JP2003015597A - Display device and driving method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize plasma discharging by adjusting the potentials of pulses applied to discharge electrodes, and to suppress mis-discharging and irregular discharging. SOLUTION: In a plasma cell of panel 20, discharging channels, having a pair of discharging electrodes, are provided in a row form and a display cell which is provided with signal electrodes in a columnar form. The plasma cell and the display cell are laminated, and pixels are provided at the crossing sections of the discharging channels and the signal electrodes. Drive circuits 21 and 22 of the column side successively apply discharging pulses to the discharging channels to generate plasma. Thus, pixels are selected by units of rows. A driving circuit 23 of the column side supplies image signals to the signal electrodes and writes the image signals to selected pixels. In the circuit 22, plasma discharging is stabilized and the write operation of the image signals to the display cell is also stabilized by using discharging pulses, in which the rising voltage is set higher and the latter half voltage is made lower and the image quality is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device and a driving method thereof. Specifically, it relates to a driving technique of a plasma addressed display device having a flat panel in which a plasma cell and a display cell are overlapped.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a schematic partial sectional view showing an example of a conventional plasma addressed display device. As shown in the figure, the plasma addressed display device is composed of a flat panel in which a display cell 11 and a plasma cell 10 are laminated with an intermediate sheet 3 interposed therebetween. The plasma cell 10 is assembled using the glass substrate 1. The glass substrate 1 is joined to the intermediate sheet 3 by a frit seal (not shown) or the like, and an ionizable gas is sealed in the gap between the two. Helium, neon, argon, xenon, etc. are selected as the gas species. On the surface of the glass substrate 1, covered electrodes 7 covered with the transparent dielectric 2 are formed in stripes. The covered electrode 7 is made of a transparent conductive material. A bus electrode 8 made of a metal material is formed on each covered electrode 7 to reduce the resistance of the covered electrode 7. An exposed electrode 6 is formed on the transparent dielectric 2. Further, a partition wall 9 is formed so as to be aligned with the exposed electrode 6. The top of the partition wall 9 is in contact with the intermediate sheet 3. The striped space surrounded by the pair of barrier ribs 9 constitutes a discharge channel. The discharge channel is filled with an ionizable gas, and the combination of the covering electrode 7 and the exposed electrode 6 functions as a discharge electrode, and a plasma discharge is generated in the discharge channel.

On the other hand, the display cell 11 is composed of the upper glass substrate 0. Signal electrodes 5 made of a transparent conductive material are formed in stripes on the inner surface of the glass substrate 0. The signal electrode 5 on the display cell 11 side and the discharge channel on the plasma cell 10 side are orthogonal to each other, and a pixel is defined at the intersection of the two. The glass substrate 0 is bonded to the intermediate sheet 3 at a predetermined gap via a sealing material (not shown). Liquid crystal 4, for example, is filled in this gap as an electro-optical substance.

In the plasma addressed display device having such a configuration, the discharge channels for plasma discharge are line-sequentially switched and scanned, and an image signal is applied to the signal electrode 5 on the display cell 1 side in synchronization with this scanning. The display is driven by. When plasma discharge is generated in the discharge channel, the inside becomes almost uniformly at the anode potential, and pixel selection is performed line by line. That is, one discharge channel corresponds to one scanning line and functions as a sampling switch. When an image signal is applied to each signal electrode with the plasma sampling switch turned on,
Sampling is performed and the gradation (brightness) of the pixel can be controlled. Even after the plasma sampling switch is turned off, the image signal is held in the pixel as it is. The display cell 1 modulates incident light from a backlight (not shown) into emitted light according to an image signal to display an image.

