JP2001134232A - Plasma display panel and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plasma display panel whose luminance is expanded by enhancing the luminous efficiency of the panel. SOLUTION: This panel is a plasma display panel which is constituted of n lines of scanning electrodes 3, (n+1) lines of sustaining electrodes 4 which are provided to be parallel with the scanning lines 3 and to be alternative with them and data electrodes 7 which are provided so as to be away from the scanning electrodes 3 and the sustaining electrodes 4 and so as to intersect them and in the panel, first discharge gaps 41Gs formed with the scanning electrode 3 and a first sustaining electrode 41 and second discharge gaps 42Gs formed with the scanning electrode 3 and a second sustaining electrode 42 are provided for each cell of cells C1, C2, C3 and the sustaining electrodes 41, 42 are sustaining electrodes of one side of the cells C2, C3 being adjacent with each other and also, a control means 20 performing control so that the sustaining discharge of the first discharge gaps 41Gs and the sustaining discharge of the second discharge gaps 42Gs are alternately performed and the means 20 outputs pulses for controlling the sustaining discharge to respective sustaining electrodes 41, 42 and this control is performed similarly in entire fields.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to a plasma display panel with improved luminous efficiency and increased brightness and a method of driving the same. +

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a plasma display panel (hereinafter abbreviated as PDP) has a thin structure, has no flicker, has a large display contrast ratio, and can have a relatively large screen, and has a response speed. It has a number of features, such as being fast, self-luminous, and capable of emitting multicolor light by using a phosphor. For this reason, in recent years, it has been widely used in the field of computer-related display devices and the field of color image display.

Depending on the operation method, this PDP has an AC discharge type in which electrodes are covered with a dielectric and is indirectly operated in an AC discharge state, and a PDP in which the electrodes are exposed to a discharge space and are in a DC discharge state. There is a DC discharge type operated by the above. Further, the AC discharge type includes a memory operation type using a memory of a discharge cell as a driving method and a refresh operation type not using the memory. The luminance of the PDP is proportional to the number of discharges, that is, the number of repetitions of the pulse voltage. The refresh type described above is mainly used for a PDP having a small display capacity because the brightness decreases as the display capacity increases.

FIG. 9 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the configuration of one display cell in an AC discharge memory operation type PDP. The display cell includes two front and back insulating substrates 1 and 2 made of glass, a transparent scanning electrode 3 and a transparent sustaining electrode 4 formed on the insulating substrate 2, and a scanning device for reducing electrode resistance. Trace electrodes 5 and 6 arranged to overlap the electrodes 3 and the sustain electrodes 4; data electrodes 7 formed on the insulating substrate 1 at right angles to the scan electrodes 3 and the sustain electrodes 4; Helium in the space of
A discharge gas space 8 filled with a discharge gas composed of neon, xenon, or the like or a mixture thereof, a phosphor 11 for converting ultraviolet light generated by the discharge of the discharge gas into visible light 10, a scan electrode 3 and a sustain electrode 4, a protective layer 13 made of magnesium oxide or the like that protects the dielectric layer 12 from discharge, and a dielectric layer 14 that covers the data electrode 7.

