JP2000357463A - Ac type plasma display panel, plasma display device, and method for driving ac type plasma display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an AC-PDP capable of suppressing or avoiding erroneous discharging. SOLUTION: On the side with a back face glass substrate, column electrodes W1-Wm are arranged at a constant pitch in the first direction D1. Row electrodes X1-Xn and ones Y1-Yn are composed of band-shaped parent electrodes Xb1-Xbn and ones Yb1-Ybn extending in the second direction D2 and transparent electrodes Xt and Xt in square shape with one-side ends connected to the parent electrodes Xb1-Xbn and the others Yb1-Ybn in such an arrangement that they are laid at a constant pitch alternately on that surface of a front face glass substrate on its side with the discharge space 111. The transparent electrodes Xt and Yt are overhung zigzag into one of two unit regions AR adjoining in the first direction D1 in such a way as pinching the parent electrodes Xb1 and Yb1 with which one-side ends of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt are connected. Each unit region AR is divided into a discharge cell C having a discharge gap formed from the opposing edges of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt and a non-discharge cell NC not having any discharge gap, wherein the discharge cell C is not adjoining in the first direction D1 nor second direction D2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure and a driving method of an AC plasma display panel (hereinafter, also referred to as "AC-PDP") and a plasma display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Plasma display panels (PDPs)
Various researches have been made on thin televisions or display monitors. Among them, a surface discharge type AC-PDP is one of the AC-PDPs having a memory function.
There is DP. The structure of this AC-PDP is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 25 shows an AC-P according to a first prior art.
It is a perspective view which extracts and shows a part of structure of DP101,
An AC-PDP having such a structure is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-7-17-1.
No. 40922 and JP-A-7-287548. As shown in FIG. 25, the AC-PDP 101
Includes a front glass substrate 102 as a display surface, and a rear glass substrate 103 opposed to the front glass substrate 102 with the discharge space 111 interposed therebetween. In addition, both glass substrates 1
Reference numerals 02 and 103 denote the top of the partition 110 and the dielectric layer 10 described later.
FIG. 25 illustrates a state in which the two glass substrates 102 and 103 are separated from each other for convenience of description. This point will be described later with reference to FIGS.
The same applies to.

On the surface of the front glass substrate 102 on the side of the discharge space 111, n pairs of row electrodes 104 and row electrodes 105 (both transparent electrodes) are formed so as to extend in pairs. However, as shown in FIG.
A metal auxiliary electrode (also referred to as a "mother electrode" or "bus electrode") 104a, 1 having a low impedance and for supplying a current from a circuit portion is provided on a part of the surface of each of the electrodes.
In the case of having the sub-elements 05a, they are also referred to as “row electrodes 104” and “row electrodes 105” including the metal auxiliary electrodes. A dielectric layer 106 is formed so as to cover both row electrodes 104 and 105. Further, as shown in FIG. 25, a protective film 107 made of a dielectric material such as MgO (magnesium oxide) may be formed on the surface of the dielectric layer 106 by a method such as an evaporation method. , Dielectric layer 106 and protective film 107 are collectively referred to as “dielectric layer 1”.
06A ".

On the other hand, the discharge space 1 of the rear glass substrate 103
On the surface on the 11 side, m column electrodes 108 are
4, 105 are extended so as to be orthogonal (three-dimensional intersection), and between adjacent column electrodes 108, partition walls 110 are formed extending in parallel with the column electrodes 108. This partition 11
0 plays a role of separating each discharge cell and PD
It also serves as a support for supporting P from being crushed by atmospheric pressure. The U-shaped groove defined by the front surface of the rear glass substrate 103 and the opposite side walls of the adjacent partition 110 is red (R) in units of the U-shaped groove.
Phosphor layer 109R for emitting light, phosphor layer 109G for emitting green (G) light or phosphor layer 109B for emitting blue light (B)
Any of the phosphor layers (generically referred to as “phosphor layer 109”) is arranged in a stripe in a predetermined order so as to cover the column electrode. Note that there is also an AC-PDP having a structure in which a dielectric layer is provided on the surface of the back glass substrate 103 so as to cover the column electrodes 108, and the partition 110 and the phosphor layer 109 are arranged on the dielectric layer.

The front glass substrate 102 having the above structure
The rear glass substrate 103 and the rear glass substrate 103 are sealed to each other at a peripheral portion not shown in FIG.
A discharge gas such as a Ne—Xe mixed gas or a He—Xe mixed gas is sealed in a space (discharge space 111) at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. In the AC-PDP 101, one discharge cell (also referred to as a “light-emitting cell” or a “display cell”) of the PDP is defined by a three-dimensional intersection between the pair of row electrodes 104 and 105 and the column electrode. The PD for full-color display like the AC-PDP 101
In the case of P, one pixel is formed by three discharge cells, one for red emission, one for green emission, and one for blue emission. FIG. 25 shows the structure of one pixel of the AC-PDP 101 at this time.

Here, in the following description, the horizontal line in the row direction of the luminescent colors obtained by lighting the luminescent cells of all the luminescent colors or the arrangement (array) of the pixels necessary to display the horizontal lines is referred to as a “display line”. ". At this time, in the AC-PDP 101, by applying a predetermined voltage to a pair of the row electrodes 104 and 105, one display line (discharge cell belonging to) can be turned on (selected). Such an arrangement in which three discharge cells forming one pixel are arranged in a horizontal line is sometimes called a "stripe arrangement".

[0008] In the AC-PDP 101, the discharge space 111 defined by the partition 110 and extending along the longitudinal direction of the column electrode 108 is composed of (i) (row) electrode pairs 104 and 10.
And (ii) a region between adjacent electrode pairs 104 and 105 (or each of a plurality of discharge cells arranged along the longitudinal direction). (A non-display area) or a "non-display area" which is not involved in display light emission of the PDP. In the following description, (i) a structure in which a non-light-emitting region in the discharge space 111 is formed with respect to a light-emitting region constituting a discharge cell, that is, a discharge cell adjacent to the column electrode 108 along the longitudinal direction. The structure between them is referred to as “non-discharge cell (or non-light-emitting cell or non-display cell)” for convenience.

In the gap (gap) between the adjacent row electrodes 104 and 105, (i) the gap between the two row electrode pairs 104 and 105 forming a pair and forming a discharge in the discharge cell. Is referred to as a “discharge gap (or front gap) DG”, and (ii) a gap between two opposing row electrodes 104 and 105 belonging to adjacent discharge cells is referred to as a “non-discharge gap (or back gap)”. NG ". At this time, the non-discharge cell is a discharge space 111 (non-discharge cell) defined by a three-dimensional intersection of two row electrodes 104 and 105 and a column electrode 108 (each belonging to an adjacent discharge cell) in the same manner as the discharge cell. However, in the AC-PDP 101, the distance of the non-discharge gap NG is set so wide that no discharge occurs.

In some cases, a black insulating material is disposed in the non-discharge cells. At this time, the black insulating material is sometimes called a “black stripe” because it is arranged in a stripe shape and appears as a black horizontal line on the display surface of the PDP. As described above, by making the non-light-emitting cells, which are not related to the image display, black, it is possible to improve the contrast, which is a problem because the phosphor material itself is white when not emitting light.

Next, an AC-PDP according to a second prior art is described.
201 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 26 is a plan view of an AC-PDP 201 according to a second related art, and FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line II in FIG. An AC-PDP having such a structure is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-12026. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the AC-PDP 201 has a front glass substrate 202 as a display surface and a front glass substrate 202.
And a rear glass substrate 203 that is opposed to the discharge space 211. On the surface of the front glass substrate 202 on the side of the discharge space 211, row electrodes 204 and row electrodes 205 are alternately formed at equal intervals. Note that, like the AC-PDP 101 described above, this row electrode 2
The electrodes 04 and 205 may be composed of a combination of a transparent electrode and a mother electrode. In such a case, the electrodes composed of the transparent electrode and the mother electrode are also referred to as “row electrodes 204 and 205”. Then, on the row electrodes 204 and 205, a dielectric 206 and a protective film 207 (generically referred to as “dielectric layer 206A”) are sequentially formed.

A column electrode 208 is provided on the rear glass substrate 203.
Are formed so as to extend orthogonally (three-dimensional intersection) with the row electrodes 204 and 205, and a dielectric layer 212 is formed so as to cover the column electrodes 208. Then, both glass substrates 20
Numerals 2 and 203 are opposed to each other with a partition wall 210 interposed therebetween.
As shown in FIG. 26, the space between the two glass substrates 202 and 203 is divided into a plurality of hexagonal column-shaped discharge spaces 211 by the two glass substrates 202 and 203 and the partition walls. At this time, in the plan view of FIG. 26, the center of each discharge space 211 is defined by the gap between the adjacent row electrodes 204 and 205 and the column electrode 2.
The partition wall 210 is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the intersection with 08. Here, in the AC-PDP 201, each gap between the adjacent row electrodes 204 and 205 is the discharge gap D.
G, there are no non-discharge gaps and thus no non-discharge cells. Thus, in the AC-PDP 201, the row electrode 2
One discharge cell defined by a portion where the column electrodes 204 and 205 and the column electrode 208 intersect three-dimensionally is surrounded by a partition wall 210.
It is separated from an adjacent discharge cell. As shown in FIG. 26, one column electrode 208 includes a portion facing the discharge space 211 and a portion facing the partition wall 210, and both portions are formed of discharge cells arranged along the longitudinal direction of the column electrode 208. It is alternately repeated at a half pitch of the arrangement pitch.

On the dielectric layer 212 of each of the plurality of discharge cells arranged along one column electrode 208 and on the partition 21
A phosphor layer 209 of the same emission color is applied on (part of) the side wall surface of the zero. That is, along one column electrode 208, a plurality of discharge cells for one of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) emission colors are arranged.
In other words, one column electrode 208 corresponds to one emission color (or display color). Therefore, the AC-PDP 210
In this example, one pixel for white display is constituted by three discharge cells (one example of the arrangement is indicated by R, G, and B in FIG. 26) of each emission color arranged in a delta type. Such an arrangement of the discharge cells is sometimes called a “delta arrangement”. The other components such as the discharge gas are the same as those of the first related art.

Here, an AC-PDP 101 having discharge cells in a stripe arrangement (and an AC-PDP 30 described later) is used.
1,401) and an AC-P having discharge cells in a delta arrangement
The difference between the two structures will be described in comparison with DP210.

A. Electrode Arrangement In the AC-PDP 101, one row electrode pair 104, 10
By applying a predetermined voltage to 5, the electrodes to be applied to the column electrodes 108 can be controlled to turn on the red, green, and blue light emitting cells. That is, a pair of row electrodes 104 and 105
Corresponds to one display line.

On the other hand, in the AC-PDP 201, one pixel is composed of discharge cells for each emission color arranged in a delta type,
In addition, since the discharge cells are arranged with a shift of a half pitch of the arrangement pitch, in order to light one display line (a light emitting cell belonging to), three consecutively arranged rows are required. Electrodes, that is, a set of row electrodes 204 and 205 and a row electrode 204 (or 205) adjacent thereto in total of 3
A voltage must be applied to the row electrodes.

Here, the AC-PDP 301 according to the third prior art will be described with reference to the perspective view of FIG. AC-
The structure of the PDP 301 is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-2993. In the following description, AC-PDP
In 301, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the previously described AC-PDP 101 (see FIG. 25). FIG.
As shown in FIG. 25, the AC-PDP 301
Corresponding to the partition 110 of the PDP 101, the partition 110 has a partition 110R disposed on the rear glass substrate 103 side, a partition 110F1 disposed on the front glass substrate 102 side, and a striped partition 110F2 disposed orthogonal to the partition 110F1. . At this time, the partition 110F2 is
A plurality of discharge cells arranged along 1,110R are individually separated.

In the AC-PDP 301, the row electrodes 104,
105 is the partition 110F2 immediately below the partition 110F2.
Are formed at equal pitches so as to straddle two discharge cells adjacent to each other. In other words, AC
-The row electrodes 104 and 105 of the PDP 301 are the same as those in FIG.
Among the two pairs of row electrodes (four in total) in the five AC-PDPs 101, the two row electrodes located at the center have a shape that is integrated. In the AC-PDP 301, the plurality of row electrodes 104 (or row electrodes 105) are grouped into even-numbered electrodes and odd-numbered electrodes, and are driven in units of the groups.

An AC-PDP having a row electrode structure similar to that of the AC-PDP 301 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1605.
No. 25 is disclosed. Such an AC-PDP will be described as an AC-PDP 401 according to a fourth conventional technique with reference to the perspective view of FIG. In the AC-PDP 401, the same components as those of the AC-PDP 101 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, as shown in FIG.
The AC-PDP 401 does not have the partition walls 110F1 and 110F2 included in the AC-PDP 301 in FIG.

The AC-PDP 401 is an AC-PDP 30
1 is driven as follows by the same driving circuit as that of the first driving circuit. That is, by performing a so-called interlace scan on the AC-PDP 401 by selecting a display cell by separating one frame period into an odd field and an even field, a discharge cell adjacent to the column electrode 108 is formed. This prevents interference of discharge formation between them. This allows
A partition parallel to the row electrodes 104 and 105 for partitioning adjacent discharge cells along the column electrodes 108 is not required. For this reason, the AC-PDP 401
AC-PDP with almost the same structure as P101
It has a higher resolution than 101.

