JP2001034228A - Plasma display device and its driving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To providing a driving method of a plasma display panel(PDP) in which positive column discharging having high luminance and high light emitting efficiency is used, a stable selection of an arbitrary discharging cell is made possible and a high contrast ratio is obtained. SOLUTION: The distance between a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 2 of a PDP is made wider. By making the potentials of first, second 2 and third electrodes have a same potential in a non-discharging period, residual electric charges and wall electric charges in discharging space are controlled and a maldischarging is prevented. Moreover, by arranging a fourth electrode 40 in a non-discharging region between the electrodes 2 and 3 in parallel with the electrodes 2 and 3 and connecting the electrode 40 to an arbitrary potential, a switching is made possible between a function to be used for a discharging and a function not to be used for the discharging.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a matrix type display panel composed of a set of elements which emit and display light by discharge, and more particularly to a plasma display panel 100 (hereinafter referred to as P
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel driving method and apparatus capable of increasing display light emission luminance and reducing power consumption by improving luminous efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a cross section of the structure of a conventional AC type PDP. On the first substrate 1, a plurality of first electrodes 3 and a plurality of second electrodes 2 are arranged in parallel and alternately. The discharge between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is called a sustain discharge because it is light emission for displaying an image, and is called a surface discharge because it occurs in parallel with the first substrate 1. Further, a dielectric layer 4 is disposed on the electrode, and a protective film layer 5 such as MgO is disposed for protecting the dielectric layer 4. Space charges of electrons and positive ions ionized by the discharge are accumulated in the dielectric layer 4 and are called wall charges. The discharge of the PDP is controlled by the voltage based on the wall charges and the voltage applied from the outside. Also,
In the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2, the transparent electrode 20 is arranged so that the output of light emission is not hindered by the electrodes themselves, and the light emission under the electrodes is output to the outside of the first substrate 1. However, since the transparent electrode 20 has a high resistance value, the metal bus electrode 21 is arranged to reduce the resistance value of the electrode. A plurality of third electrodes 7 are arranged on the second substrate 9 so as to vertically intersect the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2. An address discharge is generated between the third electrode 7 and the second electrode 2 to select a cell for displaying and emitting light. Since this discharge occurs vertically between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 9, it is also called a counter discharge. Furthermore,
R, G, and B phosphors 8 are arranged on the third electrode 7, and a barrier 6 is arranged in parallel with the third electrode 7 to prevent color mixing.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a discharge portion of a PDP.
The PDP has a display discharge region 50 and a non-discharge region 51. By appropriately providing the non-display light-emitting region in consideration of the diffusion of space charge, the stripe-type barrier 6 prevents erroneous discharge in the vertical direction without forming the barriers 6 separating the discharge cells in a lattice shape. This greatly facilitates the manufacture of PDPs.

FIG. 15 shows a voltage waveform applied to each electrode of the PDP. In PDP, one field period (1
6.666 ms) are divided into periods called a plurality of subfields, and a setup period, an address period, a sustain period, and an erasing period are set in each subfield. The discharge in each period will be described below.

In the setup period, the setup pulse Pset is applied to the setup voltage V regardless of the type of video.
At about 400 V, a discharge is generated in all the pixels in the PDP. This discharge is called a setup discharge, and wall charges are accumulated on the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 so that the discharge can be easily generated in the address period.

The address period is a period for selecting a pixel to be displayed and emitted in the sustain period, and an address pulse Padd is applied to the third electrode 7 by an address voltage Va.
dd is applied at about 80 V, and the second electrode 2 is supplied with a scan pulse Vscn which is sequentially scanned for each horizontal line.
Scn is applied at about 80 V to generate a discharge between the second electrode 3 and the third electrode 7, and this discharge is used as a pilot flame to further generate a discharge between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2. Charges are accumulated in the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 so that the discharge can be easily generated during the sustain period. In this period, the pixels in which no discharge occurs do not emit light for display in the next sustain period.

In the sustain period, only the pixel selected in the address period generates a sustain discharge by the sustain pulse Psus and emits light for display. The sustain pulse Psu applied during this sustain period
The number of s differs for each subfield. For example, when the number of subfields is 8, 1: 2: 4: 8: 16: 3
A weight of 2: 64: 128 is assigned. Here, by combining the light emission of the sub-fields in various ways, it is possible to display 256 gray levels.

In the erase period, a discharge weaker than the sustain discharge is generated to reduce the amount of wall charges, thereby preventing erroneous discharge in the next field. After this, the next subfield will be applied.

