Patent ID: 7520632

Claim:
An illuminator for a display device comprising: a plurality of rod-shaped light sources each having a length extending in a first direction and having substantially the same length, the plurality of rod-shaped light sources include a plurality of first rod-shaped light sources arranged to be substantially parallel with respect to one another and spaced from each other in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second rod-shaped light sources arranged to be substantially parallel with respect to one another and spaced from each other in the second direction, the first rod-shaped light sources having ends aligned along the second direction at a first edge of the illuminator and a remaining portion of the first rod-shaped light sources extending along the first direction toward a central region of the illuminator, the second rod-shaped light sources having ends aligned along the second direction at a second edge of the illuminator and a remaining portion of the second rod-shaped light sources extending along the first direction toward said central region of the illuminator; and at least one inverter disposed on an inverter substrate in said central region of the illuminator; wherein at least two of the plurality of rod-shaped light sources are electrically connected to each of the at least one inverter.