A spread illuminating apparatus including a housing frame, the housing frame including respective positioning means for a light conductive bar, and a light conductive plate, and a recess for positioning a spot-like light source. The spot-like light source is mounted on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) that extends from a bottom surface of the housing frame through side and top surfaces thereof, and reaches the recess, in which the spot-like light source is housed. A cut-out for accommodating the FPC is formed in a top surface of the housing frame, and two slots for receiving the ends of the FPC are formed at both side walls of the cut-out, whereby the spot-like light source can be fixedly set in place.
A backlight assembly having no step difference at a rear portion thereof includes a light generating unit and a receiving member. The light-generating unit includes a connecting member, a light source and a light guiding member. An external signal is transmitted to the light source through the connecting member, and a light is generated from the light source in response to the external signal. The light generated from the light source is guided to a display panel via the light guiding member. The receiving member includes a receiving space for receiving the light source and the light guiding member, and a receiving portion for receiving the connecting member. The receiving portion is formed on a rear surface of the receiving member. Accordingly, a thickness increase due to a step difference at the rear surface of the backlight assembly is sufficiently prevented.
