JP2000242222A - Method for driving plasma display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plasma display panel driving method capable of surely resetting lighting condition in a precedently executed sub-field during a preliminary discharge period by surely shifting a display cell causing writing discharge to a trickle discharge at the time of starting a maintaining period. SOLUTION: A plasma display panel performs writing discharge by applying scanning pulses and data pulses to scanning electrodes and data electrodes for a scanning period, respectively, and performs the trickle discharge to make a display cell emit light by applying maintaining pulses to the scanning electrodes and a common electrode for a maintaining period, respectively. When applying a 1st maintaining pulse 9a for a maintaining period in this plasma display panel, a voltage applied to a discharge space between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes facing each other is set lower than a voltage applied to a surface discharge space between the scanning electrodes and the common electrode.

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 plasma display panel (hereinafter, also referred to as PDP), and more particularly to a method for driving a plasma display panel capable of improving a lighting state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a PDP has a number of features, such as a relatively thin structure and a relatively large screen display, a wide viewing angle, and a high response speed. For this reason, in recent years, it has been used as a flat display, such as a wall-mounted television or a public display board.

[0003] Depending on the operation method, the PDP operates in a DC discharge state in which electrodes are exposed to a discharge space (discharge gas) and a DC discharge type is used. Are classified as an AC discharge type (AC type) which operates in an AC discharge state without being directly exposed. In the DC type, discharge occurs during a period in which a voltage is applied. AC
There are two types of electrodes, one with two electrodes and one with three electrodes in one display cell. In the AC type, the discharge is sustained by inverting the polarity of the voltage.

Here, the structure and driving method of a conventional three-electrode AC PDP will be described. The PDP includes insulating front and rear substrates facing each other, a plurality of scan electrodes disposed between the two substrates, a common electrode and a data electrode, and a scan electrode, a common electrode, and a data electrode. Display cells (hereinafter, also referred to as pixels) arranged in a matrix at the intersections.

[0005] On a front substrate such as a glass substrate, scanning electrodes and common electrodes are arranged at a predetermined pitch, on which a transparent dielectric layer and a protective layer for protecting the transparent dielectric layer from discharge are provided. It is formed. On the other hand, on a rear substrate such as a glass substrate, data electrodes are provided so as to be orthogonal to the scanning electrodes and the common electrodes, and a white dielectric layer and a phosphor layer are provided on the data electrodes. Between the two glass substrates, partition walls are formed at predetermined intervals in parallel with the data electrodes.
The partition walls serve to secure a discharge space and separate display cells. A mixed gas is sealed in the discharge space as a discharge gas. Display cells are arranged in rows and columns at the intersections of the scanning electrodes and the common electrodes with the data electrodes.

[0006] The current mainstream is a scan maintaining separation system (ADS system) in which a scanning period and a sustain period are separated. Hereinafter, a method of driving the PDP of this scanning sustaining separation type will be described. FIG. 10 shows one subfield 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as SF) of a three-electrode AC type plasma display panel.
5 is a timing chart showing an example of the driving waveform of FIG. 1
The subfield 1 is composed of three periods of a preliminary discharge period 2, a scanning period 3, and a sustain period 4.

First, the preliminary discharge period 2 will be described.
By applying the preliminary discharge pulse 5 to the scan electrode,
The wall charges at the final point of the previous SF formed according to the light emission state in the previously executed SF (hereinafter, referred to as the previous SF) are erased (reset) and initialized. At the same time, a priming effect for forcibly discharging all the pixels and generating a subsequent address discharge at a low voltage is achieved. Therefore, the preliminary discharge pulse 5 is set to a higher voltage than the scan pulse and the sustain pulse to discharge all the pixels.

In FIG. 10, the pre-discharge pulse 5 is applied only once. However, after applying a sustain erasing pulse for resetting the state of the previous SF, a priming pulse is applied to discharge all the pixels, thereby effecting a priming effect. To get
In some cases, the pulse is applied while separating the two roles. In this case, the sustain erasing pulse is not limited to one time, and a different pulse may be applied plural times. In addition, the priming effect is not necessarily required for each SF, but is required for several SFs.
There is also known a driving method in which a priming pulse is applied only once.

