Backlight driving method

A method of driving a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device including a backlight unit, first and second substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the backlight unit including a plurality of lamps sequentially turned on/off, each of the plurality of lamps being periodically turned on for a predetermined period, the method comprising:

• applying a first lamp current to one of the plurality of lamps for a first time period within the predetermined period so that the one of the plurality of lamps emits light with a first brightness;
• and
• applying a second lamp current to the one of the plurality of lamps for a second time period within the predetermined period so that the one of the plurality of lamps emits light with a second brightness.

A method of driving a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device, the backlight unit having a plurality of lamps, each of the plurality of lamps being periodically turned on for a predetermined period, the method comprising:

• increasing a current applied to one of the plurality of lamps from a first level to a second level for a time period within the predetermined period upon completion of a response of a liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display device.