Hereinafter, a conventional PDP apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional PDP device.
1, second electrode driver 102, third electrode driver 1
03, a discharge control timing generation circuit unit 104, a subfield processing unit 105, an A / D converter 107 (analog / digital converter), a memory unit 106, and a synchronization signal separation processing unit 108.

The video signal 109 is supplied to the A / D converter 1
In step 07, the analog signal is converted into a digital signal, video data for one field is stored in the memory unit 106, separated into video data adapted to a plurality of subfields in the subfield processing unit 105, and the third electrode driver 103
Is output as data for each horizontal line. Also,
The discharge control timing generator outputs a discharge control timing signal based on the number of subfields and the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals to the first electrode driver 101, the second electrode driver 102, and the third electrode driver 103.

The PDP apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail.

A synchronizing signal separation processing section 108 separates a synchronizing signal from the video signal 109 and
7, a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal are given to the memory unit 106, the subfield processing unit 105, and the discharge control timing generation circuit unit 104.

The video signal 109 is supplied to the A / D converter 10
7 is input. The A / D converter 107 converts the video signal 109 into digital data of, for example, 8 bits and 256 gradations, and outputs the image data to the memory unit 106. The memory unit 106 has 8 bits for one field.
Digital data of 256 gradations is stored, and data for each bit is output to the subfield processing unit 105.

The subfield processing unit 105 converts digital data for each field into digital data for each subfield corresponding to the number of subfields. For example, in the case of 8 subfields, the data for each bit is used as it is for each subfield, but if the number of subfields is 12, in the upper bits, there are a plurality of subfields for one bit. Become.
In this way, the selected pixel data for each subfield is output to the third electrode driver 103 as data for each horizontal line. Further, information on the number of subfields is output to the discharge control timing generation circuit 104.

The discharge control timing generation circuit 104 includes:
A discharge control timing signal is generated based on the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal from the synchronization signal separation processing unit 108 and information on the number of subfields from the subfield processing unit 105, and the second electrode driver 102 and the first electrode Electrode driver 101 and third electrode driver 103
Give to each.

FIG. 14 shows the PDP of the PDP apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a DP drive circuit unit and an arrangement of electrodes. As shown in FIG. 14, the PDP has a configuration including a plurality of first electrodes 3, second electrodes 2, and third electrodes 7. The plurality of third electrodes 7 are arranged in the vertical direction of the screen, and the plurality of first electrodes 3 and the second electrodes 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction of the screen. Discharge cells are formed at the intersections of the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7, and one pixel is composed of the R, G, and B color discharge cells.

Here, the first, second and third electrode drivers 103 will be described. First electrode driver 10
1 denotes a sustain driver 201 and an erase driver 20
3 The sustain driver 201 connects the first electrode 3 to the sustain voltage Vsus during the setup period and the address period. In the sustain period, a different number of sustain pulses Psus are applied to all the first electrodes 3 by the sustain voltage Vsus in each subfield. Apply. The erasing driver 203 operates during the erasing period.
An erasing pulse Pera having a sufficiently low rising speed for erasing the accumulation of the wall charges is applied, and thereafter, the sustain voltage Vsus of the first electrode 3 is maintained.

The second electrode driver 102 includes a scan driver 202 and a sustain driver 201. The scan driver 202 sequentially drives a plurality of scan electrodes 2 by a plurality of scan pulses Pscn obtained by shifting a discharge control timing signal given from the discharge control timing generation circuit 104 in FIG. 13 in a vertical scan direction. The setup driver 204 simultaneously outputs a setup pulse Pset to the plurality of second electrodes 2 during a setup period. Sustain driver 20
1 is a first electrode driver 1 in the sustain period.
01 is synchronized with a plurality of second sustain pulses Psus.
It is output to the electrodes 2 all at once.

The third electrode driver 103 comprises an address driver 200. This address driver 20
0 is an address pulse P to a plurality of third electrodes 7 based on parallel data for each horizontal line given for each subfield from the subfield processing unit 105 in FIG.
add is applied.

