Patent ID: 8174207

Claim:
A device for driving a backlight assembly, comprising: a controller for outputting a control signal; a switching unit for outputting a DC square wave voltage in response to the control signal; an inverter for converting the DC square wave voltage into an AC voltage; and a lamp for emitting light in response to the AC voltage, the lamp including: first and second glass tube portions having respective one ends bent and connected integrally to each other; first and second needle-shaped electrodes respectively formed at respective other ends of the first and second glass tube portions and connected to the inverter, wherein a first end of the electrodes extends inside the glass tube portions and wherein first and second AC voltages having opposite phases are applied respectively to the first and second needle shaped electrodes; and a third electrode formed on an outer periphery and at the bent portion of the first and second glass tube portions and electrically connected to the controller, wherein electrical characteristics of the lamp only are detected through the third electrode, wherein the electrical characteristics include voltage, current and impedance of the lamp.