Liquid crystal display device having an improved backlight

1. 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 opposite 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.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said power source includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings wound uniformly on a troidal core, said first electrode is coupled to one of said primary and secondary windings, and said second electrode is coupled to another of said primary and secondary windings.

3. 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.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said phase of said first high-frequency voltage is different from said phase of said second high-frequency voltage by a phase difference greater than 0 degrees, but smaller than 180 degrees, or a phase difference greater than 180 degrees, but smaller than 360 degrees.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said power source is configured such that the difference between said phases of said first and second high-frequency voltages is adjustable.

6. 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.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said power source comprises a first power source which supplies said first high-frequency voltage to said first electrode and a second power source which supplies said second high-frequency voltage to said second electrode.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said light source further comprises electrical conductors disposed symmetrically with respect to said sealed-off transparent tube body in a vicinity of said sealed—off transparent tube body.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second electrodes are supplied with said first and second high-frequency voltages such that an impedance of plasma formed in said sealed—off transparent tube body is equal to or lower than one tenth of an impedance formed by a stray capacitance around said sealed-off transparent tube body.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein frequencies of said first and second high-frequency voltages are not lower than 1 MHz.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said backlight further comprises a shield case, said light source is housed within said shield case, and said shield case is grounded.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said power source comprises a first power source which supplies said first high-frequency voltage to said first electrode and a second power source which supplies said second high-frequency voltage to said second electrode.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said light source further comprises electrical conductors disposed symmetrically with respect to said sealed-off transparent tube body in a vicinity of said sealed-off transparent tube body.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said first and second electrodes are supplied with said first and second high-frequency voltages such that an impedance of plasma formed in said sealed-off transparent tube body is equal to or lower than one tenth of an impedance formed by a stray capacitance around said sealed-off transparent tube body.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein frequencies of said first and second high—frequency voltages are not lower than 1 MHz.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein said backlight further comprises a shield case, said light source is housed within said shield case, and said shield case is grounded.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , wherein said power source comprises a first power source which supplies said first high-frequency voltage to said first electrode and a second power source which supplies said second high-frequency voltage to said second electrode.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , wherein said light source further comprises electrical conductors disposed symmetrically with respect to said sealed-off transparent tube body in a vicinity of said sealed-off transparent tube body.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , wherein said first and second electrodes are supplied with said first and second high-frequency voltages such that an impedance of plasma formed in said sealed—off transparent ⅙ tube body is equal to or lower than one tenth of an impedance formed by a stray capacitance around said sealed-off transparent tube body.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , wherein frequencies of said first and second high-frequency voltages are not lower than 1 MHz.

21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , wherein said backlight further comprises a shield case, said light source is housed within said shield case, and said shield case is grounded.