Liquid crystal display device having an improved backlight

A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight disposed behind said liquid crystal display panel, said backlight comprising:

• a light source comprising a discharge tube including a sealed-off transparent tube body and a discharge gas sealed within said sealed-off transparent tube body with no electrodes disposed within said sealed-off transparent tube body, and first and second electrodes disposed outside said sealed-off transparent tube body;
• and
• a power source which supplies a first high-frequency voltage to said first electrode and a second high-frequency voltage to said second electrode,
• wherein said first electrode is disposed at one end of said sealed-off transparent tube body in a direction of a longitudinal axis thereof, and said second electrode is disposed at another end of said sealed-off transparent tube body in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof;
• wherein a phase of said first high-frequency voltage is different from a phase of said second high-frequency voltage, and
• wherein a length of a first wiring for coupling said power source to said first electrode is approximately equal to a length of a second wiring for coupling said power source to said second electrode.

A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight disposed behind said liquid crystal display panel, said backlight comprising:

• a light source comprising a discharge tube including a sealed-off transparent tube body and a discharge gas sealed within said sealed-off transparent tube body with no electrodes disposed within said sealed-off transparent tube body, and first and second electrodes disposed outside said sealed-off transparent tube body;
• and
• a power source which supplies a first high-frequency voltage to said first electrode and a second high-frequency voltage to said second electrode,
• wherein said first electrode is disposed at one end of said sealed-off transparent tube body in a direction of a longitudinal axis thereof, and said second electrode is disposed at another end of said sealed-off transparent tube body in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof;
• wherein a frequency of said first high-frequency voltage is different from a frequency of said second high-frequency voltage, and
• wherein a length of a first wiring for coupling said power source to said first electrode is approximately equal to a length of a second wiring for coupling said power source to said second electrode.