Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same

Abstract

A surface light source device includes a light source body having an internal space. A partition wall is disposed in the internal space of the light source body to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces. The partition wall has end portions that make contact with inner surface of the light source body. The partition wall has a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other. The light source body includes a voltage applying part that applies a voltage to the discharge space to generate plasma in the discharge space. A barrier is disposed adjacent to the throughhole to restrict a flow of the plasma generated from a discharge gas through the throughhole. The barrier screens the throughhole to restrict the flow of the plasma through the throughhole. Therefore, uniformity of luminance of the surface light source device is improved.

1 .- 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A surface light source device, comprising: 
 a light source body having an internal space;    a partition wall in the internal space to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces, the partition wall having end portions that make contact with inner surface of the light source body and a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other, the throughhole being disposed at a lower portion of the partition wall.    
   
   
       25 . The surface light source device of the  claim 24 , further comprising a barrier that is disposed adjacent to the throughhole to restrict a flow of plasma generated from a discharge gas through the throughhole.  
   
   
       26 . The surface light source device of the  claim 24 , wherein the light source body comprises: 
 a first substrate;    a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate; and    a sealing member between the first and second substrates to form the internal space.    
   
   
       27 . The surface light source device of the  claim 26 , wherein the throughhole makes contact with the first substrate.  
   
   
       28 . The surface light source device of the  claim 27 , wherein each of the throughholes is spaced apart from the end portions of each of the partition walls, and the throughholes are alternately arranged in a direction in substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the partition walls.  
   
   
       29 . The surface light source device of the  claim 26 , wherein each of the partition walls includes a plurality of throughholes, and each of the throughholes is disposed adjacent to the end portions of each of the partition walls.  
   
   
       30 . The surface light source device of the  claim 25 , wherein the barrier has a height lower than the partition wall.  
   
   
       31 . The surface light source device of the  claim 30 , wherein the barrier has a height higher than the throughhole.  
   
   
       32 . The surface light source device of the  claim 30 , wherein the barrier is spaced apart from the partition wall.  
   
   
       33 . The surface light source device of the  claim 32 , wherein the barrier is spaced apart from the partition wall by about one millimeter.  
   
   
       34 . The surface light source device of the  claim 30 , wherein end portions of the barrier make contact with the partition wall.  
   
   
       35 . The surface light source device of the  claim 30 , further comprising an auxiliary barrier disposed opposite to the barrier with respect to the partition wall.  
   
   
       36 . The surface light source device of the  claim 24 , further comprising a voltage applying part that applies a voltage to the discharge space.  
   
   
       37 . The surface light source device of the  claim 36 , wherein the voltage applying part comprises electrodes that surround outer surface of the light source body along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the partition wall.  
   
   
       38 . A surface light source device, comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate;    a sealing member between the first and second substrates to form an internal space;    a partition wall in the internal space to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces, the partition wall having end portions that make contact with inner surface of the sealing member and a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other; and    a voltage applying part that is disposed on outer surfaces of the first and second substrates to apply a voltage to the discharge space so as to generate plasma, the throughhole being disposed at a lower portion of the partition wall.    
   
   
       39 . The surface light source device of the  claim 38 , further comprising a barrier that is disposed adjacent to the throughhole to restrict a flow of the plasma through the throughhole.  
   
   
       40 . The surface light source device of the  claim 38 , wherein the throughhole makes contact with the first substrate.  
   
   
       41 . The surface light source device of the  claim 40 , further comprising a plurality of partition walls, wherein each of the throughholes is spaced apart from the end portions of each of the partition walls, and the throughholes are alternately arranged in a direction in substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the partition walls.  
   
   
       42 . The surface light source device of the  claim 39 , wherein each of the partition walls includes a plurality of throughholes, and each of the throughholes is disposed adjacent to the end portions of each of the partition walls.  
   
   
       43 . The surface light source device of the  claim 39 , wherein the barrier has a height lower than the partition wall, and the barrier has a height higher than the throughhole.  
   
   
       44 . The surface light source device of the  claim 43 , wherein the barrier is spaced apart from the partition wall.  
   
   
       45 . The surface light source device of the  claim 43 , wherein end portions of the barrier make contact with the partition wall.  
   
   
       46 . The surface light source device of the  claim 39 , further comprising an auxiliary barrier disposed opposite to the barrier with respect to the partition wall.  
   
   
       47 . A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: 
 a surface light source device including a light source body that has an internal space, a partition wall disposed in the internal space to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces, the partition wall having end portions that make contact with inner surface of the light source body and a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other, the throughhole being disposed at a lower portion of the partition wall; and    a liquid crystal display panel including liquid crystal to convert a light generated from the surface light source device into an image light.