Patent ID: 7658525

Claim:
A backlight assembly comprising: an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) including an external electrode having a first portion and a second portion through which a driving voltage is applied, and a lamp for emitting light; a side support for supporting the EEFL, the side support covering the first portion of the external electrode; and a reflective protective cap disposed above the second portion of the external electrode to cover the second portion of the external electrode, the second portion of the external electrode being exposed out of the side support, wherein the reflective protective cap has a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface at an inclination extending from a vertex of the reflective protective cap such that the incident light emitted from a lamp of another external electrode fluorescent lamp adjacent to the external electrode fluorescent lamp is reflected by the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein the reflective protective cap is not electrically connected to the external electrode fluorescent lamp.