B. Shape of Partition In the case of a structure in which one row electrode 104, 105 extends over two adjacent discharge cells (or two display lines) along the longitudinal direction of the column electrode 108 as in the AC-PDP 301 shown in FIG. Basically, in addition to the partition wall parallel to the column electrode, it is necessary to dispose the partition wall along the central axis of the width or the short side of the row electrode, which is a strip electrode, to separate the adjacent two discharge cells. is there. At this time, the AC-PD shown in FIG.
As described above, when the phosphor layer 109 is formed to extend parallel to the column electrodes 108 (perpendicular to the row electrodes 104 and 105) as in P401, that is, when the discharge cells for each emission color are arranged in stripes. The partition 110F2 along the display line can be eliminated by performing interlaced scanning.

On the other hand, A shown in FIGS. 26 and 27
When the discharge cells for each emission color are in a delta arrangement as in the C-PDP 201, the phosphor layers 209 for each emission color are disturbed in a direction parallel to the column electrodes 208, so that the partition walls 210
Cannot be eliminated. That is, a partition having a shape surrounding the periphery of each discharge cell is indispensable.

Here, comparing the shapes of the partition walls from the viewpoint of the PDP manufacturing process, (a) the AC-PDP shown in FIG.
The stripe-shaped partition wall such as 101 has superiority to the partition wall shape of the AC-PDP 201 shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 (b). Hereinafter, such a point will be described.

First, a comparison will be made regarding the formation of the phosphor layer. (A) When the partition 110 is striped like the AC-PDP 101 shown in FIG. 25, a predetermined light emission is performed in units of the U-shaped groove formed by the partition 110 and the like. Since the phosphor for color may be applied along the U-shaped groove, the alignment with the partition 110 in the phosphor application step is easy. On the other hand, (b) in the case of the partition wall shape such as the partition wall 210 shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, it is necessary to apply the phosphor of each emission color at a half pitch of the arrangement pitch of the discharge cells. , A
Higher positioning accuracy is required than in the process of applying a phosphor such as C-PDP101.

In the step of exhausting the gap (discharge space) between the bonded front and rear glass substrates and the step of introducing a discharge gas, (a) AC-PDP 101
And the like, the stripe-shaped partition wall 110 has (b) A
It is preferable because the conductance is smaller than that of the partition wall 210 of the C-PDP 201 that partitions the gap into a discharge space completely surrounding the gap.

Further, from the viewpoint of discharge control in the PDP, the striped partition walls 110 such as the AC-PDP 101 are also used.
Is more advantageous. That is, in the AC-PDP having the stripe-shaped partition walls, charged particles generated by the discharge spread quickly in the longitudinal direction of the partition walls. Therefore, by using such charged particles, the discharge controllability in, for example, an address discharge is improved. be able to.

C. Display Area Utilization The resolution of a display panel such as a PDP is determined by the number of display cells formed within a predetermined display area. That is,
The higher the number of display cells in a limited display area, the higher the resolution. If the resolution is the same,
Increasing the area of the display cell as much as possible leads to an improvement in the luminous efficiency of the display cell and the PDP. For this reason, it is desirable to increase the area of a part (display area) related to image display as much as possible and to minimize the area of a part (non-display area) not related to image display as much as possible. In view of this point, (a) the AC-PDP 101 of FIG. 25 has non-discharge cells which are non-display areas, whereas (b) the AC-PDP 201 of FIGS. 26 and 27 has non-display areas. Since there is no AC-PDP 201, it can be said that the AC-PDP 201 is a more preferable structure in terms of luminous efficiency and resolution.

When the AC-PDP 401 shown in FIG. 29 is driven by interlaced scanning, the AC-PDP 401 shown in FIG.
Since the area corresponding to the non-discharge cell of the PDP 101 is used as a discharge cell, it is more desirable than the AC-PDP 201 in terms of resolution. However, when performing interlaced scanning, while a certain display line is lit, the upper and lower display lines adjacent to the display line are in a non-lighted state.
When viewed instantaneously, the total area of the light emitting cells whose lighting is controlled is A
It is equivalent to C-PDP101. Also, the time required for one pixel to emit light by interlaced scanning is half that of the driving method in the case where the non-discharge cell area is not used as a discharge cell. It must be driven at twice the frequency.

Next, the above-described AC-PDP 101 (or 2)
01) will be described. First, the row electrode pair 10
A voltage pulse is applied between 4,105 (204,205) to cause a discharge. Then, the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge excite the phosphor layer 109 (209), so that the discharge cells emit light. At the time of this discharge, the electrons and ions generated in the discharge space move in the direction of the row electrodes 104, 105 (204, 205) having polarities opposite to the respective polarities, and the row electrodes 104, 105 ( 204, 205) on the surface of the dielectric layer 106A (206A).
The charges such as electrons and ions accumulated on the surface of the dielectric layer 106A (206A) in this manner are called “wall charges”.

The electric field formed by the wall charges is applied to the row electrode 10.
4, 105 (204, 205) acts in the direction of weakening the electric field due to the voltage applied thereto, so that the discharge rapidly disappears with the formation of wall charges. After the discharge has been extinguished, a voltage pulse of which polarity has been inverted is applied to the row electrodes 104 and 105 (20).
4, 205), the electric field in which the applied electric field and the electric field due to the wall charges are superimposed is substantially applied to the discharge space, so that the discharge can be caused again. As described above, once the discharge occurs, the discharge can be generated by applying an applied voltage (hereinafter, also referred to as a “sustain voltage”) lower than the voltage at the start of the discharge. If a sustain voltage (hereinafter, also referred to as a “sustain pulse”) whose polarity is sequentially inverted is applied between (204, 205), discharge can be constantly maintained.
Hereinafter, this discharge is referred to as “sustain discharge”.

This sustain discharge is continued as long as the sustain pulse is continuously applied until the wall charges disappear. The elimination of wall charges is called "erasing".
On the other hand, the dielectric layer 106A (2
06A) The formation of wall charges on it is called "writing". Therefore, characters, graphics, images, and the like can be displayed by first writing and then performing a sustain discharge on an arbitrary discharge cell on the screen of the AC-PDP. In addition, moving images can be displayed by performing writing, sustain discharge, and erasing at high speed.

Next, a more specific driving method of the conventional PDP will be described with reference to FIG. Conventional AC-PDP1
01 (see FIG. 25), for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-160218 (or Japanese Patent 2772)
No. 753). FIG.
5 is a timing chart showing a driving waveform in one subfield (SF) in the driving method. In the following description, each of the n row electrodes 104 is referred to as “row electrode Xi (i = 1 to n)”, and each of the n row electrodes 105 is referred to as “row electrode Yi (i = 1 to n). )), And all the row electrodes Y1 to Yn are driven by a single drive signal (voltage).
Also called. Each of the m column electrodes 108 is referred to as a “column electrode Wj” (j = 1 to m).

The subfield (SF) shown in FIG.
This is one of the divisions of one frame (F) for image display into a plurality of periods. In this case, the subfield is further divided into a “reset period”, an “address period” and a “sustain discharge period (sustain period or display period). (Also called period)).

First, in the "reset period", the display history at the end of the immediately preceding subfield is erased, and priming particles for increasing the discharge probability in the subsequent address period are supplied. Specifically, the entire write pulse V having a voltage value that can cause a self-erasing discharge at the time of its fall between all the row electrodes X1 to Xn and the row electrode Y.
The display history is deleted by applying p. At this time, a voltage pulse Vp1 is applied to the column electrode Wj.

Next, in the "address period", only the discharge cells to be displayed are selectively discharged by selecting the matrix, and "address discharge" is formed in the discharge cells.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, first, a scan pulse Vxg (voltage value Vxg (<0)) is sequentially applied to the row electrodes Xi.
Are applied, and in the discharge cells to be lit, a voltage pulse VwD (voltage value VwD) based on the image data is applied to the column electrode Wj.
By applying wD (> 0)), “writing discharge” is generated between the column electrode Wj and the row electrode Xi. During the address period, the sub-scanning pulse Vys is applied to the row electrode Y.
c (voltage value Vysc (> 0)) is applied. At this time,
The potential difference (Vysc-V) is applied between the row electrode Xi and the row electrode Yi.
xg) is applied. This potential difference (Vysc-Vxg)
Is a potential difference that does not start discharge by itself, but can generate (transfer) a “writing sustain discharge” between the row electrodes Xi and Yi immediately after the previous writing discharge is triggered.
By the address discharge, as described above, an amount of positive or negative that allows the sustain discharge to be performed only by applying the sustain pulse Vs later on the surface of the dielectric layer 106A (see FIG. 25) of the discharge cell. Negative wall charges accumulate.

As described above, the "address discharge" is a "writing discharge" selectively generated between the row electrode Xi and the column electrode Wj, and triggered by the "address discharge", the row electrode Xi and the row electrode Yi.
And "discharge sustaining discharge" generated between the two.

On the other hand, no discharge occurs between the row electrodes Xi and Yi of the discharge cells because no address discharge occurs in the discharge cells that are turned off during image display (ie, during the sustain discharge period). Of course, there is no accumulation of wall charges.

When the address period ends, a sustain discharge period starts. In the sustain discharge period, by applying the sustain pulse Vs between the row electrodes Xi and Yi, the sustain discharge continues in the discharge cells in which the above-described write operation has been performed during the period. During the sustain discharge period, a voltage Vs2 set to a voltage (Vs / 2) with respect to the voltage value Vs of the sustain pulse Vs is applied to the column electrode Wj. This is to allow the sustain discharge to start stably at the time of transition from the address period to the sustain discharge period.

[0039]

<Problem 1> As described above, from the viewpoint of the formation of the phosphor layer, the introduction of the discharge gas, and the controllability of the discharge, a stripe-like structure such as AC-PDP101 is used. The partition wall is more advantageous than the partition wall that completely surrounds the discharge cell like the AC-PDP 201.
However, AC-PD having striped partition walls
In P, the erroneous discharge is likely to be easily induced between the discharge cells arranged along the partition wall due to the rapid spread of the charged particles generated by the discharge in the longitudinal direction of the stripe-shaped partition wall. is there.

In order to prevent such erroneous discharge, AC-P
In the DP 101, a non-discharge area or a non-discharge cell is provided between discharge cells arranged along the partition. However,
Providing such a non-discharge area causes another problem that the utilization rate of the display area is reduced by the non-discharge area.

On the other hand, as described above, when driving a PDP by interlaced scanning, the AC-PDP
By using the non-discharge cell area in 101 as a discharge cell as well, the resolution can be increased and the display area utilization rate can be increased. However, since only half of the display area is used for discharge instantaneously during driving, the number of applied pulses per unit time, that is, the driving frequency It is necessary to use a means such as increasing the number. At this time, it is necessary to increase the instantaneous supply capability of the power supply, and as a result, the effect of improving the luminous efficiency may not be obtained.

If the area of the non-discharge cell in the AC-PDP 101 is also used as a discharge cell and is driven without performing interlaced scanning, the row electrode is disposed with one row electrode interposed therebetween. It is difficult to drive the two shared discharge cells while preventing the occurrence of erroneous discharge therebetween without providing a partition (see partition 110F2 in FIG. 28) for separating the two discharge cells.

<Problem 2> The above-mentioned AC-PDP 101-
In any of the AC-PDPs 401, erroneous discharge may be induced from a lighting state or a discharge cell to be lit to a discharge cell adjacent thereto. That is, since the discharge cells arranged in parallel with the display line share the row electrode pair, the discharge easily occurs beyond the partition. For example, when there is a gap between the top of the partition and the glass substrate side facing the partition, or when a gap is formed due to chipping or breakage of the partition during the manufacturing process of the PDP, the gap is formed through such a gap. As a result, the charged particles during the discharge are diffused, so that erroneous discharge is likely to occur over the partition walls. For this reason, the partition wall is required to have process accuracy during manufacturing and its own strength.

Further, for example, erroneous discharge across the partition wall may occur due to electric field interference between adjacent discharge cells. At this time, if the column electrode is formed so as to be shifted from a predetermined position, erroneous discharge is likely to occur. In the AC-PDP 101, for example, a row electrode Xi, Yi and a column electrode Wj during an address period.
A strong electric field is generated in the space where
In the case where the arrangement position is shifted from the predetermined position, erroneous discharge is likely to occur in the adjacent discharge cells due to the strong electric field.

<Problem 3> In the case where a black stripe is provided in the non-discharge area in the AC-PDP 101, the boundary between the light-emitting area and the non-light-emitting area is clearly seen as a black horizontal line. May not be preferred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems 1 to 3, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide an AC-type plasma display panel capable of largely suppressing and removing erroneous discharge. I do.

Further, along with realization of the first object, AC
A second object of the present invention is to provide an AC type plasma display panel that can be manufactured with a process technology that is comparable to or easier than the method of manufacturing the PDP 101.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide an AC-type plasma display panel with improved visibility as compared with the conventional AC-PDP, while realizing the first and second objects.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an AC plasma display panel capable of stably driving by increasing the margin of the driving voltage of the AC plasma display panel realizing the first to third objects. Aim.

