JP2003051258A - Plasma display panel and manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PDP, which has a proper display performance even though power consumption is suppressed, and to provide its manufacture method. SOLUTION: In the PDP1, cell areas, which are along with each of display electrodes 12 and 13, are decreased gradually one by one, corresponding to two or more pairs of the display electrodes 12 and 13, which are juxtaposed toward both above and below ends (both ends in the vertical direction) of the panel from the panel center region, among two or more cells arranged in the form of a matrix. The average cell area in the panel center region is set up more greatly than the average cell area in the panel circumference region, which encloses the panel center region.

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 for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to an improved technique for improving the visibility of the panel while suppressing power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as "PDP"), which is a type of gas discharge panel, is a self-luminous display panel that excites and emits a phosphor by ultraviolet rays generated by gas discharge. . The discharge method is classified into an alternating current (AC) type and a direct current (DC) type. The characteristics of the AC type are DC in terms of brightness, luminous efficiency, and life.
It is superior to the mold. Among the AC types, the reflective surface discharge type is particularly prominent in terms of brightness and luminous efficiency, and this type is the most popular. The demand for AC PDPs is increasing as a display for computers and a large TV monitor.

[0003]

By the way, in today's demand for electric products whose power consumption is suppressed as much as possible, it is expected that the power consumption of the PDP during driving will be reduced. In particular, due to the recent trend toward larger screens and higher definition, the power consumption of the PDP developed is increasing,
There is an increasing demand for technology that realizes power saving.
Further, it is basically desired to obtain stable image display performance in PDP.

Under these circumstances, a PDP having good display performance while suppressing power consumption is currently desired. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide a PDP having good display performance while suppressing power consumption and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0005]

As a result of earnest studies by the inventors of the present application in order to solve the above problems, a plurality of address electrodes are arranged on a first panel in which a plurality of pairs of display electrodes are arranged in parallel in a column direction. The second panels arranged in parallel in the direction are opposed to each other, corresponding to the intersection of the pair of display electrodes and one address electrode,
A plasma display panel having a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix, wherein an average cell area, an average cell aperture ratio,
At least one of the average visible light transmittances is set larger in the panel central region than in the panel peripheral region.

Specifically, this can be realized by a structure in which the pitch of adjacent display electrodes decreases from the central region in the panel column direction toward the end portion in the panel column direction. Regarding the definition of the panel area, a specific numerical range will be described later in the embodiments. In general, when a moving image is displayed on a display, the display information is likely to be concentrated in the panel central area, and the human vision of the display is also likely to be concentrated in the panel central area both vertically and horizontally on the panel. There is. Further, if the areas where the viewpoints are concentrated have the same brightness, the darkness of the panel peripheral area surrounding the panel central area also improves the visibility.

The present invention utilizes these properties, and with the above configuration, at least one of the average cell area, the average cell aperture ratio, and the average visible light transmittance in the panel central region of the PDP is partially increased. By doing so, the light emission luminance of the cell group in this region can be made relatively higher than the light emission luminance of the cell group in the panel peripheral region. Therefore, the PDP of the present invention can efficiently increase the light emission brightness of the cell group in the panel central region where human vision is concentrated, exhibit excellent visibility, and obtain good display performance.

In the PDP of the present invention, the average cell area,
At least one of the average cell aperture ratio and the average visible light transmittance is partially changed as described above, but since the display electrodes and the address electrodes can be almost the same as conventional ones, the effect of the present invention can be obtained. It has the advantage that there is no need to increase the power consumption in order to obtain In the present invention, the gap between the pair of adjacent display electrodes may be reduced from the central region in the panel column direction toward the end portion in the panel column direction.

In such a structure, the cell area and the visible light transmittance are constant over the entire surface of the panel, but by increasing the gap between the display electrodes, that is, the so-called main discharge gap, in the central area of the panel, the emission luminance is relatively increased. To secure
The same effect as that of the above-described configuration is achieved. The pitch of the address electrodes may be changed similarly, and the configuration of changing the pitch of the display electrodes and the configuration of changing the pitch of the address electrodes can be combined.

The present invention can also be configured such that the width of the bus line in each display electrode decreases from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the electrode toward both end portions. According to this structure, the bus line is the thinnest in the panel central region that contributes to the discharge scale, and the pass line area increases toward the panel end. Therefore, the cell aperture ratio can be increased in the central region of the panel, and the same effect as that of the above-described configuration can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, each display electrode is composed of a plurality of electrically connected metal line portions, and the width of the metal line portion of each adjacent display electrode extends over each pair of display electrodes.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it increases from the central region in the panel row direction toward the end portion in the panel row direction. Even with such a configuration, the cell aperture ratio can be changed by adjusting the thickness of the line portion, and the same effect as that of the above-described configuration can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, a black film (black matrix) is formed between adjacent display electrodes, and the width of each black film increases from the central region in the panel column direction toward the end in the panel column direction. It can also be configured. Even with such a configuration, the cell aperture ratio can be changed by adjusting the thickness of the black matrix, and the same effect as the above-described configuration can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, partition walls are alternately arranged between the first panel and the second panel and each address electrode, and the width of the partition walls extends from the central region in the panel row direction to the end part in the panel row direction. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that increases toward. With such a configuration, the cell opening ratio can be changed by adjusting the thickness of the partition wall, and the same effect as that of the above-described configuration can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, between the first panel and the second panel, the auxiliary electrodes are alternately arranged in parallel with the display electrodes of each pair, and the width of the auxiliary partitions is from the central region in the panel row direction to the panel. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that increases toward the end in the row direction. Even with such a configuration, the cell opening ratio can be changed by adjusting the thickness of the auxiliary partition wall, and the same effect as that of the above-described configuration can be obtained. In addition,
Display electrodes, black matrix, partition, auxiliary partition, etc.
The area may be increased from the center of each longitudinal direction toward the end.

