JP2001015034A - Gas discharge panel, its driving method, and gas discharge display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for allowing progressive driving by arranging first electrodes so that respective sub electrodes of two adjacent first electrodes face to each other in the row direction, arranging second electrodes between parallel sub electrodes, and placing barrier ribs between ends of sub electrodes and a main electrode facing to them. SOLUTION: Bus electrodes 420 (420-1-420-4) are arranged on barrier ribs, and projection electrodes 410a, 410b that are connected to the bus electrodes 420 and comprise transparent electrodes are formed in upper and lower discharge cells C1, C2. These bus electrodes and projection electrodes form display electrodes X1, Y1, X2, Y2. Discharge between the projection electrodes 410a, 410b facing to each other in the discharge cells C1, C2 is designed not to expand to upper and lower adjacent discharge cells (for example, from C1 to C2) by an operation of the barrier ribs 290. Projecting barrier ribs 290c are formed so as to suppress discharge between an end of the projection electrode 410a and the bus electrode 420-2 facing to the end.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device, a gas discharge panel, and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a structure of a plasma display panel (hereinafter, referred to as a PDP) and a driving method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 9-160525 discloses a PDP in which the electrodes of adjacent cells are shared to reduce the number of electrodes and the number of driving circuits and to enable a high-definition screen. This technique is hereinafter referred to as a conventional example.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a conventional panel structure. Display electrodes (X, Y in FIG. 14, X1 to X in FIG. 15)
5, Y1 to Y4) are address electrodes (FIG. 14A, FIG. 15).
A1 to A6) extend over two cells adjacent in the extension direction. In other words, display cells (also referred to as “discharge cells”) are formed between all the display electrodes. With such a structure, one display electrode (L1 to L8 in FIG. 15) is provided for one display electrode (FIG. 1).
5 correspond to X1 to X5 and Y1 to Y4), and the number of display electrodes is smaller than that of a commonly used PDP (for example, the PDP shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of JP-A-10-64434). Can be reduced to about 1/2.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show driving waveforms of the conventional example. The address and display are performed by "interlace", and display lines (L1 to L8 in FIG. 15) used for address and display are alternately arranged in the even field [FIG. 15 (b)] and the odd field [FIG. 15 (a)]. [That is, the way of combining the display electrodes (X1 to X5, Y1 to Y4 in FIG. 15) is switched].

[0005]

In the conventional PDP,
Instead of reducing the number of display electrodes and drive circuits, FIG.
There is a problem that "interlaced driving" as shown in (a) and (b) is performed, and "progressive driving" cannot be performed.

The present invention solves the above problem in a gas discharge panel in which two adjacent discharge cells share a display electrode in the direction in which the address electrode extends (hereinafter, referred to as “up and down” for simplicity). It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas discharge panel having such a structure and a driving method thereof, and to enable "progressive driving".

[0007]

In the conventional example, the reason why the progressive driving cannot be performed is that the display electrodes are shared and vertically ("up and down" means "extending direction of the address electrodes". This is because address discharge and sustain discharge in adjacent discharge cells cannot be separated. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section taken along line EE of FIG. 14 (conventional example).
This is as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1B, an address discharge and a sustain discharge are applied to a central portion of each display electrode shared by two vertically adjacent discharge cells. There is a first feature (a structural feature of the gas discharge panel) in a configuration having a partition wall for separation.

By configuring the gas discharge panel in this way, it is possible to separate the address discharge and the sustain discharge between two vertically adjacent discharge cells sharing a display electrode.

The term "partition" as used herein means "coupling between adjacent discharge cells" (specifically, bonding based on discharge coupling, distribution of charged particles, distribution of excited molecules and excited atoms, etc.).
Refers to a structure that suppresses The present invention is not limited to the case where the partition is made so that there is no gap, and includes a structure having an action of suppressing the coupling between the discharge cells even if there is a gap or a cutout portion, and also includes a discontinuous structure.

On the other hand, when the PDP is driven progressively, the scan electrodes are shared by the vertically adjacent discharge cells at the time of addressing. Therefore, by utilizing the above-described structure for separating discharges, if the "amount of wall charges" accumulated on the scan electrode is different between the regions corresponding to the upper and lower discharge cells as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). Drive to make it.
FIG. 7A is a diagram in which wall charges of different polarities are accumulated between adjacent discharge cells, and FIG. 7B is a diagram in which wall charges of the same polarity and different levels are accumulated. In any of these cases, the effective potentials of the scan electrodes in the upper and lower discharge cells can be differentiated, and the progressive addresses (addresses at different timings) of adjacent discharge cells can be changed using the shared scan electrodes. It is possible to do.

