Fluorescent lamp providing uniform backlight illumination for displays

摘要

A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display and more accurate information being displayed. A method of forming a right-angled bend in a glass tube is also disclosed.