Next, a discharge operation of a selected display cell will be described with reference to FIG. When a pulse voltage exceeding the discharge threshold is applied between the scan electrode 3 and the data electrode 7 to start the discharge, positive and negative charges are applied to the dielectric layers 12 on both sides according to the polarity of the pulse voltage. 14 are attracted to the surface and cause a charge buildup. Since the equivalent internal voltage due to the accumulation of the charges, that is, the wall voltage has the opposite polarity to the pulse voltage, the effective voltage inside the cell decreases as the discharge grows, and the pulse voltage becomes a constant value. Even if it is maintained, the discharge cannot be maintained, and finally stops. Thereafter, when a sustain discharge pulse having a pulse voltage of the same polarity as the wall voltage is applied between the adjacent scan electrode 3 and sustain electrode 4, the wall voltage is superimposed as an effective voltage. Can be discharged beyond the discharge threshold even if the voltage amplitude is low. Therefore, the discharge can be maintained by continuously applying the sustain discharge pulse between the scan electrode 3 and the sustain electrode 4 alternately. This function is the above-mentioned memory function. In addition, by applying a wide low-voltage pulse or a narrow pulse of about the same level as the sustain discharge pulse voltage to neutralize the wall voltage to the scan electrode 3 or the sustain electrode 4, The above-mentioned sustain discharge can be stopped.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the arrangement of electrodes as viewed from the display surface, and FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the PDP shown in FIG. The above-described sustain discharge is performed between the scan electrode 3 and the sustain electrode 4, and the emission luminance distribution at that time peaks at the center of the discharge gap between the scan and the sustain electrode as shown in FIG. And attenuates toward the ends of both electrodes. This is because the discharge intensity decreases as the distance between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode increases, and the intensity of ultraviolet light due to discharge also decreases.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a driving waveform of each electrode. W
x is a sustain electrode drive pulse applied to the sustain electrode 4, Wy is a scan electrode drive pulse applied to the scan electrode 3, and Wd is a data electrode drive pulse applied to the data electrode 7.

One field includes a preliminary discharge period, a write discharge period, a sustain discharge period, and a sustain erase discharge period.
This is repeated to obtain a desired image display.

In the pre-discharge period, a pre-discharge pulse which is a sufficiently large voltage pulse exceeding a discharge starting voltage between the X electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a sustain electrode) and the Y electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a scan electrode) is applied to the Y electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a scan electrode). Then, a discharge is generated between the Y electrode and the X electrode. Due to this discharge, a negative wall charge is deposited on the dielectric layer, and a negative wall charge is deposited on the Y electrode and the X electrode and the data electrode. Since the amplitude of the pre-discharge pulse is large, which is about twice the amplitude of the sustain pulse, the amount of wall charges deposited by the pre-discharge pulse has a value sufficient to shift to the sustain discharge.

Therefore, in order to adjust these wall charge amounts, after the voltage level of the Y electrode is once reduced to the sustain voltage Vs, a wall charge adjustment pulse which gradually changes toward GND is applied to the Y electrode. Since the wall charge adjustment pulse has a gradual voltage change, when the wall voltage is superimposed on the voltage applied to each electrode and exceeds the discharge start voltage of the display cell, a weak discharge occurs to reduce the wall charge, It works so as to be slightly lower than the discharge starting voltage. This discharge occurs continuously until the wall charge adjustment pulse reaches GND. As a result, a negative charge is applied to the Y electrode, a positive charge is applied to the X electrode and the data electrode, GND is applied to the Y electrode and the data electrode, and V is applied to the X electrode.
When the voltage is set to the s voltage, the voltage remains slightly lower than the discharge starting voltage.

In the writing discharge period, a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to each scanning electrode, and in synchronization with the scanning pulse, a data pulse is selectively applied to a data electrode of a display cell to be displayed to display. In the power cell, a write discharge is generated to generate wall charges.

In the sustain discharge period, a sustain discharge pulse having a phase shift of 180 degrees is applied to each of the sustain electrode and the scan electrode, and it is necessary to obtain a desired luminance for the display cell which has performed the write discharge in the write discharge period. Repeated sustain discharge.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional example described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-266800. In this conventional example, a scanning electrode provided so as to pass through the center of the display cell region,
A surface discharge type plasma display panel including two sustain electrodes provided with a discharge gap on both sides of a scan electrode is introduced. FIG. 14 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of this panel and a light emission luminance distribution. Since a common drive waveform is applied to all X electrodes, the sustain discharge is Y
Since the light emission is performed between the electrode and the X electrodes on both sides of the electrode, as shown in FIG. 14, the light emitting region is widened and the luminance is improved.

By the way, the main component of the ultraviolet rays generated by the gas discharge of the PDP is the resonance line. The resonance line is
The excited state Xe atom is emitted when transitioning to the ground state, but it is very likely that the atom will collide with the ground state Xe atom before reaching the phosphor. It will be absorbed. After being absorbed, the resonance line is emitted again, but a number of emission and absorption are repeated before reaching the phosphor.