Similarly, when all the discharge cells constituting the screen of the PDP are sustained and discharged at the same timing,
By utilizing the above structure for separating discharges, the "amount of wall charges" accumulated on the display electrode can be made different between upper and lower discharge regions. By doing so, the lighting of the upper and lower discharge cells
Regardless of the non-lighting state, it is possible to drive all the discharge cells to sustain discharge at the same timing.

There is a second feature of the present invention (a feature in a driving method) where the "amount of wall charges" is controlled in this manner.

The normal progressive driving is to address adjacent display lines line-sequentially and in the same direction (for example, in a direction from top to bottom) in the address of one entire screen. However, the present invention is not limited to normal progressive driving for the entire screen, but includes a case where a single screen is partially line-sequentially addressed and a case where addressing is performed in a different direction.

In other words, the driving method of the present invention is a technique for driving the gas discharge panel so that adjacent display lines are addressed at different timings and a sustain discharge (display discharge) is generated at the same timing. It can be said that there is.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] PD of First Embodiment
The structure of P will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of the main part, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part viewed from the display surface side.

Display electrodes X and Y are arranged on a glass substrate 11 on the front side (display surface side), and a dielectric layer 17 made of low melting point glass and a protective layer 18 made of MgO are formed thereon. I have.

On the other hand, an address electrode A is formed on the glass substrate 21 on the back side, a dielectric layer 27 made of low melting point glass is further formed thereon, and a grid-like partition 29 (2) is further formed thereon.
9a and 29b), and the phosphor layers R, G, and B are applied to the surface of the dielectric layer surrounded by the grid-like partition walls 29 and the side surfaces of the partition walls.

Here, the display electrodes X and Y are transparent electrodes (IT
O) 41 and metal bus electrode (laminated film of Cr / Cu / Cr)
The address electrode A is formed of a laminated film of Cr / Cu / Cr.

The pair of substrates is combined, and Ne,
A discharge gas containing a mixture of gases such as Xe
And the phosphor layers of the corresponding discharge cells are excited by the ultraviolet light radiated from the selectively formed discharge, and the red, green, and blue light emission corresponding to the R, G, and B of the phosphor layer. do.
By controlling the light emission, a color image can be displayed.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG.
As shown in (b), at the center of the display electrodes X and Y,
The upper and lower cells adjacent to each other are partitioned by a partition wall 29b.
It has a structure to separate. On the other hand, the partition denoted by reference numeral 29a separates between the adjacent address electrodes A.

Similarly, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, adjacent discharge cells C1 and C2 sharing the display electrode Y1 have a common address electrode A3, and the periphery thereof is surrounded by a partition 29 (29).
a and 29b) and between the adjacent discharge cells C1 and C2 (that is, the central portion of the display electrode Y1 shared by them).
Are separated by the partition wall 29b as shown in FIG.

Since this PDP has a structure in which adjacent discharge cells are separated very well, progressive driving can be easily realized by applying a driving method described later.

On the other hand, since the periphery of each discharge cell is completely enclosed, it is difficult to exhaust the inside of a PDP in which two glass substrates are combined, and it is necessary to perform exhaust before combining them. Will be needed. In addition, since the discharge cells are almost completely separated from each other, driving using discharge coupling such as a pilot ignition effect cannot be performed.

A PD devised to improve these disadvantages
The structure of P will be described in the following second to sixth embodiments. [Second Embodiment] The structure of a PDP according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, an address electrode A, a dielectric layer 17 and phosphor layers R, G and B are provided on the front substrate 11 side, and display electrodes X and Y and a dielectric layer are provided on the rear substrate side. Body layer 2
7 and a protective layer (not shown), and partition walls 29 (29a and 29a).
b).

In this embodiment, reference numeral 29 is particularly used.
The feature is that the cutout portion 30 is formed on the upper side of the partition wall b.

The cutout portion 30 can be used not only as an exhaust passage when exhausting the inside of the PDP, but also as a path for connecting adjacent discharge cells (such as a pilot ignition effect).

According to this structure, both the vertically adjacent discharge cells can be separated to such an extent that they can be driven progressively, and the discharge cells can be coupled to such an extent that the pilot effect is exerted.