The operation of the display device shown in FIG. 11 will be further described with reference to FIG. A discharge pulse as shown in the drawing is applied to the exposed electrode and the covering electrode which form a pair in the discharge channel, and plasma discharge is generated in the discharge channel. In the figure, 61 represents the exposed electrode potential and 71 represents the covered electrode potential. Reference numeral 72 represents the wall potential of the transparent dielectric 2 formed on the covered electrode. When the discharge is repeatedly performed, the positive wall potential is formed in the period T1. By applying the pulse to the exposed electrode at the timing t1, the difference between the exposed electrode potential 61 and the wall potential 72 exceeds the withstand voltage of the gas, and a discharge is generated. In the subsequent period T2, the wall potential 72 approaches the exposed electrode potential 61. Next, when the pulse is applied to the covering electrode at the timing t3 after the period T3, the potential difference between the electrode and the exposed electrode overlaps with the wall potential 72 and also exceeds the withstand voltage of gas, and plasma discharge occurs. . Thereafter, the wall potential 72 approaches the exposed electrode potential 61 in the period T4. After this, even if the covered electrode potential 71 rises at the timing t4, no discharge occurs, so that the wall potential 72 becomes positive in the subsequent period T5. The writing of the image signal to the display cell is performed in synchronization with the plasma discharge generated at the timing t3. At this time, the exposed electrode functions as an anode and serves as a reference for the plasma positive column potential generated in the discharge channel. The plasma address display device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is of a so-called AC type because plasma discharge is generated between the coated electrode and the exposed electrode via the dielectric.

[0006]

When an AC type plasma addressed display device is driven by a conventional square wave pulse as shown in FIG. 12, if the absolute value of the voltage of the pulse applied to the covering electrode is high, the pulse is applied. Rising timing t
Due to the wall potential generated at 4, erroneous discharge is likely to occur.
Since the erroneous discharge is also generated by the voltage applied to the display cell side after that, the writing operation of the image signal becomes abnormal and the display quality is degraded. On the other hand, if the absolute value of the pulse voltage is reduced, the original discharge that should occur at the falling time t3 of the pulse applied to the coated electrode becomes insufficient, and the plasma discharge becomes unstable and the display quality is also degraded.

In addition to the AC type shown in FIG. 11, the plasma address display device also has a DC type in which plasma discharge is generated between exposed electrodes. Even in the case of the DC type, when driving with a simple square pulse and driving with a discharge current as low as possible in order to extend the life, the rise of discharge becomes unstable and an irregular state occurs, so the voltage cannot be lowered so much. . On the contrary, when the voltage is increased, the discharge current also increases, and particularly in the DC type, the spatter accompanying the discharge remarkably increases and the life is adversely affected.

[0008]

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technique, the present invention adjusts the potential of the pulse applied to the discharge electrode in the plasma addressed display device to stabilize the plasma discharge and to prevent erroneous discharge. The purpose is to suppress irregular discharge. The following measures have been taken to achieve this purpose. That is, a plasma cell having discharge channels having at least a pair of discharge electrodes in rows and a display cell having signal electrodes in columns are stacked, and pixels are provided at intersections of each discharge channel and each signal electrode. A flat panel, a row drive circuit that sequentially applies discharge pulses to each discharge channel to generate plasma, and thereby selects pixels on a row-by-row basis, and an image signal is supplied to each signal electrode. And a column drive circuit for writing an image signal to the generated pixel, the row drive circuit changes one of the pair of discharge electrodes from a first potential to a second potential and then a first potential. And a second electric potential, which changes to a third electric potential between the first electric potential and a second electric potential, and periodically applies a discharge pulse returning to the first electric potential. Voltage is applied in synchronization with the voltage application means And having a second voltage applying means for generating a sequential plasma in each discharge channel.

In one aspect, the discharge electrode is made of a transparent conductor and is covered with a transparent dielectric, and the row driving circuit generates plasma by AC discharge through the dielectric. In another aspect, one of the pair of discharge electrodes is made of a transparent conductor and is covered with a transparent dielectric, while the other of the discharge electrodes is exposed, and the row drive circuit removes the dielectric. A plasma is generated by the AC discharge through and the exposed discharge electrode functions as a reference potential of the plasma. In another aspect, both of the pair of discharge electrodes are exposed, and the row drive circuit generates plasma by DC discharge.

