JP2005338458A - Method for driving plasma display panel, and plasma display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driving method and a plasma display apparatus which can reduce power consumption by reducing reactive power in the case of driving a plasma display panel capable of shortening a discharge delay at the time of writing operation even in a highly accurate state and realizing stable writing discharge by a driving method of which the light emitting efficiency is improved. <P>SOLUTION: The plasma display panel having a plurality of main discharge cells formed by scanning electrodes SC<SB>1</SB>to SC<SB>n</SB>, maintaining electrodes SU<SB>1</SB>to SU<SB>n</SB>and data electrode D<SB>1</SB>to D<SB>m</SB>and a plurality of priming discharge cells formed by the scanning electrodes SC<SB>1</SB>to SC<SB>n</SB>and priming electrodes PR<SB>1</SB>to PR<SB>n</SB>is driven by the combination of a plurality of sub-fields having an initializing period, a writing period and a maintaining period to perform gradation display, and at least in the maintaining period, a driving waveform of the same phase and the same polarity as that of a driving waveform to be applied to the data electrodes D<SB>1</SB>to D<SB>m</SB>is applied to the priming electrodes PR<SB>1</SB>to PR<SB>n</SB>. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving method of a plasma display panel and a plasma display device used for a wall-mounted television or a large monitor.

  A typical AC surface discharge plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as PDP) as an AC type has a front plate made of a glass substrate formed by arraying scan electrodes and sustain electrodes for performing surface discharge, and data electrodes. And a back plate made of a glass substrate. The scan electrode, the sustain electrode, and the data electrode are arranged to face each other so as to form a matrix, and to form a discharge space in the gap, and the outer periphery thereof is sealed with a sealing material such as glass frit. Discharge cells partitioned by barrier ribs are provided between the front plate and the rear plate, and a phosphor layer is formed in the discharge cells between the barrier ribs. In the PDP having such a configuration, color display is performed by generating ultraviolet rays by gas discharge and exciting the phosphors of R, G, and B colors with the ultraviolet rays to emit light.

  The PDP divides one field period into a plurality of subfields, and is driven by a combination of subfields that emit light to perform gradation display. Each subfield includes at least an initialization period, an address period, and a sustain period. In order to display image data, different signal waveforms are applied to the respective electrodes in the initialization period, the address period, and the sustain period.

  In the initialization period, for example, a positive pulse voltage is applied to all the scan electrodes, and necessary wall charges are accumulated on the protective film and the phosphor layer on the dielectric layer covering the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes.

  In the address period, the scan electrodes are scanned by sequentially applying negative scan pulses to all the scan electrodes. When there is display data, if a positive address pulse is applied to the data electrode while scanning the scan electrode, a discharge occurs between the scan electrode and the data electrode, and a wall is formed on the surface of the protective film on the scan electrode. A charge is formed.

  In the subsequent sustain period, a voltage sufficient to maintain the discharge is applied between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode for a certain period. Thereby, discharge plasma is generated between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, and the phosphor layer is excited to emit light for a certain period. In the discharge space where no data pulse is applied in the address period, no discharge occurs and excitation light emission of the phosphor layer does not occur.

  In such a PDP, a large discharge delay occurs in the discharge during the address period, and the address operation becomes unstable, or the address time is set long to completely perform the address operation, and the time spent in the address period becomes too long. There was a problem. In order to solve these problems, there has been proposed a PDP in which an auxiliary discharge electrode is provided on the front plate and the discharge delay is reduced by priming discharge generated by in-plane auxiliary discharge on the front plate side, and a driving method thereof (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

Further, in order to reduce the power consumption of the PDP whose screen size is increasing, the PDP emits light by generating an auxiliary discharge between the scan electrode or the sustain electrode and the data electrode prior to the sustain discharge in the sustain period. A driving method for improving the efficiency has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-297091 A JP 2001-5425 A

  In such a PDP, when the number of scanning electrodes is increased due to high definition, the time spent in the address period becomes longer, so the time spent in the sustain period must be reduced, and there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure luminance. . Furthermore, when the partial pressure of xenon (Xe), which is a discharge gas, is increased in order to achieve high luminance and high efficiency, the discharge start voltage increases and the discharge delay increases, resulting in deterioration of address characteristics. Challenges arise.

