Patent ID: 8289471

Claim:
A backlight comprising: a plurality of cylindrical lamps arranged in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other; a lamp holding member including a plurality of lamp holders that are arranged at predetermined intervals and that are arranged to hold respective ones of the plurality of cylindrical lamps, the lamp holding member also including a flat-plate shaped connection portion to which the plurality of lamp holders are fixed, the flat-plate shaped connection portion is arranged to be movable with respect to the plurality of cylindrical lamps such that, when the flat-plate shaped connection portion is moved with respect to the plurality of cylindrical lamps, a location of points of contact between the plurality of lamp holders and the plurality of the cylindrical lamps is changed; wherein a distance between the plurality of cylindrical lamps is increased or decreased by the changing of the location of the points of contact between the plurality of lamp holders and the plurality of cylindrical lamps while the plurality of cylindrical lamps remain arranged in parallel or substantially in parallel with each other.