Direct-type backlight unit having surface light source

In a direct-type backlight unit, a board has upper and lower surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. A plurality of unit light sources are disposed on the board. Here, in each of the unit light sources, a wiring pattern is formed on the board. A light emitting device is disposed on the wiring pattern to electrically connect thereto. A non-conductive side wall surrounds, without interruption, the light emitting device at a predetermined interval therefrom, the non-conductive side wall having a height lower than that of the light emitting device. Also, an encapsulant is formed in a dome shape inside the side wall. In this fashion, the light emitting devices are mounted on the board by a chip-on-board technique.