Preferably, the row drive circuit has a second potential and a second power source in addition to a first power source that generates a voltage of a first potential and a third potential in order to generate the discharge pulse. A second power supply that generates a voltage with the potential of 3 is used. Alternatively,
The row drive circuit, in order to generate the discharge pulse,
A first power supply that generates a voltage of a first potential and a third potential and a capacitor that generates a second potential are used. Alternatively, the row drive circuit may generate a first potential and a third potential to generate the discharge pulse.
And a resonance circuit that generates a second potential by LC resonance.

According to the present invention, in the plasma addressed display device, by using the discharge pulse set so that the initial voltage is high and the latter voltage is low, the plasma discharge is stabilized and the image for the display cell is displayed. It is possible to stabilize the signal writing operation and improve the image quality.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration and operation of the display device according to the present invention. As shown in (A), the display device basically includes a display panel 20, an exposed electrode drive circuit 21, a covered electrode drive circuit 22, a signal circuit 23, and a control circuit 24. The panel 20 is shown in FIG.
It has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the exposed electrode 6
And a display cell 11 provided with column-shaped signal electrodes 5 and a plasma cell 10 provided with row-shaped discharge channels having coating electrodes 7, and pixels are arranged at the intersections of the respective discharge channels and the signal electrodes. It is a structure provided in a shape. Returning to FIG. 1, the exposed electrode drive circuit 21 drives the exposed electrode of the panel 20, the covered electrode drive circuit 22 similarly drives the covered electrode of the panel 20, and the signal circuit 23 is also connected to the signal electrode of the panel 20. Drive this. The control circuit 24 performs synchronous control of the exposed electrode drive circuit 21, the covered electrode drive circuit 22, and the signal circuit 23.

Referring to the timing chart of (B),
The operation of the display device shown in (A) will be described. The potential of the exposed electrode driven by the exposed electrode drive circuit 21 is represented by 61, the potential of the covered electrode also driven by the coated electrode drive circuit 22 is represented by 71, and the wall potential of the transparent dielectric covering the coated electrode is represented by 72. It is shown. As a feature of the present invention, the covered electrode potential 71 changes from a first potential to a second potential as shown in the figure, and after changing to a third potential between the first and second potentials, A discharge pulse is periodically applied from the covered electrode drive circuit 22 so as to return to the potential of 1. This operation will be described together with the behavior of the wall potential 72 on the surface of the dielectric that covers the coated electrode. When the repeated discharge is performed, the covered electrode potential 71 is at the first potential and the positive wall potential 72 is formed in the period T1. Timing t
When the exposure electrode pulse is applied at 1, the potential difference from the wall potential exceeds the withstand voltage of gas, and plasma discharge occurs. As a result, the wall potential 72 changes to the exposed electrode potential 6 during the period T2.
Approaching 1. Thereafter, at timing t2, the exposed electrode potential 61 returns to 0V. Next, when the covered electrode potential 71 changes from the first potential to the second potential by the application of the discharge pulse at timing t3 after the lapse of the period T3, this potential and the wall potential 72 are superposed, and the potential difference between the exposed electrode and the gas is the gas. The withstand voltage is exceeded and plasma discharge occurs. As a result, the wall potential 72 approaches the exposed electrode potential 61. Timing t
In the middle of the subsequent period T4 of 3, the covered electrode potential 71 becomes the third potential, and a potential difference is generated between it and the wall potential 72. After that, since no discharge occurs at the rising timing t4 of the covered electrode potential 71, this potential difference becomes the positive wall potential as it is (period T5). As described above, at the timing t3, the voltage applied to the discharge channel space is high, and strong discharge occurs. On the other hand, since the wall potential can be set low in the period T5, erroneous discharge is suppressed without applying an excessive voltage, and the image quality is improved. improves. The writing of the image signal to the display cell side is performed by discharging at the timing t3. At this time, the exposed electrode functions as an anode and serves as a reference for the positive electrode potential of the plasma.