Here, in the conventional AC type PDP, the luminous efficiency of the discharge by the sustain pulse Psus is about 1 [lm].
/ W], the screen brightness is lower than that of the CRT,
Also, it has been considered that high power consumption is a problem. this is,
This is because, in PDP, light emission obtained by one discharge has almost constant intensity and low luminance. Further, in one field period, there are a setup period and an address period that do not contribute to light emission, and occupy more than half of one field. Increasing the screen luminance within a limited time is addressed by increasing the number of sustain pulses Psus. Therefore, the sustain pulse Psu of the conventional PDP is
s has a frequency of about 200 KHz and a period of about 5 μsec. Here, the configuration of the sustain pulse Psus will be described. The sustain pulse Psus has a rise time and a fall time, and the PDP is a capacitive load, and about 500 nsec is required for each circuit such as a circuit for recovering reactive power due to the charge and discharge of the sustain pulse Psus. . Further, discharge does not start due to a statistical delay about 200 nsec after the rise of the sustain pulse Psus. In addition, the discharge duration is about 1 μsec. Therefore, the sustain pulse Psus is higher than that of the conventional PDP.
It is difficult to increase the screen brightness by increasing the frequency of the image. Also,
In a high-definition panel whose demand will increase in the future, the ratio of the barrier 6 separating pixels to the screen will increase. Since the barrier 6 does not contribute to light emission, the light emission area is reduced, and a further reduction in screen luminance is expected.

Various proposals have been made as measures against the improvement of the luminous efficiency of the PDP as described above, and are disclosed in JP-A-52-91373, JP-A-5-41164, JP-A-5-41165, Kaihei 6-2752
No. 02, JP-A-7-21929, etc.
Attempts have been made to increase the luminous efficiency by increasing the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes as luminous efficiency improving means, but sufficient luminous efficiency has not been obtained even by using the patent information.
This is because the patent information mainly depends on the structure of the panel, but it is not a driving method capable of obtaining a stable discharge state, so that the luminous efficiency was insufficient to the expected value.

However, in the PDP, the present applicant widens the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes, which is the distance between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 where the sustain discharge occurs, and increases the luminous efficiency to 2 [lm].
/ W], and a driving method and device for obtaining a PDP of not less than / W]. FIG. 17 shows a layout of the PDP driving unit and the electrodes, and FIG. 18 shows applied waveforms.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the PDP driving section and the electrode arrangement. The distance 53 between the discharge electrodes between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is increased as compared with the conventional PDP, and the driving circuit of the first electrode driving circuit is shown. An inductance 30 is connected in series to the output. In this case, the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 are composed of the transparent electrode 20 and the metal bus electrode 21, but may be composed of only the metal electrode. The electrode arrangement is such that the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2,
Although the electrode 2 and the first electrode 3 are shown in this order, the first electrode 3, the second
The electrodes 2 may be arranged alternately. Further, although the inductance 30 is connected, other means may be used. Due to this inductance 30, the voltage waveform applied to the PDP has a high voltage portion immediately after the application of the sustain pulse Psus, as compared with the output waveform of the drive circuit. The high voltage enables the discharge to be started even in the PDP in which the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes is widened. However, when a high voltage is continuously applied, the discharge current becomes excessive, the discharge current density increases, and the luminous efficiency decreases. For this reason, after applying a high voltage waveform, the present applicant lowered the applied voltage with an increase in the amount of discharge current, thereby lowering the discharge current density. Thereby, a PDP with high luminous efficiency can be obtained.

The width of the sustain pulse Psus is the first.
Sustain pulse Ps applied to electrode 3 and second electrode 2
The sum of the us widths is the sustain pulse period, and the period during which the sustain pulse Psus is not applied is not set. Further, the rising speed and the falling speed of the applied pulse were set to the same speed and 1.0 V / ns or more. As a result, the discharge electrode distance 53 between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is increased.
It has become possible to obtain a luminous efficiency of 2 [lm / W] or more in a PDP with an increased width.

[0026]

The PDP in which the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 on the first substrate 1 is widened is an enlarged driving view of the PDP shown in FIGS. The structure and the voltage waveform are applied to improve the luminous efficiency. However, in the conventional method of selecting a discharge pixel shown in FIG. 15, the wall charges, the space residual charges, and the metastable atoms after the sustain discharge are completed. Since the control is not appropriate, the sustain pulse Psus in the sustain period starts discharging without depending on the presence or absence of the address pulse Padd in the address period, and it is difficult to select an arbitrary pixel. Further, in the conventional PDP, a voltage waveform of about 400 V was applied as a setup discharge for lowering the address discharge for pixel selection to a low voltage, but the distance between the discharge electrodes of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 was 53%.
Is larger than that of the conventional PDP, so that a sufficient discharge cannot be generated at 400V. Therefore, when the applied voltage of the address pulse Padd is about 80 V in the related art, incomplete discharge occurs, and the sustain pulse Psus discharge in the sustain period becomes incomplete. In addition, a setup discharge exists irrespective of the display state of the PDP, the contrast ratio is reduced, and the display quality of the PDP is significantly reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a driving method and an apparatus for the case where the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is made larger than that of the conventional PDP.

