Patent ID: 7753539

Claim:
A backlight assembly comprising: a plurality of lamps each having electrodes at opposite ends of a tube; a bottom cover for receiving the plurality of lamps, the bottom cover having a bottom surface, first lateral sides that correspond to the ends of the plurality of lamps, and second lateral sides that correspond to a lengthwise direction of the plurality of lamps; and lamp holders at both ends of the plurality of lamps, wherein the lamp holders have a third height above the bottom surface of the bottom cover that is greater than the first height of the first lateral sides, wherein the first lateral sides and the second sides lateral vertically formed with respect to the bottom surface, and the first lateral sides have a first height above the bottom surface of the bottom cover that is less than a second height of the second lateral sides above the bottom surface of the bottom cover to reduce parasitic capacitance between the lamps and the bottom cover, wherein the bottom cover has a box shape formed of metal, wherein the first height of the first lateral sides is lower than the horizontal centerline of the lamp which parallels a length direction of the lamp and passes through the center of the lamp, and wherein the ends of the plurality of lamps is disposed at an inner region of the first lateral sides.