[0015]

1 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of an AC type PDP 1 according to the present invention. PDP1 is R (red), G (green),
A large number of discharge cells that emit each color of B (blue) are sequentially arranged and configured. On the front panel glass 11 made of soda lime glass or the like, a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes 121, 131 (ITO or SnO ₂ is used) are formed in stripes with the x direction as the longitudinal direction. Transparent electrodes 121, 1
Since 31 has a high sheet resistance, Ag is not formed on the transparent electrodes 121 and 131.
The bus electrodes 120 and 130 are formed of a thick film of aluminum, an aluminum thin film, or a laminated thin film of Cr / Cu / Cr to reduce the sheet resistance. With this configuration, a plurality of pairs of display electrodes 12 and 13 {sustain electrodes 12 (Y electrodes) 12 and scan electrodes 13 (X electrodes) electrodes 13} are arranged in parallel along the panel column direction (y direction). .

On the front panel glass 11 on which the display electrodes 12 and 13 are formed, a dielectric layer 14 made of a transparent low melting point glass is provided.
And the protective layer 15 made of magnesium oxide (MgO) is sequentially formed. The dielectric layer 14 has a current limiting function peculiar to the AC type PDP, and has a longer life than the DC type. The protective layer 15 protects the dielectric layer 14 from being sputtered and is not scraped off during discharge, has excellent resistance to sputtering, has a high secondary electron emission coefficient (γ), and reduces the discharge start voltage. Have a function.

An address electrode (data electrode 18; DAT) 18 for writing image data is formed on the back panel glass 17.
A plurality of display electrodes 12 and 13 are provided side by side in the x direction with the y direction as the longitudinal direction. This address electrode 1
A base dielectric film 19 is formed on the surface of the back panel glass 17 so as to cover 8. An address electrode is formed on the surface of the dielectric film 19.
A plurality of partition walls 20 are formed corresponding to the positions of 18, and phosphor layers 21 (R), 22 (G), 23 are provided between two adjacent partition walls 20.
Either (B) is formed.

A space surrounded by two adjacent barrier ribs 20 is a discharge space 24, in which a mixed gas of neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe) as a discharge gas is about 66.5 kPa (500 Torr).
It is filled with the pressure of. The barrier ribs 20 further partition the adjacent discharge cells to prevent erroneous discharge and optical crosstalk. A black matrix (black film), an auxiliary partition, or the like may be formed between two pairs of adjacent display electrodes 12 and 13.

Between the pair of display electrodes 12 and 13 several tens of kHz
A discharge is generated in the discharge space 24 by applying an AC voltage of several hundred kHz, and the phosphor layers 21 (R), 22 (G), and 23 (B) are excited by the ultraviolet rays from the excited Xe atoms, An image is displayed by generating visible light. In the PDP1, as shown in the partial front view of the front panel of FIG. 2, the pair of display electrodes 12,
A plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix corresponding to the regions where 13 and address electrodes 18 are orthogonal to each other with a discharge space in between.

The PDP of each embodiment is characterized mainly in the structure around the display electrodes. In each embodiment, each characteristic part will be mainly described. <Embodiment 1> 1-1. Configuration of PDP FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of display electrodes and address electrodes in a PDP 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is the xy of Figure 1.
It is a top view parallel to a plane. In Figure 3, Px is the side of the panel (x)
Py represents the pitch between the address electrodes 18 adjacent in the direction, and Py represents either the pitch between the display electrodes 12 and 13 adjacent in the panel vertical (y) direction (hereinafter, the pitch of the display electrodes). The display electrodes 12 and 13 have a laminated structure of a transparent electrode and a bus line as described above, but are schematically represented by straight lines here.

In all the embodiments, the x direction is the row direction and the y direction is the column direction. As shown in FIG. 3, in the PDP 1 of the first embodiment, among a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix, a plurality of pairs arranged in parallel from the panel center region to both upper and lower ends (both ends in the vertical direction) of the panel. The cell area along each display electrode is gradually reduced corresponding to the display electrode. Specifically, this is done by gradually decreasing the pitches Py of the display electrodes adjacent to each other in the y direction from the pitch in the panel central region toward the pitches at the upper and lower ends of the panel. The reason why the cell area becomes smaller as the display electrode pitch becomes smaller is that the distance between adjacent cells (that is, the distance between adjacent sustain electrodes) also becomes smaller as the display electrode pitch becomes smaller.

As a result, in the PDP 1, the average cell area in the panel central region is set larger than the average cell area in the panel peripheral region surrounding the panel central region. The "panel central region" referred to here is a region with the intersection of the diagonal lines of the rectangular front panel glass as the center point, and the region that is within 90 to 95% of the short side length and the long side length. The panel area surrounding the panel central area is referred to as a “panel peripheral area”. The "average cell area" is a numerical value calculated by averaging a plurality of cell areas corresponding to the respective areas. According to this definition, the central area of the panel covers 60 to 70% of the total cell area.

An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows. Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 90 μm Px; 360 μm Py in the central area of the panel; 1080 μm Py at the top and bottom edges of the panel; 810 μm Transparent electrode width; 100 μm bus line width; 40 μm In the panel central region corresponding to the arranged display electrodes 12 and 13, the cell area is increased and the emission brightness is secured abundantly, and conversely, the display electrode 12 is arranged with a small Py.
In the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the panel corresponding to No. 13, the emission brightness becomes relatively small due to the small cell area. The difference between the maximum cell size and the minimum cell size is 1: 0.75 if the cell pitch difference is 1080 μm: 810 μm as described above.
Since it is only necessary to make a difference of a few times from the degree, the image displayed on the panel is not distorted, and the panel size does not largely deviate from the image size standard.

