KR100251153B1 - Three electrodes plasma display driving apparatus and its screen protection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A three electrode surface discharge plasma display panel driver and a screen protecting method thereof are provided to reduce an unnecessary power consumption and deterioration of a three electrode surface discharge plasma display panel by driving the three electrode surface discharge plasma display panel to a screen protecting mode. CONSTITUTION: A Y driver(120) supplies a drive voltage pulse to the first N sustain electrodes(Y1¯Yn). An X driver(130) supplies the drive voltage pulse to the second common sustain electrode(X). An address driver(140) supplies the drive voltage pulse to M address electrodes(A1¯Am). A controller(150) generates the drive voltage pulse and a control signal according to an external input and outputs the drive voltage pulse and the control signal to the Y driver(120), the X driver(130), and the address driver(140). An input signal sensing and mode discriminating section(160) outputs a screen protection mode set signal to the controller(150) when a non-input state of an external signal maintains. The input signal sensing and mode discriminating section(160) outputs a normal mode set signal to the controller(150) when the external signal is inputted thereto.

Description

Driving device of three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel and its screen protection method

The present invention relates to a driving device of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP and a screen protection method thereof, and more particularly, to a three-electrode surface discharge PDP for driving the three-electrode surface discharge PDP in a screen protection mode when no external signal is input for a predetermined time. A device and a screen protection method thereof.

As the modern society is called the information society, the importance of display increases with the development and spread of information processing system, and its kinds are gradually diversified.

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), which has been the most used display for a long time, has various problems such as large size, high operating voltage, and distortion of display. Recently, research and development of various flat displays having a matrix structure have been actively progressed since they are not suitable.

Among the flat panel displays, PDP (Plasma Display Panel) is in the spotlight as the next-generation large-screen flat panel display. The PDP has a large screen and a small thickness, and has been applied to wall-mounted televisions, home theater displays, workstation monitors, and the like.

In addition, the PDP is classified into an alternating current (AC) type and a direct current (DC) type according to the type of driving voltage. The AC type PDP is driven by a sine wave AC voltage or a pulse voltage, and the DC type PDP is DC Driven by voltage.

In FIG. 1, a three-electrode surface discharge PDP, which is one of the AC type PDPs which are most used, and a three-electrode surface discharge PDP which displays a moving image or a still image on the three electrode surface discharge PDP. A simplified configuration of the device is shown.

FIG. 1 reference numeral 10 is a shift in parallel to each other, one holding the array with N first electrodes (Y ₁ ~Y _N), and N number of second sustain electrodes (X ₁ ~X _N), and the first holding electrode in s (Y ₁ ~Y _N) and the second sustain electrodes (X ₁ ~X _N) and a three-electrode surface discharge comprising an M number of address electrodes (a ₁ ~A _M) arranged so as to be perpendicular across the predetermined space, PDP.

In the above, the N second holding electrodes X _{1 to} X _N are connected to each other in common by the second common sustaining electrode X, and the N first holding electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N are each independently. Cells are formed at each intersection of the N first and second holding electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N , X _{1 to} X _N and the M address electrodes A _{1 to} A _M to form a three-electrode surface discharge PDP ( 10) The screen consists of M × N cells in matrix form.

The configuration of each cell of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 10 will be described by taking the cells of the i-th row and the j-th column shown in FIG. 2 as an example.

First, the i-th first holding electrode Yi and the i-th second holding electrode X _i parallel to each other are formed on one surface of the front substrate 11 which is the display surface of the image, and the first holding electrode Yi And a dielectric layer 12 is formed on the second holding electrode X _i to limit the discharge current during discharge and to facilitate the generation of wall charges, and the sputtering occurs during the discharge on the dielectric layer 12. A magnesium oxide (MgO) protective film 13 is formed to protect the first holding electrode Y _i , the second holding electrode X _i , and the dielectric layer 12.