In addition, it is a fifth object to provide a plasma display device having an AC type plasma display panel realizing the first to fourth objects.

It is a sixth object of the present invention to provide a driving method suitable for an AC type plasma display panel which realizes the first to fourth objects.

[0052]

(1) An AC type plasma display panel according to the first aspect of the present invention has a discharge gap in which a desired discharge can be formed, and a discharge cell disposed on the same surface. A plurality of non-discharge cells having a non-discharge gap in which discharge is more difficult to form than the discharge gap, and a plurality of non-discharge cells arranged on the same surface, wherein the discharge gap is at least in a direction parallel to the display line. It is characterized by being disposed adjacent to one or more non-discharge gaps.

(2) An AC-type plasma display panel according to a second aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the first aspect, wherein:
A second substrate facing the first substrate at a predetermined distance;
A substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display lines, and a first portion connected to the first portion. A first electrode and a second electrode, each of which comprises a second portion protruding toward the discharge cell and disposed on the first substrate, and a dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes; And a discharge cell or the non-discharge cell, each of which is disposed on the second substrate side in a direction that intersects the first portion of each of the first and second electrodes in a three-dimensional manner. And a plurality of strip-shaped third electrodes defining the discharge gap, wherein the discharge gap is formed by both edges of the second portion of the first and second electrodes facing each other in the discharge cell. The non-discharge gap is
It is characterized in that the first and second electrodes are formed at both edges of a portion facing each other through the non-discharge cell in the first portion of each of the first and second electrodes.

(3) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the third aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the second aspect, wherein each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes is provided. Is characterized in that the two edges forming the discharge gap are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the third electrode.

(4) The AC plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 4 is the AC plasma display panel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of the first and second electrodes are alternately arranged. And the discharge gap is adjacent to the display line via one or more non-discharge gaps in a direction perpendicular to the display line.

(5) An AC-type plasma display panel according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the fourth aspect, wherein the first portion of the first or second electrode is provided. The two second portions present between the two discharge gaps located on both sides of the sandwich,
It is characterized by being connected to the first or second electrode sandwiched between the two discharge gaps.

(6) The AC plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 6 is the AC plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises:
A second substrate facing the first substrate at a predetermined distance;
A substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display lines, and a first portion connected to the first portion. The first portion includes a band-shaped second portion extending along the longitudinal direction of the first portion and extending along both sides of the first portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first portion; A first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate side, a dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes, and a first and second electrode disposed on the second substrate side, respectively; A plurality of strip-shaped third electrodes that are arranged in a direction that three-dimensionally intersects each of the first portions of the electrodes and that define the discharge cells or the non-discharge cells together with the first and second electrodes; Three-dimensional intersection between the gap between the two parts and the third electrode Are arranged point further includes a discharge suppression body defining the non-discharge cells, the discharge gap,
Each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes is formed by both edges of a portion facing each other in the discharge cell, and the non-discharge gap is formed by each of the first and second electrodes. It is characterized in that the second portion is formed by both edges of a portion facing in the non-discharge cell.

(7) An AC-type plasma display panel according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the sixth aspect, wherein the discharge suppressor is arranged on the side of the second substrate. It is characterized by having been done.

(8) An AC-type plasma display panel according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the seventh aspect, wherein the discharge suppressor has the same height as the partition walls. It is characterized by having.

(9) An AC-type plasma display panel according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the sixth aspect, wherein the discharge suppressor is arranged on the side of the first substrate. The dielectric includes an electrode covering portion covering at least one of the first and second electrodes, and a projection serving as the discharge suppressor.

(10) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention according to claim 10 is the AC-type plasma display panel according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the discharge suppressor is provided with the partition wall. It is characterized by not touching.

(11) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 11 is the same as that in claims 6 to 10.
The plasma display panel according to any one of the above, wherein the discharge suppressor is black on at least a side of the first substrate.

(12) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention provides the AC-type plasma display panel according to the sixth to eleventh aspects.
The plasma display panel according to any one of the above, wherein a plurality of the first and second electrodes are alternately arranged, and the discharge gap is one or more of the non-electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the display line. It is characterized by being arranged adjacently with a discharge gap therebetween.

(13) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 13 is provided in claims 2 to 12
Wherein the discharge cells are larger than the non-discharge cells when the AC plasma display panel is viewed from the first or second substrate side. And

(14) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 14 is the invention described in claims 2 to 13.
4. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partition wall is formed of a plurality of strip-shaped partition walls arranged along the longitudinal direction of the third electrode so as to partition between adjacent third electrodes. The distance between two adjacent partition walls is wider in a portion that partitions the discharge cells than in a portion that partitions the non-discharge cells.

(15) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 15 is the invention as described in claims 2 to 14.
Wherein the distance between both edges of a portion of the first portion of the first and second electrodes facing each other via the discharge gap in each of the first portions, The space between the two edges of a portion of the first portion that faces through the non-discharge cell is wider than the interval between the two edges.

(16) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention of the sixteenth aspect provides the AC plasma display panel according to the second to twelfth aspects.
Wherein the discharge cells and the non-discharge cells are equal in size when the AC plasma display panel is viewed from the first or second substrate side. It is characterized by the following.

(17) An AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 17 is the AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a first substrate and a predetermined distance from the first substrate are provided. A second substrate disposed facing the first substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display line, and A second portion connected to the first portion and extending on both sides of the first portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first portion, the second portion being disposed on the first substrate side; A first electrode and a second electrode, a dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes, and a first portion of each of the first and second electrodes on the second substrate side. Is placed in a direction that crosses A plurality of strip-shaped third electrodes defining the discharge cells or the non-discharge cells together with the first and second electrodes, wherein the discharge gap is formed by each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes. And the non-discharge gap is formed by both edges of each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes that face each other through the non-discharge cell. It is characterized by being formed in this way.

(18) An AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of first and second electrodes are alternately arranged. And the discharge gap is arranged adjacent to the display line via one or more non-discharge gaps in a direction perpendicular to the display line.

(19) An AC-type plasma display panel according to the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention, wherein the first portion of the first or second electrode is provided. The two second portions existing between the two discharge gaps located on both sides of the two discharge gaps are connected to the first or second electrode sandwiched between the two discharge gaps.

(20) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention provides the AC-type plasma display panel.
9. The AC plasma display panel according to any one of 9, wherein the discharge cells are larger than the non-discharge cells when the AC plasma display panel is viewed from the first or second substrate side. Features.

(21) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention of the twenty-first aspect is characterized in that:
0, wherein the first portion is straight, and the first portion is sandwiched between the second portions of the first and second electrodes. The edge-side portion forming a discharge gap is larger than the edge-side portion forming the non-discharge gap across the first portion.

(22) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 22 is characterized in that:
2. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the partition is a plurality of strip-shaped partitions arranged along a longitudinal direction of the third electrode so as to partition between adjacent third electrodes. And a distance between two adjacent barrier ribs is wider in a portion that partitions the discharge cells than in a portion that partitions the non-discharge cells.

(23) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention of the twenty-third aspect is the second aspect of the invention.
5. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are made of an opaque conductive material, and the second portion has an opening.

(24) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the invention of the twenty-fourth aspect provides the AC plasma display panel according to the first to twenty-third aspects.
5. The AC plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a black insulating material is disposed in a portion other than the discharge cells.

(25) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the twenty-fourth aspect, wherein the black insulating material comprises the discharge of the first substrate. It is characterized in that it is disposed on a region corresponding to the non-discharge cell in the surface on the space side.

(26) The AC-type plasma display panel according to the twenty-sixth aspect is the AC-type plasma display panel according to the twenty-fourth aspect, wherein the black insulating material is disposed on the second substrate. It is characterized by having.

(27) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 27 is the second to twenty-sixth aspects.
The AC plasma display panel according to any one of the above, wherein a width of the first portion is not uniform along a longitudinal direction of the first portion.

(28) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 28 is the alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 27, wherein the width of the first portion is narrower toward the center. It is characterized by being wider toward each end.

(29) The alternating-current plasma display panel according to the twenty-ninth aspect is the alternating-current plasma display panel according to the twenty-seventh aspect, wherein the width of the first portion is wider toward the center. It is characterized by being narrower toward each end.

(30) A plasma display device according to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention includes the AC type plasma display panel according to any one of the first to twenty-ninth aspects.

(31) In the driving method of an AC type plasma display panel according to the invention described in claim 31, in the AC type plasma display panel described in item 23, the plurality of first and second electrodes are alternately arranged. A method for driving an AC plasma display panel, wherein the first portion is disposed adjacent to the display gap via one or more non-discharge gaps in a direction perpendicular to the display line. , The discharge is not formed simultaneously in the discharge cells arranged on one side and the discharge cells arranged on the other side.

[0083]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the structure of an AC-PDP 51 according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG. is there. In addition,
The AC-PDP 51 is characterized by the structure of electrodes and partition walls (also referred to as “barrier ribs” or “ribs”). Therefore, such points will be mainly described, and FIGS.
Only the electrodes and partition walls of DP51 are extracted and shown.
The other components of the AC-PDP 51 are the conventional AC-PDP.
The equivalent is applicable. For this reason, the AC
-The same components as those of PDPs 101 to 401 (see FIGS. 25 to 29) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is referred to. This is the same in the description of the second and subsequent embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, AC-PDP
At 51, a front glass substrate (first substrate) 1 serving as a display surface
02 (see FIG. 25), n row electrodes (first or second
Electrodes) X1 to Xn (arbitrary one of the n
i "(i = 1 to n) and n row electrodes (second or first electrodes) Y1 to Yn (arbitrary one of n
The book is referred to as "row electrode Yi" (i = 1 to n).
And are alternately arranged. On the other hand, on the rear glass substrate (second substrate) 103 (see FIG. 25) side, m column electrodes (third electrodes) W1 to Wm are arranged in a direction that three-dimensionally intersects the row electrodes Xi and Yi.
(Any one of the m electrodes is referred to as a “row electrode Wj” (j = 1 to
m)) are arranged. The front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass substrate 103 are arranged facing each other in parallel at a predetermined distance. At this time, the space between the two substrates 102 and 103 is partitioned into a plurality of discharge spaces 111 by the partition walls 10 arranged so as to partition between two adjacent column electrodes Wj and Wj + 1.

Specifically, similarly to the AC-PDP 101,
The column electrodes W1 to Wm (corresponding to the column electrodes 108 in FIG. 25) extend on the surface of the rear glass substrate 103 on the side of the discharge space 111 while extending along the first direction D1 parallel to the surface.
They are arranged at equal pitches in a second direction D2 orthogonal to the direction D1 in the surface. Here, the first and second directions D1 and D2 are the vertical direction and the horizontal direction on the display screen of the AC-PDP 51, respectively. Also, the partition 10 is shown in FIG.
5, are arranged in stripes along the first direction D1. And the back glass substrate 1
In the U-shaped groove defined by the above-mentioned surface and the opposing side wall surfaces of the adjacent partition walls 10, the phosphor layers 109R, 109G, and 109 for each emission color are provided in units of the U-shaped groove.
Any one of the phosphor layers B is disposed. Note that a dielectric layer may be provided on the surface of the back glass substrate 103 so as to cover the column electrodes W1 to Wm, and the partition wall 10 and the phosphor layer 109 may be arranged on the dielectric layer.

On the other hand, on front glass substrate 102, row electrodes Xi, Yi are formed on strip-shaped mother electrodes (first portions) Xb, Yb extending in the second direction D2 on the surface of substrate 102 on the side of discharge space 111. (If particularly necessary, the "Mother electrode Xb
i, Ybi ”, and the subscript i is added to the row electrodes Xi, Yi.
And an m number of, for example, square transparent electrodes (second portions) Xt, Y each having one end connected to a predetermined position (described later) of the mother electrodes Xbi, Ybi.
t (particularly, if necessary, the subscript i is added as in “transparent electrodes Xti, Yti” to clarify the belonging relationship with the mother electrodes Xbi, Ybi). At this time, n
The mother electrodes Xb1 to Xbn and Yb1 to Ybn are alternately arranged in parallel with each other and at the same pitch in the first direction D1. It is desirable that the bus electrodes Xbi and Ybi have lower impedance than the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt are connected to the front glass substrate 10.
2 on the surface on the discharge space side, and the transparent electrode Xt
Although the structure in which the mother electrodes Xbi and Ybi are arranged on the surface so as to cover the ends of i and Yti is illustrated, the structure in which the two electrodes are stacked in the reverse order may be used.

Then, like the AC-PDP 101, the dielectric layer 106 (or 106A) is arranged so as to cover the row electrodes X1 to Xn and the row electrodes Y1 to Yn. If at least one of the row electrodes X1 to Xn and the row electrodes Y1 to Yn is covered with a dielectric, a memory function caused by wall charges in the AC-PDP can be obtained. 30
, A driving method in which an address period and a sustain period are separated can be applied.

