Patent ID: 7084583

Claim:
An LCD backlight unit, comprising: an inverter for generating first and second alternating current (AC) voltages using a direct current (DC) voltage and supplying the first and second AC voltages through first and second output lines, respectively; a plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps comprised of odd-numbered external electrode fluorescent lamps each having a first end electrode connected to the first output line of the inverter, and even-numbered external electrode fluorescent lamps each having a first end electrode connected to the second output line of the inverter, wherein second end electrodes of the odd-numbered and even-numbered external electrode fluorescent lamps, which are not connected to the first and second output lines, are grounded; and a base for allowing the plural external electrode fluorescent lamps to be fixed, wherein the inverter comprises: a line filter for rectifying a DC voltage supplied through a DC power unit and outputting the rectified DC voltage; a pulse generator for generating switching driving pulses; a pair of driving buffers for selectively outputting the driving pulses generated by the pulse generator; a pair of resonance circuits driven by the driving pulses outputted from the driving buffers to respectively converter the DC voltage received from the line filter into an AC voltage and output the AC voltage; and a pair of step-up transformers for respectively amplifying AC voltages outputted from the resonance circuits and outputting the amplified AC voltages to the external electrode fluorescent lamps which are divided into two groups, and wherein the base for allowing the external electrode fluorescent lamps to be fixed comprises: a pair of isolating plates longitudinally extended and arranged opposite to each other; and a pair of lamp fixing plates having both ends connected to the isolating plates, and having a plurality of lamp fixing holes oppositely formed at regular intervals.