Patent ID: 7325941

Claim:
A backlight assembly, comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged at fixed intervals inside an outer case; a first side supporter that includes a plurality of U-shaped curved portions substantially aligned with respective first ends of the plurality of light sources, the first side supporter at one side of the outer case thereby supporting the plurality of light sources; a second side supporter that includes a plurality of U-shaped curved portions substantially aligned with respective second ends of the plurality of light sources, the second side supporter at a second side of the outer case thereby supporting the plurality of light sources; a first printed circuit board (PCB) on which a plurality of first inverters are mounted; a second printed circuit board(PCB) on which a plurality of second inverters are mounted; a plurality of wires for electrically connecting a first electrode of each respective light source of the plurality of light sources with a respective first inverter of the plurality of first inverters and electrically connecting a second electrode of each respective light source of the plurality of light source with a respective second inverter of the plurality of second inverters; a first cover shield including a first side for covering the first ends of the plurality of light sources, the first cover shield having a second side for covering a first rear side of the outer case; a second cover shield including a first side for covering the second ends of the plurality of light sources, the second cover shield having a second side for covering a second rear side of the outer case; a plurality of first extensions extending from the first side supporter toward the first side of the first cover shield, thereby preventing contact between the first cover shield and the first side supporter; and a plurality of second extensions extending from the second side supporter toward the first side of the second cover shield, thereby preventing contact between the second cover shield and the second side supporter.