In addition, the j-th address electrode A _j is formed on the opposite surface to the front substrate 11 among the back substrates 14 positioned in parallel with the front substrate 11 at a predetermined distance therebetween, and the front substrate The first and second barrier ribs 15a and 15b are arranged between the 11 and the rear substrate 14 to prevent inter-cell mixing and to secure a discharge space. The first and second barrier ribs 15a and 15b are arranged on the address electrode A _j and the first and second barrier ribs. Phosphor 16 is applied to a part of 15a and 15b, and a discharge gas is injected into the discharge space.

The basic driving principle of each cell of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 10 configured as described above is to generate an address discharge between the first sustain electrode Y _i and the address electrode A _j so that wall charges are generated therein. A sustain discharge is generated between the first holding electrode Y _i and the second holding electrode X _i to make the discharge gas into a plasma state to generate ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor 16 to generate visible light.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a Y driver for supplying driving voltage pulses to the _N first holding electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N , respectively, and 30 denotes a driving voltage pulse to the second common sustain electrode X. FIG. 40 denotes an address driver for supplying driving voltage pulses to the _M address electrodes A _{1 to} A _M , and 50 denotes an Y driver for generating various drive pulses and control signals according to various external inputs. The control part which outputs to the drive part 20, the X drive part 30, and the address drive part 40 is shown.

More specifically, the controller 50 digitizes an externally input analog image signal IMPUT to output a digital image signal, and the digital image signal, a clock CLK, a horizontal synchronization signal HS, and a vertical synchronization signal According to VS), various driving pulses and control signals are generated.

On the other hand, the gray scale implementation of each cell of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 10 configured as described above is implemented through the number of discharges per unit time because the intensity of the discharge is difficult to adjust, and each frame When the number of discharges of the cells is divided into 0 to 2 ^X -1 discharges, the brightness of each cell changes according to the number of discharges during one frame, resulting in a 2 ^X gradation image on the entire screen, that is, 0 to 2 ^X -1 level for each cell. One level of image is displayed.

One of the gradation implementation methods based on the above concept is the ADS subfield method, in which each cell operates in two states of on and off and implements 2 ^X gradations. By using the binary X bit system based on the above, one frame is divided and driven into X subfields having different discharge counts (ie, discharge sustain periods).

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration diagram of one frame when implementing 256 (2 ⁸ ) gray scale according to the general ADS subfield method, and FIG. 4 shows the first subfield SF1 and second shown in FIG. A timing diagram of driving voltage waveforms applied to each electrode during the subfield SF2 is shown.

First, one frame is divided and driven into eight subfields SF1 to SF8 as shown in FIG. 3 to implement 256 gray levels, and each subfield SF1 to SF8 has a full write period, a full erase period, and an address. The drive is divided into a period and a discharge sustain period.

In the entire surface write period of each of the subfields SF1 to SF8, as shown in FIG. 4, the second common sustain electrode X is applied with OV applied to the _N first sustain electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N. By applying a write pulse having a voltage Vw higher than the discharge start voltage, a write discharge is generated between the second common sustain electrode X and the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N , that is, within the discharge space of the entire cell. As the writing discharge proceeds, -wall charges are generated on the second common sustain electrode X, and + wall charges are generated on the first sustain electrodes (Y _{1 to} Y _N ).

After that, when the Vs voltage lower than the discharge start voltage is applied to the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and OV is applied to the second common sustain electrode X, the voltage of the wall charge generated immediately before is added. A sustain discharge is generated between the second common sustain electrode X and the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N , whereby + wall charges are applied to the first sustain electrodes (X ₁ to X _N ). On Y _{1 to} Y _N )-wall charges are generated respectively.

An erase pulse of OV is applied to the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N while the Vs voltage is applied to the second common sustain electrode X in the entire erasing period of each of the subfields SF1 to SF8. ) So that erase discharge occurs in the discharge space of the entire cell, thereby causing the unnecessary wall charges generated just before to be neutralized and erased.

