Patent ID: 7826008

Claim:
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal display panel; and a direct backlight including a plurality of fluorescent lamps wherein the fluorescent lamps are external electrode fluorescent lamps, the number of fluorescent lamps is an odd-number, a center one of the fluorescent lamps positioned at a center of the plurality of fluorescent lamps is aligned with a center of a screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and each of the plurality of fluorescent lamps is supported by at least one of a plurality of intermediate holders disposed at a position between and substantially away from the external electrodes of the fluorescent lamps; wherein the center one of the plurality of fluorescent lamps is supported by two of the intermediate holders and at least another one of the plurality of fluorescent lamps is supported by only one of the intermediate holders; and wherein each of the intermediate holders has a same shape and supports at least four of the plurality of fluorescent lamps.