Further, when an electron during discharge collides with an excited state Xe atom, it is ionized and the resonance line disappears. Therefore, even if the discharge current is increased, that is, even if the amount of electrons during discharge is increased, if the number of collisions with the ground state Xe atoms until the resonance line reaches the phosphor increases, the probability that the electrons collide with the excited state Xe atoms will increase. And the UV output does not increase, resulting in a saturation phenomenon of the UV output.

In a color PDP, a phosphor is used to convert ultraviolet light into visible light. When UV intensity is low, visible light is proportional to UV, but as UV intensity increases, most of the activator contributing to luminescence in the phosphor is lifted to the excited state, and thereafter the number of UV photons is increased. However, the visible light intensity does not increase. That is, a saturation phenomenon of the visible light output occurs.

In order to suppress these saturation phenomena, it is effective to increase the activator concentration and to reduce the decay time constant of the phosphor afterglow for the phosphor. That is, the intermittent discharge is repeated, and the frequency of the repetition is not excessively increased.

On the other hand, in order to obtain a high-resolution display with high resolution, it is necessary to reduce the pixel pitch and arrange more display cells. In order to reduce the pixel pitch and obtain sufficient brightness, the non-light emitting area between the display cells must be reduced as much as possible and the aperture ratio must be increased.

In the conventional example described above, even if the sustain frequency is increased in order to increase the number of sustain discharges to increase the luminance, the luminance does not increase proportionally due to the luminance saturation phenomenon.
Sufficient luminance cannot be obtained. This is particularly noticeable when the display is used for high definition.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, to provide a novel plasma display panel having improved luminous efficiency and increased luminance, and a method of driving the same. It is.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention basically employs the following technical configuration to achieve the above object.

That is, in the first embodiment of the plasma display panel according to the present invention, (n + 1) scan electrodes are provided in parallel with the scan electrodes and alternately with the scan electrodes.
A plasma display panel comprising: a sustain electrode; a scan electrode; and a data electrode provided so as to be separated from and intersect with the sustain electrode, wherein the scan electrode and the first sustain electrode are provided for each cell. A first discharge gap formed,
A second discharge gap formed by the scan electrode and a second sustain electrode is provided, wherein each of the sustain electrodes is one sustain electrode of an adjacent cell and maintains the first discharge gap. Control means for controlling the discharge and the sustain discharge of the second discharge gap to be performed alternately is provided, and the control means outputs a pulse for controlling the sustain discharge to each of the sustain electrodes. The same applies to all fields, and the second mode is characterized in that
When performing the sustain discharge in the first discharge gap, the control means controls the second discharge so as to prevent the sustain discharge from being generated between the scan electrode forming the second discharge gap and the second sustain electrode. A sustain discharge canceling pulse is applied to the sustaining electrodes of the first and second sustaining electrodes. In a third aspect, the control means controls the first sustaining electrode and the second sustaining electrode in synchronization with the sustaining pulses. A sustain discharge cancel pulse is alternately applied to the electrodes, and control is performed such that the sustain discharge is performed only in one of the discharge gaps. The fourth mode is that the scan electrode has a first sustain discharge cancel pulse. A pulse, a second sustain pulse, and a third sustain pulse are applied at a predetermined interval, and the control means applies a first sustain pulse to the first sustain electrode in synchronization with the first sustain pulse. Outputs the discharge cancel pulse Further, at a time point between the second sustain pulse and the third sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode, a sustain pulse is output to the first sustain electrode. Outputting a sustain pulse to the second sustain electrode at an intermediate point between the first sustain pulse and the second sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode;
A sustain discharge cancel pulse is output in synchronization with the second sustain pulse.