Generally, when an image such as a moving image is displayed on a display, the image information is likely to be concentrated in the panel central area, and the visual sense of a person who looks at the display is also likely to be concentrated in the panel central area. The PDP 1 according to the first embodiment is exactly what this property is focused on, and includes a cell including the panel central region of the PDP 1 (in this case, the display electrode in the panel central region).
While the emission brightness is increased in the corresponding cell groups along 12 and 13, the emission brightness is reduced in the small cells in the panel peripheral area (in this case, the corresponding cell groups along the display electrodes 12 and 13 at both ends of the panel y direction). Hold down. As a result, the average cell area in the panel center area is made relatively larger than the average cell area in the panel peripheral area, and the power consumption of the entire PDP1 is suppressed as in the past, while the light emission of the panel area where human vision is concentrated. It secures brightness and realizes good display performance with excellent visibility. Here, the average cell area in the panel central region can be made absolutely large and the average cell area in the panel peripheral region can be made absolutely small, but especially when the cell area is made larger than the conventional PDP. , It is necessary to be careful not to increase the power consumption of the panel as a whole.

In the PDP 1 according to the first embodiment, when the display electrodes 12 and 13 and the address electrode 18 corresponding to each cell are the same as those in the conventional case, they are superior to the conventional one while ensuring excellent visibility. It can be driven with the same power consumption,
Good luminous efficiency can be exhibited. This embodiment
In 1, Py from the panel center area to the top and bottom edges of the panel
However, the first embodiment is not limited to this, and Py may be gradually reduced in several to several tens of steps. However, in this case, it is necessary to take care so that the image distortion due to the difference in cell size does not occur at the time of display (that is, the distortion is not felt by the naked eye).

1-2. Variation of First Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the pitch Py between adjacent display electrodes is set wide in the panel central region, and the cell area corresponding to the display electrodes passing through the panel central region is partially formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in variation 1-1 of FIG.
The pitch Px of 8 is gradually reduced from the panel central region toward both ends in the panel width direction (x direction) (for example, 360 μm to 270 μ
m) may be performed. As a result, a large cell area can be obtained in the cell group corresponding to the address electrodes 18 in the central region of the panel, and a small cell area can be obtained in the cell groups corresponding to the other address electrodes 18. Also with such a configuration, the average cell area in the panel central region can be made larger than the average cell area in the panel peripheral region, and substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In addition to this, since the number of address electrodes is usually larger than the number of pairs of display electrodes, adjusting the pitch of the address electrodes 18 in this manner makes it possible to see a wide PDP such as a high-definition PDP. The cell area can be changed from the panel central region toward the left and right ends of the panel with a fine gradation in which the change in the cell width is hardly noticeable, and the visibility can be effectively improved in the panel central region.

Further, by combining the first embodiment and the variation 1-1, as shown in a variation 1-2 of FIG. 5, both the pitch Py of the adjacent display electrodes and the pitch Px of the adjacent address electrodes 18 are set. By adjusting
The cell area may be wide in the panel central region and small in the panel peripheral region. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to make the average cell area in the panel central region larger than the average cell area in the panel peripheral region, and the synergistic effect of the first embodiment and variation 1 described above is exhibited, and a good display is obtained. A performance PDP1 is obtained.

1-3. Method for Manufacturing PDP Here, an example of the method for manufacturing the PDP 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The manufacturing method described here is almost the same as the manufacturing method of the PDP 1 of each of the embodiments described below. 1-3-1. Fabrication of Front Panel Display electrodes 12 and 13 are fabricated on the surface of a front panel glass 11 made of soda lime glass having a thickness of about 2.6 mm. Here, the display electrode 1 is a metal electrode using a metal material (Ag).
An example of forming 2 and 13 (thick film forming method) is shown.

A photosensitive paste is prepared by mixing a metal (Ag) powder and an organic vehicle with a photosensitive material (photodegradable resin). This is coated on one main surface of the front panel glass 11 and covered with an exposure mask having a pattern of the display electrodes 12 and 13 to be formed. Then, expose from the exposure mask,
Develop and bake (bake temperature of about 590-600 ℃). As a result, it is possible to reduce the line width to about 30 μm as compared with the screen printing method, which has been conventionally limited to a line width of 100 μm. In addition, as this metal material,
Pt, Au, Al, Ni, Cr, tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like can be used. The amount of the photosensitive paste to be applied is adjusted to set the electrode thickness to 2 to 5 μm.

The display electrodes 12 and 13 are replaced by the transparent electrodes 120 and 130.
And the metal electrode bus lines 121 and 131,
First, a photosensitive material (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin) having a thickness of 0.5 μm is applied to the entire surface of the front panel glass 11. Then, an exposure mask having a desired pattern is superposed on it, irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and immersed in a developing solution to wash out the uncured resin. At this time, as the exposure mask, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the pattern of the electrodes can be appropriately changed by using a mask cut out into a predetermined pattern. Next, ITO is used as the material for the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 by the CVD method to form the front panel glass 11
Apply to the resist gap. Baking this, the width
Transparent electrodes 120 and 130 having a thickness of 10 to 150 μm and a thickness of 2 to 5 μm are obtained.

On the formed transparent electrodes 120 and 130, the bus lines 121 and 131 of the metal electrodes are formed by using an exposure mask as described above.
To form. In addition to the above method, the display electrodes 12 and 13 may be formed by depositing an electrode material by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method or the like and then performing an etching treatment. Next, apply glass paste by printing method,
This is fired to form the dielectric layer 14.