Here, the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt will be described in detail. In the following description, 2 in FIG. 1 and FIG.
n bus electrodes Xb1 to Xbn, Ybi to Ybn and (m + 1)
Each of the plurality of regions defined as regions partitioned in a matrix by the partition walls 10 is referred to as a “unit region A”.
R ". At this time, it can be considered that each unit area AR is defined by each three-dimensional intersection between the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn (or a gap between two adjacent row electrodes) and the column electrodes W1 to Wm. be able to. However, the unit area AR is not limited to the two-dimensional area shown in FIG.
The first and second directions D1, D with respect to the two-dimensional area
The three-dimensional region extending in the third direction D3 perpendicular to both of the two.

Each of the transparent electrodes Xti has one end connected to the mother electrode Xbi and protrudes into one of two unit regions AR adjacent to each other in the first direction D1 with the mother electrode Xbi interposed therebetween. ing. Moreover, each of the m transparent electrodes Xt is formed so as to protrude in an alternate direction with respect to the first direction D1. That is, adjacent transparent electrodes Xt are formed without protruding to the same side. Similarly, m transparent electrodes Y forming the transparent electrode Yti
Each of t has a shape connected at one end to the mother electrode Ybi and protruding in the unit area AR such that the protruding direction is alternate with respect to the first direction D1. In particular, the transparent electrode Xt and the transparent electrode Yt face each other via a predetermined gap in the same unit area AR in order to form a desired discharge. The predetermined gap corresponds to the discharge gap DG, and this term will be used hereinafter. This interval (or distance) is called an “interval (or distance) dgl of the discharge gap DG”, and the length of a portion of each of the edges of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt that forms the predetermined interval is referred to as “discharge gap DG”. Width (or length) dgw ”. On the other hand, the gap between the opposing edges of two adjacent mother electrodes corresponds to the non-discharge gap NG, and this term will be used hereinafter. This interval (or distance) will be referred to as “interval (or distance) ngl of non-discharge gap NG”.

The AC-PDP 51 is connected to the row electrodes X1 to X
n, Y1 to Yn, the distance d between the gaps DG, NG
Due to the difference in size of gl and ngl, discharge is generated in gap DG without generating discharge in gap NG by controlling the voltage applied between adjacent row electrodes Xi and Yi (or Yi-1). It is possible to do. Therefore, each of the (three-dimensional) unit areas AR is the transparent electrode X described above.
The discharge cell C provided with the discharge gap DG defined by t and Yt, and the base electrode Xb having no transparent electrodes Xt and Yt.
i, Ybi (or Ybi-1) forms the non-discharge gap N
G is distinguished from non-discharge cells (or non-discharge areas) NC provided with G. At this time, as shown in FIG.
1 as a whole, the discharge cell C (or the discharge gap DG in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the non-discharge cell NC (or the non-discharge gap NG in the same drawing) correspond to a direction parallel to the display line and a direction perpendicular to the display line (respectively). In the second and first directions D2 and D1), the discharge cells C (or the discharge gaps DG) are not directly adjacent to each other in the two directions.
That is, the discharge gaps DG are arranged adjacent to each other via one or more non-discharge gaps NG in the two directions. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two transparent electrodes existing between two discharge gaps DG located diagonally opposite are connected to the mother electrode Xbi or Ybi sandwiched between the two discharge gaps DG. ing.

Here, in the AC-PDP 51, a “display line” is defined by two adjacent ones of (a plurality of) gaps extending (in the second direction D2) along two adjacent mother electrodes. Is done. Note that, for example, when the emission color is a single color (in the case of one kind of phosphor and no phosphor), a display line is defined by one gap.

Therefore, according to the AC-PDP 51, for example, the row electrodes Xi, Yi (or Y
Even if a strong electric field is formed at the three-dimensional intersection between i-1) and the column electrode Wj, particularly at the three-dimensional intersection between the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt and the column electrode Wj in the discharge cell C, the non-discharge cells NC , The induction of erroneous discharge in the discharge cell C adjacent to the discharge cell C can be largely suppressed or avoided. At this time, even if the arrangement positions of the column electrodes W1 to Wm deviate from the center axis between the two adjacent partition walls 10, the existence of the non-discharge cells NC reliably prevents the occurrence of erroneous discharge. be able to. Furthermore, even if a part of the partition wall 10 is chipped or broken, the occurrence of erroneous discharge can be reliably prevented for the same reason. Further, in order to suppress or avoid the occurrence of erroneous discharge in an address period in which a particularly strong electric field is generated, it is sufficient that the discharge gap DG is not adjacent at least in a direction parallel to the display line (second direction D2). Furthermore, when the discharge gap is not adjacent to the display line in the direction perpendicular to the display line (first direction D1), occurrence of erroneous discharge can be suppressed or avoided over the entire surface of the AC-PDP (for example, during sustain discharge).

The non-discharge gap NG is equal to the first and second gaps.
A plurality may be arranged adjacent to each other along the directions D1 and D2. As an example of such a structure, an AC-PD in a case where two non-discharge gaps NG are arranged adjacent to each other
P51A is shown in FIG. At this time, the AC-PDP 51A
In the above, a “display line” is defined by the three adjacent lines in the gap between the two adjacent mother electrodes.

In the AC-PDP 51, the bus electrode Xb1
To Xbn, Yb1 to Ybn, the column electrodes W1 to Wm, the partition walls 10 and the like can be formed in a straight line.
01 manufacturing process (conventional AC-PD
The same manufacturing process as P101)
There is an advantage that DP51 can be manufactured.

Next, a plasma display device including the AC-PDP 51 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of the plasma display device 50 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the plasma display device 50 includes the AC-P
DP51, row electrodes X1 to Xn, Y1 to Yn and column electrodes W1
To Wm, a driving circuit 14, 15, 18 for supplying a predetermined voltage, a control circuit 40 for controlling the driving circuits 14, 15, 18; a driving circuit 14, 15, And a power supply circuit 41 for supplying the power to the power supply circuit 18.

First, the control circuit 40 generates a control signal based on the input video signal S and drives the driving circuits 14, 15, and 18.
Output to

As shown in FIG. 5, the drive circuit 14 includes an X driver 141 and a drive IC 142. X driver 1
41 is a control signal from the control circuit 40 and a power supply circuit 41
To supply a predetermined voltage pulse. Further, each of the plurality of output terminals of the drive IC 142 is connected to a corresponding one of the row electrodes X1 to Xn,
The drive IC 142 applies (scans) a predetermined voltage pulse generated by the X driver 141 to each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn based on a control signal from the control circuit 40.

The drive circuit 15 is composed of a Y driver equivalent to the X driver 141 (for this reason, it is also referred to as “Y driver 15” using the same reference numerals). However, the n row electrodes Y1 to Yn are commonly connected to the output terminal of the Y driver 15, and the same voltage is supplied to the row electrodes Y1 to Yn.

The drive circuit 18 is provided with the X driver 1
41, and a drive IC 182 corresponding to the drive IC 142. Each of the plurality of output terminals of the drive IC 182 is connected to a corresponding one of the column electrodes W1 to Wm.

AC by Plasma Display Device 50
-A conventional driving method, for example, the driving method shown in FIG. 30 described above can be applied to the driving method of the PDP 51. That is, 1
The field (1F) period is divided into a plurality of subfields (S
F), each subfield is further divided into a “reset period”, an “address period”, and a “sustain discharge period (display period)” to drive the AC-PDP 51. At this time, in the address period, in synchronization with the sequential scanning of the row electrode Xi, in the discharge cells C arranged on both sides of the row electrode Xi, the writing operation or the address operation (both in the case where the address discharge is formed and in the case where the address discharge is not formed). Is performed). Further, in the reset period and the sustain discharge period, a predetermined voltage is applied to each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn, the row electrodes Y1 to Yn, or the column electrodes W1 to Wm to drive the AC-PDP all at once. I do.

Second Embodiment Next, an AC-PDP 52 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 corresponding to FIG. 6, only the electrodes and the partition walls of the AC-PDP 52 are extracted and illustrated as in FIG. In addition,
The AC-PDP 52 has a feature in the structure of the partition wall as compared with the above-described AC-PDP 51, and thus the description will be focused on this point.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the AC-PDP 52, similarly to the AC-PDP 51, the row electrodes Xi (i = 1 to 1)
n) and row electrodes Yi (i = 1 to n) are alternately arranged at an equal pitch in the first direction D1 while extending along the second direction D2, and the column electrodes Wj (j = 1 to m) are arranged at equal pitches in the second direction D2 while extending along the first direction D1.

Particularly, the partition 10A of the AC-PDP 52 is
It has a belt-like shape along the first direction D1 as a whole while meandering. In detail, the interval (or distance) between the opposing side walls of the adjacent partition 10A is set so that a portion defining the discharge cell C in the partition 10A is wider than a portion defining the non-discharge cell NC. Is formed. At this time, when the shape of the partition wall 10A viewed from the third direction D3 has a substantially waveform having no sharp corners as shown in FIG. 6, the partition wall may have a linear shape such as occurrence of chipping of the partition wall. However, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the inconvenience caused by the above.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the AC-PDP 52 is viewed from the third direction D3, the discharge cells C of the AC-PDP 52 are larger than the non-discharge cells NC due to the shape of the partition wall 10A. Therefore, as compared with the AC-PDP 51 having the same panel area and resolution, the area of the region related to the image display can be made larger. Therefore,
According to the AC-PDP 52, the discharge cell C and the non-discharge cell N
PDP having the same size as C (for example, the above-described AC-PD
P51), it is possible to improve the utilization rate of the display area. At this time, the size of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt is A
When equivalent to C-PDP51, the transparent electrodes Xt,
The distance between the edge along the first direction D1 of Yt and the partition wall is A
Since it is wider than the C-PDP 51, the amount of electrons in the discharge colliding with the partition walls can be reduced, and as a result, the luminous efficiency can be improved. When the area of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt is made larger than that of the AC-PDP 51 in accordance with the enlargement of the discharge cell C, the discharge itself can be increased to improve the luminous efficiency.

Now, in the AC-PDP 52, the shape of the partition wall 10A is defined so that the non-discharge cell NC exists. In this regard, the conventional AC without non-discharge cells
-A clear structural difference from PDP 201 (see FIGS. 26 and 27) is observed. At this time, the following effects can be obtained due to the presence of the non-discharge cells NC.

First, the AC-PDP 52 is connected to the adjacent partition wall 1.
0A and the glass substrate 103 (see FIG. 7 described later) on which the partition wall 10A is disposed in the first direction D.
Since it has the U-shaped groove extending to 1, the phosphor layer forming process in the conventional AC-PDP 101 or the like having the linear partition can be used as it is. In other words, in the phosphor layer forming step, there is no need for complicated positioning accuracy required in the same step of the conventional AC-PDP 201.

At this time, in the phosphor layer forming step of the AC-PDP 52, if a phosphor paste as a raw material of the phosphor layer is applied by a printing method or a dispenser method, the phosphor layer 109 becomes as shown in FIG. It is formed as a phosphor layer 9 having a characteristic longitudinal section. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6 when viewed from the direction of the arrow. According to the above-described printing method or the like, the same amount of the phosphor paste is applied to the inside of the U-shaped groove without distinction between the discharge cell C and the non-discharge cell NC due to the nature of the process. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the film thickness (dimension in the third direction D3) of the non-discharge cells NC in the phosphor layer 9 is larger than the film thickness of the discharge cells C.

Due to such a shape of the phosphor layer 9,
The AC-PDP 52 can achieve a higher ultraviolet light utilization efficiency than the conventional AC-PDP 101 or the like. because,
This is because the amount of the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge in the discharge cells C and reaching the non-discharge cells NC can be reduced by (the height of) the phosphor 9. That is, AC-PDP5
In No. 2, the ultraviolet rays emitted to the non-discharge cell NC side are also converted into visible light in the phosphor layer 9 in the non-discharge cell NC and used as display light emission of the discharge cell C. Further, in the conventional AC-PDP 101 and the like, the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge are directed along the column electrodes (the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped groove).
While the periphery of the discharge cell may be dimly illuminated by diffusion to the AC-PDP 52,
Such display quality problems can be solved at the same time as the above-mentioned effective use of ultraviolet rays.

Further, due to the presence of the U-shaped groove, the PD
The discharge control and discharge control during the discharge process and the discharge gas introduction process in the P manufacturing process and the PDP driving are also performed by the conventional AC.
-Advantages over PDP201.

The AC-PDP 52 can be driven by the same configuration as the above-described plasma display device shown in FIG. This point is the same as that of each A described in the third and subsequent embodiments.
The same applies to C-PDP.

Third Embodiment Next, an AC-PDP 53 according to a third embodiment is a plan view corresponding to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, AC-PDP5
The third column electrode Wj (j = 1 to m) and the partition 10 are AC-P
It has a structure similar to DP51 (the arrangement pitch is also the same).