  In response to the demand for shortening the address period even in such a high definition, the conventional PDP that performs priming discharge in the plane of the front plate cannot sufficiently reduce the discharge delay at the time of addressing, or the priming discharge operating margin. However, there are problems such as small insufficiency and instability of operation caused by erroneous discharge. Further, since the priming discharge is performed in the plane of the front plate, there is a problem that priming particles more than particles necessary for priming are supplied to the adjacent discharge cells to cause crosstalk.

  Accordingly, the present applicant has proposed a PDP in which a priming electrode for performing priming discharge is provided on the back plate, and further, a priming discharge cell for performing priming discharge adjacent to a discharge cell that emits light is provided. The problem was solved, and it was filed as Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-320898 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-42862.

  However, in a PDP that has been refined by providing a priming electrode on such a back plate, since the priming electrode is provided on the back plate, a parasitic capacitance is formed between the priming electrode and the opposing data electrode with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween. Will occur. In particular, the above-described driving method with improved luminous efficiency has an effect of improving luminous efficiency, but on the other hand, when a driving pulse for auxiliary discharge is applied to the data electrode in the sustain period, the parasitic capacitance is charged. However, there is a problem that reactive power is generated that does not contribute to light emission.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and further reduces reactive power when driving a high-definition PDP by providing a priming electrode on a back plate by a driving method with improved luminous efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a driving method and a plasma display device that can reduce power consumption.

  In order to achieve such an object, a driving method of a PDP according to the present invention includes a scan electrode and a sustain electrode arranged on a first substrate so as to be parallel to each other, and a discharge space sandwiched between the first substrate. A data electrode arranged in a direction intersecting with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode on the second substrate arranged opposite to each other, a dielectric layer covering the data electrode, and provided on the dielectric layer and arranged in parallel with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode Provided with a plurality of priming electrodes, a plurality of main discharge cells formed by scan electrodes, sustain electrodes, and data electrodes, and a partition wall that partitions a plurality of priming discharge cells formed by the scan electrodes and the priming electrodes A display panel driving method, wherein one field is composed of a plurality of subfields having an initialization period, an address period, and a sustain period, A discharge is generated in the priming discharge cell between the priming electrode, a discharge is generated in the main discharge cell between the scan electrode or the sustain electrode and the data electrode in the sustain period, and applied to the data electrode in at least the sustain period In this method, a voltage having a driving waveform having the same phase and polarity as the driving voltage waveform is applied to the priming electrode.

  According to such a method, when a PDP that stabilizes the discharge characteristics by shortening the discharge delay at the time of address operation even when the definition is increased, the reactive power is further reduced when the PDP is driven by the driving method with improved light emission efficiency. Power consumption can be reduced.

  In addition, the discharge generated in the main discharge cell between the scan electrode or the sustain electrode and the data electrode in the sustain period precedes the sustain discharge generated in the main discharge cell between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the sustain period. Thus, preliminary discharge generated may be used. Also by such a method, reactive power can be reduced and power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, the preliminary discharge may be generated before the sustain discharge is generated and may be terminated after the sustain discharge is generated. Also by such a method, reactive power can be reduced and power consumption can be reduced.

  In addition, the number of times that the voltage of the drive waveform having the same phase and the same polarity as the waveform of the drive voltage applied to the data electrode in the sustain period is applied to the priming electrode may be equal to or less than the number of occurrences of the preliminary discharge. . Also by such a method, it is possible to drive while reducing power consumption by improving light emission efficiency and reducing reactive power. In this method, the reactive power can be reduced most when the number of times of application to the priming electrode is equal to the number of occurrences of preliminary discharge.

  In addition, the plasma display device of the present invention includes a scan electrode and a sustain electrode arranged on a first substrate so as to be parallel to each other, and a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate with a discharge space interposed therebetween. A data electrode disposed in a direction intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, a dielectric layer covering the data electrode, a priming electrode provided on the dielectric layer and disposed in parallel with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode A plasma display device having a plasma display panel comprising a plurality of main discharge cells formed of electrodes and data electrodes, and a partition wall that partitions a plurality of priming discharge cells formed of scan electrodes and priming electrodes. A scan electrode driving circuit for applying a scan pulse to the scan electrode at least in the address period, and at least in the sustain period A sustain electrode drive circuit for applying a sustain pulse to the pole, a data electrode drive circuit for applying a write pulse to the data electrode in at least the address period, and a preliminary discharge pulse to the data electrode in the sustain period; and at least in the address period Is configured to include a priming electrode driving circuit that applies a driving waveform for priming discharge to the priming electrode and applies a driving waveform having the same phase and polarity as the preliminary discharge pulse during the sustain period.