The display device according to the present invention basically comprises a flat panel, a row drive circuit and a column drive circuit.
In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the panel 20 is a flat panel, the exposed electrode drive circuit 21 and the covered electrode drive circuit 22 are row drive circuits, and the signal circuit 23 is a column drive circuit. The flat panel has a structure in which a plasma cell having discharge channels having at least a pair of discharge electrodes (for example, an exposed electrode and a covering electrode) arranged in a row and a display cell having signal electrodes arranged in a column are stacked to form each discharge channel. A pixel is provided at the intersection of each signal electrode. The row driving circuit sequentially applies a discharge pulse to each discharge channel to generate plasma, thereby selecting pixels in units of rows. The column driving circuit supplies an image signal to each signal electrode and writes the image signal to the pixel selected accordingly. As a characteristic feature, the row drive circuit changes one of the pair of discharge electrodes from the first potential to the second potential and then changes to the third potential between the first potential and the second potential. Then, a voltage is applied to the other of the pair of discharge electrodes in synchronization with the first voltage applying means for periodically applying the discharge pulse returning to the first potential, and each discharge channel is applied with the voltage. Second voltage applying means for sequentially generating plasma. One of the pair of discharge electrodes is made of a transparent conductor and is covered with a transparent dielectric, while the other discharge electrode is exposed. In this case, the row drive circuit generates plasma by AC discharge through the dielectric, and the exposed discharge electrode functions as a reference potential of plasma. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the covered electrode drive circuit 22 constitutes a first voltage applying means, and the covered electrode of the pair of discharge electrodes is applied to the covered electrode from the first potential to the second potential. To a third potential between the first and second potentials,
A discharge pulse returning to the first potential is periodically applied. On the other hand, the exposed electrode drive circuit 21 constitutes a second voltage applying means,
A voltage is applied to the exposed electrode of the pair of discharge electrodes in synchronization with the first voltage applying means to sequentially generate plasma in each discharge channel.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a concrete example of the structure of the covered electrode drive circuit shown in FIG. 1, which is for forming the covered electrode potential 71 as shown in FIG. 1B. It has a circuit configuration. As shown in the figure, the present drive circuit includes a first power supply 35 that generates a voltage of a first potential and a third potential, and a second power supply 35.
Second power supply 34 for generating a voltage between the second potential and the third potential
Are connected via a plurality of switches 30 to 33, and a discharge pulse applied to the covered electrode as shown in FIG. 1B is generated. In the illustrated coated electrode drive circuit,
The part indicated by the arrow is the output terminal.

The switches 30 to 33 are turned on / off in accordance with a predetermined sequence to generate a predetermined discharge pulse. Specifically, the periods T1 to T3 shown in FIG.
Then switch 30 is on, 31 is off, 32 is on,
33 is off. Next, at the timing t3, the switch 30 is turned off and the switch 31 is turned on, then the switch 32 is turned off and the switch 33 is turned on. With such a configuration, the power supplies 34 and 35 are connected in series and the second potential is output. Immediately after this, the switch 30 is turned on and 31 is turned off, 32 is turned off and 33 is turned on, and the potential of the covering electrode becomes the intermediate third potential. At the timing t4 after the period T4 ends, the switch 30 is turned on and 31 is turned off.
32 turns on and 33 turns off, returning to the original state.

As described above, since the drive circuit generates the discharge pulse including the overshoot at the falling portion, it is possible to generate the discharge pulse including the first potential and the third potential. In addition, the second power supply that generates the voltage of the second potential and the third potential is used.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the covered electrode drive circuit. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that a capacitor 36 is used instead of the second power supply 35. The diode 37 is for backflow prevention. By controlling the switches 30 to 33 so that the power source 34 and the capacitor 36 are connected in parallel when the pulse is not selected and the power source 34 and the capacitor 36 are connected in series when the pulse is applied, an overshoot is included in the fall. Pulses can be generated. Specifically, first, the switch 30 is turned on to charge the capacitor 36,
The switch 30 is turned off and the switch 31 is turned on to generate an overshoot. As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in order to generate the discharge pulse, the first power supply that generates the voltage of the first potential and the third potential, and the capacitor that generates the second potential. And are used.