In the address period of each of the subfields SF1 to SF8, addressing of the digital image signal corresponding to each cell is sequentially performed. That is, scanning is performed by applying a scan pulse of OV to an arbitrary first holding electrode, and an image pulse of Va voltage is applied only to an address electrode corresponding to a cell to be turned on among cells formed by the first holding electrode, thereby providing an address between both electrodes. Allow discharge to occur and allow wall charge to be generated inside the cell. When the above process is repeated sequentially for the _N first holding electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N , all the cells are turned on or off according to the corresponding digital image signals.

In the discharge sustain period of each of the subfields SF1 to SF8, the Vs voltage is applied to the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N , and the OV voltage is applied to the second common sustain electrode X to immediately before the address. After the wall charge is added only to the cells where the address discharge has occurred in the period to cause the sustain discharge to occur therein, the voltage Vs is applied to the second common sustain electrode X and the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _{N are applied} . OV is applied to cause sustain discharge again.

Subsequently, alternately repeating the above process, i.e., applying alternating sustain pulses between the second holding electrodes (X ₁ to X _N ) and the first holding electrodes (Y ₁ to Y _N ), An image is displayed in the cells turned on in the address period.

In addition, voltage pulses Vw, Vf (discharge start voltage), Vs, and Va applied to each electrode are set to voltage values satisfying Vw>Vf>Vs> Va and Vf >> Vw-Vs, and each subfield. The image pulses applied to the address electrodes A _{1 to} A _M during an address period of 1 correspond to one bit value of the 8 bit digital image signals (lowest bit B ₁ to highest bit B ₈ ) corresponding to each cell. More specifically, B ₁ during the address period of the first subfield, B ₂ during the address period of the second subfield,. And B ₈ are applied during the address period of the eighth subfield, respectively.

In addition, while the entire write period, the entire erase period, and the address period of each of the subfields SF1 to SF8 are allocated the same time for each subfield, the discharge sustain period of each subfield SF1 to SF8 is for each subfield. Different times are allocated (usually SF1: SF2: SF3: SF4: SF5: SF6: SF7: SF8 = 1: 2: 4: 8: 16: 32: 64: 128).

As a result, when the first to eighth subfield SF1 to SF8 screens are sequentially configured through the above-described detailed process, 256 grayscale images of one frame are displayed on the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 10.

Various driving pulse waveforms shown in FIG. 4 are generated by the controller 50 and applied to the corresponding electrodes through the Y driver 20, the X driver 30, and the address driver 40, respectively, and the timing is also controlled. Controlled by 50.

On the other hand, in the CRT used as monitors of various computers, when the computer is in the standby state for a specified time, that is, when there is no external input such as an image signal, keyboard signal or mouse signal input from the computer, There is a screen saver that reduces unnecessary power consumption and then activates the monitor again by pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse.

However, since the driving apparatus of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the prior art is not provided with a circuit capable of performing the screen protection function described above, the three-electrode surface discharge is performed even if the non-input state of the external signal lasts for a long time. The PDP continues to be driven normally, and unnecessary power is continuously wasted, and heat is generated in the three-electrode surface discharge PDP, thereby degrading the life of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, by adding a circuit to enable the screen protection function to the existing system, the three-electrode surface discharge PDP when no input state of the external signal is maintained for a predetermined time It is an object of the present invention to provide a driving apparatus for a three-electrode surface discharge PDP and a screen protection method thereof, which can reduce unnecessary power consumption and reduce degradation of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP.

1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a general three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as a three-electrode surface discharge PDP) and a driving device thereof.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one cell of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP shown in FIG. 1, with the front substrate rotated 90 degrees.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of one frame when implementing 256 gray scales according to a general ADS subfield method.