[0028]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a method in which a first electrode 3, a second electrode 2, and a third electrode 7 are set to the same potential during an erasing period, so that a discharge space is formed. The remaining space residual charges and metastable atoms generated by collision of atoms are accumulated as wall charges of the same polarity on each electrode, thereby suppressing erroneous discharge. Further, a fourth electrode 40 is added to accumulate residual space charges during discharge, suppress diffusion to other discharge spaces, and enable discharge control. From these, high luminous efficiency is obtained when the electrode interval is wider than that of the conventional PDP,
The PDP can select any pixel.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a first substrate, and first and second electrodes arranged on the first substrate in parallel and alternately with each other. A second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; a third electrode disposed on the second substrate so as to be perpendicular to the first electrode; Electrode, second electrode and third
A driving circuit for driving the electrodes with an applied voltage having a predetermined waveform, wherein the plasma display apparatus generates a discharge between the first electrode and the second electrode. A wall charge of the same polarity is accumulated in the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, and a potential difference is not generated. The applied voltage having the predetermined waveform is, for example, the sum of the width of the sustain pulse Psus applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is the sustain pulse Psus cycle, and the rising speed and the falling speed of the applied waveform are about 1.0 [ V / ns]
As described above, the rising speed of the applied voltage waveform of the first electrode substantially coincides with the falling speed of the applied voltage waveform of the second electrode, and after applying a voltage sufficient for starting discharge, the first electrode and the second electrode
Surface discharge between the electrodes and the opposite discharge between the first electrode or the second electrode and the third electrode occur at the same time. After the discharge is started, the applied voltage decreases with an increase in the discharge current, and the discharge is stopped. Some are adjusted to the optimum amount of current.

With such a configuration, the space residual charges, metastable atoms, and the like after the end of the sustain period, which are the causes of the erroneous discharge, are accumulated in the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 without bias. Then, the potential difference due to the wall charge is reduced, the sum of the wall charge and the sustain pulse voltage Vsus does not exceed the discharge start voltage, and the sustain discharge is started depending on the address discharge, which has an effect of preventing erroneous discharge. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the non-discharge region existing in parallel with the first electrode and the second electrode, the fourth electrode is arranged in parallel with the first electrode. 2. The plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein electric charges generated in a discharge between the electrode and the second electrode are accumulated in the fourth electrode.

With such a configuration, in the sustain period, by absorbing a part of the discharge current, the discharge current density can be further reduced, the luminous efficiency is improved, and after the end of the sustain period, Has a function of accumulating space residual charges, metastable atoms, and the like diffused in the vertical direction without accumulating in the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7, and has an effect of suppressing erroneous discharge.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, of the electric charges generated in the discharge, electric charges diffused to a cell other than the selected cell are accumulated in a plurality of fourth electrodes. 3. The plasma display device according to item 1.

With such a configuration, by arranging a plurality of fourth electrodes 40, it becomes possible to adjust the accumulation of spatial residual charges, metastable atoms, and the like that diffuse in the vertical direction, which cannot be accumulated by one electrode, and erroneous discharge is prevented. Since the amount of adjustment of the discharge current can be suppressed and the amount of adjustment of the discharge current increases, the luminous efficiency is improved.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the width of the fourth electrode is different from the width of the first electrode and the second electrode. It is.

By adjusting the width of the fourth electrode 40 with such a configuration, the amount of discharge current between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 and the amount of space residual charges and metastable atoms diffused vertically can be reduced. It is possible to make detailed adjustments, to prevent erroneous discharge, and to improve the luminous efficiency. The invention described in claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that the fourth electrode is closer to the first electrode or the second electrode than the distance of the display discharge region between the first electrode and the second electrode. Claim 2
5. The plasma display device according to any one of items 1 to 4.

With such a configuration, the distance between the fourth electrode 40 and the first and second electrodes 3 and 2 is made shorter than the distance between display discharges, thereby enabling detailed adjustment of the discharge current amount. The erroneous discharge can be prevented, the luminous efficiency can be further improved, and a discharge can be generated between the fourth electrode 40 and the first and second electrodes 3 and 2 to enable discharge control.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method according to claim 6, wherein the first electrode and the fourth electrode closest to the first electrode and the second electrode and the second electrode are connected to each other. The plasma display device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a light shielding body is arranged between the fourth electrodes closest to each other.