Since the priming pulse causes all pixels to emit light regardless of display, the luminance during black display can be suppressed by reducing the number of times the priming pulse is applied. As in the example shown in FIG.
Is applied, a priming effect of forcibly discharging all pixels is generated once in several SFs, so that the potential of the pre-discharge pulse 5 in other SFs not shown in FIG. There may be a configuration that plays only the role of. At this time, a different pulse can be applied plural times instead of the preliminary discharge pulse 5 in order to surely perform the reset.

Next, by applying a preliminary discharge erasing pulse 6, the wall charges formed on the white dielectric layer formed by the preliminary discharge are erased or controlled to an appropriate amount. In the example of FIG. 10, the preliminary discharge erasing pulse 6 is applied only once,
A plurality of pulses are applied or applied to other electrodes in order to reliably perform the role of the pulse, suppress in-plane variation, or respond to a change in display load.

In a scanning period 3, a scanning pulse 7 is sequentially applied to the scanning electrodes S1 to Sn. A data pulse 8 corresponding to the display pattern is applied to the data electrodes D1 to Dn in accordance with the scanning pulse 7. In a pixel to which the data pulse 8 is applied, a high voltage is applied between the scan electrode and the data electrode to generate an address discharge, so that a large positive wall charge is formed on the scan electrode side and a negative wall charge is formed on the data electrode side. Is formed. On the other hand, in the pixel to which the data pulse 8 is not applied, since the applied voltage becomes low, no discharge occurs and the state of the wall charge does not change. Thus, data pulse 8
, Two types of wall charge situations can be created. The oblique line of the data pulse 8 in the figure means that the presence or absence of the data pulse 8 changes depending on the display data.

When the application of the scan pulse 7 to all the lines is completed, the operation proceeds to the sustain period 4, and the sustain pulse 9 is alternately applied to all the scan electrodes and all the common electrodes. The voltage value of sustain pulse 9 is set to a voltage at which discharge does not start with its own voltage. Therefore, since the wall charge is small in the pixel where the address discharge has not occurred, no discharge occurs even if the sustain pulse is applied. On the other hand, in the pixel where the address discharge has occurred,
Since a large positive wall charge exists on the scanning electrode side, the positive wall charge is superimposed on the first negative sustain pulse (hereinafter, referred to as a first sustain pulse) applied to the common electrode, and the discharge starting voltage is increased. The above voltage is applied to the surface discharge space to generate a sustain discharge. Due to this discharge, negative wall charges are accumulated on the scanning electrode side, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the common electrode side.

Next, when a sustaining pulse (hereinafter, referred to as a second sustaining pulse) following the first sustaining pulse is applied to the scan electrode side, the wall discharge overlaps to generate a sustaining discharge again. Wall charges having a polarity opposite to that of one sustain pulse are accumulated on the scan electrode side and the common electrode side. Thereafter, the discharge is continuously generated according to the same principle. That is, x
The potential difference due to the wall charges generated by the second sustain discharge is x +
By superimposing it on the first sustain pulse, the sustain discharge is maintained. The amount of light emission is determined by the number of times of the sustain discharge. When performing gradation display, one field which is a period for displaying image information of one screen is composed of a plurality of SFs. The gradation display can be performed by changing the number of sustain pulses of each SF and turning on or off each SF.

[0014]

In the above configuration, the data electrode is at the ground potential (substantially 0 V) when the first positive sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrode.
The positive wall charge on the scan electrode and the negative wall charge on the data electrode generated by the write discharge overlap, and a large potential difference is applied to the surface discharge space between the scan electrode and the common electrode.
For this reason, the voltage applied to the opposing discharge space becomes higher than the voltage applied to the surface discharge space between the scan electrode and the common electrode, and the opposing discharge occurs before the sustain discharge. As a result, wall charges are formed on the scanning electrodes, the potential difference between the scanning electrodes and the common electrode is reduced, and there is a case where the sustain discharge does not occur and the lighting does not occur. In this case, it is difficult to completely reset the lighting or non-lighting state of the previous SF, and erroneous lighting or extinction of light occurs due to the situation of the previous SF due to the remaining effects.