4 is a timing diagram of driving voltage waveforms applied to each electrode during the first and second subfields shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP driving apparatus implementing the screen protection method according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

6 to 9 illustrate timings of a sustain pulse waveform and a normal sustain pulse waveform applied between the first and second sustain electrodes when the screen protection mode is set according to the screen protection method according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention. Degree.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110: 3-electrode surface discharge PDP 120: Y drive unit

130: X driver 140: address driver

150: control unit 160: external signal detection and mode determination unit

In order to achieve the above object, the screen protection method of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the present invention is a three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel in which a plurality of first and second holding electrodes are alternately arranged in parallel with each other (hereinafter, 3). In order to display an external input image on an electrode surface discharge PDP, one frame is divided and driven into a plurality of subfields having different discharge sustain periods, and the first and second sustain electrodes are discharged during the discharge sustain period. A method of driving a three-electrode surface discharge PDP that applies a sustain pulse alternately to And a sustain pulse having a free-running frequency lower than the normal frequency between the second sustain electrodes to apply the first and second sustain electrodes within the same time. By reducing the number of sustain pulses applied between the normal state to reduce the brightness of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP screen, and then to the external signal is input to drive the three-electrode surface discharge PDP to normal again It is done.

The sustain is applied between the first and second sustain electrodes at each discharge sustain period of the plurality of subfields in order to reduce the number of sustain pulses applied between the first and second sustain electrodes than a normal state. Half the number of pulses.

In addition, in order to reduce the number of sustain pulses applied between the first and second sustain electrodes than a normal state, a pair of alternating pairs between the first and second sustain electrodes are provided for each discharge sustain period of the plurality of subfields. Only sustain pulses are applied.

In order to reduce the brightness of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP screen, a sustain pulse having a voltage lower than the normal voltage is applied between the first and second sustain electrodes, and a preset T2 (T2> 0) after the T1 time has elapsed. If the input signal of external signal continues for a while, the power to the system is cut off.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

5 is a simplified configuration of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP driving apparatus implementing the screen protection method according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 110 denotes a three-electrode surface discharge PDP having the same configuration as the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 10 of the prior art shown in FIGS. That is, N first holding electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N and N second holding electrodes X _{1 to} X _N are alternately arranged in parallel one by one, and M address electrodes A _{1 to} A _{M are formed.} ) Is arranged to be orthogonal to the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding electrodes X ₁ to X _N.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 120 denotes a Y driver for supplying driving voltage pulses to the _N first sustain electrodes Y _{1 to} Y _N , respectively, and 130 denotes N second sustain electrodes X _{1 to} X _N. An X driver for supplying a driving voltage pulse to the second common sustain electrode X commonly connected, 140 denotes an address driver for supplying driving voltage pulses to the _M address electrodes A _{1 to} A _M , respectively; The controller 150 generates various driving voltage pulses and control signals according to various external inputs and outputs them to the Y driver 120, the X driver 130, and the address driver 140.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 160 detects the external input signal INPUT and controls the screen protection mode setting signal when the input signal of the external signal IMPUT continues for a predetermined time T1 (T1> 0). If the signal is output to 150 and the external signal INPUT is input again, the input signal detection and mode discrimination unit outputs the normal mode setting signal to the controller 150.

More specifically, the controller 50 digitizes the analog image signal INPUT, which is input from the outside, to output a digital image signal, and the digital image signal, the clock CLK, the horizontal synchronization signal HS, and the vertical synchronization signal. According to VS, various driving pulses and control signals are generated. When the screen protection mode setting signal is output from the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160, the three driving electrodes are controlled by controlling the Y driver 120 and the X driver 130. The luminance of the screen of the surface discharge PDP 110 is reduced to a minimum state, and when the normal mode setting signal is output, the system is returned to its original state so that the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 is driven normally.

In addition, the driving device drives the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 to normal by the ADS subfield method described in the prior art.

The screen protection method according to the first to fifth embodiments using the three-electrode surface discharge PDP driving apparatus of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

[First Embodiment]

According to the screen protection method of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the non-input state of the external signal INPUT is maintained for a predetermined T1 time as shown in FIG. A sustain pulse of a free-running frequency lower than the normal frequency is applied between the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding electrodes X ₁ to X _{N of} 110.