With such a configuration, the first electrode 3 and the fourth electrode
When a setup discharge is performed between the electrodes 40 and between the second electrode 4 and the fourth electrode 40, the light emission due to the discharge is shielded to improve the contrast ratio.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that a light shielding body is arranged in a non-discharge region sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. It is a plasma display device of the description.

With such a configuration, the first electrode 3 and the fourth electrode
When a setup discharge is performed between the electrodes 40 and between the second electrode 4 and the fourth electrode 40, light emission due to the discharge is blocked, reflection of external light in the non-discharge region 51 is suppressed, and the contrast ratio is improved. Having.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present invention is characterized in that a discharge is generated between the first electrode or the second electrode and the fourth electrode. Is a plasma display device.

With such a configuration, the display discharge region 50
Has the effect that discharge can be generated without depending on the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the driving method of the plasma display apparatus according to any one of the second to eighth aspects, wherein the fourth electrode is connected to a predetermined potential.

With such a configuration, by connecting a predetermined potential to the fourth electrode 40, it becomes possible to adjust the amount of accumulated space residual charges, metastable atoms, and the like to a predetermined amount. It has the effect of improving luminous efficiency.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect
The fourth electrode closest to the second electrode or the second electrode is separated from the drive circuit or set to a high impedance state, and the other fourth electrodes are connected to a predetermined potential. 10. A driving method of the plasma display device according to any one of 2 to 9.

With such a configuration, the first electrode 3 and the second
When a discharge is generated between the electrodes 2, the fourth electrode 4 separated from the drive circuit or in a high impedance state
0 acts as a trigger electrode to generate a discharge, and the fourth electrode 40 connected to a predetermined potential adjusts the accumulation of space residual charges, metastable atoms and the like in detail, thereby facilitating the start of discharge. This has the effect of increasing the effect of preventing erroneous discharge.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention provides the first aspect.
The fourth electrode closest to the first electrode or the second electrode applies a potential to start discharge with the first electrode or the second electrode. A driving method for a plasma display device as described above.

With such a configuration, the first electrode 3, the second
By generating a discharge at the electrode 2 and the fourth electrode 40, sufficient space charge is generated in the discharge space, and the discharge starting voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is reduced.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first
11. The method of driving a plasma display device according to claim 3, wherein a setup discharge is generated between the second electrode and the fourth electrode and between the second electrode and the fourth electrode.

With such a configuration, the first electrode 3 and the fourth
Since the distance between the electrodes 40 and the distance between the second electrode 4 and the fourth electrode 40 can be set arbitrarily, the first electrode 3 and the fourth electrode 40 can be set.
In order to generate a set-up discharge between the second electrode 2 and the fourth electrode 40, a voltage similar to that of the conventional PDP may be applied, so that the discharge does not depend on the distance between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode. In addition, there is an effect that a stable setup discharge effect can be obtained.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

(Embodiment 1) The basic technical idea of the present invention is to provide a three-electrode surface discharge type ACDP with a first substrate 1
The distance 53 between the discharge electrodes of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 is increased, and the inductance 30 is connected in series between the output of the first electrode drive circuit and the PDP. Thereby, after reaching the discharge starting voltage, the applied voltage decreases with an increase in the discharge current,
The current amount is optimal for discharging. For this reason, in the PDP with improved screen luminance and light emission luminance, by connecting the potentials of the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 to the same voltage during the period after the end of the sustain discharge, the space residual charge, An object of the present invention is to provide a PDP with high brightness and high image quality by controlling metastable atoms and enabling a stable selection of an arbitrary pixel.

The PDP device used in the embodiment of the present invention,
The arrangement of the PDP drive circuit and the electrodes is the same as that of the conventional type shown in FIGS.
Same as 7.

FIG. 1 shows the voltage applied to each electrode in the present invention. One field period is divided into a setup period, an address period, a sustain period, and a discharge stop period.
The roles of the setup, address and sustain periods are the same as in the conventional PDP driving method. Here, when the erasing period of the conventional PDP driving method shown in FIG. 15 is applied to the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2, a potential difference is generated between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 after application of the erasing pulse Pera. Erase pulse P
Space residual charges, metastable atoms, and the like, which cannot be completely erased by era, accumulate again on the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2, and in the next field, sustain in the sustain period regardless of the presence or absence of the address pulse Padd. Pulse P
sus started to discharge, making it impossible to select an arbitrary pixel.