FIG. 4 shows the waveform of the pulse output from the drive circuit shown in FIG. The overshoot waveform can be adjusted by matching the capacity of the capacitor with the capacity of the connected discharge channel.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the column driving circuit. In this embodiment, the coil 38 is used to generate a pulse including overshoot by so-called LC resonance. When the inductance L of the coil 38 is set so as to satisfy the following expression with respect to the capacitance C and the resistance R of the discharge channel connected to the output terminal of the illustrated column drive circuit, an overshoot of the waveform is created by resonance. You can Q = (1 / R) (L / C) ^1/2 > 0.5

FIG. 6 shows an example of waveforms output from the drive circuit shown in FIG. In order to output this waveform, the drive circuit of FIG. 5 first causes the switch 32 to turn on, then turns it off and turns on the switch 33 to cause resonance.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the drive circuit shown in FIG. The drive circuit shown in FIG. 5 is suitable for a small panel, whereas the drive circuit shown in FIG. 7 is suitable for driving a relatively large panel. This drive circuit also generates the discharge pulse including the overshoot so that the first potential and the third potential are generated.
It includes a first power supply 35 that generates a voltage with the potential and a coil 39 that is used in a resonance circuit that generates a second potential by LC resonance.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the operation waveform shown in FIG. 1 (B). In the driving method shown in FIG. 1B, a negative pulse is applied to both the exposed electrode and the coated electrode, whereas in the driving method shown in FIG. 8, a positive pulse is applied to the coated electrode. Is being applied. Even in the case of this example, the potential 71 of the covered electrode changes from the first potential to the second potential, and then changes to the third potential between the first and second potentials, and then the first potential. Discharge pulses are periodically applied so as to return to the potential. In particular, when the discharge pulse changes from the first potential to the second potential, the wall potential 72 on the covered electrode changes greatly, and stable plasma discharge can be obtained.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. As shown in (A), it has a flat structure in which the plasma cell 10 and the display cell 11 are stacked with the intermediate sheet 3 interposed therebetween. The difference from the panel shown in FIG. 11 is that each discharge channel in the plasma cell 10 is composed of a pair of covered electrodes 7. An exposed electrode is formed below the partition wall 9, but this does not directly participate in plasma discharge and functions as a reference electrode 12.

(B) is a waveform diagram showing a potential change of the pair of covered electrodes. The potential 73 of the one covered electrode and the potential 74 of the other covered electrode alternately change, and in each case, after falling from the first potential to the second potential, the potential rises to the third potential and then to the first potential. Return to. By applying the illustrated discharge pulse to the pair of covered electrodes 7, a stable AC discharge is generated in each discharge channel. This AC discharge is a pure AC discharge through the transparent dielectric 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. As shown in (A), a DC type is used as the plasma cell 10 in this embodiment, and each discharge channel includes a pair of exposed electrodes. One of the exposed electrodes functions as the cathode 13, and the other one is the anode 1.
Function as 4. The anode 14 is arranged under each partition wall 9, while the cathode 13 is arranged between the anodes 14 on both sides.

As shown in (B), the anode potential 63 is grounded to the first potential of 0 V, while the cathode potential 64 is changed from the first potential to the second potential by applying a driving pulse.
After falling to the potential of 1, the potential once returns to the third potential and then returns to the first potential. With such a configuration, stable plasma discharge can be generated at a deep fall from the first potential to the second potential. Immediately thereafter, the second electric potential is returned to the third electric potential to suppress the discharge current, which can contribute to the extension of the life of the panel. In addition, irregular discharge can be suppressed.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, by controlling the waveform of the pulse applied to the discharge electrode so that the initial voltage is high and the latter voltage is low, plasma discharge and It is possible to stabilize the data writing operation and thus achieve high image quality. Further, the driving voltage can be lowered, which leads to power saving. Furthermore, in a display device using DC discharge, the operating current can be reduced, and deterioration over time due to sputtering can be suppressed. still,
The present invention is not limited to the plasma address type display device,
It can also be applied to an ordinary plasma display device, and in that case, it is considered that it contributes to improvement of luminous efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a drive circuit incorporated in the display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a drive circuit.

FIG. 4 is a waveform chart of pulses output from the drive circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the drive circuit.