In view of the above, the present invention ensures that a display cell in which an address discharge has occurred is shifted to a sustain discharge at the start of the sustain period, and the lighting state in the previously executed subfield is reliably changed during the preliminary discharge period. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving a plasma display panel that can be reset.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for driving a plasma display panel according to the present invention comprises a first and a second substrate facing each other and a row direction on the first substrate. A plurality of scanning electrodes and a common electrode provided, a plurality of data electrodes disposed in a column direction on the second substrate, and a plurality of data electrodes disposed at intersections of the scanning electrodes and the common electrode with the data electrodes. Address discharge is performed by applying a scan pulse and a data pulse to the scan electrode and the data electrode, respectively, during the scan period, and applying a sustain pulse to the scan electrode and the common electrode during the sustain period, respectively. In the driving method of the plasma display panel for causing the display cells to emit light by performing the sustain discharge, the scan electrode is applied when the first sustain pulse is applied in the sustain period. The voltage applied to the opposite discharge space between the data electrodes, and sets lower than the voltage applied to the surface discharge space between the scanning electrode and the common electrode.

In general, the delay time from the application of a voltage to the start of the discharge is shorter when a high voltage is applied than when a low voltage is applied. In the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention, at the start of the sustain period, the voltage applied to the opposing discharge space between the scan electrode and the data electrode is lower than the voltage applied to the surface discharge space between the scan electrode and the common electrode. As a result, the discharge can be generated first in the surface discharge space between the scan electrode and the common electrode. As a result, the display cell in which the address discharge has occurred can be reliably shifted to the sustain discharge with the first sustain pulse, pixel defects due to not shifting to the sustain discharge can be reliably prevented, and the lighting status of the previous subfield can be reduced. Can be reset reliably.
Further, since a sufficient drive margin such as a scan pulse voltage and a sustain pulse voltage for operation driving can be secured, erroneous lighting and extinction of a display cell caused by the influence of light emission / non-light emission of surrounding display cells in the related art can be prevented. Also, even when the scanning pulse voltage or the sustain pulse voltage slightly changes, it can be reliably prevented.

Here, the potential of the data electrode when the first sustain pulse is applied is substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse, and the potential of the data electrode after the application of the first sustain pulse is set to the ground potential. Each of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode comprises a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and the sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is a negative pulse having a phase opposite to that of the first sustain pulse. It is preferable that a positive pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode.

Thus, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than in the prior art. For this reason, wall charges on the data electrodes generated at the time of the address discharge can be eliminated, and the display cell in which the address discharge has occurred can be reliably shifted to the sustain discharge by the first sustain pulse.
In addition, the wall charge amount on the data electrode can be adjusted to an appropriate amount during the sustain period, and only the wall charge on the scan electrode and the sustain electrode can be adjusted to an appropriate amount by discharging during the preliminary discharge period of the next SF. . Further, for example, when the potential when a data pulse is not applied at the time of writing is set to 0 V, the data driver needs two values of the data pulse potential and 0 V, but the data electrode after the first sustain pulse is applied. Since the potential is the ground potential (0 V), it can be driven by a binary data driver without setting a new potential.

Alternatively, the potential of the data electrode when the first sustain pulse is applied is substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse, and the potential of the data electrode after the first sustain pulse is applied is grounded. Each of the first sustain pulses applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode is set to a potential, and each of the first sustain pulses includes a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and the sustain pulses subsequent to the first sustain pulse have opposite phases. It is preferable that a positive pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than in the past.

Alternatively, in place of the above, the potential of the data electrode is set to the ground potential throughout the sustain period, and each of the first sustain pulses applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode is a pulse of the ground potential. And a sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as a negative pulse and a positive pulse having opposite phases. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than before.

Alternatively, in place of the above, the potential of the data electrode is set to be substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse throughout the sustain period, and each of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode is respectively set. Is preferably composed of a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and a sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as positive pulses having opposite phases. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than before.

Alternatively, in place of the above, the potential of the data electrode is set to the ground potential throughout the sustain period, and the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is set to a ground potential during the first sustain pulse. Maintained at the ground potential, the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse, and the sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse has the scan electrodes and It is preferable that the voltage is alternately applied to the common electrode. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than before.

Alternatively, instead of the above, the potential of the data electrode at the time of applying the first sustain pulse is set to the ground potential, and the potential of the data electrode after the application of the first sustain pulse is set to the potential of the data pulse. The first sustain pulse set to be substantially equal and applied to the scan electrode is maintained at ground potential during the first sustain pulse;
The first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse, and the sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as positive pulses having opposite phases. Is preferably performed. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than before.

