JPH0830228A - Method of driving gas discharge type display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method for driving a gas discharge type display device capable of enlarging allowable varying ranges of a pulse width and an amplitude of an erase pulse and obtaining a sufficient erase operation margin even when a characteristic of a discharge cell is dispersed. CONSTITUTION:This method is the method for driving the gas discharge type display device constituted so that a scan electrode group 2 and a maintenance electrode group 3 making a pair covered by a dielectric layer are arranged in parallel to each other on one side glass substrate l between a pair of glass substrates l opposing each other holding discharge space therebetween, and a data electrode group 7 is arranged on the other glass substrate 1 by orthogonally intersecting with and opposing to the scan electrode group 2 and the maintenance electrode group 3, and is constituted so that the erase operation is performed by applying the erase pulse of which variable time in a section from 10% to 90% of the amplitude is from 10mum or above to 10ms or below to the scan electrode group 2 or the maintenance electrode group 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for driving a gas discharge type display device used for displaying images, such as a television and an advertisement display board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a kind of gas discharge type display device, so-called AC type plasma display panel (hereinafter abbreviated as a panel), a surface discharge type panel disclosed in JP-A-61-39341 is known. There is. As a method of applying an erase pulse in driving such a panel, for example, there is a method proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-61278 as a method of driving a gas discharge panel.

A conventional gas discharge display device of this type will be described below with reference to the drawings, and an example of a conventional driving method of the gas discharge display device will be described. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are a partial plan view and an BB 'sectional view of an example of a conventional gas discharge display device, and FIG. 6 is an electrode array diagram thereof. . Figure 5
In, a pair of glass substrates 1 and 8 are opposed to each other with a discharge space 6 in between, and a group of scan electrodes 2 and a group of sustain electrodes 3 are provided in parallel on one glass substrate 1. The second group and the sustain electrode group 3 are covered with a dielectric layer 4 and a protective film layer 5. Then, on the other glass substrate 8 facing each other with the discharge space 6 interposed therebetween, the data electrode group 7 is provided orthogonally opposite to the scan electrode group 2 and the sustain electrode group 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, the scan electrode group 2, the sustain electrode group 3, and the data electrode group 7 are arranged in DATA in the column direction.
With M column data electrodes of ₁ to Data _M is arranged, sustain electrodes of N rows of scanning electrodes and SUS ₁ ~SUS _N of N rows of SCN ₁ ~SCN _N in the row direction are arranged respectively, the matrix I am configuring. Next, a conventional driving method of the gas discharge type display device configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 5, when a write pulse and a scan pulse are applied to a predetermined data electrode 7 and a scan electrode 2, respectively, a discharge occurs at an intersection W between the predetermined data electrode 7 and the scan electrode 2 to protect this portion. Electric charges are accumulated on the surface of the film layer 5. Next, by alternately applying sustain pulses to the scan electrodes 2 and the sustain electrodes 3, the sustain electrodes are activated by the charges accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 5 to start discharging in the S portion,
After that, the discharge of the S portion continues. Then, by discharge, S
By causing an erase pulse to be applied to the scan electrode 2 or the sustain electrode 3 to cause a discharge (hereinafter, referred to as an erase discharge) that extinguishes the charge accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 5 of a certain portion, the scan electrode is thereafter formed. Even if the sustain pulse is alternately applied to 2 and the sustain electrode 3, the discharge does not occur.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of conventional drive timing of a gas discharge type display device. In the writing period shown in FIG. 7, a predetermined data electrode DATA ₁
~ Positive write pulse with amplitude Vw on DATA _M ,
When a negative scan pulse having an amplitude of Vs is applied to the first scan electrode SCN ₁ , the predetermined data electrode DAT
Electric charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection of A _{1 to} DATA _M and the first scan electrode SCN ₁ .

Next, predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} D
ATA _M positive write pulse with amplitude Vw, second
When a negative scan pulse having an amplitude of Vs is applied to the th scan electrode SCN ₂ , the predetermined data electrode DATA ₁
Charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection of the ~ DATA _M and the second scan electrode SCN ₂ . The same operation is continuously performed, and finally, the predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} DATA
_When a positive write pulse having an amplitude of Vw is applied to _M and a negative scan pulse having an amplitude of Vs is applied to the _Nth scan electrode SCN _N , the predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} DA are applied.
Electric charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection of TA _M and the Nth scan electrode SCN _N.