  According to such a configuration, when a PDP that stabilizes the discharge characteristics by shortening the discharge delay at the time of address operation even with high definition is driven by a driving method with improved light emission efficiency, the reactive power is further reduced. Power consumption can be reduced.

  The priming electrode driving circuit also has a switching circuit connected to the data electrode driving circuit, and the switching circuit preliminarily discharges the priming electrode when the data electrode driving circuit applies a preliminary discharging pulse to the data electrode during the sustain period. It may be configured to switch so as to apply a pulse. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to reduce reactive power and power consumption.

  According to the PDP driving method and the plasma display apparatus of the present invention, when driving a PDP that improves the light emission efficiency by driving the PDP that stabilizes the discharge characteristics by shortening the discharge delay during the address operation even when the definition is increased, Furthermore, reactive power can be reduced and power consumption can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a PDP according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure on the back substrate side of the panel.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the PDP, a front plate 50 made of a glass front substrate 21 as a first substrate and a back plate 60 made of a back substrate 31 as a second substrate sandwich the discharge space. The outer peripheral part is sealed with a sealing material such as glass frit (not shown). In the discharge space, a mixed gas such as neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe) is sealed as a discharge gas that emits ultraviolet rays by discharge.

  On the front substrate 21 of the front plate 50, a plurality of scanning electrodes 22 and sustaining electrodes 23 are formed in parallel with each other. At this time, two electrodes are alternately arranged so as to be sustain electrode 23 -scan electrode 22 -scan electrode 22 -sustain electrode 23-. The scan electrode 22 and the sustain electrode 23 are respectively composed of transparent electrodes 22a and 23a and metal bus bars 22b and 23b formed so as to overlap the transparent electrodes 22a and 23a. A light absorption layer 28 made of a black material or the like is provided between the adjacent scan electrodes 22 and the scan electrodes 22 and between the sustain electrodes 23 and the sustain electrodes 23 in order to increase the contrast during light emission.

  On the light absorption layer 28 where the scan electrodes 22 are adjacent to each other, an auxiliary electrode 22 b ′ is formed by extending a metal bus 22 b from one of the scan electrodes 22. Then, a front plate dielectric layer 24 made of lead-boron (Pb—B) glass or the like is formed so as to cover the scan electrode 22, the sustain electrode 23, and the light absorption layer 28, and further, magnesium oxide ( A protective layer 25 made of MgO) or the like is provided.

  On the back substrate 31 of the back plate 60, a plurality of data electrodes 32 are formed in parallel to each other in a direction intersecting with the scan electrodes 22 and the sustain electrodes 23. A dielectric layer 33a is formed so as to cover the data electrode 32, and the scan electrode 22 and the sustain electrode 23 are disposed on the dielectric layer 33a at a position corresponding to the auxiliary electrode 22b ′ provided on the front substrate 21. A plurality of priming electrodes 36 are formed in parallel. Further, a dielectric layer 33 b is provided so as to cover the priming electrode 36.

  In addition, barrier ribs 34 are formed on the dielectric layer 33b, and the barrier ribs 34 divide a discharge space to form a plurality of main discharge cells 40 formed by the scan electrodes 22, the sustain electrodes 23, and the data electrodes 32. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the barrier ribs 34 extend in the direction parallel to the vertical barrier ribs 34 a extending in the direction parallel to the data electrodes 32 and in the direction parallel to the scan electrodes 22 and the sustain electrodes 23, and a gap 41 is formed between the main discharge cells 40. It is comprised with the horizontal partition 34b to form.