Alternatively, in place of the above, the potential of the data electrode is set to be substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse throughout the sustain period, and the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is the first sustain pulse. The first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode is maintained at the ground potential during the sustain pulse, and the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse. Is preferably applied alternately to the scanning electrode and the common electrode. Also in this case, the potential difference between the potential of the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the potential of the data electrode at the time of this application can be set lower than before.

[0026]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a general P to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a basic structure of a display cell in DP.
The display cell includes an insulating front substrate 20 and a rear substrate 21 facing each other, a plurality of scanning electrodes 22 disposed between the two substrates 20, 21, a common electrode (sustain electrode) 23, and a data electrode 29. And display cells arranged in a matrix at each intersection of the scanning electrode 22, the common electrode 23 and the data electrode 29.

A glass substrate or the like is used as the front substrate 20, and the scanning electrodes 22 and the common electrodes 23 are arranged at a predetermined pitch. On top of these, a transparent dielectric layer 24,
A protection layer 25 made of MgO or the like for protecting the transparent dielectric layer 24 from discharge is formed. On the other hand, a glass substrate or the like is used as the rear substrate 21, and the data electrodes 29 are connected to the scanning electrodes 2.
2 and the common electrode 23. On the data electrode 29, a white dielectric layer 28 and a phosphor layer 27 are provided. A partition is formed between the two glass substrates (20, 21) at a predetermined interval in parallel with the paper surface.

The partition functions to secure the opposing discharge space 26 and to separate display cells. In the opposed discharge space 26, a mixed gas such as He, Ne, or Xe is sealed as a discharge gas. Documents describing such a structure include Society for Information Display 98 digest, pp. 279-281.
Page, May 1998 (SID 98 DIGEST, p279-281, May, 199
8).

FIG. 2 shows a general 3 to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a top view which shows the electrode AC type PDP. The display cells 31 are arranged in a matrix at each intersection of Si of the scan electrode 22 and Ci (i = 1 to m) of the common electrode 23 and Dj (j = 1 to n) of the data electrode 29. I have. Reference numeral 30 in the figure indicates a display screen.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of the scan sustain separation type driving waveform of the three-electrode AC PDP in the first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the preliminary discharge period 2 and the scanning period 3 are the same as those in FIG. In the present embodiment, the voltage of the pre-discharge pulse 5 is set to about -200 V, the pulse width is set to about 4 to 6 μsec, and the pre-discharge erase pulse 6 following the pre-discharge pulse 5 is set to an integral waveform (round waveform). Is done. The final voltage in the pre-discharge erase pulse 6 is set to about 160 to 180V.

In the scanning period 3, a scanning bias pulse of about 50 to 90 V is applied to the scanning electrode 22 during this period. The scanning pulse 7 is set to about 170 V to 190 V, and is sequentially applied from S1 to Sn in the scanning electrode 22. The pulse width of the scanning pulse 7 is about 2.0
に 3.0 μsec. Further, a data pulse 8 corresponding to a video signal is applied in synchronization with the scanning pulse 7. The potential of the data pulse 8 is set to about 60 to 80V. After the application of all the scanning pulses 7 up to Sn on the scanning electrodes 22 is completed, the operation shifts to the sustain period 4.

In the sustain period 4, the potential of the data electrode 29 when the first sustain pulse 9a is applied is set to the same data bias voltage 10 as the potential of the data pulse 8, and the potential of the data electrode 29 after the first sustain pulse 9a is applied. The potential is set to the ground potential. The scanning electrode 22 and the common electrode 2
3, each of the first sustain pulses 9a is composed of a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and the sustain pulse 9 following the first sustain pulse 9a is scanned as a negative pulse and a positive pulse having mutually opposite phases. The voltage is applied to the electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 alternately. The sustain pulse 9 including the first sustain pulse applied to each of the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 has the same voltage when facing the same polarity, and the absolute value of the voltage at one polarity of the sustain pulse 9 Is about 75-9
It is set to 0V.

Here, the operation of the PDP in this embodiment will be described. The operations in the preliminary discharge period 2 and the scanning period 3 are the same as those in FIG.