The driving method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention is configured such that n scanning electrodes are provided in parallel with the scanning electrodes and alternately with the scanning electrodes (n +
1) A method for driving a plasma display panel comprising: a plurality of sustain electrodes; a scan electrode; and a data electrode provided to be separated from and intersect with the sustain electrode, wherein the scan electrode and the first electrode are provided for each cell. And a second discharge gap formed by the scan electrode and the second sustain electrode, and each of the sustain electrodes is formed of one of the adjacent cells. A first step of sustaining a plurality of sustain discharges continuously in the first discharge gap during a sustain period of each field; and a plurality of sustain electrodes in the second discharge gap subsequent to the first step. And a third step of repeating the sustain discharge of the first and second steps. The first to third steps are performed in all fields. The first discharge gap Are those in which the sustain discharge of the sustain discharge and the second discharge gap flop and controls to be performed alternately, or the second aspect, the first
In the third step and the second step, sustain discharge is performed an equal number of times, and in the third aspect, in the first step and the second step, the sustain discharge is performed at least twice each. It is characterized by the following.

[0023]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a change in a discharge state from a preliminary discharge to a write discharge, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a change in a discharge state of a sustain discharge and a sustain erase discharge, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving circuit, and FIG.
Is a perspective sectional view of a panel structure to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view. The scanning electrode traverses the center of the display cell, and the sustain electrode parallel to the scanning electrode is disposed over the upper and lower display cells and serves as a common electrode. Data electrodes orthogonal to the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes are arranged for each display cell.

The driving is basically performed by preliminary discharge, address discharge,
It consists of sustain discharge and sustain erase discharge. The pre-discharge resets the wall charge generated by the sustain discharge, and furthermore, in order to facilitate the address discharge, a sequence in which the wall charge and the active particles of the space are generated in the discharge space, and the address discharge is performed in the display cell. The sequence of forming a sufficient wall charge or space charge to shift to the sustain discharge, and the sustain discharge is a sequence in which the discharge is repeated to obtain a desired brightness.

In the predischarge, a sufficiently large voltage exceeding the discharge starting voltage is applied to the scan electrodes to generate a discharge in all display cells. As a result, wall charges are formed on the dielectric layer on the electrodes so as to cancel the preliminary discharge voltage. Thereafter, a wall charge adjustment pulse is applied to the scan electrodes to adjust the wall charges in the discharge space so that selective address discharge is possible and if there is no address discharge, the operation does not shift to sustain discharge.

In the write discharge, a write voltage is selectively applied to a scan electrode crossing the center of the display cell and a data electrode orthogonal to the scan electrode. Generates discharge. At this time, by applying a bias voltage to the sustain electrode,
A surface discharge between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is induced from the write discharge. As a result, wall charges are formed on each of the scan electrode and the sustain electrode so as to cancel the voltage applied during the address discharge.

In the sustain discharge, first, a sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrodes, and at the same time, a sustain discharge cancel pulse having the same phase as the sustain pulse applied to the scan electrodes is applied to the odd-numbered sustain electrodes. As a result, a sustain discharge is generated between the scan electrodes to which the sustain voltage is applied and the even-numbered sustain electrodes. (Phase 1) Next, when a sustain pulse is applied to the even-numbered sustain electrodes,
A sustain discharge occurs due to the superposition of the wall voltage between the even-numbered sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes. (Phase 2) Subsequently, when a sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrodes and a sustain discharge cancel pulse is applied to the even-numbered sustain electrodes, a sustain voltage is applied between the scan electrodes and the odd-numbered sustain electrodes, and the wall voltage is superimposed thereon. As a result, sustain discharge occurs. (Phase 3) Further, when a sustain pulse is applied to the odd-numbered sustain electrodes, a sustain discharge occurs due to the superposition of the wall voltage between the odd-numbered sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes. (Phase 4) The sustain discharge repeats the above four steps until a desired brightness is obtained.

Finally, a sustain erase discharge is performed to stop the sustain discharge, and thereafter, the wall charge amount is reduced so that the sustain discharge does not occur.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific examples of a plasma display panel and a driving method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the discharge states (a) to (c) in FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 shows the discharge states (d) to (h) in FIG. The wall charge arrangement in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a state after each discharge has occurred. In FIG. 3, Wy is a voltage waveform applied to the n-th scanning (Y) electrode, Wx (odd) is a voltage waveform applied to the odd-numbered sustaining (X) electrode, and Wx (even) is an even-numbered sustaining. (X) The voltage waveform applied to the electrode, Wd is the voltage waveform applied to the data electrode. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a driving circuit, FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a panel structure to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view.