Next, on the surface of the dielectric layer 14, a thickness of about 0.3 to
0.6 μm protective layer 15 is deposited or CVD (chemical vapor deposition)
It is formed by Magnesium oxide (MgO) is suitable for the protective layer 15. With this, the front panel 10 is manufactured. 1-3-2. Fabrication of back panel On the surface of the back panel glass 17 made of soda lime glass having a thickness of about 2.6 mm, a conductor material containing Ag as a main component is applied in a stripe shape, and a thickness of about 5 μm. The address electrode 18 of is formed. A screen printing method, a photo etching method, or the like can be used to form the address electrode 18.

Subsequently, a lead-based glass paste is applied to the entire surface of the back panel glass 17 on which the address electrodes 18 are formed in a thickness of 20 to 50 μm and baked to form a dielectric film 19. Next, using the same lead-based glass material as the dielectric film 19, the partition walls 20 having a height of 80 to 150 μm are formed on the dielectric film 19 between adjacent address electrodes. The partition wall 20 can be formed, for example, by repeatedly screen-printing a paste containing the above glass material and then firing it.

The address electrode 18 and the partition wall 20 can also be formed by a photoetching method like the above-mentioned method of forming the display electrodes 12 and 13. After the partition wall 20 is formed, the red (R) phosphor, the green (G) phosphor, and the blue (B) are formed on the wall surface of the partition wall 20 and the surface of the dielectric film 19 exposed between two adjacent partition walls 20. ) Apply a fluorescent ink containing one of the phosphors and dry and bake it to obtain a film thickness of 10
The phosphor layers 21, 22, and 23 have a thickness of -40 μm.

Examples of phosphor materials generally used for PDPs are listed below. Red phosphor; (Y _x Gd _1-x ) BO ₃ : Eu ³⁺ green phosphor; Zn ₂ SiO ₄ : Mn ³⁺ blue phosphor; BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ : Eu ³⁺ (or BaMgAl
₁₄ O ₂₃ : Eu ³⁺ ) For each phosphor material, for example, powder having an average particle size of about 3 μm can be used. There are several possible methods for applying the phosphor ink. Here, a method of ejecting the phosphor ink while forming a meniscus (crosslinking due to surface tension) from an ultrafine nozzle known as a known meniscus method is used here. . This method is convenient for uniformly applying the phosphor ink to a target area. The present invention is not limited to this method as a matter of course, and other methods such as a screen printing method can be used.

The back panel 16 is completed as described above. Although the front panel glass 11 and the back panel glass 17 are made of soda lime glass, this is given as an example of the material, and other materials may be used. 1-3-3. Completion of PDP The fabricated front panel 10 and back panel 16 are bonded together using glass for sealing. After that, the inside of the discharge space 24 is evacuated to a high vacuum (1.1 × 10 ^-4 Pa), and the Ne-Xe system, He-Ne-Xe system, and He-Ne system are heated to a predetermined pressure (66.5 kPa in this case).
-Enclose the discharge gas such as Ne-Xe-Ar system.

The PDP 1 is completed as described above. <Second Embodiment> 2-1. Configuration of PDP FIG. 6 shows display electrodes 12, 13 (x,
FIG. 7 is an overall view showing the arrangement of y), and FIG. 7 is a schematic view specifically showing the arrangement of the display electrodes 12 and 13 in the display area.

As shown in the figure, in the second embodiment, the width of the display electrodes 12 and 13 (specifically, the width of the transparent electrodes 120 and 130) along the vertical direction (y direction) of the panel is in the x direction. It is characterized in that it is set so as to gradually increase from the panel central region along the upper and lower ends of the panel. An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows.

Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 80 μm to 100 μm Transparent electrode width; 215 μm to 320 μm Pitch Px; 360 μm Pitch Py; 1080 μm With this structure, the display electrodes 12, 13 having a narrow width passing through the panel central region In the cell group corresponding to, the display electrode 12,
Since the distance G between the display electrodes 12 and 13 is large because the width of 13 is small, the cell aperture ratio is increased and abundant emission brightness is secured. On the contrary, in the cell group corresponding to the wide display electrodes 12 and 13 passing near the upper and lower ends of the panel, the cell aperture ratio is reduced by the larger width of the display electrodes 12 and 13, and the emission luminance is suppressed to be low. Here, the “cell aperture ratio” refers to the area on the panel of the region that is not covered with the display electrodes or the light shielding material in the light emitting region of the cell. In the above example, the ratio of the display electrode width in the panel central region and the display electrode width in the panel peripheral region is preferably 1: 1.1 to 1: 1.5. The ratio of the pair of display electrode gaps G in the panel central region and the panel peripheral region is preferably 1: 0.5 to 1: 0.8. These ratios can be changed appropriately.

As a result, in the second embodiment, the average cell aperture ratio in the panel center region becomes larger than the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region, and relatively in the panel center region as in the first embodiment. The luminous brightness can be increased and the visibility can be improved. Although an example in which the width of the transparent electrode is changed is shown here, the width of the transparent electrode may be kept constant and the gap between the pair of display electrodes may be gradually reduced from the panel central region toward both ends in the panel vertical direction. Almost the same effect is achieved. In this case, since the pattern of each display electrode is the same on the entire surface of the panel, there is also an advantage that it can be easily formed at the time of manufacturing.

2-2. Variation of Second Embodiment In the example of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
Although the display electrodes having the configuration having 120 and 130 are shown, the second embodiment is not limited to this, and the display electrodes 12 and 13 passing through the panel central region as in variation 2-1 shown in FIG. 8, for example.
In the above, the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 of the electrodes 12 and 13 may have a concave pattern in which end portions are sculpted in a curved shape along the longitudinal direction. The concave pattern of the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 is
The transparent electrodes 120 and 130 on the upper and lower ends of the panel are gradually formed into a strip shape. Here, the maximum width of the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 of the concave pattern is 320 μm and the minimum width is 215.
Although the size is set to μm, other sizes may be used.