In the subsequent sustain period, all sustain electrodes S are
US _{1 to} SUS _N and all scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SCN _N
When a negative sustain pulse having an amplitude of Vs is alternately applied to the electrodes, the sustain electrodes SUS _{1 to} SUS _N and the scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SC are activated by the accumulated charges.
The sustain discharge is started between N _N and then the sustain discharge is continued while the application of the sustain pulse is continued.

In the subsequent erase period, all sustain electrodes S are
When a negative erase pulse having an amplitude Ve and a pulse width t _WE is applied to US _{1 to} SUS _N , an erase discharge occurs, and the charge accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer by the sustain discharge disappears.
Then, even if a sustain pulse is applied, the discharge will not continue. As an example of a conventional erase pulse application method during this erase period, there are a voltage-controlled erase method for controlling the pulse amplitude Ve and a narrow width erase method for narrowing the pulse width t _WE .

In order to increase the erase operation margin, as shown in FIG. 7, it has been already applied to apply an erase pulse that is a combination of both and a plurality of narrow erase pulses having different pulse widths. In order to perform a stable write operation, sustain operation, and erase operation, the rising and falling edges of the write, scan, sustain, and erase pulses described above are steep, and the change time is generally about several hundred ns. Is set to a very short one.

[0011]

However, in such a conventional method of driving a gas discharge type display device, it is not possible to set a large allowable variation range of the pulse width and the amplitude of the erase pulse, and the discharge cell characteristics are changed. If there are variations, discharge cells with excessive or insufficient erase discharge are generated in the erase operation, and the charges accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer are not completely extinguished in those discharge cells, so that a sufficient erase operation margin is provided. There was a problem that I could not get it. Excessive erasing discharge means that the electric charge accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer is extinguished, and then electric charges of opposite polarity are further accumulated. It means that the accumulated charge cannot be reduced to zero.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wide range of permissible fluctuations in the pulse width and amplitude of the erase pulse, and to obtain a sufficient erase operation margin even if there are variations in the characteristics of the discharge cells. It is an object of the present invention to provide a driving method of the.

[0013]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a gas discharge display device, wherein one of a pair of insulating substrates facing each other with a discharge space interposed therebetween is covered with a dielectric layer. Gas discharge display in which a pair of scan electrode group and sustain electrode group are arranged in parallel with each other, and a data electrode group is arranged on the other insulating substrate so as to be orthogonally opposed to the scan electrode group and sustain electrode group. When the device is driven, an erasing pulse whose instantaneous value increases or decreases with a gentle gradient is applied to one of the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group to gradually increase the potential difference between the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group. Erase operation is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a gas discharge display device according to the first aspect, wherein the instantaneous value of the erase pulse is 10% to 9% of the amplitude.
The change time required for change to 0% or the change time required for change from 90% of amplitude to 10% of amplitude is 10 μs.
The time is 10 ms or less.

[0015]

According to the configuration of the present invention, an erase pulse whose instantaneous value increases or decreases with a gentle gradient is applied to one of the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group, for example, the instantaneous value is 10% to 9% of the amplitude.
The change time required for change to 0% or the change time required for change from 90% of amplitude to 10% of amplitude is 10 μs.
While the erase pulse of 10 ms or less is applied and the potential difference between the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group gradually increases, the charge accumulated on the dielectric layer is changed according to the characteristic variation of the discharge cells. An appropriate erasing discharge that can be just extinguished occurs in each discharge cell, and the charges accumulated on the dielectric layer are almost completely extinguished.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a method for driving a gas discharge type display device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a gas discharge type display device (A
It is a time chart which shows an example of the drive timing of a C type plasma display panel. The configuration of the panel is the same as that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 shown in the conventional example. In the writing period shown in FIG. 1, a predetermined data electrode DA
When a positive write pulse with an amplitude of Vw is applied to TA _{1 to} DATA _M and a negative scan pulse with an amplitude of Vs is applied to the _first scan electrode SCN ₁ , the predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} DATA _M are applied. And the first scan electrode SCN ₁
An electric charge is accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection point of.

Next, predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} D
ATA _M positive write pulse with amplitude Vw, second
When a negative scan pulse having an amplitude of Vs is applied to the th scan electrode SCN ₂ , the predetermined data electrode DATA ₁
Charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection of the ~ DATA _M and the second scan electrode SCN ₂ . The same operation is continuously performed, and finally, the predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} DATA
_When a positive write pulse having an amplitude of Vw is applied to _M and a negative scan pulse having an amplitude of Vs is applied to the _Nth scan electrode SCN _N , the predetermined data electrodes DATA _{1 to} DA are applied.
Electric charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer at the intersection of TA _M and the Nth scan electrode SCN _N.