In particular, the AC-PDP 53 is the same as the AC-P
Mother electrodes XAb, YAb forming row electrodes in comparison with DP51
Since the structure is characteristic, the following description focuses on this point.
As shown in FIG. 8, the mother electrodes XAb and YAb have a band-like shape along the second direction D2 as a whole while meandering. Specifically, the mother electrodes XAb and YAb extend along the second direction D2 and extend along the first direction D1 and the portions defining the discharge cells C and the non-discharge cells NC.
0 and a portion formed to overlap. The adjacent mother electrodes XAb and YAb are symmetric with respect to a straight line (axis) parallel to the second direction D2. At this time, the interval (or distance) n between the edges facing each other via the discharge cell C (or the discharge gap DG) in the adjacent mother electrodes XAb and YAb.
gl2 is wider (longer) than the non-discharge gap interval ngl.

The interval dgl of the discharge gap DG is set to about 200 μm or less (for example, 70 μm) (depending on the structure of the AC-PDP and the type and gas pressure of the discharge gas sealed therein). Interval n of discharge gap NG
gl is set to about 200 μm or more (for example, 260 μm). According to such a dimension setting, it is possible to generate a discharge in the discharge gap DG when a predetermined voltage is applied, and at the same time, it is possible to reliably control so as not to generate a discharge in the non-discharge gap NG.

As described above, the above-described bus electrodes XAb, YAb
, The discharge cells C can be made larger than the non-discharge cells NC, so that the utilization factor of the display area can be improved as compared with the AC-PDP 51. Therefore, A
Similar to the C-PDP 52, the discharge efficiency can be improved. At this time, according to AC-PDP 53, AC-P
Similar to the DP 51 and the conventional AC-PDP 101, there is an advantage that the partition can be formed linearly.

Note that the mother electrode X in the AC-PDP 53
The structure of Ab and YAb may be combined with the above-described partition wall 10A of the AC-PDP 52.

<Modification 1 of Embodiment 3> Further, the AC-PDP 53A of FIG. 9 also allows the discharge cell C to be larger than the non-discharge cell NC, thereby improving the display area utilization rate and discharge efficiency. Can be done. AC-PDP
53A is characterized by the structure of the row electrodes Xi and Yi, and therefore, the following description will focus on such points.

The AC-PDP53A is an AC-PDP53A.
8 (see FIG. 8), while the shapes and arrangement positions of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt are kept as they are, the mother electrodes XAb and YAb
Instead of using the linear bus electrodes Xb and Yb (see FIG. 1 and the like). Therefore, AC-PDP53A
Of the transparent electrodes (second portion) Xt, Yt are the mother electrodes Xb, Yb
And the bus electrodes Xb,
It protrudes on both sides across Yb.

As in the case of the AC-PDP 51 or the like, the AC-PD
The discharge gap DG of the P53A is formed by two opposing edges in the discharge cell C of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt.
On the other hand, the gap between the edges of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt on the side farther from the discharge gap DG forms the non-discharge gap NG. The interval (or distance) of the gap will be referred to as “interval (or distance) nglA of non-discharge gap NG”. At this time, (interval dgl of discharge gap DG) <(interval nglA of non-discharge gap NG) <
(Interval bl between opposing edges of mother electrodes Xb and Yb). In other words, among the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt, the mother electrode X
The portion on the edge side forming the discharge gap DG with b and Yb interposed therebetween is larger than the portion on the edge side forming the non-discharge gap NG.

Here, AC-PDP53A is
With respect to DP51, transparent electrodes Xt, Yt are connected to mother electrodes Xb,
This corresponds to a structure extending beyond Yb to the side opposite to the discharge gap DG. For this reason, in AC-PDP53A,
Each size of the discharge cell C and the non-discharge cell NC does not match the unit area AR (see FIG. 1 and the like) described above. For details, see FIG.
In the plan view, a first direction D1 between adjacent partition walls 10 is shown.
And a three-dimensional region extending in the third direction D3 with respect to the region is a line parallel to the second direction D2 passing through each edge of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt on the side farther from the discharge gap DG. (Indicated by a broken line in FIG. 9). The plurality of partitioned areas are wider in the first direction D1 than the unit area AR, and include the discharge gap DG and can be grasped as the discharge cells C, and conversely, are narrower than the unit area AR. , And the non-discharge cells NC having the non-discharge gap NG.

As described above, according to the AC-PDP 53A, since the discharge cell C is larger than the non-discharge cell NC, A
Compared with the C-PDP 51, the above-described display area utilization rate and discharge efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, AC-PD
According to P53A, AC-PDP51 and conventional AC-PDP51
Similar to the PDP 101, there is an advantage that the mother electrode can be formed linearly. Therefore, as compared with the meandering mother electrodes XAb and YAb in FIG. 8, occurrence of a shape defect such as chipping of the mother electrode is sufficiently suppressed.

By the way, generally, in a discharge cell, the closer to the discharge gap DG, the higher the emission luminance tends to be. In view of such a tendency, as the coupling position between the transparent electrodes Xt, Yt and the mother electrode is farther from the discharge gap DG, the light emission luminance or the light emission efficiency can be increased. Therefore, the emission luminance of AC-PDP 53 is higher than that of AC-PDP 53A.

The structure of the row electrodes Xi and Yi in the AC-PDP 53A may be combined with the above-described partition wall 10A (see FIG. 6) and the black insulating material 30 described later. Also,
Embodiments 7 and 8 described below can be applied to the structure of the row electrodes Xi and Yi in the AC-PDP 53A. Further, even in a structure in which the transparent electrode extends on both sides of the mother electrode b with respect to the first direction D1, it is possible to make the discharge cells C and the non-discharge cells NC the same size by meandering the mother electrode. It is.

<Modification 1 Common to First to Third Embodiments> Now, when the distance ngl of the non-discharge gap NG of the AC-PDP 53 is equal to that of the AC-PDP 51,
Since the dimension of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt of the PDP 53 along the first direction D1 is longer than that of the AC-PDP 51, the surface discharge formed between the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt with the discharge gap DG interposed therebetween is reduced by the AC-PDP51. Can be larger than At this time, if the height of the surface discharge (the dimension in the third direction D3) is too high, the discharge hits the rear glass substrate 103 (see FIG. 25), and
Loss of (energy of) electrons during discharge may occur. It should be noted that even when the input power is large in the above-described AC-PDP 51 or the like, such a discharge state can sufficiently occur.

At this time, in order to maintain the above-mentioned surface discharge, a higher voltage may be applied to compensate for the loss due to collision. However, in such a case, power consumption is increased. On the other hand, one of the means for suppressing or avoiding the collision of the surface discharge with the rear glass substrate 103 is a transparent electrode X.
There is a means for increasing the height of the partition 10 in accordance with the enlargement of t and Yt.

Furthermore, for example, by applying the electrode structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-231907 to the AC-PDP 53, the collision of the surface discharge with the rear glass substrate 103 can be suppressed or avoided. . Hereinafter, the AC-type power supply according to the first modification will be described with reference to FIG. 10 which is a plan view corresponding to the above-described FIG. 1 and FIG.
The PDP 54 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the AC-PDP 54 has the same structure as the AC-PDP 51 except for the shapes of the transparent electrodes XAt and YAt.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.
The transparent electrodes XAt and YAt of the C-PDP 54 are
b and Yb, and has a portion protruding from each of the two discharge cells C at diagonally opposite positions via the mother electrodes Xb and Yb. Then, as shown in FIG.
Each edge of the transparent electrodes XAt and YAt arranged in each discharge cell C along the opposing first direction D1 forms a discharge gap DG. At this time, when the shape of the unit region AR is vertically long, that is, when the distance between the adjacent mother electrodes is longer than the distance between the adjacent partition walls, along the first direction D1 of the discharge gap DG of the AC-PDP 54. The gap length (or width) dgw2 is longer than the gap length dgw of the AC-PDP 51 (see FIG. 2). Note that the gap interval (or distance) dgl2 along the second direction D2 is AC-P
This is equivalent to the gap interval dgl of the DP 51 (see FIG. 2).

Therefore, according to the AC-PDP 54, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the discharge gap DG (second direction D2)
The dimensions of the transparent electrodes XAt and YAt along AC-PD
Since it is shorter than P51 or the like, the height of the surface discharge between the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt can be made lower than that of the AC-PDP51 or the like. For this reason, it is possible to suppress and avoid collision of the surface discharge with the rear glass substrate 103 side. The size of the entire discharge can be sufficiently compensated for by increasing the gap length dgw2. At this time, the AC-PDP 53
If the structure of the mother electrode of FIG.
, The non-discharge cell NC can be kept small.

Note that the discharge gap DG is set to AC-PDP5
The selection as to whether to take the form along the second direction D2 as in 1 or the form along the first direction D1 as in the AC-PDP 54 may be defined based on the shape of the unit area AR. . That is, the above-described effects can be obtained by forming the discharge gap DG along the longer one of the dimensions of the unit region AR along the first direction D1 or the second direction D2.

In the means for controlling the height of the partition walls to suppress or avoid the collision of the surface discharge with the rear glass substrate 103, the material, the number of processes, and the like increase by the increase in the height of the partition walls. On the other hand, according to the AC-PDP 54, there is an advantage that only the formation pattern of the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt needs to be changed.

Now, the transparent electrode arranged in the discharge cell C in FIG. 11 can be connected to any of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb arranged above and below in the first direction D1 of the transparent electrode. At this time, AC shown in FIG. 10 (and FIG. 11) is used.
A mode in which two transparent electrodes existing between two discharge gaps DG located diagonally opposite to each other like a PDP 54 are connected to a mother electrode Xb or Yb existing between the two discharge gaps DG (hereinafter referred to as “connection mode”). ") Can be formed. Then, the AC-PDP 54A shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the left transparent electrode in the upper left discharge cell C in FIG. 12 is connected to the mother electrode Ybi and the right transparent electrode is connected to the mother electrode Xbi. The left transparent electrode in the cell C is connected to the mother electrode Ybi and the right transparent electrode is connected to the mother electrode Xbi + 1 (the connection form of the two transparent electrodes in the lower right discharge cell C is the same as that of FIG. A similar configuration can be formed (hereinafter, referred to as a “connection configuration”). In any connection mode, the AC-PDP can be driven, but the following differences are recognized. That is, A having the connection form shown in FIG.
According to the C-PDP 54, it is possible to make the transparent electrodes adjacent (positioned diagonally opposite) across one mother electrode the same potential. For this reason, the AC-
Compared with PDP 54A, the degree of change of the electric field in the entire AC-PDP can be reduced. Therefore, the AC-PDP 54 has an effect that the reactive power (power generated by the panel capacity regardless of discharge) can be significantly suppressed as compared with the AC-PDP 54A.

Transparent electrodes XA of AC-PDPs 54 and 54A
t and YAt are the AC-PDPs 51, 51A, and 5 described above.
2,53 and AC-PDP 55,58,58A described later
(See FIGS. 13, 19, and 20 described below). In such a case, it is possible to reduce the height of the partition walls by the amount corresponding to the decrease in the height of the discharge, and as a result, it is possible to obtain the effects of simplifying the step of forming the partition walls and reducing the cost.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, an AC-PDP 55 according to a fourth embodiment is a plan view corresponding to FIG.
3 will be described. As shown in FIG.
The basic structure of P55 is the same as that of AC-PDP 51 described above.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the non-discharge cell NC of the AC-PDP 55, a black insulating material 30 is arranged on the front glass substrate 102 (see FIG. 25) side so as not to contact the rear glass substrate 103 side. ing. The black insulating material 30 may be formed using a conventional black stripe material and forming process. Note that the AC already described
It is clear from the following description that the black insulating material 30 may be disposed on the PDP 52 or the like.
This also applies to P56 and the like.

The black insulating material 30 allows the AC-P
The contrast ratio of DP can be improved. That is,
When the above-mentioned (linear) black stripe is provided in the conventional AC-PDP 101, the display line and the black stripe are clearly separated as horizontal lines. In other words, the discharge cells are connected to the adjacent black stripe. , The white phosphor layer is conspicuous in a non-light emitting state, and a sufficient contrast improving effect may not be obtained. In contrast, AC-PDP55
Since the black insulating material 30 is disposed in the non-discharge cells NC, the insulating material 30 is dispersed throughout the AC-PDP. Therefore, according to the AC-PDP 55, the contrast and the visibility are remarkably improved as compared with the conventional AC-PDP having a black stripe. Needless to say, in order to obtain such an effect, the black insulating material 30 may be arranged in a region other than the discharge cell C.

Further, since the black insulating material 30 is arranged in the non-discharge gap NG, the portion of the non-discharge gap NG in the discharge space 111, that is, the non-discharge region becomes narrower by the amount of the black insulating material 30. . In view of the fact that discharge is generally less likely to occur as the discharge space is smaller, the black insulating material 30
As a result, the occurrence of discharge (erroneous discharge) in the non-discharge cells NC can be more reliably suppressed. Conversely,
The height or thickness (dimension in the third direction D3) of the black insulating material 30 may be defined from the viewpoint of preventing discharge from occurring in the non-discharge cells NC. Here, the black insulating material 3
When 0 is provided on the front glass substrate 102 side of the AC-PDP 53 described above, the distance ngl of the non-discharge gap NG
Since FIG. 8 can be further reduced, effects such as further enlargement of the discharge cells C and promotion of high resolution can be obtained.