According to the present invention, in the conventional PDP, a period corresponding to the erasing period is defined as a discharge stop period, and the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 are set to arbitrary voltages so as to have the same potential. Here, it was set to 0V. However, the sustain voltage Vsus may be used. As a result, there is no potential difference between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 due to wall charges, spatial residual charges, and metastable atoms generated during the sustain period.
The discharge space does not exceed the discharge starting voltage, and no discharge occurs. Due to this discharge stop period, the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 on the first substrate 1 is increased, and even if the inductance 30 is connected in series to the output of the drive circuit for the first electrode, it is stable. Thus, an arbitrary pixel can be selected.

(Embodiment 2) The basic technical idea of the present invention relates to a three-electrode surface-discharge type ADPDP in which the distance 53 between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 of the first substrate 1 of the first substrate 1 is increased. , A fourth electrode 40 on the first substrate 1, a first electrode 3,
By arranging the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 in parallel in the non-light-emitting region existing in parallel with the second electrode 2, it is possible to stably select an arbitrary pixel, and achieve high brightness and high image quality. Na P
Provides DP.

FIG. 2 shows a PD used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a drive circuit unit and electrode arrangement diagram of P. FIG. A fourth electrode is arranged in a non-discharge space between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 on the first substrate 1. This time, the electrode material is the first electrode 3, the second
Although the same material as that of the electrode 2 was used, the material need not be the same. In addition, the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes becomes wider than that of the conventional PDP, and the ratio of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 preventing the light emission due to the sustain discharge from being emitted from the first substrate 1 decreases. The electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the fourth electrode 40 may be composed of the transparent electrode 20 and a metal bus electrode, or may be composed of only a metal bus electrode. Further, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show examples of arrangement of the fourth electrode 40. FIG. In FIG. 3, one fourth electrode 40 is arranged in the non-discharge region 51, and is configured by the transparent electrode 20 and the metal bus electrode 21. However, a configuration using only metal electrodes may be used. By arranging the fourth electrode 40, space charges, metastable atoms and the like diffused in the vertical direction are accumulated in the sustain period to prevent erroneous discharge, and remain in the discharge space during the discharge stop period. In other words, a space discharge and a metastable atom are accumulated to enable a sustain discharge depending on an address discharge. Further, by connecting the fourth electrode 40 to a predetermined voltage by an arbitrary potential setting driver 205,
It is possible to improve the effect of preventing diffusion in the vertical direction and suppressing the residual space charge and metastable atoms from remaining in the discharge space.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the width of the fourth electrode 40 is different from that of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2. 4th
The proximity of the electrode 40 to the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 facilitates the accumulation of space residual charges and metastable atoms, and prevents the diffusion in the vertical direction and the function of stopping the discharge. However, when the width of the transparent electrode 20 is increased and the metal bus electrode 21 is arranged only at the center, the resistance value between the first electrode 3 or the second electrode 2 and the fourth electrode 40 increases. For this reason, the metal bus electrodes 21 are arranged at both ends and the center.
Thereby, the resistance value between the first electrode 3 or the second electrode 2 and the fourth electrode 40 is reduced, and the function of preventing diffusion in the vertical direction and stopping the discharge is further improved. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a metal bus electrode 2 arranged at the center of the transparent electrode 20 is formed.
By increasing the width by one, the resistance value of the fourth electrode 40 can be adjusted.

FIG. 6 shows the voltage waveform applied to each electrode. First
The voltage waveforms applied to the electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 are the same as those in the first embodiment of the present invention. In all periods,
The voltage waveform applied to the fourth electrode 40 is connected to 0V. Accordingly, during the setup period, the address period, the sustain period, and the discharge stop period, the fourth electrode 40 exerts a function of preventing space residual charges, diffusion of metastable atoms in the vertical direction, and a discharge stop function, thereby suppressing erroneous discharge. Becomes possible. Here, since all the pixels are discharged during the setup period, the fourth electrode 40 is separated from the fourth electrode driver shown in FIG. 2 to be in a high impedance state. As a result, there is an electrode in a floating state near the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 where discharge occurs, and the setup discharge voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 can be reduced. . Also in the address period, the fourth electrode 40 is sequentially separated from the fourth electrode driver in synchronization with the scan pulse Pscn, and the address discharge voltage can be reduced. Also, in the sustain period, the fourth electrode 4
By separating 0 from the drive circuit, the sustain discharge voltage can be reduced. However, since the diffusion of space charge in the vertical direction increases, the fourth electrode 40 is separated from the drive circuit when the first sustain pulse Psus is applied. The sustain discharge is completely generated, and the second and subsequent sustain pulses Psus
At the time of application, by connecting the fourth electrode 40 to 0 V, diffusion in the vertical direction is prevented.