In this PDP, the display light generated by the phosphor layers R, G, and B is emitted to the front substrate 11 side, and the emitted light is viewed from the front substrate 11 side. I have. In contrast to the first embodiment which is called a reflection type, this embodiment is one which is called a transmission type. Third Embodiment FIGS. 6 and 7 show a panel structure of a PDP according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a rear substrate 2 having a partition wall 290.
This is the structure of FIG. Although the phosphor layer is not shown, a phosphor layer is formed between the partition walls 290 as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, a part (a part corresponding to 29b) of the grid-like partition 29 as in the first embodiment is divided. In other words, the projection-like partition 290c is formed.

FIG. 7 shows an electrode structure. Bus electrode 420
(420-1 to 420-4) are arranged on the partition wall, and connected to the bus electrode, and the overhanging electrodes 410a,
410b is formed in the upper and lower discharge cells C1 and C2. The bus electrodes and the overhanging electrodes constitute the display electrodes X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 as shown.

For example, in one discharge cell C1,
Overhanging electrode 410 overhanging from upper bus electrode 420-1
a and the overhanging electrode 4 overhanging from the lower bus electrode 420-2
10b is opposed to form a pair of discharge electrodes.

The discharge between the protruding electrodes 410a and 410b facing each other in the discharge cells C1 and C2 is performed by the action of the partition wall 290 to the vertically adjacent discharge cells (for example,
It is configured not to spread (from C1 to C2). That is, the overhanging electrodes 410a and 410 that generate a discharge
b is configured to extend to upper and lower discharge cells via an inner portion thereof so as not to go outside the width of the protruding partition wall 290c, thereby suppressing discharge coupling between the upper and lower discharge cells. .

A protruding partition wall 290c is formed to suppress discharge between the end of the overhanging electrode 410a and the bus electrode 420-2 facing the end.

This embodiment is characterized in that it can be applied to both the reflection type and the transmission type. When applied to the reflection type configuration, the transmission type PD of the second embodiment is used.
This is advantageous in that the brightness can be increased as compared with P.

Next, a driving method for performing progressive driving using this PDP will be described. FIG. 8 shows the driving waveform, and FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the driving circuit. FIG.
Display electrodes X1, Y1, X2, Y2, X3, Y3, X
4 shows drive waveforms for a PDP having four and three address electrodes and having six rows and three columns of discharge cells.

The address is an even-numbered X electrode (X2, X
4) and odd-numbered X electrodes (X1, X
This is performed separately for the discharge cells on both sides of 3).

First, in the first initialization process, the subsequent first
In the addressing process, wall charges are formed such that an address discharge occurs only in the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes.
Next, in a second initialization process, wall charges are formed such that an address discharge occurs only in the discharge cells including the odd-numbered X electrodes in the second addressing process. FIG. 8 shows driving waveforms for satisfying these conditions.

In the display process (also referred to as "sustain discharge process") after the second address process, sustain discharge occurs only in the discharge cells selected in the first and second address processes, and the sustain discharge is repeated. As a result, screen display is performed corresponding to the pattern of the selected discharge cell.

In describing the state of the wall charges in detail, first, the discharge by the ramp wave used in the initialization process of FIG. 8 will be described.

The ramp wave used here has a slope of 1 to 1.
It is of the order of several volts / μs, and can generate minute discharges continuously. The term "small discharge" as used herein means a form in which a small pulsed discharge occurs continuously with an extremely slow voltage rise, or a continuous discharge (a large number of continuous pulsed discharges) with a voltage rise. Rather, it refers to a form in which a substantially uniform continuous discharge occurs, or a mixture thereof. In the following, this "small discharge" will be simply referred to as "small discharge".

Although a ramp wave is used here, an applied voltage waveform that causes a minute discharge is not limited to a ramp wave, and a curved waveform or a combination thereof may be used.

When a minute discharge is occurring, the characteristic that the effective voltage (sum of the voltage applied to the electrode and the wall voltage) applied to the discharge space of the discharge cell becomes substantially equal to the discharge starting voltage of the discharge cell. is there. The discharge starting pressure of the discharge cell is Vt
(Constant value), applied voltage Vr (variable), wall voltage Vw
(Variable), the relational expression of Vr + Vw = Vt (1) holds during the period in which the minute discharge occurs.