In these figures, n scan electrodes 3, (n + 1) sustain electrodes 4 provided in parallel with the scan electrodes 3 and alternately with the scan electrodes 3, and the scan electrodes 3. , A data electrode 7 provided so as to be spaced apart from and intersect with the sustain electrode 4. The plasma display panel comprises a scan electrode 3 and a first sustain electrode 41 for each cell C1, C2, C3. The formed first discharge gap 41
G, and a second discharge gap 42G formed by the scan electrode 3 and the second sustain electrode 42. Each of the sustain electrodes 41, 42 is one of the adjacent cells C2, C3. And control means 20 for controlling the sustain discharge of the first discharge gap 41G and the sustain discharge of the second discharge gap 42G to be performed alternately. A pulse for controlling sustain discharge is output to the electrodes 41 and 42, and this control is performed in the same manner in all fields. A plasma display panel is shown, and the sustain discharge is controlled by the first discharge gap 41G. When performing the discharge, the control means 20 controls the scan electrode 3 forming the second discharge gap 42G.
And a sustain discharge cancel pulse CP is applied to the second sustain electrode 42 so that no sustain discharge is generated between the second sustain electrode 42 and the second sustain electrode 42. The means 20 includes a first sustain electrode 41 and a second sustain electrode 41 synchronized with the sustain pulse SP.
Of the sustain discharge cancel pulse C
A plasma display panel is shown in which P is applied to control so as to sustain discharge only in one discharge gap, and a scan electrode 3 is provided with a first sustain pulse SP (1) and a second sustain pulse SP (1). The sustaining pulse SP (2) and the third sustaining pulse SP (3) are applied at a predetermined interval, and the control means 20 applies the first sustaining pulse SP (1) to the first sustaining electrode 41. ), A first sustain discharge cancel pulse CP (1) is output, and a second sustain pulse SP (2) applied to the scan electrode 3 and a third sustain discharge cancel pulse CP (2).
At a time intermediate with the sustain pulse SP (3), the sustain pulse SP (4) is output to the first sustain electrode 41,
Further, the control means 20 controls the second sustain electrode 42
The first sustain pulse SP applied to the scan electrode 3
At a point in time between (1) and the second sustain pulse SP (2), a sustain pulse SP (5) is output, and further, a sustain discharge cancel pulse is synchronized with the second sustain pulse SP (2). A plasma display panel which outputs CP (2) is shown.

Hereinafter, the first example will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, one field includes a preliminary discharge period, a write discharge period, a sustain discharge period, and a sustain erase discharge period. During the preliminary discharge period, the Y electrode 3 is connected to the X electrode 4
A pre-discharge pulse which is a sufficiently large voltage pulse exceeding the discharge start voltage between the first and second electrodes 1 and 42 is applied, and a discharge is generated between the Y electrode 3 and the X electrodes 41 and 42 on both sides thereof. Due to this discharge, a negative wall charge is applied to the Y electrode 3 and the X electrode 41,
Positive wall charges are deposited on the dielectric layer 42 and the data electrode 7, respectively. The amplitude of the pre-discharge pulse is large,
Since the amplitude is about twice the amplitude of the sustain pulse, the amount of wall charges deposited by the pre-discharge pulse is a value sufficient for shifting to the sustain discharge.

In order to adjust these wall charges, the voltage level of the Y electrode 3 is once reduced to the sustain voltage Vs, and then a wall charge adjusting pulse which gradually changes toward GND is applied to the Y electrode 3. . Since the wall charge adjustment pulse has a gradual voltage change, when the wall voltage is superimposed on the voltage applied to each electrode and exceeds the discharge start voltage of the display cell, a weak discharge occurs to reduce the wall charge, It works so as to be slightly lower than the discharge starting voltage. This discharge occurs continuously until the wall charge adjustment pulse reaches GND.