More specifically, when the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 detects the external input signal IPNUT and the input signal of the external signal INPUT continues for a preset T1 hour, the screen protection mode setting signal is controlled. 150 and the control unit 150 controls the Y driving unit 120 and the X driving unit 130 when the screen protection mode setting signal is inputted, thereby maintaining the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding unit. A sustain pulse of the free running frequency shown in FIG. 6 is applied between the electrodes X ₁ to X _N.

When a sustain pulse of a free running frequency is applied between the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding electrodes X ₁ to X _N , the first holding electrodes Y ₁ within the same time. The number of sustain pulses applied between ˜Y _N ) and the second sustain electrodes X ₁ ˜X _N is reduced, so that the number of sustain discharges of each cell is reduced, thereby reducing the luminance of the entire screen from the normal state. .

Thereafter, the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 continues to detect the presence or absence of the external input signal INPUT while the system is operating in the screen protection mode as described above, and then again the external signal INPUT, When a key signal, a mouse signal, an image signal, etc. on a keyboard are input, the normal mode setting signal is output to the controller 150, and when the normal mode setting signal is input, the controller 150 drives the Y driver 120 and the X driver 130. And the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 together with the address driver 140 are driven in the normal (ADS subfield method described in the prior art).

Second Embodiment

In the screen protection method of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, when no input state of the external signal INPUT is maintained for a preset T1 time, each subfield SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 ...) each thereby halve the number of sustain pulses to be applied between the first sustain electrodes (Y ₁ ~Y _N) and in the second sustain electrode (X ₁ ~X _N).

At this time, when the number of sustain pulses applied during the first subfield SF1 is two (a pair of sustain pulses), the number of sustain pulses applied during the first subfield SF1 is not halved.

The screen protection method is implemented by the Y driver 120, the X driver 130, the controller 150, and the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 as in the first embodiment described above.

Each sub-field in the (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 ...) , the first sustain electrodes (Y ₁ ~Y _N) and the number of sustain pulses to be applied between the two first sustain electrodes (X ₁ ~X _N) each If the half is reduced, the number of sustain discharges of each cell decreases within the same time, thereby reducing the luminance of the entire screen from the normal state.

Thereafter, when the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 outputs the normal mode setting signal to the controller 150 as in the first embodiment described above, the controller 150 is the Y driver 120 and the X driver. Together with the 130 and the address driver 140, the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 is driven normally.

Third Embodiment

The screen protection method of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the third embodiment of the present invention is that if the non-input state of the external signal INPUT is maintained for a preset T1 time as shown in FIG. 8, each subfield SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 ...) each time the first sustain electrodes (Y ₁ ~Y _N) and the second sustain electrodes (X ₁ ~X _N) a pair of a sustain pulse that alternates between (the two sustain pulses have opposite polarities ) Is applied.

The screen protection method is implemented by the Y driver 120, the X driver 130, the controller 150, and the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 as in the first and second embodiments described above. .

Each sub-field in the (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 ...) each time the first sustain electrodes (Y ₁ ~Y _N) and the second sustain electrodes man pair of the sustain pulse that alternates between (X ₁ ~X _N) When applied, the number of sustain discharges of each cell is greatly reduced within the same time, so that the brightness of the entire screen is reduced from the normal state.

Thereafter, when the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 outputs the normal mode setting signal to the control unit 150 as in the first and second embodiments described above, the control unit 150 controls the Y driver 120. In addition, the 3-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 is normally driven together with the X driver 130 and the address driver 140.

Fourth Embodiment

In the screen protection method of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, when the non-input state of the external signal INPUT is maintained for a preset T1 time, the first sustain electrodes ( A sustain pulse of voltages Vs 'and -Vs' lower than the normal voltages Vs and -Vs is applied between Y _{1 to} Y _N and the second sustain electrodes X ₁ to X _N.

The screen protection method is implemented by the Y driver 120, the X driver 130, the controller 150, and the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 as in the first to third embodiments described above. .

Sustain of voltages Vs 'and -Vs' lower than the normal voltages Vs and -Vs between the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding electrodes X ₁ to X _N. When the pulse is applied, the sustain discharge intensity of each cell is weakened, so that the brightness of the entire screen is reduced than the normal state.