In the subsequent sustain period, all sustain electrodes S are
US _{1 to} SUS _N and all scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SCN _N
When a negative sustain pulse having an amplitude of Vs is alternately applied to the electrodes, the sustain electrodes SUS _{1 to} SUS _N and the scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SC are activated by the accumulated charges.
The sustain discharge is started between N _N and then the sustain discharge is continued while the application of the sustain pulse is continued. In order to perform a stable writing operation and sustaining operation, the rising and falling edges of each pulse for writing, scanning, and sustaining described above are steep, and the change time is generally a very short time of about several hundred ns. It is set.

In the subsequent erasing period, the amplitude is Ve and the gradient is gentle (the change time tc required for changing the instantaneous value from 10% of the amplitude to 90% of the amplitude is longer than the above-mentioned several hundred ns). Negative erase pulse is applied to all sustain electrodes SUS
_{1 to} SUS _N. At this long change time tc, while the potential difference between the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group gradually increases, erase discharge corresponding to the characteristic variation of the discharge cell occurs in each discharge cell and is accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer. The electric charge disappears almost completely and the erase operation is performed. Although the amplitude of the erase pulse is Ve, Vs having the same amplitude as the scan pulse and the sustain pulse is used for simplification of the drive circuit.
It can also be.

Here, the range of the change time tc for the gradual change of the instantaneous value of the erase pulse will be described. FIG. 2 shows the change time tc of the erase pulse and the scan, when the amplitude Vs of the scan pulse and the sustain pulse and the amplitude of the erase pulse are the same at the drive timing shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of discharge characteristics with respect to the amplitude Vs of each pulse for sustaining and erasing. From this figure, the lower limit of the normal operation area at the erase pulse change time tc is 10
It can be seen that it is μs. Also, the upper limit of the normal operation region regarding the change time tc of the erase pulse is not restricted from the viewpoint of the discharge operation, but the upper limit of the refresh time of the display screen (which is the total time of the write, sustain, and erase periods) is set. Since it is generally about 16 ms, the practical range is limited to about 10 ms. Therefore, the range of the erase pulse change time tc that can be actually used is 10 μs at 90% to 10% of its amplitude.
From the above, it means 10 ms or less. Note that the refresh cycle is 1/60 second in the case of 2-gradation display.
In the case of multi-gradation display, since the subfield method is used,
The refresh cycle becomes shorter. For example, in the case of 256 gradation display, one screen is composed of 8 subfields (2 ⁸ = 256), so the refresh cycle is 1/60.
Seconds are divided into eight (the cycle is not constant).

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an erase circuit for generating the erase pulse shown in FIG. FIG.
Erase circuit shown in all the sustain electrodes SUS ₁ ~SUS
_A resistor 10 and a field effect transistor 11 are connected in series to the output of the high breakdown voltage driver 9 that drives _N. Then, the output of the high breakdown voltage driver 9 is set to a high impedance state prior to the erase operation, and when the field effect transistor 11 is turned on by the erase signal, the sustain electrode SUS ₁
The erase pulse having a long change time of 10 μs or more to 10 ms or less can be obtained by the time constant of the floating capacitance component of ˜SUS _N and the resistance 10. After that, the field effect transistor 11 is turned off, and the output of the high breakdown voltage driver 9 is set to a high level, whereby the erase pulse ends.
The high breakdown voltage driver 9 can control the output state by changing two types of sustain signals (pull-up side and pull-down side), create a sustain pulse, and prepare to create an erase pulse. be able to.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an erase pulse whose change time from 10% to 90% of the amplitude of the instantaneous value is 10 μs or more to 10 ms or less is applied to the sustain electrode group to scan. While the potential difference between the electrode group and the sustain electrode group gradually increases, erase discharge corresponding to the characteristic variation of the discharge cell occurs in each discharge cell, and the charge accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer disappears almost completely. As a result, the permissible fluctuation range of the pulse width and amplitude of the erase pulse can be made large, and a sufficient erase operation margin can be obtained even if there are variations in the characteristics of the discharge cell. Can be provided.

FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c) show the second and third aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a time chart showing only the portion related to the erase pulse in the drive timing of the gas discharge type display device in each of the third and fourth embodiments. The structure of the gas discharge type display device is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIGS. FIG. 4A shows sustain electrodes SUS _{1 to} SUS.
Long change time tc at the rise of the erase pulse added to _N
Is provided so that erasing discharge occurs. In this case, the erase pulse is made to fall steeply once and then rise gently so that the scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SC
After the fall of the erase pulse the potential of N _N, it is constant to fall steeply before the rising to -Ve (or -Vs). Other timings are the same as in FIG. By doing so, the scan electrodes SCN _{1 to} SCN
The potential difference between the CN _N and the sustain electrodes SUS _{1 to} SUS _N gradually increases, and the same operation as in the above-described embodiment is performed.