According to this structure, in the gap between the pair of display electrodes having the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 having the concave pattern, the transparent electrode 12 is formed in the central portion of the electrode where the gap is relatively wide.
Since the width of 0 and 130 is narrow, the cell aperture ratio is increased and the emission brightness can be improved. On the contrary, at the both ends of the electrode where the gap is relatively narrow, the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 are wide, so that the cell aperture ratio is low and the emission brightness is suppressed. As described above, in variation 2-1 of the present invention, the average cell aperture ratio is effectively increased in the panel central region more effectively than in the second embodiment, and good display performance can be realized.

The transparent electrodes 120 and 130 are not limited to an integrated pattern along the longitudinal direction of the display electrode, but the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 are divided into a plurality of parts, respectively. It may be configured to be electrically connected to the bus line. Here, FIG. 9 shows a pattern in which the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 are divided into islands for each cell based on the variation 2-2 shown in FIG. According to such a configuration, for example, by positioning the gap between the adjacent island-shaped transparent electrodes 120 and 130 at the intersection with the partition wall 20, the portions of the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 that do not contribute to light emission are effectively removed,
It is desirable because it can improve power saving.

In the second and other embodiments, the display electrodes 12, 1 are formed in the central area of the panel.
3, the method of forming the black matrix (BM), the top of the partition wall 20 and the like with a small area and width is the PDP of the first embodiment.
The photo-etching method described in the manufacturing method 1 can be mentioned, and in this case, the step can be used as an exposure step of the photosensitive material.

That is, as shown in FIG. 21, first, a panel 210 in which a photosensitive material is applied to the front panel glass 11 is prepared, and as a first exposure step, a panel peripheral region 211 indicated by diagonal lines is exposed with an exposure amount M. To do. Next, as the second exposure step, the panel central region 212 indicated by the diagonal lines is exposed with the exposure amount N, and the exposure process is completed. In this case, the relationship between the exposure doses M and N is M> N.

According to this method, by increasing the exposure amount in the panel peripheral area 211 as compared with the panel central area, the display electrodes 12, 13,
The black matrix (BM), the area of the top of the partition wall 20, and the like can be formed large. As a result, it is possible to increase the emission brightness in the central area of the panel. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 22, when a panel 210 in which a front panel glass is coated with a photosensitive material is exposed through a concave lens 220, the amount of light is distinguished between the central area of the panel and the peripheral area. It is possible to achieve the same effect as above. <Third Embodiment> 3-1. Configuration of PDP 1 FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram specifically showing the arrangement of the display electrodes in the third embodiment.

As shown in the figure, in the third embodiment, the width of the bus lines 121 and 131 of the display electrodes 12 and 13 along the vertical direction (y direction) of the panel is the center region of the panel along the x direction. It has a feature that it is set to gradually decrease from the top to the top and bottom ends of the panel. An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows. Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 90 μm Transparent electrode width; 100 μm Bus line width; 40 μm to 100 μm Pitch Px; 360 μm Pitch Py; 1080 μm With such a configuration, the bus line 121, 131 has a narrow width in the panel central region. In this case, the cell opening ratio is increased by the narrower width to secure abundant emission luminance, and conversely, the cell opening ratio is reduced by the larger width in the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the panel, and the emission luminance is suppressed low. In the above size example, the ratio of the bus line width at the panel upper and lower ends to the bus line width at the panel central region is preferably 1: 1.6 to 1:
Although it is 2.5, it can be changed appropriately. As a result, the average cell aperture ratio in the panel central region can be made higher than the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region. The luminous brightness can be increased and the visibility can be improved.

3-2. Variation of Third Embodiment In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the strip-shaped bus line structure is shown, but the third embodiment is not limited to this pattern shape. For example, by applying the pattern of the concave transparent electrodes 120 and 130 shown in the variation 2-1, as shown in the variation 3-1 of FIG. 11, the bus lines 121 and 131 corresponding to the panel central region are formed into a thin line shape. On the contrary, a concave pattern is formed in which the width is gradually changed toward the bus lines 121 and 131 located at both upper and lower ends of the panel. Then, at the center of the concave pattern, the bus line 12
The configuration may be such that it corresponds to the center of the longitudinal direction of 1, 131.

With such a configuration, as in the above-described embodiments, the average cell aperture ratio in the panel central region is relatively improved as compared with the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region, and the power consumption is suppressed and the panel is suppressed. It is possible to secure excellent light emission brightness in the central region and exhibit good visibility. <Embodiment 4> 4-1. Configuration of PDP FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram specifically showing the arrangement of the display electrodes 12 and 13 in the present Embodiment 4. As shown in the figure, in the fourth embodiment, the transparent electrodes 120 and 130 are not used for the display electrodes 12 and 13, and a plurality of line portions whose longitudinal direction is the x direction (in this case, four lines for each display electrode) Part) is formed as a fence (FE) electrode made of a metal electrically connected at the end in the x direction. Then, the line portion along the vertical direction (y direction) of the panel gradually becomes a concave pattern from the panel central region along the x direction toward the upper and lower ends of the panel,
The feature is that the electrode area is set to increase.

An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows. Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 90 μm pitch Px; 360 μm pitch Py; 1080 μm Line width: 20 μm to 50 μm Here, the address electrode 18 used in the fourth embodiment has almost the same size as the conventional one.