  The gaps 41 have every other priming electrode 36, and the gaps 41 having the auxiliary electrode 22b 'and the priming electrode 36 are formed as priming discharge cells (hereinafter abbreviated as priming cells) 41a. Therefore, the main discharge cells 40 are formed in a lattice shape by the horizontal barrier ribs 34b and the vertical barrier ribs 34a provided so as to intersect the horizontal barrier ribs 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main discharge cell 40 has a phosphor layer 35 formed on the side surfaces of the partition walls 34 and on the dielectric layer 33b. The phosphor layer 35 corresponds to each data electrode 32 provided on the back plate 60, and the phosphor layers 35 that emit red, blue, and green light by ultraviolet rays are alternately provided and provided on the same data electrode 32. The main discharge cell 40 is formed with a phosphor layer 35 of the same color.

  When the front substrate 21 and the rear substrate 31 are disposed opposite to each other and sealed, the auxiliary electrode 22b ′ protruding on the light absorption layer 28 among the metal buses 22b of the scanning electrode 22 formed on the front substrate 21, and the rear substrate Alignment is performed so that the priming electrode 36 formed on 31 is parallel to and opposed to the priming cell 41a. That is, the PDP shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 performs a priming discharge between the auxiliary electrode 22b ′ formed on the front substrate 21 side and the priming electrode 36 formed on the back substrate 31 side. Yes. Further, in FIG. 1, the phosphor layer 35 is not formed on the priming cell 41a side, but this is because a priming discharge is easily generated by not providing a phosphor layer that functions to inhibit discharge. Furthermore, since the distance between the auxiliary electrode 22b 'and the priming electrode 36 is shorter than the distance between the data electrode 32 and the transparent electrode 22a, the priming discharge has a lower discharge start voltage than the address discharge and is likely to generate a discharge. Further, the data electrode 32 and the priming electrode 36 are insulated by the dielectric layer 33a, so that the priming discharge and the address discharge can be stabilized without being affected by each other.

  1 and 2, a dielectric layer 33b is further formed so as to cover the priming electrode 36. However, the dielectric layer 33b may not be formed.

FIG. 3 is an electrode array diagram of the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. M columns of data electrodes D _{1 to} D _m (data electrodes 32 in FIG. 1) are arranged in the column direction, and n rows of scan electrodes SC _{1 to} SC _n (scan electrodes 22 in FIG. 1) and n rows of data electrodes are arranged in the row direction. sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n (sustain electrodes 23 in FIG. 1) and the sustain electrodes SU ₁ - scan electrode SC ₁ - scan electrode SC ₂ - sustain electrode _SU 2 - · · · and so as to alternately arranged two by two Has been. In the first embodiment of the present invention, n / 2 so as to face the auxiliary electrodes 22b ′ (auxiliary electrodes 22b ′ in FIG. 1) of the scan electrodes SC ₁ , SC ₃ ,. Priming electrodes PR ₁ , PR ₃ ,... (Priming electrode 36 in FIG. 1) are arranged.

A discharge cell C _{i, j} (a main discharge cell in FIG. 1) including a pair of scan electrodes SC _i , sustain electrodes SU _i (i = 1 to n) and one data electrode D _j (j = 1 to _m ). 40) is formed in the discharge space. At this time, the total number of discharge cells C is mxn. In addition, a priming cell PS _i (priming cell 41a in FIG. 1) including the auxiliary electrode 22b ′ of the scan electrode SC _i and the priming electrode PR _i is formed in an odd number of 1 to n rows, and the total number of priming cells PS is n / 2.

As described above, in the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the scan electrode SC _p (p = odd number) in the odd-numbered rows has the auxiliary electrode 22b ′ and generates priming discharge along with its own scan. Write with. On the other hand, the scan electrode SC _{p + 1} in the even-numbered row does not have the auxiliary electrode 22b ′, and writing is performed without generating a priming discharge associated with its own scan.

  Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, one field period is divided into a plurality of subfields having a light emitting period weight, and gradation display is performed by a combination of subfields to emit light. Each subfield has an initialization period, an address period, and a sustain period.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the PDP driving apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The driving device 100 includes a video signal processing circuit 110, a data electrode driving circuit 120, a timing control circuit 130, a scanning electrode driving circuit 140, a sustain electrode driving circuit 150, a priming electrode driving circuit 160 having a switching circuit 161 therein, a power supply circuit ( (Not shown).

The video signal processing circuit 110 converts the video signal into a subfield signal for controlling each subfield. The data electrode drive circuit 120 converts the subfield signal into an address pulse and applies a drive waveform including the address pulse to the data electrodes D _{1 to} D _m .