FIG. 8 shows an electrode arrangement diagram of a PDP when three fourth electrodes 40 are arranged. Thereby, the fourth electrode 40 on the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 side is separated from the fourth electrode driving circuit during the setup period, the address period, and the sustain period, and lowers each discharge voltage. The fourth electrode 40 at the center is always connected to 0 V in order to prevent the space residual charges and metastable atoms from vertically diffusing. In the discharge stop period, by connecting all the fourth electrodes 40 to 0 V, the space residual charges and metastable atoms are accumulated in the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, the third electrode 7, and the fourth electrode 40. By doing so, the discharge stop function is improved, and erroneous discharge is suppressed.

(Embodiment 3) The technical idea of the present invention is that, in a PDP in which the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes is widened, the setup discharge is stabilized by using the fourth electrode 40 arranged in the non-discharge region 51. High quality, high quality P
Provides DP.

FIG. 7 shows a PD according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. Three fourth electrodes 40 are arranged.
By arranging a plurality of fourth electrodes 40, the first electrodes 3
And the fourth electrode 40 on the second electrode 2 side can be controlled separately, and the fourth electrode 40 can be used as an electrode for a pilot discharge of a discharge between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2. It can be used as

In the case where the electrode arrangement of the PDP shown in FIG. 8 is used, the distance 53 between the discharge electrodes between the first electrode 3 and the fourth electrode 40 of the second electrode 2 is set to be substantially the same as that of the conventional PDP. , About 400 V, a discharge by the trigger pulse Ptrg starts, and this discharge is used as a pilot discharge of a setup discharge generated between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2.
The setup discharge voltage can be reduced.

As shown in the voltage waveforms applied to the respective electrodes in FIG. 9, the set-up discharge is caused by independently driving the fourth electrode 40 on the first electrode 3 side and the fourth electrode 40 on the second electrode 2 side. The setup discharge is generated not only between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2, but also between the first electrode 3 and the fourth electrode 40 and between the second electrode 2 and the fourth electrode 40. In this case, the fourth electrode 40 on the first electrode 3 side applies the same voltage waveform as the second electrode 2, and the fourth electrode 40 on the second electrode 2 side applies the first voltage waveform.
The same voltage waveform as that of the electrode 3 is applied. As a result, FIG.
As in the case of the applied voltage waveform of each electrode shown in FIG.
Positive wall charges are accumulated in the second electrode 2, and negative wall charges are accumulated in the second electrode 2. For this reason, the address discharge voltage in the address period decreases.

The fourth electrode 40 disposed at the center of the non-discharge region 51 is connected to 0 V to prevent the diffusion of the residual space charge and metastable atoms in the vertical direction, and to stop the discharge after the end of the sustain discharge. It is possible to promote erroneous discharge.

(Embodiment 4) The basic technical idea of the present invention is that a P-type electrode which generates a setup discharge between the fourth electrode 40, the first electrode 3, and the second electrode 2 disposed in the non-discharge region 51 is used.
In DP, a light-shielding body 60 is
To provide a high-quality and high-quality PDP with reduced background light and improved contrast ratio.

FIG. 10 shows P in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an electrode arrangement diagram of a DP. The driving method is the same as in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As described in the third embodiment of the present invention, when the fourth electrode 40 is used as a setup discharge electrode, as shown in FIG.
Light shields 60 are provided between the electrodes 40 and between the second electrode 4 and the fourth electrode 40. As a result, the setup discharge that has been emitted for each subfield without depending on the pixel state is not output from the first substrate 1 to the outside, and the contrast ratio can be improved. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, a light shielding body 60 is arranged between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 so as to cover the non-discharge region 51. As a result, the light emission due to the setup discharge is not output from the first substrate 1, and the non-discharge region 51 can be suppressed from being reflected by external light, so that the contrast ratio can be improved.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2 and the third electrode 3 are formed in a case where the interval between the electrodes for sustain discharge is wider than that of the conventional PDP and a positive column discharge is generated. By setting the electrodes 7 to the same potential, the space residual charge,
The metastable atoms are accumulated in the first electrode 3, the second electrode 2, and the third electrode 7 as wall charges of the same polarity. Furthermore, by disposing the fourth electrode 40 in the non-discharge region 51 between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 in parallel to the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 2 and perpendicular to the third electrode 7, the discharge is performed. An extra charge in the space is accumulated on the fourth electrode 40, and erroneous discharge can be suppressed. This has an advantageous effect that discharge control by the positive column can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a timing chart of voltage waveforms applied to respective electrodes of a PDP according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a drive circuit unit and electrode arrangement of the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a PDP according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a PDP in which a fourth electrode width is increased according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of electrodes of a PDP according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of voltage waveforms applied to each electrode of the PDP according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a drive circuit unit and electrode arrangement of a PDP according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a PDP in which a plurality of fourth electrodes are arranged in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of a voltage waveform applied to each electrode of a PDP in which a fourth electrode is independently driven according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a PDP provided with a light shielding body according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a PDP in which a light-shielding member according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided over the entire non-discharge region.