6 is a waveform diagram of pulses output from the drive circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the drive circuit.

8 is a waveform chart showing another example of the driving method of the display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional display device.

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the conventional display device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

0 ... glass substrate, 1 ... glass substrate, 2 ... transparent dielectric, 3 ... intermediate sheet, 4 ... liquid crystal, 5 ...
・ Signal electrode, 6 ... Exposed electrode, 7 ... Covered electrode, 9
... Partition walls, 10 ... Plasma cell, 11 ... Display cell, 20 ... Panel, 21 ... Exposed electrode drive circuit, 22 ... Covered electrode drive circuit, 23 ... Signal circuit, 24 ... Control circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) G09G 3/282 H01J 11/02 B 3/288 17/04 3/36 G09G 3/28 H H01J 11/02 B 17/04 F (72) Inventor Masanobu Tanaka 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) within Sony Corporation 2H089 HA36 QA16 TA07 2H093 NA16 ND38 5C006 BB18 EA03 FA47 5C040 FA01 FA02 FA09 GB03 GC06 GC12 MA20 5C080 AA05 AA10 BB05 DD09 DD26 FF12 JJ02 JJ04 JJ06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plasma cell having discharge channels having at least a pair of discharge electrodes arranged in a row and a display cell having signal electrodes arranged in a column are stacked at an intersection of each discharge channel and each signal electrode. A flat panel provided with pixels, a row drive circuit that sequentially applies discharge pulses to each discharge channel to generate plasma, thereby selecting pixels in row units, and an image signal is supplied to each signal electrode. In the display device including a column drive circuit for writing an image signal to the selected pixel, the row drive circuit changes one of the pair of discharge electrodes from the first potential to the second potential and then the second potential. A first voltage applying unit that periodically applies a discharge pulse that changes to a third potential between the first potential and the second potential and then returns to the first potential; and to the other of the pair of discharge electrodes. , In synchronization with the first voltage applying means Display device characterized by having a second voltage applying means for generating a applying a pressure sequentially plasma to each discharge channel. 2. The discharge electrode is made of a transparent conductor and is covered with a transparent dielectric, and the row drive circuit generates plasma by AC discharge through the dielectric. 1. The display device according to 1. 3. One of the pair of discharge electrodes is made of a transparent conductor and is covered with a transparent dielectric, while the other discharge electrode is exposed, and the row drive circuit is arranged to The display device according to claim 1, wherein plasma is generated by AC discharge via the discharge electrode and the exposed discharge electrode functions as a reference potential of the plasma. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein both of the pair of discharge electrodes are exposed, and the row drive circuit generates plasma by DC discharge. 5. The row drive circuit includes a second power supply and a third power supply in addition to a first power supply that generates a voltage of a first potential and a third potential in order to generate the discharge pulse. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a second power source that generates a voltage having a potential of 2 is used. 6. The row drive circuit includes a first power supply that generates a voltage of a first potential and a third potential to generate the discharge pulse, and a capacitor that generates a second potential. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The row drive circuit generates a second potential by LC resonance, a first power supply generating a voltage of a first potential and a third potential in order to generate the discharge pulse. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a resonance circuit. 8. A plasma cell having discharge channels having at least a pair of discharge electrodes arranged in rows and a display cell having signal electrodes arranged in columns are stacked at an intersection of each discharge channel and each signal electrode. In order to drive a flat panel with pixels, a discharge pulse is sequentially applied to each discharge channel to generate plasma, and a row drive procedure for selecting pixels on a row-by-row basis, and an image signal to each signal electrode A column driving procedure for supplying an image signal to a pixel selected thereby, the row driving procedure comprising applying one of a pair of discharge electrodes from a first potential to a second potential. A first voltage applying procedure of periodically applying a discharge pulse that changes to a potential and then to a third potential between the first potential and the second potential and then returns to the first potential; On the other side of the pair of discharge electrodes, the first The driving method of a display device, characterized in that a voltage is applied in synchronism with the application of pressure steps performed and a second voltage application step of generating the sequential plasma in each discharge channel.