Drive circuit, for fluorescent lamp used as backlight in LCD, generates control signal for controlling switching devices that connect and disconnect fluorescent lamps to and from inverter

摘要

#CMT# #/CMT# Drive circuit has an inverter (62) to drive multiple fluorescent lamps (61). A switching controller generates control signal for controlling switching devices (63), e.g. transistors, that connect and disconnect fluorescent lamps to and from the inverter. #CMT# : #/CMT# An independent claim is also included for a method for driving backlight unit. #CMT#USE : #/CMT# For driving fluorescent lamps, e.g. external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) used in backlight of liquid crystal display (LCD), for use as monitor for computer, spacecraft, aircraft, television (TV), etc. #CMT#ADVANTAGE : #/CMT# The quality of moving images displayed by LCD device is improved, by enabling selective and independent driving of EEFLs connected in parallel. Since single inverter is used for driving multiple fluorescent lamp, cost reduction is achieved. #CMT#DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : #/CMT# The figure shows the above fluorescent lamp driving unit. 61 : fluorescent lamps 62 : inverter 63 : switches 64 : external electrode 65 : common external electrode.