Patent ID: 7455421

Claim:
A backlight device comprising: at least one lamp unit, each lamp unit comprising: (a) at least one transformer, each transformer comprising: (i) two terminal blocks having implanted terminal pins; (ii) a bobbin having a winding core member and having a primary winding and first and second secondary windings wound around an outer circumference of the winding core member; (iii) a magnetic core; and (iv) two lamp connecting terminals attached respectively to the terminal blocks and connected respectively to the first and second secondary windings; and (b) at least one discharge lamp, each discharge lamp comprising electrodes, the at least one discharge lamp is fixedly attached to the at least one transformer such that two electrodes of the at least one discharge lamp are directly connected respectively to the two lamp connecting terminals of one of the at least one transformer, thus forming the lamp unit into an integral structure; a frame having an open space for housing the lamp unit, the lamp unit being disposed in the open space of the frame such that the discharge lamp and the transformer are arranged in a substantially same plane; a light diffusing plate disposed over the frame; and a circuit board for lighting the discharge lamp, the circuit board being disposed at a back surface of the frame, the transformer being mounted at the circuit board.