Patent ID: 8322904

Claim:
A backlight unit comprising: a plurality of optical assemblies that each separately includes: a light emitting module having a plurality of light emitting devices to emit light, a light guide plate that includes a first part to receive light from the light emitting devices, and a second part to receive light from the first part and to output the light from a top surface, and a side cover provided at one side of the light guide plate that surrounds a portion of the light emitting module and couples the light guide plate and the light emitting module; and a bottom cover to receive the plurality of optical assemblies, wherein two of the optical assemblies are adjacent to each other in a first direction, and the corresponding light guide plates are spaced apart from each other in the first direction by a first interval, and two of the optical assemblies are adjacent to each other in a second direction, and the corresponding light guide plates are spaced apart from each other in the second direction by a second interval, wherein the side cover includes a first side cover and a second side cover, wherein the second side cover is coupled to the first side cover, and wherein the first side cover is disposed on an upper portion of a first part of the light guide plate and on a top surface of the light emitting module, and the first side cover contacts the upper portion of the first part of the light guide plate.