Patent attributes
A backlight unit includes a plurality a plurality of lamps, each having a first electrode and a second electrode. An alternating current (AC) signal having a high voltage is intermittently applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is connected to a ground. The backlight unit also includes: a pair of lamp guides comprising a first lamp guide and a second lamp guide, wherein the first lamp guide supports the lamps and is disposed to cross the lamps near the first electrodes, and the second lamp guide is disposed to cross the lamps near the second electrodes; a bottom cover for accommodating the lamps and the lamp guide pair; and a plurality of shock-absorbing holes formed in a bottom surface of the bottom cover near the first electrodes, a length of each shock-absorbing hole extending parallel to a corresponding one of the lamps.