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Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the sameSurface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070183150, Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent Application No. 2003-77456 filed on Nov. 4, 2003, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a surface light source device and a liquid crystal display apparatus having the surface light source device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surface light source device capable of decreasing channeling, and a liquid crystal display apparatus having the surface light source device as a light source. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Generally, liquid crystal has both electrical and optical characteristics. An arrangement of the liquid crystal is changed in response to a direction of electric field applied to the liquid crystal. Light transmittance of the liquid crystal is changed by the arrangement of the liquid crystal. [0006] A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus displays an image by using the liquid crystal. The LCD apparatus has various characteristics, for example, such as a thin thickness, a small volume and a lightweight compared with a cathode ray tube (CRT). Thus, the LCD apparatus is widely used for a portable computer, a communication device, a television set, etc. [0007] The LCD apparatus includes a liquid crystal controlling part that controls a liquid crystal, and a light providing part that provides the liquid crystal controlling part with a light. [0008] The liquid crystal controlling part includes a plurality of pixel electrodes that are formed on a first substrate, a common electrode that is formed on a second substrate, and a liquid crystal that is interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. A number of the pixel electrodes is determined by a resolution. Each of the pixel electrodes is electrically connected to a thin film transistor (TFT), so that a pixel voltage is applied to the pixel electrode through the TFT. A reference voltage is applied to the common electrode. The pixel electrode and the common electrode include transparent conductive material. [0009] The light providing part provides the liquid crystal with the light. The light generated from the light providing part passes through the pixel electrode, the liquid crystal and the common electrode to display an image. A display quality of the liquid crystal display apparatus is determined by a luminance and a uniformity of the luminance of the light. That is, when the luminance and the uniformity of the luminance of the light generated from the light providing part are increased, the display quality of the liquid crystal display apparatus is improved. [0010] Generally, the light providing part may include a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or a light emitting diode (LED). The CCFL has various characteristics, for example, such as a high luminance, a long lifespan, a low heating value etc., and the LED has also various characteristics, for example, such as a low power consumption, a high luminance, etc. [0011] However, the luminance of the CCFL and the LED is not uniform. In order to increase the uniformity of the luminance, the light providing part includes a light guide plate, a diffusion member, a prism sheet, etc. [0012] When the light providing part includes the light guide plate, the diffusion member and the prism sheet, a size and a weight of a liquid crystal display apparatus are increased. [0013] A surface light source device having a flat plate shape has uniform luminance. A conventional surface light source device includes a first substrate and a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate. A plurality of partition walls is disposed between the first and second substrates. The partition walls are disposed in substantially parallel with one another, and the partition walls are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined interval to form discharge spaces between the first and second substrates. A sealing member is disposed between the first and second substrates to isolate the discharge space from an exterior. A discharge gas is injected into the discharge space. Two electrodes that apply a voltage to the discharge gas are disposed on outer surfaces of the first and second substrates. [0014] The partition walls are arranged so that the discharge spaces form a serpentine shape. The discharge spaces are connected to one another. That is, odd numbered partition walls have a first end portion that makes contact with the sealing member and a second end portion that is spaced apart from the sealing member to form a connection passage, and even numbered partition walls have a first end portion that is spaced apart from the sealing member to form a connection passage and a second end portion that makes contact with the sealing member. [0015] When pressures of the discharge gas in the discharge spaces are different from one another, electric field strengths applied to the discharge spaces may be different from one another. When the discharge spaces are connected to one another by the connection passage, plasma may abruptly move through the connection passage to form a channeling between the discharge spaces. That is, when the electric field strengths are different from one another, densities of the plasma in the discharge spaces are different from one another so that a portion of the plasma moves toward one of the discharge space, which has lower density of the plasma, thereby forming the channeling. When the channeling is formed in the discharge spaces, the uniformity of the luminance is deteriorated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016] Therefore, regarding above-mentioned disadvantages of the related arts, the present invention provides a surface light source device capable of restricting flow of plasma between adjacent discharge spaces to decrease the channeling. [0017] The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display apparatus having the above-mentioned surface light source device. [0018] A surface light source device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a light source body having an internal space. A partition wall is disposed in the internal space of the light source body to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces. The partition wall has end portions that make contact with inner surface of the light source body. The partition has a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other. A voltage applying part applies a voltage to the discharge gas to generate plasma in the discharge space. A barrier is disposed adjacent to the throughhole to restrict a flow of the plasma generated from the discharge gas through the throughhole. [0019] A liquid crystal display apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention includes a surface light source device and a liquid crystal display panel. The surface light source device includes a light source body that has an internal space, a partition wall disposed in the internal space to divide the internal space into a plurality of discharge spaces, the partition wall having end portions that make contact with inner surface of the light source body and a throughhole, through which the discharge spaces are connected to each other, and a barrier that is disposed adjacent to the throughhole to restrict a flow of plasma generated from a discharge gas through the throughhole. The liquid crystal display panel includes liquid crystal to convert a light generated from the surface light source device into an image light. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] The above and other features and advantage points of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detailed exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Continue reading about Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same... Full patent description for Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Surface light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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