As a result, a negative charge is applied to the Y electrode 3 and a positive charge is applied to the X electrodes 41 and 42 and the data electrode 7.
In addition, when the data electrode 7 is set to GND and the X electrodes 41 and 42 are set to Vs voltage, they remain so as to be slightly lower than the discharge starting voltage.

In the writing discharge period, a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to the Y electrode 3 in a time-division manner, and a data pulse is applied to the data electrode 7 in synchronization with the timing. Discharge occurs in the display cell.
The voltage applied from the outside is equal to the data pulse voltage when viewed between the Y electrode 3 and the data electrode 7. However, the write discharge occurs only when the wall charge after the wall charge adjustment pulse is applied to the scan pulse and the data pulse. This is because a voltage exceeding the discharge starting voltage is applied to the discharge space in superposition on each of the pulses. The writing discharge is started between the Y electrode 3 to which the scanning pulse is applied and the data electrode 7, but since the X electrodes 41 and 42 are set to Vs, the discharge between the Y electrode 3 and the data electrode 7 is performed. As a result, a discharge also occurs between the X electrodes 41 and 42 and the Y electrode 3, and negative charges are deposited on the X electrodes 41 and 42 and positive charges are deposited on the Y electrode 3.

In the sustain discharge period, as a first step (phase 1), the sustain pulse SP is applied to the Y electrode 3.
(1) The sustain discharge cancel pulse CP (1) is simultaneously applied to the odd-numbered X electrodes 41. These are pulses of the same voltage with the same phase. At this time, the externally applied potential difference corresponding to the sustain voltage Vs occurs between the X (even) electrode 42 and the Y electrode 3 when viewed between adjacent electrodes. The negative wall charge on the X (even number) electrode 42 and the positive wall charge on the Y electrode 3 form the sustain pulse voltage S
Since it is superimposed on P (1) and exceeds the discharge starting voltage, a sustain discharge occurs between the electrodes. When sustain discharge occurs,
Positive wall charges accumulate on the X (even) electrode 42 and negative wall charges accumulate on the Y electrode 3 so as to cancel the externally applied voltage (FIG. 2D).

Next, as a second step (phase 2), a sustain pulse SP (5) is applied to the even-numbered X electrodes 42. At this time, the externally applied potential difference corresponding to the sustain voltage Vs occurs between the X (even number) electrode 42 and the Y electrode 3 when viewed between the adjacent electrodes, so that the wall charge generated by the sustain discharge in the phase 1 is generated. Is superimposed on the sustain pulse voltage SP (5), and a sustain discharge occurs between the electrodes. When the sustain discharge occurs, negative wall charges accumulate on the X (even) electrode 42 and positive wall charges accumulate on the Y electrode 3 so as to cancel the externally applied voltage (FIG. 2 (e)).

As a third step (phase 3),
Sustain pulse SP (2) applied to Y electrode 3, even-numbered X electrode 4
2 are simultaneously applied with the sustain cancel pulse CP (2). These are pulses of the same voltage with the same phase. At this time, the externally applied potential difference corresponding to the sustain voltage Vs occurs between the X (odd) electrode 41 and the Y electrode 3 when viewed between adjacent electrodes.
Therefore, the negative wall charges on the odd-numbered X electrodes 41 generated by the write discharge and the positive wall charges on the Y electrode 3 generated by the sustain discharge in phase 2 are generated by the sustain pulse. Superimposed on the voltage SP (2), a sustain discharge occurs between the electrodes. When the sustain discharge occurs, a positive wall charge is deposited on the X (odd) electrode 41 and a negative wall charge is deposited on the Y electrode 3 so as to cancel the externally applied voltage (FIG. 2).
(F)).

As a fourth step (phase 4),
The sustain pulse SP (4) is applied to the odd-numbered X electrodes 41. At this time, when an externally applied potential difference corresponding to the sustain voltage Vs occurs between the adjacent electrodes, the difference between the X (odd) electrode 41-
Since it is between the Y electrodes 3, the wall charges generated by the sustain discharge in phase 3 are superimposed on the sustain pulse voltage SP (4), and a sustain discharge occurs between the electrodes. When the sustain discharge occurs, a negative wall charge is deposited on the X (even) electrode 42 and a positive wall charge is deposited on the Y electrode so as to cancel the externally applied voltage (FIG. 2 (g)).

