Inverter device, liquid crystal display device using the inverter device, and method of monitoring lamps of the liquid crystal display device using the inverter device

1. An inverter device for a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a transformer for receiving an inverter drive voltage, converting the received drive voltage into an AC lamp drive voltage and supplying the AC lamp drive voltage to a high path of one of a plurality of backlight lamps;

a low path switching part connecting or disconnecting a low paths of the backlight lamps with a ground voltage source in response to an external inverter ON/OFF signal, wherein the low path switching part includes a first driver selectively supplying the inverter drive voltage to the low paths of the backlight lamps in response to the inverter ON/OFF signal, and a first switching part connecting the low paths of the backlight lamps to the ground voltage source in response to an output signal of the first driver; and

a shutdown circuit for receiving a voltage input through the low paths of the backlight lamps to monitor for a malfunction of the backlight lamps in response to an external shutdown ON/OFF signal,

wherein the first driver includes a first switch being switched in response to the inverter ON/OFF signal, and a second switch supplying the inverter drive voltage to the first switching part in response to a state of the first switch,

wherein the first switching part includes first and second transistors connected in series between the low path of the backlight lamp and the ground voltage source for connecting the low path of the backlight lamp to the ground voltage source in response to an output signal of the second switch, and a resistor connected between the low path of the backlight lamp and the first transistor.

2. An inverter device for a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a transformer for receiving an inverter drive voltage, converting the received drive voltage into an AC lamp drive voltage and supplying the AC lamp drive voltage to a high path of one of a plurality of backlight lamps;

a low path switching part connecting or disconnecting a low paths of the backlight lamps with a ground voltage source in response to an external inverter ON/OFF signal; and

a shutdown circuit for receiving a voltage input through the low paths of the backlight lamps to monitor for a malfunction of the backlight lamps in response to an external shutdown ON/OFF signal,

wherein the shutdown circuit includes a second driver selectively supplying the inverter drive voltage to the low paths of the backlight lamps in response to the shutdown ON/OFF signal, a second switching part providing one of an enabling and disabling shutdown function for monitoring for the presence or absence of a malfunction of the backlight lamps in response to an output signal of the second driver, and an error amplifier monitoring for the presence or absence of a malfunction of the backlight lamps when the shutdown function is enabled by the second switching part,

wherein the second driver includes a third switch being switched in response to the shutdown ON/OFF signal; and a fourth switch supplying the inverter drive voltage to the second switching part in response to a state of the third switch,

wherein the second switching part includes, third and fourth field effect transistors connected in series between the low paths of the backlight lamps and the ground voltage source for connecting the low paths of the backlight lamps to the ground voltage source in response to an output signal of the fourth switch, and a resistor connected between the low path of the backlight lamp and the third field effect transistor,

wherein the second switching part includes a first capacitor connected between a drain terminal of the third field effect transistor and a drain terminal of the fourth field effect transistor, and a second capacitor connected between the drain terminal of the fourth field effect transistor and the ground voltage source.