First, the operation at the time of shifting to the sustain period 4 after the end of the scanning period 3 will be described. Since the data pulse 8 is not applied in the non-lighting pixel within the scanning period 3, no address discharge occurs, and no wall charge is formed on any of the electrodes. Even if the operation shifts to the sustain period 4 in this state, since the sustain pulse 9 is applied at a voltage that does not generate a discharge with its own voltage, no discharge occurs and the pixel is turned off.

On the other hand, the scanning pulse 7
Since the data pulse 8 is applied at the time of the application of the address, an address discharge occurs, a positive wall charge is generated on the scan electrode 22, and a negative wall charge is formed on the data electrode 29. The potential difference formed by these wall charges is obtained by subtracting the charge amount of the secondary discharge generated at the end of the scan pulse 7 from the sum of the charge amounts of the scan pulse 7 and the data pulse 8. Yes, about 200-250V. Accordingly, the voltage applied to the opposing discharge space 26 (FIG. 8) between the scan electrode 22 and the data electrode 29 at the time of applying the first sustain pulse is about 195 to 280 V, although slightly different depending on the relationship of the capacitance and the like.
Becomes On the other hand, in the surface discharge space between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23, a potential difference of about 150 to
On 180 V, the wall charge potential formed on the scanning electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 is superimposed.

Now, on the common electrode 23, the preliminary discharge period 2
Since most of the wall charges are erased therein, substantially only the amount of the wall charges on the scanning electrode 22 is superimposed. Write discharge is
It is considered that the potential spreads on the data electrode 29 in the display cell 31, and the potential due to the wall charge formed on the scan electrode 22 is:
It is considered that the potential difference is not less than ／ of the potential difference between the scanning pulse 7 and the data pulse 8. Therefore, a wall charge voltage of 130 V or more is formed, and the voltage applied to the opposing discharge space 26 between the scanning electrode 22 and the data electrode 23 is at least 150 + 130 = 280 [V] or more.

The discharge has a delay time from when the voltage is applied to when it starts, and this delay time depends on the applied voltage, and is shorter when a high voltage is applied. Therefore, in this embodiment, the surface discharge can be reliably generated first between the scanning electrode 22 and the common electrode 23. Scan electrode 22
It is determined whether or not the opposite discharge between the data electrode 23 and the data electrode 23 occurs depending on the degree of the difference in the delay time and the formation speed of the wall charge by the discharge. However, in the present embodiment, the surface discharge between the scanning electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 is reliably generated for the above-described reason. Once the surface discharge occurs, a wall charge potential having a potential difference of approximately the sustain pulse 9 is formed. Therefore, in the subsequent sustain pulse 9, the potential difference formed by the sustain pulse 9 is about 2 due to the superposition of the wall charge. A double potential difference is applied. Thereby, the sustain discharge is reliably continued within the sustain period 4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, surface discharge can be reliably generated when the first sustain pulse is applied, and pixel defects caused by not shifting to the sustain discharge can be reliably prevented. it can. Further, after the second sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse, the potential (10) of the data electrode 29 becomes an intermediate value between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23,
That is, it is set to approximately 0 V (ground potential). For this reason,
When the sustain discharge occurs, the wall charges on the data electrode 29 generated at the time of the address discharge disappear due to the adsorption of the charged particles. Since the wall charges on the data electrodes 29 are in a state before writing in the sustain period 4, resetting of the wall charges in the preliminary discharge period 2 in the next SF can be performed only between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23. As a result, the number of pulses required for resetting can be reduced as compared with the related art.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment and the subsequent embodiments, the control in the predischarge period 2 and the scanning period 3 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and is characterized by the respective pulse control in the sustain period 4.

In the present embodiment, the first sustain pulse 9a is applied to the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
3 is composed of a positive polarity pulse and a negative polarity pulse, and an effect of reliably generating a sustain discharge is obtained. Unlike the first embodiment, the sustain pulses 9 after the second sustain pulse are applied alternately to the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 as positive polarity pulses of opposite phases. Second
The absolute value of the voltage of the sustain pulse 9 after the sustain pulse is the first
The potential difference is set to be the same as the potential difference between the bipolar pulses in the embodiment.