Since the minute discharge ends when the voltage rise of the ramp wave stops, the ultimate voltage of the ramp wave is set to Vr0 (constant value),
If the wall voltage after the ramp wave application is Vw0 (constant value),
From equation (1), Vr0 + Vw0 = Vt (1a). As can be seen from the equation (1a), the wall voltage Vw0 after the ramp wave application can be freely controlled by the ramp wave reaching voltage Vr0.

By combining the two ramp waves, the wall voltage can be initialized.

The first ramp wave is a positive ramp wave, its ultimate voltage is Vr1, the second ramp wave is a negative ramp wave, and its ultimate voltage is Vr2. Further, the discharge starting voltage for the positive ramp wave between the electrodes to which the ramp wave is applied is V.
At t1, the discharge starting voltage for the negative ramp wave is Vt2.
If the voltage is uniformly described by the polarity of the first ramp wave, the wall voltage V after the first ramp wave is applied
w1 satisfies Vw1 ≦ Vt1−Vr1 (2) as in the equation (1a).

Here, the discharge may not occur in the first ramp wave depending on the value of the wall voltage before the application of the first ramp wave.
The case where discharge occurs at the first ramp wave corresponds to the inequality sign of equation (2).

Next, when a second ramp wave is applied following the first ramp wave with a polarity opposite to that of the first ramp wave, if a discharge occurs in the second ramp wave, the result of equation (1a) is obtained. Similarly, the wall voltage after the application of the second ramp wave is determined only by the attained voltage of the second ramp wave, regardless of the wall voltage before the application of the second ramp wave. After all, initialization can be performed by the second ramp wave.

The condition for causing the discharge by the second ramp wave is that the effective voltage of the discharge cell exceeds the discharge starting voltage by the application of the second ramp wave. Note that Vr2 + Vw1.ltoreq.Vt2 (3). Therefore, if Vr2 ≦ Vr1−Vt1 + Vt2 (4) is satisfied by the expression (2), the expression (3) is established, and initialization can be performed.

By rewriting the equation (4), Vr1−Vr2 ≧ Vt1−Vt2 (5) or | Vr1 | + | Vr2 | ≧ | Vt1 | + | Vt2 | (5a) is obtained.

When the condition of the expression (5) or (5a) is satisfied, discharge can be generated by the second ramp wave, and a wall charge determined only by the attained voltage of the second ramp wave is formed. Equation (5) or (5
a) The condition of the expression is called an initialization condition.

Here, restrictions on the polarity of the ramp wave will be described.

When a rectangular wave is applied subsequent to the ramp wave to cause a discharge (for example, when an address discharge is caused in the address process of FIG. 8), the effective voltage Vc of the discharge cell at that time is considered. Assuming that the voltage of the rectangular wave applied subsequently to the ramp wave is Vp, from equation (1), if the rectangular wave has the same polarity as the ramp wave, Vc = Vta + (Vp-Vr) (6) In the case of the polarity opposite to the ramp wave, Vc = Vtb + (Vp-Vr + Vta-Vtb) (7) Here, Vta is a discharge starting voltage when a rectangular wave having the same polarity as the ramp wave is applied, and Vtb is a discharge starting voltage when a rectangular wave having the opposite polarity to the ramp wave is applied.

In the expressions (6) and (7), the second term on the right side (the term enclosed in parentheses on the right side) is the amount of overvoltage (the amount of the effective voltage exceeding the firing voltage) in each polarity. . The intensity of discharge is determined by the amount of overvoltage.

The amount of overvoltage when the subsequent rectangular wave has the same polarity as the preceding ramp wave is determined only by the applied voltage, but the amount of overvoltage when the rectangular wave has the opposite polarity to the ramp wave depends on the discharge starting voltage. Since this discharge starting voltage varies in each discharge cell, if the succeeding rectangular wave has a polarity opposite to that of the preceding ramp wave, the discharge intensity due to the rectangular wave varies in each discharge cell, resulting in stable driving. Can not do.

Therefore, in order to reduce the variation in the driving conditions for each discharge cell, the polarity of the rectangular wave of the address discharge and the polarity of the lamp voltage applied last in the initialization process preceding the address discharge are the same. Conclude that it should be.

The above description is for the case where one electrode is initialized. However, the initialization can be similarly performed even when there are a plurality of electrodes as in the PDP of the present invention. Specifically, two ramp waves having different polarities may be applied between the respective electrodes, and the voltage may be set so that a discharge occurs with the secondly applied ramp wave between the electrodes.