Further, since the black insulating material 30 is arranged so as not to contact the rear glass substrate 103 side,
Since there is a gap between the front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass substrate 103, the discharge process and the discharge gas introduction process in the PDP manufacturing process, and the discharge controllability in driving the PDP are similar to those of the conventional AC-PDP 201. In addition, there is no disadvantage caused by the structure in which the discharge cells are completely surrounded by the partition walls.

The black substance 30 may be provided on the rear glass substrate 103 (see FIG. 25). In such cases,
For example, if a material for blackening is added to the material of the partition,
The black insulating material 30 may be formed as a whole or a part of the partition. At this time, it is formed lower than the partition so as not to contact the front glass substrate 102 side.

<Embodiment 5> Well, the already described AC-PD
In P51 and the like, in the bonding step of the front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass
Since it is necessary to perform positioning so that the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt are accommodated in predetermined gaps between them, a sophisticated positioning technique is required at this time. Therefore, the transparent electrode X
A positional shift may occur between t and Yt and the partition 10. Further, even when the front glass substrate 102 and / or the rear glass substrate 103 has distortion or warpage, the transparent electrode X
A displacement may occur between t and Yt and the partition 10. Therefore, in a fifth embodiment, an AC-PDP capable of relaxing the positioning accuracy in the bonding step will be described.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of such an AC-PDP 56, and corresponds to FIG. 1 described above. FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of the AC-PDP 56. In FIG. 15, for convenience of explanation, both glass substrates 102,
FIG. 3 shows a state in which 103 is separated, and also shows, in a partial cross-sectional view, the vicinity of a discharge suppressor 31 to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 14, AC-PDP 56
Are row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn similar to the row electrodes 104 and 105 of the conventional AC-PDP 401 shown in FIG.
Is provided. Specifically, the row electrodes Xi,
Yi is the above-mentioned bus electrodes Xbi and Ybi and the bus electrodes Xb
The band-shaped transparent electrodes (second portions) Xs, Ys extending along the second direction D2 which is the longitudinal direction of i, Ybi (subscript i such as "transparent electrodes Xsi, Ysi" when necessary) To clarify the belonging relationship with the mother electrodes Xbi and Ybi). In the AC-PDP 56, the transparent electrode Xs
i, Ysi are wider than the bus electrodes Xbi, Ybi, and the bus electrodes Xbi, Ybi are located substantially at the center in the width direction of the transparent electrodes Xsi, Ysi.
Are arranged and the transparent electrodes Xsi, Ysi and the mother electrodes Xbi, Y
and bi are connected to each other. In other words, the transparent electrodes Xsi, Ysi project from both sides of the mother electrodes Xbi, Ybi in the first direction D1, which is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mother electrodes Xbi, Ybi. In particular, the dimension of each gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys is set to be equal, and is set to be substantially the same as the above-described gap dgl of the discharge gap DG (see FIG. 2).

Further, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG.
The C-PDP 56 includes the discharge suppressor 31 made of an insulating material in the unit region AR (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the non-discharge cell NC in the arrangement shown in FIG. Specifically, the discharge suppressor 31 is formed on the side of the rear glass substrate 103, and when the AC-PDP 56 is viewed from the third direction D3, a portion corresponding to the non-discharge cell NC of each column electrode W1 to Wm. And a gap g between adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys
It is arranged in a position to cover.

The front glass substrate 1 of the discharge suppressor 31
The top on the 02 side is set to the same height level as the top of the partition 10, while a gap is provided between the discharge suppressor 31 and the partition 10 so that they do not contact each other.

In the AC-PDP 56, the discharge suppressor 31 is set at the same height level as that of the partition wall 10. In other words, the discharge suppressor 31 contacts the dielectric layer 106A on the front glass substrate 102 side. The non-discharge cell NC
In, there is no space where a discharge can be formed at the three-dimensional intersection of the gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys and the column electrodes W1 to Wm. For this reason, even if the gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys is set to the same size as the above-described discharge gap distance dgl (see FIG. 2), the AC-PDP
The non-discharge cells NC and the discharge cells C are defined and distinguished from each other in the plurality of unit regions AR (see FIG. 1 and the like) included in 56 depending on the presence or absence of the discharge suppressor 31. In particular, at least the gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys and the column electrode W
By arranging at a three-dimensional intersection with 1 to Wm, the unit area AR can be made into a non-discharge cell. Note that a discharge gap DG is formed at both edges of a portion of the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys that face each other in the discharge cell C, and a non-discharge cell NC is formed within the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys.
Non-discharge gap NG at both edges of
Are formed.

According to AC-PDP 56, discharge suppressor 3
1, the non-discharge cell NC and the discharge cell C are defined, so that the above-described A is applied to each of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb.
Instead of a plurality of transparent electrodes Xt and Yt such as the C-PDP 51 and the like, one band-shaped transparent electrode Xs and Ys can be applied. Therefore, in the process of bonding the front glass substrate 102 and the back glass substrate 103 as in the case of the above-described AC-PDP 51 or the like, a high-precision process for accommodating each transparent electrode Xt, Yt in a predetermined gap between the adjacent partition walls 10 is performed. No alignment is required. Further, as described above, since the non-discharge cells NC are defined by the discharge suppressors 31 provided on the side of the rear glass substrate 103, the front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass substrate 103 can be compared in the bonding step. The discharge cells C and the non-discharge cells NC can be reliably formed even when the displacement occurs, or when the front glass substrate 102 and / or the rear glass substrate 103 has a distortion or the like. it can. Thus, AC-PD
According to P56, the positioning accuracy in the above-mentioned bonding step is relaxed as compared with the above-described AC-PDP51 and the like,
As a result, the yield can be improved.

Further, since the discharge suppressor 31 has the same height level as the partition 10, the discharge suppressor 31 can be formed at the same time when the partition 10 is formed. For example, partition 10
The partition 10 and the discharge suppressor 31 can be collectively formed by a screen printing method using a screen plate having both patterns of the discharge suppressor 31 and the discharge suppressor 31. Alternatively, for example, the partition wall 1 coated on the entire surface of the rear glass substrate 103
The raw material of No. 0 can be simultaneously patterned into the shapes of the partition wall 10 and the discharge suppressor 31. Such patterning can be performed, for example, by applying a resist disposed on the raw material, or exposing the raw material provided with photosensitivity to the shape of the partition wall 10 and the discharge suppressor 31, and then applying a sandblast method or the like. . As described above, since a separate forming process for the discharge suppressor 31 is not required, the discharge suppressor 31 can be formed without increasing the number of manufacturing steps and complicating the manufacturing process.

Further, since the discharge suppressing body 31 and the partition wall 10 are not in contact with each other and there is a gap between them, it does not hinder the execution of the exhaust step and the discharge gas introducing step at the time of manufacturing the AC-PDP.

As shown in the AC-PDP 56A of FIG. 16, the discharge suppressor 31 may be formed lower than the partition 10. Here, as shown in FIG.
In the case where the phosphor layer 109 is disposed on the top on the side of the front glass substrate 102, the element composed of the phosphor layer 109 and the discharge suppressor 31 on the top is referred to as "discharge suppressor 31A". In the AC-PDP 56A, the discharge suppressors 31, 31A
A gap is provided between the dielectric layer 106A and the dielectric layer 106A.
The shape and dimensions of the discharge suppressors 31, 31A that can suppress the formation of discharge in the non-discharge cells NC are reduced by the discharge suppressors 31, 31A.
A is assigned to A. Specifically, the discharge suppressors 31 and 31A are configured so that a voltage required to form a discharge in the non-discharge cell NC becomes higher than the same voltage for the discharge cell C due to the narrowness of the gap or the discharge space 111. Set the shape and dimensions of. Also in such a case, the discharge suppressors 31 and 31A are arranged at least at the three-dimensional intersection of the gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys and the column electrodes W1 to Wm. In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the discharge suppressors 31, 31A may be in contact with the partition 10, and even in such a case, the discharge suppressors 31, 31A may be used.
Since the gap is provided between 31A and the dielectric layer 106A, the execution of the above-described evacuation step and discharge gas introduction step is not hindered.

<Embodiment 6> The above-described discharge suppressor 31
Is to make the discharge space 111 of the non-discharge cell NC narrower than that of the discharge cell C and to apply an applied voltage necessary for discharge formation to the discharge cell C.
, The discharge formation in the non-discharge cells NC is suppressed. In view of such an operation of the discharge suppressor 31, it is also possible to obtain an effect of the fifth embodiment by forming an element corresponding to the discharge suppressor 31 on the front glass substrate 102 side. In the sixth embodiment, an AC-PDP 57 having such a configuration will be described with reference to a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 17, AC-PDP57
Includes a dielectric layer 116 having a predetermined thickness distribution on the front glass substrate 102 side, instead of the above-described dielectric layer 106 (see FIG. 7). In detail, the dielectric layer 116 is provided with an electrode covering portion 116C equivalent to the above-described dielectric layer 106 and a convex that is disposed in the non-discharge cell NC and protrudes from the electrode covering portion 116C toward the back glass substrate 103. 116T. As shown in FIG. 17, when the above-described protective film 107 is provided on the surface of the dielectric layer 116 on the side of the rear glass substrate 103, the element composed of the dielectric layer 116 and the protective film 107 has the above-described “dielectric”. Body layer 106A "
The element made of the protective film 107 on the convex portion 116T is referred to as “a convex portion (discharge suppressor) 116TA of the dielectric layer 106A”.
It can be regarded as.

At this time, the shape and dimensions of the projections 116T and 116TA are set so that the voltage required to form a discharge in the non-discharge cells NC is higher than that in the discharge cells C. For example, the thickness of the electrode covering portion 116C on the transparent electrodes Xs, Ys is set to about 25 μm, and the thickness or height from the transparent electrodes Xs, Ys to the top of the convex portion 116T or the convex portion 116TA is set to about 50 μm. I do.

In particular, similarly to the discharge suppressor 31, by disposing the convex portions 116T and 116TA at a three-dimensional intersection between at least the gap g between the adjacent transparent electrodes Xs and Ys and the column electrodes W1 to Wm, The area AR is made a non-discharge cell. Thus, in the AC-PDP 57, the dielectric layer 1
The sixteen convex portions 116T and 116TA correspond to the discharge suppressor 3 described above.
1, 31A (see FIGS. 14 to 16), and the non-discharge cells NC and the discharge cells C are defined by the presence or absence of the convex portions 116T, 116TA.

The dielectric layer 116 is formed by the following method using, for example, a printing method. First, the front glass substrate 10
A dielectric paste is applied to the entire surface of the second side, and the electrode coating portion 1 is coated.
Form 16C. Next, using a screen plate corresponding to the pattern of the convex portion 116T, a dielectric paste is applied on the electrode covering portion 116C to form the convex portion 116T. The step of drying and firing the dielectric paste may be performed after each of the electrode covering portion 116C and the convex portion 116T is formed, or may be collectively performed after the formation of the convex portion 116T.

According to AC-PDP 57, the effects of Embodiment 5 described above can be obtained, and the following effects can be obtained. That is, in the bonding step of the front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass substrate 103, the above-mentioned convex portions 116T,
Since 116TA serves as a guide (guide) to the U-shaped groove formed by the adjacent partition wall 10, the front glass substrate 102 and the rear glass substrate 103 are less likely to be misaligned. As a result, the yield can be improved.

Note that, unlike the shape and size of the protrusion 116T of the dielectric layer 116 shown in FIG.
-The protrusions 11 of the dielectric layer 106A like the PDP 57A.
6TA (the dielectric layer 11 when the protective film 107 is not provided)
6 (the convex portion 116T) may be in contact with the phosphor layer 109 on the rear glass substrate 102 side. In such a case, the protective film 107 or the dielectric layer 1 on the convex portion 116T may be used.
The shape and dimensions of the convex portion 116TA of 06A are set so as not to contact the partition wall 10.

<First Modification Common to the Fifth and Sixth Embodiments>
Note that, similarly to the above-described black insulating material 30 (see FIG. 13), the discharge suppressing body 31 and the convex portions 116 of the dielectric layer 116 are formed.
By making at least the portion of the T, 116TA on the side of the front glass substrate 102 black, high contrast and visibility can be obtained.

The AC-PDPs 56, 56A, 57,
The meandering partition 10A described above for 57A (see FIG. 6)
Alternatively, the size of the discharge cell C and the size of the non-discharge cell NC may be changed by applying the meandering mother electrodes XAb and YAb.

<Seventh Embodiment> Next, an AC-PD according to a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
P58 will be described. In addition, in order to avoid complicated drawings,
In FIG. 19, illustration of the column electrodes W1 to Wm is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the AC-PDP 58, in place of the above-mentioned transparent electrodes Xt and Yt (see FIG. 1 and the like), an overhanging electrode (second portion) Xk is provided at the same position as the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt. , Yk (particularly, if necessary, a subscript i such as “overhanging electrodes Xki, Yki”
bi, Ybi). More specifically, the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk have the same size or outer dimensions as the above-described transparent electrodes Xt and Yt, and have a rectangular shape or an O-shape having openings Xo and Yo at the center thereof. I'm a type. In particular, the overhanging electrode X
k and Yk and the mother electrodes Xb and Yb are made of an opaque conductive material.