According to such a structure, in the panel central region where the narrow line portion is arranged, the cell aperture ratio is increased by the narrower width to secure abundant light emission brightness. The line portion has a concave pattern near the upper and lower ends of the panel, and the total width of the line portion increases at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the concave pattern, so that the cell aperture ratio is reduced and the emission brightness is suppressed to be low. This makes it possible to improve the average cell aperture ratio in the panel central region more than the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region, as in each of the above-described embodiments. The luminous brightness can be increased and the visibility can be improved. In the fourth embodiment, since the display electrode is formed as a fence electrode having a low electric resistance, the power characteristic is particularly excellent, and the excellent power saving property is exhibited.

The number of line portions is not limited to the four shown in FIG. 12, but may be any other number, but if the number of line portions is increased too much, patterning becomes difficult and the cell aperture ratio may be lowered. So be careful. Also,
A connecting portion for electrically connecting the plurality of line portions in each display electrode 12, 13 may be appropriately provided. By doing so, the electric resistance applied to the display electrodes 12 and 13 can be further reduced. Further, instead of forming each line portion in the vertical direction of the panel gradually in a concave pattern, a band-shaped line portion may be formed to be gradually thicker to adjust the cell aperture ratio. <Fifth Embodiment> 5-1. Configuration of PDP FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram specifically showing a configuration around a display electrode in the fifth embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the fifth embodiment has a structure in which a black matrix (BM) made of a black film is arranged in a gap between two adjacent display electrodes 12 and 13.
The width of each black matrix along the vertical direction (y direction) of the panel is set so as to gradually increase from the panel central region along the x direction toward both upper and lower ends of the panel.

An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows. Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 90 μm width of transparent electrode; 150 μm width of bus line; 40 μm pitch Px; 360 μm pitch Py; 1080 μm black matrix width; 150 μm to 300 μm With such a configuration, a narrow black matrix is formed. In the central area of the panel through which the width of the black matrix is narrow, the cell aperture ratio is increased to ensure abundant emission brightness, and conversely, a wide black matrix is passed near the top and bottom edges of the panel, which is The cell aperture ratio is reduced by the amount of the area that shields the surface side of the cell, and the emission brightness can be suppressed low. As a result, in the fifth embodiment, the average cell aperture ratio in the panel center region is higher than the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region. The light emission brightness can be relatively increased in the region to improve the visibility.

5-2. Variation of Embodiment 5 In the example of FIG. 13 described above, the structure in which the entire width of the strip-shaped black matrix changes is shown, but the pattern of the black matrix is not limited to this. For example, as in variation 5-1 shown in FIG. 14, a black matrix passing through the panel center region is formed into a narrow concave pattern of the neck, and conversely, toward the upper and lower ends of the panel, a thick concave pattern of the neck is formed, and the area thereof is increased. May be gradually increased. With such a configuration, the cell aperture ratio can be further improved in the panel central region as compared with the strip-shaped black matrix shown in FIG. 13, so that the effect of the present invention can be enhanced.

Variation 5-2 shown in FIG. 15 shows a structure in which the black matrix corresponding to the panel central region is formed as a concave pattern having a narrow width, and the width at both ends in the longitudinal direction is narrowed. With such a configuration, the area of the black matrix in the central region of the panel can be further reduced, and the effect of the present invention can be further enhanced.
Note that the pattern of the black matrix is not limited to the patterns shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, but it goes without saying that caution is required in the design because the original effect will be lost if the area becomes too small. <Sixth Embodiment> 6-1. Configuration of PDP FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of display electrodes, address electrodes, and partition walls of the PDP 1.

As shown in the figure, in the sixth embodiment, the width of the partition wall 20 along the lateral direction (x direction) of the panel is set so as to gradually increase from the panel central region toward the left and right ends of the panel. It has the characteristics that An example of the size of this PDP1 is as follows. Gap between a pair of display electrodes; 90 μm width of transparent electrode; 150 μm pitch Px; 360 μm pitch Py; 1080 μm width of partition wall; 30 μm to 80 μm Here, the display electrodes 12 and 13 and the address electrode 18 used in the sixth embodiment are: The size is almost the same as the conventional one.

According to this structure, in the central region of the panel where the width of the partition wall 20 is small, the cell opening ratio is increased by the smaller width to secure abundant emission brightness, and conversely, in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the panel, The larger the width, the smaller the cell aperture ratio and the lower the emission brightness. In the sixth embodiment, as an example, the ratio between the maximum width and the minimum width of the partition wall is 1: 1.
It is set to 3-1: 2. As a result, the average cell aperture ratio in the panel central region is higher than the average cell aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region.

Since the emission brightness of the PDP 1 is also proportional to the area of the phosphor layers 21 to 23 facing the discharge space 24, if the partition wall 20 is thin, the width of the groove for applying the phosphor is large. If the body layers 21 to 23 are formed, the area thereof becomes large. Therefore, in PDP1 of the sixth embodiment, abundant amount of phosphor is present in the cell group in the panel central region,
Here, high emission brightness can be obtained. On the other hand, since the partition walls 20 are thick on the left and right ends of the panel, the amount of phosphor is relatively small and the emission brightness can be suppressed. For this reason, in the sixth embodiment, it is possible to improve the visibility by relatively increasing the emission brightness in the central region of the panel while suppressing the power consumption in the same manner as in the respective embodiments.

6-2. Variation of Sixth Embodiment In the example of FIG. 16 described above, an example in which the width of the partition wall 20 is changed is shown, but the sixth embodiment is not limited to this, and is shown in FIG. 17, for example. Like the variation 6-1, each pair of display electrodes 12, 13
If the PDP 1 has a configuration in which the auxiliary barrier ribs are alternately arranged in parallel with each other, the width of the auxiliary barrier ribs may be increased with the distance from the panel central region together with the barrier ribs 20.