More specifically, for example, in the first step of the first initialization process shown in FIG.
A lamp voltage is applied between X and AY. Further, in the second step, the X electrode is used as a common cathode,
In the third step, the lamp voltage is applied between AY and XY using the Y electrode as a common cathode.

At this time, between AX and XY, since lamp voltages having different polarities are applied in successive steps, the voltage is set between the respective electrodes so as to satisfy the initialization condition of equation (5). be able to. On the other hand, between the AY and the AY, the discharge occurs in the first step and the third step, and the discharge is not continuous, so that the state of the wall voltage between the AY and the AY is slightly disturbed by the discharge between the other electrodes in the second step. You.
In this case, strictly speaking, the initialization condition of the equation (5) becomes inaccurate, but it can be used as a rough guide for setting the voltage. Actually, it is sufficient that the discharge between A and Y occurs in the third step (substantial initialization becomes possible).

The feature of the driving waveform of the present invention is that, in the fourth step of the first initialization process, the odd-numbered X electrodes are placed between the odd-numbered X electrodes and the Y electrodes adjacent above and below the X-electrodes, ie, the odd-numbered X electrodes. An object of the present invention is to apply a lamp voltage between XY of discharge cells including electrodes and cause a corresponding discharge cell group to perform minute discharge. (On the other hand, according to the waveform of FIG. 8, control is performed so that discharge by the lamp voltage does not occur between XY of the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes.) Specifically, for example, Y2
And a discharge cell group between the electrodes X3 and X3 and between the electrodes Y3 and X3.

Thus, in terms of the wall voltage with respect to the Y electrode, after the initialization process, the wall voltage between XY of the discharge cells formed on both sides of the odd-numbered X electrode becomes equal to that of the even-numbered X electrode. It becomes lower than the wall voltage between XY of the discharge cells formed on both sides.

Also, due to the partition structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the discharge of each discharge cell does not spread beyond the section of the discharge cell (eg, C1, C2 in FIG. 7).

By this initialization process, the amount of wall charges on the Y electrode is formed at different levels on the even-numbered X electrode side and the odd-numbered X electrode side with the partition wall structure interposed therebetween. This situation is as shown in FIG. 2 (a) or (b).

With this initialization, the wall voltage of the discharge cell formed between the A electrode and the Y electrode also differs depending on the type of the Y electrode facing the A electrode. That is, in terms of the wall voltage based on the Y electrode, the wall voltage between A and Y between the “Y electrode portion on the odd X electrode side as viewed from the partition on the Y electrode” and the A electrode is “ The wall voltage is lower than the wall voltage between A and Y between the “A and Y electrodes” on the even numbered X electrode side as viewed from the partition on the Y electrode.

Therefore, after the first initialization process shown in FIG.
In the addressing process, when a scan pulse is applied to the Y electrode, an address discharge can be generated only in the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes. More specifically, for example, the discharge of the Y1 electrode and the A
An address discharge is generated between one electrode and the X2 electrode, and subsequently, an address discharge is generated between the Y2 electrode and the X2 electrode, triggered by the discharge between the Y2 electrode and the A electrode. At this time, a difference is made between the potentials of the even-numbered X electrodes and the odd-numbered X electrodes so as to more strongly suppress the occurrence of address discharge in the discharge cells including the odd-numbered X electrodes.

After the first initialization process, the wall voltage between the X electrode and the Y electrode in the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes is about 50 V with respect to the Y electrode.

In the first addressing step subsequent to the first initialization step, the address voltage is set to such an extent that a weak discharge is caused to the non-selected discharge cells. In this case, the wall voltage after the discharge is about 0V. On the other hand, a strong discharge occurs in the selected discharge cell, and the wall voltage after the discharge is about -100V.
That is, after the end of the first addressing process, the wall voltage between the X electrode and the Y electrode in the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes changes. Thus, the address discharge between XY including the even-numbered X electrodes in the second address process is suppressed.
Although very little discharge occurs between A and Y, the disturbance of the wall voltage between X and Y is sufficiently small.

In the second initialization process, odd-numbered X
The initialization of the discharge cell between the X electrode and the Y electrode of the discharge cell including the electrode is performed. As in the first initialization process, the wall voltage between XY is set to about 50V.

