Flat fluorescent lamp, backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same

A backlight assembly comprising:

• a receiving container having a receiving space;
• a flat fluorescent lamp having a lamp body divided into a plurality of discharge spaces and an external electrode that is formed at one or both ends of the lamp body and intersecting the discharge spaces, the flat fluorescent lamp being received into the receiving space;
• a first mold to fix the flat fluorescent lamp to the receiving container and to cover the external electrode, the first mold having an auxiliary electrode electrically connected to the external electrode;
• and
• an inverter to generate a discharge voltage for the flat fluorescent lamp.

A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:

• a receiving container having a receiving space;
• a flat fluorescent lamp having a lamp body divided into a plurality of discharge spaces to generate light, an external electrode that is formed at both ends of the lamp body and intersects the discharge spaces, and an auxiliary electrode coupled to the lamp body and electrically connected to the external electrode;
• an inverter to generate a discharge voltage for the flat fluorescent lamp;
• and
• a liquid crystal display panel to display an image using the light from the flat fluorescent lamp.

A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:

• a receiving container having a receiving space;
• a flat fluorescent lamp having a lamp body divided into a plurality of discharge spaces to generate light and an external electrode that is formed at both ends of the lamp body and intersects with the discharge spaces, the flat fluorescent lamp being received into the receiving space;
• a first mold to fix the flat fluorescent lamp to the receiving container and to cover the external electrode, the first mold having an auxiliary electrode electrically connected to the external electrode;
• an inverter to generate a discharge voltage for the flat fluorescent lamp;
• and
• a liquid crystal display panel to display an image using the light from the flat fluorescent lamp.