According to such a structure, the average cell aperture ratio of the cells having the discharge spaces 24 surrounded by the barrier ribs 20 and the auxiliary barrier ribs in a grid pattern decreases from the panel central region toward the panel peripheral region. Therefore, it becomes possible to secure a relatively excellent light emission brightness in the central region of the panel. Note that in the variation 6-1 an example is shown in which the widths of both the partition wall 20 and the auxiliary partition wall are adjusted, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the partition wall 20
Alternatively, the width of only one of the auxiliary partition walls may be changed. <Embodiment 7> 7-1. Configuration of PDP FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b) are schematic views showing a cross-sectional shape along the y direction of the dielectric layer 14 of the PDP 1 according to the seventh embodiment. is there.

As shown in these figures, in the seventh embodiment, the thickness of the dielectric layer 14 facing the discharge space 24 is smaller in the panel central region than in the panel peripheral region (“panel central region”). The definitions of "and" panel peripheral area "are in accordance with the description of the first embodiment). The dielectric layer 1
As an example, 4 has a film thickness value of 20 μm in the panel central region and 50 μm in the panel peripheral region, and the film thickness ratio is 1: 2 to 1: 2.5. These film thickness values and film thickness ratios can be appropriately changed. This figure (a) shows a configuration in which the thickness varies in one step between the panel central area and the panel peripheral area, and in this figure (b), the dielectric layer surface extends from the panel central area to the panel peripheral area. Shows a configuration in which the thickness changes while inclining.

With each of these structures, the transmittance of the visible light generated in the discharge space 24 is high in the central portion of the panel where the dielectric layer 14 is thin, and therefore the display brightness is improved. On the other hand, in the panel peripheral region where the dielectric layer 14 is thick, the visible light transmittance is relatively lower than in the panel central region.
Therefore, the shape of the dielectric layer 14 of the seventh embodiment, the average visible light transmittance in the panel central region is higher than the average visible light transmittance in the panel peripheral region, so that the image information while suppressing power consumption. It is possible to improve the light emission brightness in the central area of the panel where is easily concentrated and to exhibit good visibility.

In the case of the dielectric layer shown in FIG. 18 (a), a portion where the thickness changes is provided at the boundary between the panel central region and the panel peripheral region. Therefore, the visibility improving effect in the panel central region is improved. It has a strong output. As a variation of the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, a configuration in which the thickness of the dielectric layer changes stepwise can be cited. Such a structure has an advantage that it can be relatively easily manufactured by stacking a hollow dielectric layer sheet which will be described later.

On the other hand, in the dielectric layer shown in FIG. 18B, the thickness gradually increases from the panel central region to the panel peripheral region, but this inclination angle (from the panel central region to the panel peripheral region The inclination angle is preferably in the range of 0.007 ° to 0.002 ° when the panel size is 42 inches. In addition, as a cross-sectional shape of the dielectric layer of the seventh embodiment, a semi-circular arch shape having the apex at the panel central region can be mentioned. Such a cross-sectional shape is desirable because the dielectric layer can have a certain lens effect and the cell aperture ratio in the panel central region can be efficiently improved.

The dielectric layer 14 having such a shape is prepared as a dielectric layer sheet of which thickness is adjusted in advance in the manufacturing process, and is attached to the surface of the front panel glass on which the display electrodes are formed and baked. There is a method of doing. As an example of this method, as shown in FIG. 23, a hollow dielectric layer sheet 231 and a flat dielectric layer sheet 232 are laminated and attached to a front panel side 230 on which display electrodes are formed. I do. The method of attaching the dielectric sheet is not limited to the above method, and for example, the order of attaching the hollow dielectric layer sheet 231 and the flat dielectric layer sheet 232 may be reversed, or in advance. It is also possible to stack two or more types of dielectric layer sheets and attach them together. <Other Matters> In each of the above embodiments, the display electrode 12,
13. A configuration is shown in which the sizes and patterns of the black matrix, the partition walls 20, the auxiliary partition walls, and the like are gradually reduced and gradually increased from the panel central region toward the panel end portion side (either left or right or top and bottom). However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the display electrodes may be arranged in several pairs to several tens of pairs, the black matrix, the partition walls 20, and the auxiliary partition walls in several to several tens of layers, and the size may be gradually increased. Alternatively, the pattern may be changed. In this case, needless to say, it is necessary to take care so that the visibility is not affected by the locally different cell aperture ratio, cell area, or cell visible light transmittance during display.

In order to form the display electrodes 12 and 13 in a desired pattern as shown in the above embodiment,
19 or the exposure mask 181 shown in FIG. 20 can be used. Display electrodes 1 to be formed on these exposure masks 181
An exposure unit 180 corresponding to the patterns 2 and 13 is provided. In order to utilize this, first, a photosensitive material (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin) having a thickness of 0.5 μm is applied to the entire surface of the front panel glass 11. Then, an exposure mask 181 having an exposure portion 180 formed in a desired pattern is overlaid, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated. Then, it is dipped in a developing solution to wash out the uncured resin. As a result, a pattern gap of the photosensitive material is formed on the surface of the front panel glass 11, so that the display electrodes 12 and 13 having a desired pattern can be obtained by filling the gap with the Ag paste or the ITO material and baking.

