light source boards <NUM> and the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. are cooled by the working fluid <NUM>.

Consequently, the temperature rise of the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be reduced, ensuring a stable drive state of the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,.

Furthermore, the heat in the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. is dispersed, so that the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be driven with a large amount of power, and the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be improved in drive efficiency and extended in life, and the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM> can be designed at low cost.

Moreover, since the working fluid <NUM>, <NUM>,. that functions as coolant for cooling the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. and others is sealed in each light source board <NUM>, it is not necessary to provide a structure for cooling the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. and others at the outside of the light source board <NUM>. Thus, in addition to ensuring reductions in manufacturing cost and size of the display device <NUM> and the lighting device <NUM>, the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. can be improved in drive efficiency and extended in life.

Note that although the above has described the example in which the fluid spaces 30a are formed from the position near the upper end to the position near the lower end of the light source board <NUM>, fluid spaces 30a, 30a,. may be formed separately in the up-down direction of the light source board <NUM>, for example (see <FIG>). In this case, it is desirable that one fluid space 30a is formed at a position corresponding to at least one light-emitting element <NUM>.

By the fluid spaces 30a, 30a,. being formed separately in the up-down direction in this way, the respective flow lengths of the working fluid <NUM>, <NUM>,. evaporated by a temperature rise are shortened, so that the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. and others can be cooled quickly and efficiently.

Furthermore, in a case where the light source boards <NUM>, <NUM>,. are mounted on the back chassis <NUM> in a horizontally long state, fluid spaces 30a, 30a,. extending up and down may be formed at intervals left and right (see <FIG>).

In this case as well, the respective flow lengths of the working fluid <NUM>, <NUM>,. evaporated by a temperature rise are shortened, so that the light-emitting elements <NUM>, <NUM>,. and others can be cooled quickly and efficiently.

Claim 1:
A lighting device (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of light source boards (<NUM>) each having a wiring pattern including a plurality of wires;
a plurality of light-emitting elements (<NUM>) disposed on each light source board (<NUM>), switching on and off of which being controlled by a control board (<NUM>) of the lighting device (<NUM>);
a plurality of board-side connectors (<NUM>) each attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of light source boards (<NUM>) ;
a flexible flat cable (<NUM>) that has a multi-core structure including a flat-shaped insulator (<NUM>) and a plurality of conductors (<NUM>) aligned in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the insulator (<NUM>), and is connected at one end to the control board (<NUM>); and
a plurality of cable-side connectors (<NUM>) attached to the flexible flat cable (<NUM>) and each coupled to a corresponding one of the boardside connectors (<NUM>), wherein some conductors of the plurality of conductors (<NUM>) connected to the control board are electrically connected to wires of at least two different light source boards (<NUM>) via a corresponding one of the cable-side connectors (<NUM>) and a corresponding one of the board-side connectors (<NUM>),
each cable-side connector (<NUM>) is provided with a plurality of connection terminals (<NUM>),
characterised in that
connection holes (26a) for exposing some conductors (<NUM>) of the plurality of conductors (<NUM>) are formed in the insulator (<NUM>),
some connection terminals (<NUM>) of the plurality of connection terminals (<NUM>) are inserted into the connection holes (26a) to be connected to the conductors (<NUM>) .