In the second addressing process, the address discharge of the discharge cells including the odd-numbered X electrodes is performed. Specifically, for example, an address discharge is generated between the Y2 electrode and the X3 electrode, triggered by, for example, a discharge between the Y2 electrode and the A electrode,
An address discharge is generated between the Y3 electrode and the X3 electrode, triggered by the discharge between the electrode and the A electrode. Setting an address voltage so as to cause a weak discharge in a non-selected cell and a strong discharge in a selected cell is the same as in the first address process. In addition, due to the partition structure, the disturbance of the wall voltage of the discharge cells including the even-numbered X electrodes in the second addressing process after the second initialization process is sufficiently small.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the set voltage. The sum of the discharge start voltages of the PDP of this embodiment (| Vt1 | + | Vt2
|) Indicates about 420 V between AX and AY, and about 46 V between XY
0V.

Further, in FIG. 8, the ramp wave of each electrode rises gently from 0 V, but can rise sharply up to a voltage at which a minute discharge does not occur.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a driving circuit for performing the above-described driving.

The X electrode group such as X1, X2 and X3 is driven by the X electrode side driver 110, and the Y electrode group such as Y1, Y2 and Y3 is driven by the Y electrode side driver 120 to output the waveform of FIG. The electrodes are driven by the address side driver 130 to output data of each electrode corresponding to predetermined display information. The ON / OFF and drive timing of each waveform are controlled by the control circuit unit 140.

It is needless to say that the drive waveform and the drive circuit configuration described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 can be applied to the first and second embodiments in the same manner. [Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 10 shows a driving waveform of the fourth embodiment.

This is a modification of the driving waveform of FIG.
As shown in the waveform of the first initialization process in this figure, the third step and the fourth step of the first initialization process of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
The step can be driven continuously. The drive time can be reduced by the amount of eliminating one step. Fifth Embodiment FIG. 11 shows, as a fifth embodiment, a modification of the structure of the rear substrate having the partition walls.

As in the case of the barrier rib structure shown in this figure, the upper and lower discharge cells can be separated by the lower barrier ribs.
Can be used instead of the structure. Since there is no particular difference between the two, they can be appropriately selected in design. Sixth Embodiment FIG. 12 shows an electrode structure of a sixth embodiment.

The shape of the barrier ribs of this embodiment is similar to that of the third embodiment, but the shape of the overhanging electrode made of a transparent electrode (ITO) is different.

In this embodiment, in one discharge cell,
On the address electrode, a pair of overhanging electrodes are arranged to face each other in the extending direction. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, in one discharge cell, a pair of projecting electrodes are arranged to face each other with the address electrode interposed therebetween.

The point that the overhanging electrode extends from the projecting partition wall 290b is the same as in the third embodiment.

The present embodiment is inferior to the third embodiment in that the discharge area is substantially reduced and the luminance is reduced, but the electrode structure in which the transparent electrode (protruding electrode) is discontinuous is used. Therefore, there is an advantage that the separation of the discharge is further improved and a more stable operation can be performed.

The above embodiments are all directed to PDPs, but the present invention is not limited to PDPs. For example, PALC (Plasma Address
It can also be used for the gas discharge scanning section of ed Liquid Crystal).

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a general gas discharge panel to which the above-described solution and the idea of the embodiment can be applied.

In a gas discharge scanning section for PALC, etc., which is not intended to display itself, a “display cell” is referred to as a “discharge cell”, and a “display electrode” is referred to as a “sustain discharge electrode or scan electrode”.
The present invention can be applied in exactly the same manner as in the above embodiment.

[0085]

By using the structure of the gas discharge panel of the present invention and the driving method of the present invention, progressive driving can be performed in a gas discharge panel in which a display electrode is shared by two discharge cells adjacent to each other in the direction in which an address electrode extends. Can be realized.

The progressive resolution of such a gas discharge panel in which only the interlaced drive has been used in the past can substantially improve the substantial resolution and display quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a difference between a conventional example and a PDP of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing accumulation of wall charges of the PDP of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the PDP of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a PDP according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the rear substrate of the PDP shown in FIG. 5 (partition wall structure).
Figure showing

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an electrode structure of the PDP of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a driving waveform of the PDP of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a driving circuit of the PDP of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the driving waveform of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a structure (partition structure) of a rear substrate of a PDP according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an electrode structure of a PDP according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a table showing a set voltage and the like of each electrode of the PDP of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the structure of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a driving waveform of a conventional PDP.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 11 front substrate 17, 27 dielectric layer 21 rear substrate 28R, 28G, 28B phosphor layer, (red, green, blue) 29, 29a, 29b partition 290, 290a, 290b, 290c partition 30 notch 41, 410a, 410b Transparent electrode, overhanging electrode 42 Bus electrode 420, 420-1, 420-2, ... Bus electrode A, A1, A2, A3, ... Address electrode X, X1, X2, X3, ... Display Display electrode, scan electrode T Transparent electrode B Bus electrode D Dielectric layer P Protective layer C1, C2 Discharge cell