The state of the wall charge after the sustain discharge in the phase 4 is the same as the state after the write discharge with respect to the wall charges on the X electrodes 41 and 42 and the Y electrode 3. 1, the X electrodes 41, 42 and Y
It is possible to repeat the sustain discharge with the electrode 3. Hereinafter, phases 1 to 4 are repeated as one cycle of sustain discharge until a desired luminance is obtained.

Finally, to stop the sustain discharge, G
A sustain erasing pulse that gradually changes toward ND is applied to the Y electrode 3. This sustain erasing pulse, like the wall charge adjustment pulse after the priming pulse, has a gradual change in voltage, so when the wall voltage is superimposed on the voltage applied to each electrode and exceeds the discharge start voltage of the display cell, A weak discharge is generated to reduce the wall charge and act to slightly lower the discharge starting voltage. In this discharge, the wall charge adjustment pulse is G
It occurs continuously until ND is reached. As a result, a negative charge is applied to the Y electrode 3, a positive charge is applied to the X electrodes 41 and 42 and the data electrode 7, and GND and X are applied to the Y electrode 3 and the data electrode 7.
When the electrodes 41 and 42 are set to the Vs voltage, they remain so as to be slightly lower than the discharge starting voltage, and the residual wall charges after the sustain erasing pulse are reduced so that the sustain discharge does not occur.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a drive circuit according to the present invention. The PDP is exemplified by one having m × k display cells. The driving circuit includes an odd-numbered X1 of the sustain (X) electrode,
The odd number X for driving 3, 5,..., Xm + 1 in common
Electrode driver 21, even number X2 of sustain (X) electrode,
, Xm are driven in common, Y-electrode drivers 23 for driving scanning (Y) electrodes, and data electrodes D1, 2, 3,..., K are driven. Electrode driver 24 for control and control circuit 2
5 is comprised. The control circuit 25 outputs the basic signal (Vsyn
c, Hsync, Clock, DATA), the signal processing unit and the memory control unit control the driver control unit and the frame memory inside the control circuit, and output a control signal suitable for each electrode driver. Odd number X electrode driver 2
1, even-numbered X electrode driver 22, Y electrode driver 23,
The data electrode driver 24 creates and outputs a waveform for driving each electrode according to a control signal from the control circuit 25.

In this specification, the odd-numbered X electrode driver 21, the even-numbered X electrode driver 22, and the Y-electrode driver 2
3 and the data electrode driver 24 define the control circuit 25 as the control means 20.

In the specific example described above, one set of basic drive sequences (preliminary discharge, write discharge,
(Sustain discharge, sustain erase discharge) has been described, but in order to realize multiple gradations, one field is divided into a plurality of times, and a basic sequence is provided as a sub-field for each of the divided times, and each sub-field is provided. It is also possible to control the number of sustain discharges in the field to appropriately set the magnitude of the luminance and combine selected subfields within one field, that is, apply a subfield method.

(Second Specific Example) Next, a second specific example of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view showing the panel structure of the second specific example, and FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view thereof. This example has a structure in which a partition wall 31 for dividing a display line is added to the first specific example, and the same form of the driving waveform as that of the first specific example can be applied. Since the light emitting region is limited to the partition wall surface as shown in FIG. 8, although the luminance is slightly lower than in the first specific example, the discharge space for each display cell is not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction. Since the partition walls are formed, interference due to the diffusion of the charges generated by the discharge in the vertical direction, that is, erroneous discharge can be reduced.

[0048]

The plasma display panel and the method of driving the plasma display panel according to the present invention have the following effects because they are configured as described above.