In the sustain period 4, the potential of the data electrode 29 when the first sustain pulse 9a is applied and the potential of the data electrode 29 after the second sustain pulse are set in the same manner as in the first embodiment. As a result, the potential of the data electrode 29 after the second sustain pulse is lower than the potential of the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 or the same as the potential of the electrodes 22 and 23. Accordingly, at the end of the sustain period 4, the positive wall charges are formed on the data electrodes 29 by the adsorption of the charged particles. Since the positive wall charges remain until the next scanning period 3 of the SF, the address discharge can be reliably generated by being superimposed on the data pulse 8 at the time of the address discharge.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, after the second sustain pulse in the sustain period 4, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the first sustain pulse 9a to the common electrode 23 is lower than that of the first embodiment. It is applied as a negative pulse of −150 to −180 V. At this time, the scanning electrode 23 and the data electrode 2
9, both electrodes 23 and 29 are at ground potential.
The opposing discharge space 26 has a wall charge amount of about 200 to 250 which is formed by the address discharge and the secondary discharge.
A voltage of V is applied. On the other hand, in the surface discharge space 26 between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23, the sum of the above-mentioned about 130V of the wall charge potential formed on the scan electrode 22 during the address discharge and about 150 to 180V of the sustain pulse voltage is provided. , 28
A voltage of 0 V or more is applied. This allows
Since the surface discharge between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 always starts first, no counter discharge occurs. For this reason,
As in the first embodiment, it is possible to reliably shift to surface discharge.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, the potential of the data electrode 29 is biased to the same potential (10) as the potential of the data pulse 8 throughout the sustain period 4. However, the potential of the data electrode 29 after the first sustain pulse 9a and after the second sustain pulse is changed. The sustain pulse 9 is set in the same manner as in the second embodiment. As a result, the potential of the data electrode 29 becomes a value between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23.
At the end of the sustain period 4, the wall charge on the data electrode 29 can be reduced to almost 0V. Thus, the wall charges can be reset between the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 with a small number of pulses in the preliminary discharge period 2 in the next SF.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode 22 is maintained at the ground potential during the first sustain pulse, and the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode 23 is a negative pulse. Consists of Each first sustain pulse 9a to the scan electrode 22 and the common electrode 23 is set to a lower voltage than each first sustain pulse 9a in the fourth embodiment. The potential of the data electrode 29 is set to the ground potential throughout the sustain period 4. In the present embodiment, the second
The sustain pulse 9 after the sustain pulse is set in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment. As a result, the potential difference between the first sustain pulse 9a applied to the scan electrode 22 and the data electrode 29 at this time is lower than in the prior art, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Can be.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, all the sustain pulses 9 after the first sustain pulse 9a and the second sustain pulse are set in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment. However, when the first sustain pulse 9a is output, The potential of the data electrode 29 is the ground potential (approximately 0 V)
, And the potential of the subsequent data electrode 29 is set to the same potential (10) as the potential of the data pulse 8.
Thus, the potential difference between the first sustain pulse 9a applied to the scan electrode 22 and the data electrode 29 at this time becomes lower than in the related art, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. .

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform in the present embodiment.

The present embodiment is the same as the sixth embodiment except that the potential of the data electrode 29 at the time of outputting the first sustain pulse 9a is set to be the same as the potential of the data pulse 8. The first sustain pulse 9a applied to the common electrode 23 is composed of a negative pulse and is set at about -150V to -180V. The potential of the data electrode 29 is the same as the potential of the data pulse 8 throughout the sustain period 4 (for example, about 60 to 80 V).
Is set to At the time of the write discharge, the total voltage of the wall charges formed on the scan electrode 22 and the data electrode 23 by this discharge is about 200 to 250 V, and the electrodes 22 and 23
The potential difference between them becomes about 60 to 80 V corresponding to the data bias voltage 10. In this case, since the voltage sum of the wall charges and the potential difference between the electrodes 22 and 23 have opposite polarities, the voltage applied to the opposing discharge space 26 is about 140
It becomes -170V. On the other hand, since a voltage of 280 V or more is applied to the surface discharge side, for example, as in the third embodiment, it is possible to reliably shift to the surface discharge.

Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but is limited to the embodiment. Driving methods of the plasma display panel obtained by making various modifications and changes from the configuration of the example are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0053]

As described above, according to the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention, the display cell in which the address discharge has occurred is surely shifted to the sustain discharge at the start of the sustain period, and the sub cell executed last time The lighting state in the field can be reliably reset during the pre-discharge period.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a display cell structure in a three-electrode AC plasma display panel to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a three-electrode AC type plasma display panel to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform of one subfield in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing each drive waveform of one subfield in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing drive waveforms of one subfield according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing driving waveforms of one subfield in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing driving waveforms of one subfield according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing driving waveforms of one subfield according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing driving waveforms of one subfield in a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing driving waveforms in one subfield of a general three-electrode AC plasma display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: 1 subfield 2: preliminary discharge period 3: scanning period 4: sustain period 5: preliminary discharge pulse 6: preliminary discharge erase pulse 7: scanning pulse 8: data pulse 9: sustain pulse 10: data bias pulse 20: front substrate 21: Back substrate 22: Scan electrode 23: Common electrode 24: Transparent dielectric layer 25: Protective layer 26: Counter discharge space 27: Phosphor layer 28: White dielectric layer 29: Data electrode 30: Display screen 31: Display cell

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of scanning electrodes and a common electrode disposed on the first substrate in a row direction, and disposed on a column direction on the second substrate. A plurality of data electrodes, and a display cell disposed at each intersection of the scan electrode and the common electrode and the data electrode,
In the scanning period, address discharge is performed by applying a scan pulse and a data pulse to the scan electrode and the data electrode, respectively, and in the sustain period, a sustain discharge is performed by applying a sustain pulse to the scan electrode and the common electrode, respectively. In a method for driving a plasma display panel that causes a display cell to emit light, when applying a first sustain pulse in the sustain period, a voltage to be applied to a counter discharge space between the scan electrode and the data electrode is applied to the scan electrode. A method of driving a plasma display panel, wherein the voltage is set lower than a voltage applied to a surface discharge space between the common electrode and the common electrode. 2. The potential of the data electrode when the first sustain pulse is applied is substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse, and the potential of the data electrode after the application of the first sustain pulse is set to a ground potential. Each of the first sustain pulses applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode comprises a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and the sustain pulses subsequent to the first sustain pulse are negative and positive phases opposite to each other. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pulse is applied alternately to the scan electrode and the common electrode. 3. The potential of the data electrode when the first sustain pulse is applied is substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse, and the potential of the data electrode after the application of the first sustain pulse is set to a ground potential. Each of the first sustain pulses applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode comprises a positive pulse and a negative pulse, and the sustain pulses subsequent to the first sustain pulse are positive-polarity pulses having mutually opposite phases. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode. 4. The potential of the data electrode is set to a ground potential throughout the sustain period, and each of the first sustain pulses applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode is changed from a ground potential pulse and a negative pulse. The sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as a negative pulse and a positive pulse having opposite phases to each other. A method for driving a plasma display panel. 5. The potential of the data electrode is set substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse throughout the sustain period, and the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode is a positive pulse and a positive sustain pulse, respectively. The method according to claim 1, wherein a sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode alternately as positive pulses having opposite phases. A method for driving a plasma display panel. 6. The potential of the data electrode is set to a ground potential throughout the sustain period, and the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is maintained at the ground potential during the first sustain pulse. Wherein the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse, and the sustain pulses subsequent to the first sustain pulse are alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as mutually opposite positive pulses. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied. 7. The potential of the data electrode at the time of applying the first sustain pulse is set to the ground potential, and the potential of the data electrode after the application of the first sustain pulse is set substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse. Wherein the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is maintained at ground potential during the first sustain pulse, and wherein the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse; 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a sustain pulse subsequent to the sustain pulse is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the common electrode as positive polarity pulses having opposite phases. 8. The potential of the data electrode is set to be substantially equal to the potential of the data pulse throughout the sustain period, and the first sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is applied during the first sustain pulse. Maintained at the ground potential, the first sustain pulse applied to the common electrode comprises a negative pulse, and the sustain pulse subsequent to the first sustain pulse has the scan electrode and the positive electrode having opposite phases to each other as positive pulses. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is alternately applied to the common electrode.