At this time, by using the same metal material as the mother electrode as the opaque conductive material, the overhanging electrodes Xk, Yk and the mother electrodes Xb, Yb can be formed collectively. For example, they can be formed collectively by a vapor deposition method or a printing method. As described above, according to the AC-PDP 58, the step of forming the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt can be eliminated, so that the total number of steps for forming the row electrodes is reduced as compared with the above-described AC-PDP 51 and the like. -It can be simplified. As a result, cost reduction can be achieved.

In the AC-PDP 58, the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn are entirely made of an opaque conductive material as described above, but since the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk are provided with openings Xo and Yo, More visible light can be extracted. Even if the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk have such a shape, discharge can be sufficiently formed and sustained by seepage due to the spread of the electric field distribution from the electrodes when voltage is applied. When the outer dimensions of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk are large, the AC-PDP 58A shown in FIG.
It is good also as a form of. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, the second electrode is located substantially at the center of the (outer shape) square of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk.
Along the direction D2, connection portions Xka and Yka formed of the above-described opaque conductive material may be provided. AC-PD
In P58A, the overhanging electrodes Xk, Yk are connected to the openings Xo, Y
o.

Now, in order to further increase the aperture ratio of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk, the width of each portion of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk may be reduced. However, the resistance values of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk increase by the reduced thickness. Considering that the (allowable) voltage drop at each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn is determined by the resistance value of each of the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn and the discharge current value flowing therethrough, FIG.
If the conventional driving method shown in FIG. 0 is applied as it is, the voltage drop increases in accordance with the increase in the resistance value of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk. As a result, the margin of the drive voltage is reduced due to the increase in the voltage drop.

Therefore, a driving method capable of suppressing a decrease in the margin of the driving voltage and stably operating the AC-PDPs 58 and 58A even when the width of each portion of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk is made smaller is described below. Will be described. FIG. 21 is a timing chart for explaining such a driving method, and is a timing chart in a sustain discharge period.
Note that, for the reset period and the address period, for example, the conventional driving method shown in FIG. 30 can be applied. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the following description, it is assumed that writing is performed on all discharge cells during the address period.

First, as shown in (c) of FIG. 21, the sustain pulse Vsa is applied to the row electrode Xi + 1 between time t1 and time t2.
, And a sustain pulse Vsa is applied to the row electrode Xi from the time t3 to the time t4 as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in (d) of FIG.
The sustain pulse Vs is applied to the row electrode Yi + 1 between time t1 and time t4.
b is applied. Then, the sustain pulse Vsa is applied to the row electrode Xi + 1 from time t5 to time t6, and the subsequent time t
From 7 to time t8, the sustain pulse Vsa is applied to the row electrode Xi. At this time, as shown in (b) of FIG. 21, the sustain pulse Vsb is applied to the row electrode Yi between time t5 and time t8. The sustain pulses Vsa and Vsb are applied a predetermined number of times.

By applying sustain pulses Vsa and Vsb,
At times t1 and t6, a sustain discharge occurs in the discharge cells C defined by the row electrodes Yi and Xi + 1, and at times t2 and t5, a sustain discharge occurs in the discharge cells C defined by the row electrodes Xi + 1 and Yi + 1. It is formed. At times t3 and t5, the row electrodes Xi,
Sustain discharge occurs in discharge cell C defined by Yi. At times t1 and t7, the discharge cell C and the row electrode Yi + 1 and the row electrode Xi defined by the row electrode Xi and the row electrode Yi-1 (supplied with the same voltage as the row electrode Y + 1). +2
(Supplied with the same voltage as the row electrode Xi), a sustain discharge occurs in each of the discharge cells C defined by the above.

At this time, when attention is paid to, for example, the discharge cells C arranged on both sides of the row electrode Yi, the sustain discharge is formed with the timing shifted by one side with respect to the row electrode Yi. In other words, a discharge is not simultaneously formed in the discharge cells C arranged on one side and the discharge cells C arranged on the other side of the mother electrode Ybi of the row electrode Yi. Therefore, the discharge current of the discharge cell C defined by the row electrode Xi + 1 flows at time t1 and t6 through the row electrode Yi, while the discharge current is defined by the row electrode Xi at time t3 and t5. The discharge current of the discharge cell C flows. Therefore, according to the driving method shown in FIG. 21, compared to the conventional driving method (see FIG. 30) in which the discharge current of all the discharge cells C arranged on both sides of the row electrode Yi flows simultaneously (see FIG. 30), the driving method shown in FIG. The instantaneous current flowing can be halved. Of course, such a point is appropriate for all the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn. As a result, even if the resistance values of the row electrodes X1 to Xn and Y1 to Yn double, for example, by reducing the widths of the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk, the same drive voltage margin can be secured.
Thereby, stable driving of the AC-PDPs 58, 58A can be realized while further increasing the aperture ratio of the overhanging electrodes Xk, Yk.

Note that an electrode made of an opaque conductive material may be used instead of the transparent electrodes Xs and Ys such as the above-described AC-PDP 56 (see FIG. 14). At this time, like the AC-PDP 58B shown in the plan view of FIG. 22, openings Xo and Yo are formed in portions of the electrodes made of such an opaque conductive material in the discharge cells C, and a predetermined opening ratio is set.

An AC-PDP in which the row electrodes 104 and 105 of the conventional AC-PDP 101 are composed of only metal electrodes without using transparent electrodes is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-149774. AC-PDP disclosed in the publication
Is a pair of (two) like the conventional AC-PDP 101.
One display line is constituted by the row electrodes. Therefore, the driving method shown in FIG. 21 cannot be applied to the AC-PDP. This is because in the driving method of FIG. 21, a plurality of discharge cells C forming one display line
This is because the sustain discharge is formed with the timing shifted for each predetermined group. Here, the group corresponds to, for example, one side of each of the discharge cells C arranged on both sides of the above-mentioned row electrode Yi. In other words, the AC-
In the PDP, each discharge cell C constituting one display line
This is because the sustain discharge cannot be divided into groups and formed.

<Eighth Embodiment> Next, an AC-PDP 61 according to an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to a schematic plan view of FIG. Since the AC-PDP 61 has features in the bus electrodes Xb and Yb, such points are extracted and shown in FIG. Components other than the mother electrodes Xb and Yb are, for example, AC-P
What is equivalent to DP51 is applicable.

As can be seen by comparing FIG. 23 and FIG. 1 described above, in the AC-PDP 51, the width of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb or the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip is constant. Mother electrode Xb, Y of AC-PDP61
The width of b is narrower toward the center and wider toward each end. Specifically, the width of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb of the AC-PDP 61 is A
In the vicinity of the center of the C-PDP, the mother electrode X of the AC-PDP 51 is used.
b, Yb, and are set wider toward each end. For this reason, the mother electrodes Xb, Y of the AC-PDP 61
b has a lower resistance than the mother electrodes Xb and Yb of the AC-PDP 51 as a whole.

Therefore, according to AC-PDP 61, AC-PDP 61
-The voltage drop due to the mother electrodes Xb, Yb can be reduced by the lower resistance than the mother electrodes Xb, Yb of the PDP 51. As a result, the margin of the drive voltage can be expanded with the decrease in the voltage drop, and the AC-PDP 61
Can be driven more stably.

Here, in order to obtain the effect of reducing the voltage drop due to the bus electrodes Xb, Yb, the shapes of the bus electrodes Xb, Yb of the AC-PDP 61 may be reversed at the center and at each end. That is, like the AC-PDP 61A shown in FIG. 24, the widths of the bus electrodes Xb and Yb are set to be substantially the same as the bus electrodes Xb and Yb of the AC-PDP 51 near the ends of the AC-PDP, and set wider toward the center. You may. In particular, the supply of each predetermined voltage to each row electrode Xi, Yi is controlled by the bus electrodes Xbi, Ybi.
Since the operation is performed from the end of Ybi, the AC-PDP 61A can greatly reduce the voltage drop near the center where the voltage drop is large because the distance is away from the end. Therefore, according to the AC-PDP 61A, the AC-PDP 6
As compared with the example 1, the margin of the drive voltage described above can be further expanded and the drive can be performed more stably.

In the AC-PDPs 61 and 61A, the light emission from the discharge cells C is shielded by the increased width of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb, and the luminance is lower than that of the AC-PDP 51 or the like. By the way, some CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays have a luminance ratio between the peripheral part and the central part of the screen of 1: 2 or more, and even in an AC-PDP, even if such a luminance ratio is provided, the visibility is significantly reduced. It does not invite. In other words, from the viewpoint of visibility, the AC-PDP 61 whose center luminance is higher than that of the left and right ends is the AC-PDP 61.
It can be said that it is more practical than A.

For this reason, the shapes of the mother electrodes Xb and Yb may be appropriately defined based on both viewpoints of enlarging the margin of the driving voltage and securing the visibility. The shapes of the bus electrodes Xb and Yb according to the eighth embodiment can be applied to each of the above-described AC-PDPs.

<Summary> In the above-described AC-PDP 51 and the like, the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt and the like are square, but any other shape may be used as long as the above-described discharge gap DG can be formed. This point is based on AC-PDPs 58, 58.
The same applies to the overhanging electrodes Xk and Yk of A.

In the AC-PDP 51 and the like, the case where the front glass substrate 102 is used as the display surface has been described. However, the rear glass substrate 103 is used as the display surface by forming the column electrodes W1 to Wm with transparent electrodes. It is also possible. At this time, an opaque electrode material is used for the transparent electrodes Xt and Yt, and the electrodes Xt and Yt and the mother electrodes Xb1 to Xbn and Yt are used.
The electrode patterns b1 to Ybn may be formed as an integrated electrode pattern.

Further, the technical concept of the AC-PDP 51 and the like can be applied to an opposed two-electrode type AC-PDP.
At this time, a discharge cell and a non-discharge cell can be formed, for example, by controlling the thickness of the discharge space between the two opposing electrodes (for example, by using the black insulating material 30 and the discharge suppressor 31). .

[0177]

(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, a non-discharge gap is interposed between two discharge gaps in a direction parallel to the display line. Therefore, as compared with the conventional AC type plasma display panel in which the discharge gaps are arranged adjacently in the same direction, the discharge in each discharge cell (and the control of the discharge) Erroneous discharge in other discharge cells induced by the voltage / electric field of the other) can be largely suppressed or prevented.

(2) According to the invention of claim 2, the effect (1) can be obtained in a so-called three-electrode surface discharge type AC plasma display panel.

(3) According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the height of the discharge can be reduced and the (energy) loss of electrons during the discharge can be greatly reduced, the luminous efficiency can be improved. .

(4) According to the invention of claim 4, any of the effects (1) to (3) can be obtained on the entire surface of the AC type plasma display panel.

(5) According to the invention of claim 5, the same effect as in the above (4) can be obtained. In particular, when the connection form is applied to the AC type plasma display panel according to the third aspect, the reactive power can be significantly suppressed.

(6) According to the invention of claim 6, the effect (1) can be obtained in a so-called three-electrode surface discharge type AC plasma display panel.

(7) According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, even if the first substrate and the second substrate are misaligned at the time of bonding, the discharge cells and the non-discharge cells can be reliably formed. Can be formed. For this reason, compared with the AC type plasma display panel according to claim 2, the positioning accuracy in the bonding step can be eased.

(8) According to the invention of claim 8, the discharge suppressor and the partition can be formed at once. Therefore, the discharge suppressor can be formed without increasing the number of manufacturing steps and complicating the manufacturing steps.

(9) According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the first
In the bonding step of the substrate and the second substrate, the convex portion serving as the discharge suppressor serves as a guide (guide) to a plurality of discharge spaces defined by the partition walls, so that the first substrate and the second substrate are misaligned. This has the effect that hardly occurs.

(10) According to the tenth aspect,
Since there is a gap between the discharge suppressor and the partition, it does not hinder the execution of the exhausting step and the discharging gas introducing step at the time of manufacturing the AC type plasma display panel.

(11) According to the eleventh aspect,
High contrast and visibility can be obtained.

(12) According to the twelfth aspect,
Any of the effects (6) to (11) can be obtained on the entire surface of the AC plasma display panel.

(13) According to the thirteenth aspect,
When the same panel area and resolution are used, the display area utilization rate is higher than that of an AC plasma display panel having the same size of discharge cells and non-discharge cells (the AC plasma display panel according to claim 16).
Luminous efficiency can be further improved. Further, when the panel area and the size of the discharge cell are the same as those of the AC plasma display panel according to claim 16, a higher resolution AC plasma display panel can be realized.

(14) According to the fourteenth aspect,
When a phosphor layer is formed in a U-shaped groove formed by two adjacent partition walls and, for example, a second substrate, a portion of the phosphor layer in a non-discharge cell is separated from a portion in the discharge cell. Can also be thicker. This allows the phosphor layer in the non-discharge cell to convert visible light to the amount radiated to the non-discharge cell side in the ultraviolet light due to the discharge generated in the discharge cell. That is, compared with the AC type plasma display panel in which the partition walls are linearly arranged, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of ultraviolet rays. At this time, due to the difference in the thickness of the phosphor layer, the portion constituting the non-discharge cell in the discharge space is narrower than the portion constituting the same discharge cell. Can be more reliably prevented.

