Abstract— A novel flat discharge fluorescent lamp used as the light source of backlight modules for LCDs and general lighting systems has been researched and developed. This new type of lamp is a less‐mercury flat fluorescent lamp with two‐dimensional emission and superior to conventional one‐dimensional cold‐cathode fluorescent lamps in terms of optics, energy‐savings, production efficiency, reliability, and chromatic performances. Physical characterization of the optics, temperature, mechanical design, thermal shocking, reliability, and corresponding environments have verified that flat fluorescent lamps will be the next‐generation light sources for backlight modules and general lighting systems.