FIG. 12 is a sectional perspective view of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional PDP device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a drive circuit unit and electrode arrangement of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart of a voltage waveform applied to each electrode of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode arrangement of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a drive circuit unit and electrode arrangement in a conventional PDP.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing an applied waveform in a conventional PDP.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 first substrate 2 second electrode 3 first electrode 4 dielectric layer 5 protective film layer 6 barrier 7 third electrode 8 phosphor 9 second substrate 20 transparent electrode 21 metal bus electrode 30 inductance 40 fourth electrode 41 first electrode The fourth electrode closest to the second electrode 42 The fourth electrode closest to the second electrode 50 Display discharge area 51 Non-discharge area 52 Setup discharge area 53 Distance between discharge electrodes 60 Light shield 100 Plasma display panel 101 Driver for first electrode 102 Second electrode Driver 103 Third electrode driver 104 Discharge control timing generation circuit 105 Subfield processor 106 Memory 107 A / D converter 108 Synchronous signal separation processor 109 Video signal 200 Address driver 201 Sustain driver 202 Scan driver 203 Erasure driver 204 Set Up driver 205 any potential setting driver

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Kono 3-10-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Giken Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshio Watanabe 3-chome, Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture No. 10 No. 1 Matsushita Giken Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C040 FA02 FA04 GA02 GB03 GB06 GC02 GC06 GE07 GF08 GG03 LA05 LA14 LA18 MA02 MA03 MA17 MA19 MA30 5C080 AA05 DD26 DD30 EE30 FF09 GG08 HH04 JJ06 JJ07 KK01

Claims (12)

[Claims] A first substrate, first and second electrodes arranged on the first substrate in parallel and alternately with each other, and disposed opposite to the first substrate; A second substrate, a third electrode disposed on the second substrate so as to be perpendicular to the first electrode, and a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, A plasma display device having a driving circuit driven by an applied voltage having a waveform and generating a discharge between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein during a period in which no discharge occurs, the first A plasma display device, wherein wall charges of the same polarity are accumulated in an electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, and a potential difference is not generated. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a fourth electrode is disposed in a non-discharge region existing in parallel with the first electrode and the second electrode in parallel with the first electrode, and a fourth electrode is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. 2. The plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein electric charges generated in the discharge are accumulated in the fourth electrode. 3. The plasma display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, of the electric charges generated in the discharge, electric charges diffused to other than the selected cell are accumulated in the plurality of fourth electrodes. 4. The width of the fourth electrode is equal to the width of the first electrode and the second electrode.
4. The plasma display device according to claim 2, wherein said electrode is different from said electrode. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the fourth electrode is closer to the first electrode or the second electrode than a distance of a display discharge region between the first electrode and the second electrode. The plasma display device according to any one of the above. 6. The first electrode and the fourth electrode closest to the first electrode, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode closest to the second electrode. The plasma display device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a light shielding body is arranged between the plasma display devices. 7. The plasma display device according to claim 2, wherein a light-shielding member is arranged in a non-discharge region sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode. 8. The plasma display device according to claim 2, wherein a discharge is generated between the first electrode or the second electrode and the fourth electrode. 9. The method of driving a plasma display device according to claim 2, wherein the fourth electrode is connected to a predetermined potential. 10. The fourth electrode closest to the first electrode or the second electrode is separated from the drive circuit or brought into a high impedance state, and the other fourth electrodes are connected to a predetermined potential. 10. The driving method of a plasma display device according to claim 2, wherein: 11. A fourth electrode closest to the first electrode or the second electrode applies a potential to start discharge with the first electrode or the second electrode. A method for driving a plasma display device according to any one of claims 3 to 10. 12. The plasma display according to claim 3, wherein a setup discharge is generated between the first electrode and the fourth electrode and between the second electrode and the fourth electrode. How to drive the device.