(15) According to the fifteenth aspect,
Even when the partition walls are formed in a straight line, the discharge cells can be made larger than the non-discharge cells. For this reason, chipping or breakage of the partition, which easily occurs when the partition is meandering, can be sufficiently suppressed.

(16) According to the sixteenth aspect,
For example, since the partition walls can be formed linearly, the conventional partition wall forming step can be applied as it is, and a partition wall capable of sufficiently suppressing the occurrence of chipping, breakage, and the like can be formed.

(17) According to the seventeenth aspect,
The effect (1) can be obtained in a so-called three-electrode surface discharge type AC plasma display panel.

(18) According to the eighteenth aspect,
The effect (17) can be obtained on the entire surface of the AC type plasma display panel.

(19) According to the nineteenth aspect,
The same effect as the above (18) can be obtained. In particular,
Reactive power can be significantly reduced.

(20) According to the twentieth aspect,
In the AC type plasma display panel according to the seventeenth aspect, the same effect as the above (13) can be obtained.

(21) According to the twenty-first aspect,
Since the first portion is straight, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the occurrence of a shape defect such as a chipped pattern of the first portion as compared with a case where the first portion is meandering.

(22) According to the twenty-second aspect,
In the AC type plasma display panel according to the seventeenth aspect, the same effect as the above (14) can be obtained.

(23) According to the invention according to claim 23,
The first and second portions can be formed collectively. Thereby, the total number of steps for forming the first and second electrodes can be reduced and simplified as compared with the case where a transparent electrode is used for the second portion. As a result, cost reduction can be achieved.

(24) According to the invention according to claim 24,
Higher contrast and visibility can be obtained than a plasma display panel having a so-called black stripe.

(25) According to the invention according to claim 25,
Since the discharge space in the non-discharge cell can be narrowed by the black insulating material, formation of a discharge (erroneous discharge) in the non-discharge cell can be more reliably prevented.

(26) According to the invention according to claim 26,
When the black insulating material is formed, for example, as part or all of the partition, there is an advantage that the existing partition forming process can be used as it is simply by blackening the partition material.

(27) According to the twenty-seventh aspect,
By setting the width of the first portion narrower toward the center and wider toward each end, the margin of the drive voltage can be increased while ensuring visibility, and the AC plasma display panel can be driven stably. It is possible to do. Further, by setting the width of the first portion to be wider toward the center and narrower toward each end, the margin of the drive voltage is further increased as compared with the case where the center is narrower than each end. It is possible to drive the AC type plasma display panel stably.

(28) According to the twenty-eighth aspect,
Compared with the case where the width has the same uniform width as the central width, the resistance of the first portion can be reduced and the voltage drop due to the first portion can be reduced. As a result, the margin of the driving voltage can be expanded, and the AC plasma display panel can be driven stably. At this time, the brightness near the end is lower than that at the center, but this does not cause a significant decrease in visibility.

(29) According to the invention of claim 29,
Compared with the AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 28, it is possible to further stably drive the AC-type plasma display panel by expanding the margin of the driving voltage described above.

(30) According to the invention according to claim 30,
A plasma display device that can exhibit any of the effects (1) to (29) can be obtained.

(31) According to the thirty-first aspect,
The instantaneous current flowing through the first and second electrodes can be reduced. Therefore, a voltage drop due to the resistance of the first and second electrodes can be suppressed, and stable driving of the AC plasma display panel can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the structure of the AC plasma display panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing an arrangement of discharge cells and non-discharge cells in the AC type plasma display panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the plasma display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an AC type plasma display panel according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a first modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view for describing a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a first modification common to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a first modification common to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a plan view for explaining another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the first modification common to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view for illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a plan view for explaining another structure of the AC plasma display panel according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart for explaining a method of driving the AC plasma display panel according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a plan view for explaining still another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a plan view illustrating a structure of an AC plasma display panel according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a plan view for explaining another structure of the AC type plasma display panel according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a structure of an AC type plasma display panel according to a first related art.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a second conventional technique.

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure of an AC type plasma display panel according to a second conventional technique.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the structure of an AC type plasma display panel according to a third conventional technique.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing the structure of an AC plasma display panel according to a fourth conventional technique.

FIG. 30 is a timing chart for explaining a method of driving a conventional AC plasma display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10A partition, 14, 15, 18 drive circuit, 3
0 black insulating material, 31, 31A discharge suppressor, 40
Control circuit, 41 power supply circuit, 50 plasma display device, 51 to 58, 51A, 53A, 54A, 56
A, 57A, 58A, 58B, 61, 61A AC plasma display panel, 102 front glass substrate (first substrate), 103 rear glass substrate (second substrate),
106, 106A, 116 dielectric layer, 116C electrode covering part, 116T, 116TA convex part (discharge suppressor),
111 discharge space, C discharge cell, D1, D2, D3
Direction, DG discharge gap, bl, dgl, dgl2
ngl, ngl2, nglA interval, dgw, dgw2
Width, g gap, NC non-discharge cell, NG non-discharge gap, Xbi, Ybi, XAbi, YAbi (i = 1 to n)
Mother electrode (first part), Xi, Yi row electrode (first or second part)
Electrode), Xk, Yk, Xki, Yki (i = 1 to n) Overhanging electrode (second part), Xka, Yka connecting portion, X
t, Yt, Xs, Ys, XAt, YAt, Xti, Yt
i, XAti, YAti, Xsi, Ysi (i = 1 to n)
Transparent electrode (second part), Xo, Yo opening, Wj (j =
1-m) Column electrodes (third electrodes).

Claims (31)

[Claims] A discharge gap in which a desired discharge can be formed; a plurality of discharge cells arranged on the same surface; and a non-discharge gap in which formation of a discharge is more difficult than the discharge gap. A plurality of non-discharge cells arranged on a surface, wherein the discharge gap is arranged adjacent to the display line via at least one non-discharge gap in a direction parallel to a display line. , AC type plasma display panel. 2. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate and a second substrate facing each other at a predetermined distance from the first substrate.
A substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display lines, and a first portion connected to the first portion. A first electrode and a second electrode, each of which comprises a second portion protruding toward the discharge cell, and disposed on the first substrate, and a dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes; A discharge cell or the non-discharge cell, each of which is disposed on the second substrate side in a direction that three-dimensionally intersects with each of the first portions of the first and second electrodes. A plurality of band-shaped third electrodes defining the discharge gap, wherein the discharge gap is formed by both edges of the second portion of the first and second electrodes facing each other in the discharge cell. The non-discharge gap is the first and Characterized in that it is formed Te than at both edges of the portion which faces via the non-discharge cells among each said first portion of the second electrode, AC-type plasma display panel. 3. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes has the edges forming the discharge gap, the edges being the length of the third electrode. An AC-type plasma display panel characterized by being arranged along a direction. 4. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of first and second electrodes are alternately arranged, and the discharge gap is perpendicular to the display line. 3. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the AC-type plasma display panel is arranged adjacent to the non-discharge gap via at least one of the non-discharge gaps. 5. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 4, wherein two discharge gaps located between two discharge gaps located on both sides of the first portion of the first or second electrode with the first portion interposed therebetween. An AC type plasma display panel, wherein the second portion is connected to the first or second electrode sandwiched between the two discharge gaps. 6. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate and a second substrate facing each other at a predetermined distance from the first substrate.
A substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display lines, and a first portion connected to the first portion. The first portion includes a band-shaped second portion extending along the longitudinal direction of the first portion and extending along both sides of the first portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first portion; A first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate side; a dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes; and a first and a second electrode disposed on the second substrate side, respectively. A plurality of strip-shaped third electrodes that are arranged in a direction that three-dimensionally intersects with each of the first portions of the electrodes and that define the discharge cells or the non-discharge cells together with the first and second electrodes; Standing between the gap between the two portions and the third electrode A discharge inhibitor that is disposed at an intersection and defines the non-discharge cell. The non-discharge gap is formed by both edges of a portion facing each other in the non-discharge cell in each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes. An AC-type plasma display panel. 7. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 6, wherein the discharge suppressor is arranged on a side of the second substrate. 8. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 7, wherein the discharge suppressor has a height equal to that of the partition. 9. The AC type plasma display panel according to claim 6, wherein the discharge suppressor is disposed on a side of the first substrate, and wherein the dielectric is formed of the first and second electrodes. An AC-type plasma display panel, comprising: an electrode covering portion that covers at least one of them; and a convex portion that forms the discharge suppressor. 10. The AC type plasma display panel according to claim 6, wherein the discharge suppressor does not contact the partition. 11. The AC type plasma display panel according to claim 6, wherein at least the first substrate side of the discharge suppressor is black. panel. 12. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of said first and second electrodes are alternately arranged, and said discharge gap is formed in said display line. An AC-type plasma display panel, which is disposed adjacent to one another through one or more non-discharge gaps in a vertical direction. 13. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the discharge cell is formed when the AC plasma display panel is viewed from the first or second substrate side. An AC-type plasma display panel, which is larger than the non-discharge cells. 14. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall extends along the longitudinal direction of the third electrode so as to partition between the adjacent third electrodes. An AC type, comprising a plurality of strip-shaped partition walls arranged, wherein an interval between two adjacent partition walls is such that a portion defining the discharge cells is wider than a portion defining the non-discharge cells. Plasma display panel. 15. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein a portion of each of said first portions of said first and second electrodes facing each other via said discharge gap. The distance between both edges of
An AC-type plasma display panel, wherein a distance between the two edges of a portion facing each other via the non-discharge cell in each of the first portions is wider. 16. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the AC-type plasma display panel is connected to the discharge cell when viewed from the first or second substrate side. An AC-type plasma display panel having a size equal to that of the non-discharge cell. 17. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate and a second substrate facing each other at a predetermined distance from the first substrate.
A substrate, a partition partitioning a space between the first substrate and the second substrate into a plurality of discharge spaces, a strip-shaped first portion extending parallel to the display lines, and a first portion connected to the first portion. A first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the first substrate, each including a second portion extending on both sides of the first portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first portion; A dielectric covering at least one of the first and second electrodes, each of which is disposed on the second substrate side in a direction that three-dimensionally intersects with each of the first portions of the first and second electrodes; A plurality of band-shaped third electrodes defining the discharge cells or the non-discharge cells together with the first and second electrodes, wherein the discharge gap is formed by each of the second portions of the first and second electrodes. At both opposing edges in the discharge cell Wherein the non-discharge gap is formed by both edges of the second portion of the first and second electrodes facing each other via the non-discharge cell. Type plasma display panel. 18. The AC type plasma display panel according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of the first and second electrodes are alternately arranged, and the discharge gap is 1 in a direction perpendicular to the display line. An AC-type plasma display panel, wherein the AC-type plasma display panel is disposed adjacent to at least one of the non-discharge gaps. 19. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 18, wherein two discharge gaps located between two discharge gaps located on both sides of the first portion of the first or second electrode. An AC type plasma display panel, wherein the second portion is connected to the first or second electrode sandwiched between the two discharge gaps. 20. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 17, wherein the discharge cell is formed when the AC plasma display panel is viewed from the first or second substrate side. An AC-type plasma display panel, which is larger than the non-discharge cells. 21. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 17, wherein the first portion is linear, and each of the first and second electrodes has a second shape. In the first
The AC plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a portion on the edge side forming the discharge gap across the portion is larger than a portion on the edge side forming the non-discharge gap across the first portion. 22. The alternating-current plasma display panel according to claim 17, wherein the partition wall extends along the longitudinal direction of the third electrode so as to partition between the adjacent third electrodes. An AC type, comprising a plurality of strip-shaped partition walls arranged, wherein an interval between two adjacent partition walls is such that a portion defining the discharge cells is wider than a portion defining the non-discharge cells. Plasma display panel. 23. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the first and second portions are made of an opaque conductive material, and the second portion has an opening. An AC type plasma display panel characterized by the following. 24. The AC-type plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a black insulating material is disposed in a portion other than the discharge cells. Display panel. 25. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 24, wherein the black insulating material is disposed on a region corresponding to the non-discharge cell in a surface of the first substrate on a side of the discharge space. An AC-type plasma display panel, which is arranged. 26. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 24, wherein the black insulating material is disposed on the second substrate. 27. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein a width of the first portion is not uniform along a longitudinal direction of the first portion. , AC type plasma display panel. 28. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 27, wherein the width of the first portion is smaller toward the center and wider toward each end. panel. 29. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 27, wherein the width of the first portion is wider toward the center and narrower toward each end. panel. 30. A plasma display device comprising the AC type plasma display panel according to claim 1. Description: 31. The AC plasma display panel according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of first and second electrodes are alternately arranged, and the discharge gap is at least one in a direction perpendicular to the display line. A method for driving an AC type plasma display panel adjacently arranged via the non-discharge gap, wherein the discharge cell is arranged on one side and the discharge cell arranged on the other side with the first portion interposed therebetween. A method for driving an AC type plasma display panel, wherein a discharge is not formed simultaneously with the discharge cell.