[0069]

As is apparent from the above, the present invention provides a second panel in which a plurality of pairs of display electrodes are arranged in a column direction and a plurality of address electrodes are arranged in a row direction. A plasma display panel in which a plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix at the intersections of a pair of display electrodes and one address electrode with the panels facing each other, and an average cell area, an average cell aperture ratio, an average Since the plasma display panel is characterized in that at least one value of the visible light transmittance is larger in the panel central area than in the panel peripheral area, the average cell area and the average cell opening in the panel central area of the PDP. Rate and / or the average visible light transmittance is partially increased so that the light emission luminance of the cell group in this region is made higher than the light emission luminance of the cell group in the panel peripheral region. It can also increase relatively.
Therefore, the PDP of the present invention can efficiently increase the light emission brightness of the cell group in the panel central region where human vision is concentrated, exhibit excellent visibility, and obtain good display performance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a PDP.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cell array of PDP.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cell array of the PDP in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cell array of a PDP in the variation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cell array of a PDP in the variation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of display electrodes in a display area of a PDP.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a shape of a display electrode in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a shape of a display electrode in a variation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of display electrodes in a variation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a display electrode in the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of display electrodes in a variation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a display electrode in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a black film between display electrodes in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a black film between display electrodes in a variation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a black film between display electrodes in a variation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of partition walls in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a shape of an auxiliary partition wall in a variation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of a dielectric layer according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the shape of a patterning mask for display electrodes.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the shape of a patterning mask for display electrodes.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a process procedure of an exposure step.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram of an exposure step using a concave lens.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a procedure for producing a dielectric layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PDP 12, 13 Display electrode 18 Address electrode 120, 130 Transparent electrode 121, 131 Bus line 14 Dielectric layer 20 Partition 180 Exposure area 181 Exposure mask 210 Front panel glass panel coated with photosensitive material 211 Panel peripheral area 212 panel Central area 220 Concave lens 231 Hollow-out type dielectric layer sheet 232 Flat type dielectric layer sheet

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Morio Fujitani             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Ashida             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C027 AA01 AA09                 5C040 FA01 FA04 GB03 GB14 GD07                       GF03 GF16 GH06 JA09 JA12                       JA15 JA32 LA02 LA05 LA14                       MA02 MA03

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A first panel having a plurality of pairs of display electrodes arranged in the column direction is opposed to a second panel having a plurality of address electrodes arranged in the row direction, and a pair of display electrodes and a single panel are provided. A plasma display panel in which a plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix corresponding to intersections of address electrodes, wherein at least one of an average cell area, an average cell aperture ratio, and an average visible light transmittance is A plasma display panel, characterized in that it is larger in the central area of the panel than in the peripheral area. 2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the pitch between adjacent display electrodes is configured to decrease from the central region in the panel row direction toward the end portion in the panel row direction. 3. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the pitch of the adjacent address electrodes decreases from the central region in the panel row direction toward the end portion in the panel row direction. 4. The pitch of adjacent display electrodes decreases from the panel row direction central region toward the panel row direction end,
2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the address electrodes have a pitch that decreases from the central region in the panel row direction toward the ends in the panel row direction. 5. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a gap between a pair of adjacent display electrodes is configured to decrease from a central region in the panel column direction toward an end portion in the panel column direction. 6. The gap between a pair of display electrodes, wherein the value of the gap is configured to decrease from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the display electrode toward both end portions.
Plasma display panel according to. 7. The display electrode comprises a transparent electrode and a bus line, and the bus line is laminated on the transparent electrode, and the width of each adjacent bus line is from a central region in the panel column direction to an end in the panel column direction. 2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plasma display panel has a configuration that decreases toward the bottom. 8. The plasma display panel according to claim 7, wherein, in each display electrode, the width of the bus line decreases from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the electrode toward both end portions. 9. Each adjacent display electrode is composed of a plurality of electrically connected metal line portions, and the width of the metal line portions of the pair of display electrodes is from a panel column direction central region to a panel column direction end portion. 2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plasma display panel has a configuration increasing toward the bottom. 10. The pair of display electrodes according to claim 9, wherein the total width of the metal line portions in each display electrode increases from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the display electrode toward both end portions. The plasma display panel described. 11. A black film is formed between adjacent display electrodes, and the width of each adjacent black film is increased from the central region in the panel column direction toward the end in the panel column direction. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that 12. The plasma display panel according to claim 11, wherein the width of each black film is configured to increase from a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the film toward both end portions. 13. A partition is provided in parallel with each address electrode between the first panel and the second panel, and the width of the partition extends from the central region in the panel row direction toward the end in the panel row direction. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plasma display panel has an increasing configuration. 14. A pair of display electrodes are alternately provided between the first panel and the second panel, and auxiliary barrier ribs are alternately arranged in parallel, and the width of the auxiliary barrier ribs is from a panel column direction central region to a panel column direction end. 2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plasma display panel has a configuration that increases toward the portion. 15. A dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the first panel on which the display electrodes are formed so as to cover the display electrodes, and the dielectric layer has a thickness in a panel central region and a panel peripheral region. Thicker than the thickness of
Plasma display panel according to. 16. An exposure mask for forming at least one of a display electrode, a partition, and a black film on a panel surface by a photoetching method in a manufacturing process of a plasma display panel, the panel central region of the exposure mask. The exposure mask has a higher average aperture ratio than the average aperture ratio in the panel peripheral region. 17. A dielectric layer sheet for forming a dielectric layer by covering a panel surface on which a display electrode is provided in a plasma display panel manufacturing process, the dielectric layer sheet corresponding to a central region of the panel. A dielectric layer sheet, wherein the layer sheet is thicker than the dielectric layer sheet in the panel peripheral region. 18. A method of manufacturing a plasma display panel, comprising: a display electrode forming step of forming a plurality of display electrodes on a first panel surface; and a partition wall forming step of forming a plurality of partition walls on a second panel surface, In at least one of the display electrode formation step and the partition wall formation step, a patterning process of applying a photosensitive material to the surface of the corresponding first or second panel and performing an exposure process through an exposure mask is performed. In the processing, the width of the display electrode or the partition is set by partially varying the exposure degree with respect to the photosensitive material. 19. The method of manufacturing a plasma display panel according to claim 18, wherein the photosensitive material is a resist material used in an etching process.