Light conversion device and manufacturing method thereof, and light source unit including the light conversion device

A light source unit, comprising:

• a light guide plate comprising:
• a front surface and a rear surface which are opposite to each other, and
• a side surface between and connecting the front surface and the rear surface;
• a light conversion device on the side of the light guide plate;
• and
• a light source which generates and supplies light to the light conversion device,
• wherein the light conversion device comprises:
• a tube which is sealed;
• a light conversion member within the sealed tube, the light conversion member having a band shape defining two opposing sides of the light conversion member in a longitudinal direction of the sealed tube;
• and
• a space other than the area which is occupied by the light conversion member in the sealed tube,
• wherein
• the tube comprises an inner wall,
• the space comprises two portions, each of which is defined respectively between the inner wall of the sealed tube and each of the two opposing sides of the light conversion member, and
• the space other than the area which is occupied by the light conversion member in the sealed tube is filled with inert gas.

A method of manufacturing a light conversion device, comprising:

• preparing a tube in which a solid state light conversion member is sealed, the tube comprising:
• an inner area in which the solid light conversion member is sealed, and
• an inner wall which directly defines the inner area to have a predetermined shape;
• disposing the tube to have an open end which exposes the inner area of the tube to outside the tube;
• inserting the solid state light conversion member into the tube through the open end thereof, to expose the solid state light conversion member to the inner area of the tube;
• and
• sealing the open end of the tube to dispose the solid state light conversion member in the inner area of the tube and to dispose the solid state light conversion member spaced apart from the inner wall of the sealed tube,
• wherein
• a space other than the inner area which is occupied by the solid light conversion member in the sealed tube is defined, by sealing the open end of the tube,
• the space other than the inner area which is occupied by the solid light conversion member in the sealed tube is filled with inert gas,
• the solid state light conversion member sealed in the tube has a band shape defining two opposing sides of the light conversion member in a longitudinal direction of the sealed tube, and
• the space comprises two portions, each of which is defined respectively between the inner wall of the sealed tube and each of the two opposing sides of the light conversion member.