That is, in the present invention, since the discharge region in one display cell is widened, the aperture ratio is substantially increased. Further, since the sustain discharge is alternately performed between the X electrode (even number) and the Y electrode and between the X electrode (odd number) and the Y electrode, the sustain discharge on the Y electrode is smaller than that when the sustain discharge is simultaneously performed between these electrodes. To prevent the discharge current density in the discharge space from becoming excessive, and in one display cell, the X electrode (even number) -Y
Since the discharge space is divided into two regions between the electrodes and between the X electrode (odd number) and the Y electrode and the timings of these discharges are shifted, the amount of ultraviolet output from the discharge gas and the saturation of the visible light output from the phosphor are saturated. Is reduced. As a result, the luminous efficiency is improved, and the luminance is increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a scan electrode and each sustain electrode during one field period according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for controlling the plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another specific example of the plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional plasma display panel.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the plasma display panel viewed from a display surface.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional plasma display panel.

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram of a conventional scanning electrode and each sustain electrode during one field period.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a conventional plasma display panel viewed from a display surface.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing another example of the related art.

[Description of Signs] 3 Scanning electrode (X electrode) 4 Sustain electrode 7 Data electrode 20 Control means 31 Partition wall 41 Sustain electrode (odd number) 41G Discharge gap of sustain electrode (odd number) 42 Sustain electrode (even number) 42G Sustain electrode (even number) Discharge gap SP sustain pulse CP sustain discharge cancel pulse

Claims (7)

[Claims] An n scan electrode, (n + 1) sustain electrodes provided in parallel with the scan electrode and alternately with the scan electrode, so as to be separated from and intersect with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. A plasma display panel comprising data electrodes provided, wherein a first discharge gap formed by the scan electrode and the first sustain electrode, and a scan electrode and a second sustain electrode are formed for each cell. Providing the formed second discharge gap, wherein each of the sustain electrodes is one sustain electrode of an adjacent cell,
And a control means for controlling the sustain discharge in the first discharge gap and the sustain discharge in the second discharge gap to be performed alternately, wherein the control means controls the sustain discharge in each of the sustain electrodes. A plasma display panel, wherein the same control is performed in all fields. 2. When a sustain discharge is performed in the first discharge gap, the control means controls the occurrence of a sustain discharge between the scan electrode forming the second discharge gap and a second sustain electrode. 2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a sustain discharge cancel pulse is applied to said second sustain electrode. 3. The control means applies a sustain discharge cancel pulse to a first sustain electrode and a second sustain electrode alternately in synchronization with the sustain pulse, and performs a sustain discharge only in one of the discharge gaps. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed in the following manner. 4. A first sustain pulse and a second sustain pulse are applied to a scan electrode.
And a third sustaining pulse are applied at a predetermined interval, and the control means applies a first sustaining discharge cancel pulse to the first sustaining electrode in synchronization with the first sustaining pulse. And a second voltage applied to the scan electrode.
And outputting a sustain pulse to the first sustain electrode at an intermediate time between the sustain pulse and the third sustain pulse. The control means outputs the sustain pulse to the second sustain electrode and the scan electrode to the scan electrode. A sustain pulse is output at an intermediate point between the applied first sustain pulse and the second sustain pulse, and a sustain discharge cancel pulse is output in synchronization with the second sustain pulse. The plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An n number of scan electrodes, and (n + 1) sustain electrodes provided in parallel with the scan electrodes and alternately with the scan electrodes, so as to be separated from and intersect with the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes. A driving method of a plasma display panel comprising a data electrode provided, a first discharge gap formed by the scan electrode and a first sustain electrode, and a scan electrode and a second sustain electrode for each cell. A second discharge gap formed between the first discharge gap and the first discharge gap. Each of the sustain electrodes is one of the sustain electrodes of an adjacent cell. A first step of performing a sustain discharge a plurality of times; a second step of continuously performing a sustain discharge a plurality of times in the second discharge gap subsequent to the first step; Repeat sustain discharge with process A third step, wherein the first to third steps are performed in all fields, and control is performed such that the sustain discharge in the first discharge gap and the sustain discharge in the second discharge gap are alternately performed. A method for driving a plasma display panel. 6. The method of driving a plasma display panel according to claim 5, wherein in the first step and the second step, sustain discharge is performed an equal number of times. 7. The driving method for a plasma display panel according to claim 5, wherein in the first step and the second step, sustain discharge is performed at least twice each.