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01J 11/02 G09G 3/28 E H

Claims (6)

[Claims] A plurality of first electrodes and a dielectric layer covering the first electrodes are formed on one of the substrates, and a plurality of second electrodes are formed on the other substrate. The first electrode has a stripe-shaped main electrode extending in the display row direction and sub-electrodes projecting in a comb-like shape on both sides of the main electrode, and each sub-electrode of two adjacent first electrodes is formed. The electrodes are arranged so as to face each other in the row direction so that surface discharge occurs therebetween, and the second electrode is a striped electrode extending in a column direction intersecting with the main electrode, and the two adjacent electrodes A partition is provided between the sub-electrodes projecting in a direction approaching each other from the main electrode and parallel to each other, and a partition is arranged between the end of the sub-electrode and the main electrode facing the end so as not to generate a discharge. A gas discharge panel, which is provided. 2. A plurality of first electrodes provided on one substrate and covered with a dielectric layer, a plurality of stripe-shaped second electrodes provided on the other substrate, and between the two substrates. A partition wall defining a plurality of discharge cells by dividing a sandwiched discharge space, wherein the first electrodes are adjacent to each other in the direction in which the second electrodes extend and are driven by the same second electrodes. And a plurality of overhanging electrodes extending over the cell, wherein the overhanging electrode extends from a portion of the partition wall that partitions the space between the two discharge cells in an extending direction of the second electrode. A gas discharge panel, wherein the gas discharge panel is formed. 3. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of first electrodes provided on one substrate and covered with a dielectric layer; and a plurality of stripe-shaped second electrodes provided on the other substrate. A gas including a partition for dividing two discharge cells sharing the first electrode from both sides of the stripe-shaped electrode portion in the vicinity of a position where the stripe-shaped electrode portion of the electrode and the second electrode intersect. A method for driving a discharge panel, wherein the two discharge cells sharing the first electrode are driven to set wall charge amounts to different levels, respectively. 4. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of first electrodes provided on one substrate and covered with a dielectric layer; and a plurality of stripe-shaped second electrodes provided on the other substrate. A gas including a partition for partitioning two discharge cells sharing the first electrode from both sides of the stripe-shaped electrode portion in the vicinity of a position where the stripe-shaped electrode portion of the electrode intersects with the second electrode. A method of driving a discharge panel, wherein one of an odd-numbered electrode group and an even-numbered electrode group of the plurality of first electrodes is an X electrode group and the other is a Y electrode group, and the odd number of the X electrode group is In the first discharge cell group arranged between the X-th electrode and a pair of Y electrodes adjacent to both sides of the X electrode, a charge corresponding to display information of each discharge cell of the discharge cell group is provided. A first addressing step of forming, and the X electrode group A second discharge cell group arranged between an even-numbered X electrode in the middle and a pair of Y electrodes adjacent to both sides of the X electrode corresponds to display information of each discharge cell in the discharge cell group. A second addressing process for forming the generated charges, and after performing the first addressing process and the second addressing process in different periods, sustain discharge is performed on the first and second discharge cell groups at the same timing. A method for driving a gas discharge panel, comprising a sustain discharge process. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first addressing step comprises:
A predetermined wall charge is set in advance in the first and second discharge cell groups so that an address discharge is generated only in the second discharge cell group in the second address step in the second address step. 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an initialization process is performed before each of the first addressing process and the second addressing process. 6. A plurality of first electrodes provided on one substrate and covered with a dielectric layer and having stripe-shaped electrode portions, and a plurality of first electrodes provided on the other substrate and intersecting with the stripe-shaped electrode portions. A plurality of stripe-shaped second electrodes provided, a plurality of discharge cells configured on both sides of the stripe-shaped electrode portion corresponding to intersections of the stripe-shaped electrode portion and the second electrode, A gas discharge panel having a partition surrounding the discharge cell in a direction in which both the stripe-shaped electrode portion and the second electrode extend, and two discharge cells adjacent to each other sharing the second electrode A driving means for driving the gas discharge panel so as to be addressed at different timings and to generate a sustain discharge at the same timing.