Patent attributes
An illuminator for a display device is provided on a back side of a display panel, and includes a plurality of rod-shaped light sources each having a length extending in a first direction and having substantially the same length. The plurality of rod-shaped light sources include a plurality of first rod-shaped light sources arranged so as to be substantially parallel and spaced from one another in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second rod-shaped light sources arranged to be substantially parallel and spaced from one another in the second direction, each second rod-shaped light source being arranged to be collinear with and spaced in the first direction from a corresponding one of the plurality of first rod-shaped light sources.