FIG. 4B shows an erase pulse when the pulse polarities at the timings shown in FIG. 1 are all inverted. Further, FIG. 4C shows an erase pulse in the case where all the pulse polarities at the timings described in FIG. 4A are inverted. These are the second, third, and third shown in FIGS.
In each of the fourth embodiments, as in the first embodiment, the sustain electrode group has a change time of 90% to 10% of the amplitude of the instantaneous value or a change time of 10% to 90% of the amplitude of the instantaneous value of 1.
By applying the erase pulse of 0 μs or more to 10 ms or less, the accumulated charge of the protective film layer is adjusted according to the characteristic variation of the discharge cell while the potential difference between the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group gradually increases. An appropriate erase discharge that can be reduced to zero occurs in each discharge cell, and the charge accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer is almost completely extinguished.
It is possible to provide a method of driving a gas discharge type display device capable of widening the permissible fluctuation range of the pulse width and amplitude of the erase pulse and obtaining a sufficient erase operation margin even if the characteristics of the discharge cell vary. .

Although the embodiment of the present invention describes the case where the erase pulse is applied to the sustain electrode group, the same effect can be obtained when the erase pulse is applied to the scan electrode group. Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the erase pulse is applied to all the sustain electrodes at the same timing has been described. The same effect can be obtained by applying.

Further, in the above embodiment, the protective film layer is provided on the surface of the dielectric layer, but the protective film layer can be omitted if the dielectric layer has sufficient strength against discharge. Also,
The insulating substrate may be a ceramic substrate as long as it has sufficient strength, and is not limited to a glass substrate. Further, one of the pair of insulating substrates needs to be transparent because it is necessary to irradiate the discharge light.

[0027]

According to the driving method of the gas discharge type display device of the first aspect, an erasing pulse whose instantaneous value increases or decreases with a gentle gradient is applied to one of the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group for scanning. Since the erasing operation is performed by gradually increasing the potential difference between the electrode group and the sustain electrode group, the pulse width and amplitude of the erasing pulse can be allowed to have a wide fluctuation range, and even if the discharge cell characteristics vary. The effect is that a sufficient erase operation margin can be obtained.

According to the driving method of the gas discharge type display device of the second aspect, one of the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group comprises:
Scanning is performed by applying an erase pulse of 10 μs or more and 10 ms or less for the change time required to change the instantaneous value from 10% of the amplitude to 90% of the amplitude or the change time required to change from the 90% of the amplitude to 10% of the amplitude. Since the erasing operation is performed by gradually increasing the potential difference between the electrode group and the sustain electrode group, the pulse width and amplitude of the erasing pulse can be allowed to have a wide fluctuation range, and even if the discharge cell characteristics vary. The effect is that a sufficient erase operation margin can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a time chart showing an example of drive timing of a gas discharge display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of discharge characteristics at the drive timing of FIG.

3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an erase circuit for generating the erase pulse of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of drive timings of the gas discharge type display device in each of the second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

5A and 5B are a partial plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an example of a gas discharge display device.

FIG. 6 is an electrode array diagram showing an example of a gas discharge display device.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of drive timing of a conventional gas discharge display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 glass substrate (insulating substrate) 2 scan electrode 3 sustain electrode 4 dielectric layer 6 discharge space 7 data electrode 8 glass substrate (insulating substrate)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of scan electrodes and a sustain electrode group covered with a dielectric layer are arranged in parallel on one of the pair of insulating substrates facing each other across a discharge space,
A driving method of a gas discharge type display device for driving a gas discharge type display device in which a data electrode group is arranged orthogonally to the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group on the other insulating substrate, wherein An erasing operation is performed by applying an erasing pulse whose instantaneous value increases or decreases with a gentle gradient to one of the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group to gradually increase the potential difference between the scan electrode group and the sustain electrode group. A method of driving a gas discharge type display device, which is characterized in that: 2. The change time required to change the instantaneous value of the erase pulse from 10% of the amplitude to 90% of the amplitude or the change time required to change from 90% of the amplitude to 10% of the amplitude is 10 μs or more and 10 ms or less. The method of driving a gas discharge display device according to claim 1.