Thereafter, when the input signal detection and mode determination unit 160 outputs the normal mode setting signal to the controller 150 as in the first to third embodiments described above, the controller 150 controls the Y driver 120. In addition, the 3-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 is normally driven together with the X driver 130 and the address driver 140.

[Example 5]

The screen protection method of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the first to fourth embodiments, and is a preset T2 time (T2> 0) time after curing T1 time. In other words, if the external signal and no input state persist for a long time, the power supply to the entire system is automatically cut off to turn off the system.

For example, if no input signal of the external signal INPUT is maintained for 5 minutes T1 and the system is set to the screen protection mode, the external signal is not input until 3 minutes T2 elapses again. ) Turns off the system by automatically shutting off the power to the entire system.

After that, when the external signal INPUT is input again, the Y driver 120, the X driver 130, and the address driver 140 return the 3-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 to normal according to the control signal of the controller 150. Drive it.

Meanwhile, the cysteine pulse waveforms illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 are voltage waveforms applied between the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second holding electrodes X ₁ to X _N. Of the voltage waveforms respectively applied to the first holding electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N and the second common sustain electrode X shown in FIG. 4, only the voltage waveforms applied to the discharge sustain period of each subfield are connected. It is shown.

In addition, the sustain pulse waveform is obtained by subtracting the sustain pulse voltage applied to the second common sustain electrode X from the sustain pulse voltage applied to the first sustain electrodes Y ₁ to Y _N shown in FIG. YX) easy to get.

When the external signal is not input for a predetermined time T1 as described above, as in the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the luminance of the entire screen is reduced or the external signal is not input for a longer time (T1 + T2). When the system is turned off as in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, unnecessary power consumption is greatly reduced, and degradation of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110 is prevented, thereby extending the life of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110.

In addition, the fifth embodiment of the present invention can obtain a greater effect than the remaining first to fourth embodiments in terms of reducing power consumption or extending the life of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP 110.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention operates the three-electrode surface discharge PDP in the screen protection mode when the input signal of the external signal is maintained for a predetermined time, thereby reducing the luminance of the entire screen from the normal state or turning off the system itself. By preventing the power consumption of the system can be significantly reduced, the life of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Claims (5)

One frame is discharged differently to display an external input image on a three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel (hereinafter, referred to as a three-electrode surface discharge PDP) in which a plurality of first and second holding electrodes are alternately arranged in parallel with one another. A driving method of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP in which the driving is divided into a plurality of subfields having a sustain period and a sustain pulse is alternately applied between the first and second sustain electrodes during the discharge sustain period. When the input signal of the external signal is maintained for the set T1 (T1> 0) time, the free-running frequency lower than the normal frequency between the first and second sustain electrodes is detected. Applying a sustain pulse to reduce the number of sustain pulses applied between the first and second holding electrodes within the same time period than the normal state, thereby reducing the surface discharge PDP of the three electrode. And reducing the brightness of the screen and then driving the three-electrode surface discharge PDP to normal when an external signal is input again. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sustain electrodes are disposed between the first and second sustain electrodes every discharge sustain period of the plurality of subfields in order to reduce the number of sustain pulses applied between the first and second sustain electrodes. A method of protecting a screen of a three-electrode surface discharge PDP, wherein the number of sustain pulses applied is halved. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sustain electrodes are disposed between the first and second sustain electrodes every discharge sustain period of the plurality of subfields in order to reduce the number of sustain pulses applied between the first and second sustain electrodes. A screen protection method for a three-electrode surface discharge PDP, characterized by applying only a pair of alternating sustain pulses. The three-electrode surface discharge PDP according to claim 1, wherein a sustain pulse having a voltage lower than a normal voltage is applied between the first and second sustain electrodes to reduce the brightness of the three-electrode surface discharge PDP screen. How to protect your screen. The method of claim 1, wherein the power supply to the system is cut off when the no signal input state of the external signal continues for a predetermined time T2 (T2> 0) after the T1 time elapses. How to protect your screen.

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