Scanning electrode driving circuit 140 includes a scan driver 141 for generating scan pulses to be applied to scan electrodes SC _i to the write period, applies a driving waveform including a scanning pulse to the scan electrodes SC ₁ to SC _n. Sustain electrode driving circuit 150 applies a drive waveform including a sustain pulse to the sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n.

The priming electrode driving circuit 160 applies a driving waveform including a voltage waveform for priming discharge to the priming electrodes PR _{1 to} PR _n−1 . Further, priming electrode driver circuit 160 includes a switching circuit 161 inside the switching circuit 161 during the sustain period, the data electrode driving circuit 120 Priming electrode 36 of the same driving waveform as the drive waveform applied to the data electrode D _j from The switching operation for applying to is performed.

  Each circuit block is supplied with necessary power from a power supply circuit (not shown).

  Next, drive waveforms and timings for displaying image data on the PDP will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a drive waveform diagram of the PDP in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, each subfield performs substantially the same operation except that the number of sustain pulses in the sustain period is changed in order to change the weight of the light emission period. Since the operation principle is substantially the same, only the operation for one subfield will be described here.

In half of the initializing period, data electrodes _D 1 to D _m, sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n and priming electrodes _{PR 1 ~PR n-1} respectively kept 0 (V), to the scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n from sustain electrode _SU 1 to SU _n voltage _{V i1} of the discharge start voltage or less with respect to application of a ramp waveform voltage gradually rises toward the voltage _{V i2} exceeding the discharge start voltage. While the ramp waveform voltage rises, the scan electrodes SC _{1 to} SC _n and the sustain electrodes SU _{1 to} SU _n , the data electrodes D _{1 to} D _m , and the priming electrodes PR _{1 to} PR _n−1 are each first time. A weak initializing discharge occurs. Negative wall voltage is accumulated on scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n upper, data electrodes _D 1 to D _m upper, the sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n upper and priming electrode _{PR 1 ~PR n-1} top Accumulates positive wall voltage. Here, the wall voltage at the top of the electrode represents a voltage generated by wall charges accumulated on the dielectric layer covering the electrode.

In the second half of the initializing period, maintaining the sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n to a positive voltage Ve, the scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n, the voltage _{V i3} which is a discharge start voltage or less with respect to sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _{n Is} applied with a ramp waveform voltage that gently falls toward voltage V _i4 exceeding the discharge start voltage. During this time, a second weak initializing discharge is generated between the scan electrodes SC _{1 to} SC _n and the sustain electrodes SU _{1 to} SU _n , the data electrodes D _{1 to} D _m , and the priming electrodes PR _{1 to} PR _n−1. Occur. Then, negative wall voltage and sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n positive wall voltage on scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n upper are weakened, positive wall voltage on data electrodes _D 1 to D _m upper address operation The positive wall voltage above the priming electrodes PR _{1 to} PR _n−1 is also adjusted to a value suitable for the priming operation. This completes the initialization operation.

In the address period, scan electrodes SC _{1 to} SC _n are temporarily held at voltage Vc. Then, a voltage Vq substantially equal to the voltage change (Vc−V _i4 ) is applied to the priming electrodes PR _{1 to} PR _n−1 .

First, in the address operation of the discharge cells C _{p, 1 to} C _{p, m in} the odd-numbered rows, the scan pulse voltage Va is applied to the scan electrode SC _p and the data electrode D _k (k corresponding to the image signal to be displayed is displayed. Is an integer of 1 to m), and a positive write pulse Vd is applied. The scan electrodes SC _p of odd rows are scanning electrodes for writing with generating the priming discharge in accordance with the self-scanning. Therefore, by applying the scan pulse voltage Va, a priming discharge is generated between the priming electrode PR _p and the scan electrode SC _p in the priming cell PS _p , and the discharge cells C _{p, 1 to} C _{p, m} and the discharge cell C Priming particles are supplied into _{p + 1,1 to} CP _{+ 1, m} . Since the discharge at this time has a structure in which the priming cell easily discharges as described above, the discharge becomes a fast and stable priming discharge with a small discharge delay.

Subsequently, an address discharge is generated in the discharge cells _{Cp, k} corresponding to the data electrode _Dk to which the address pulse voltage is applied. At this time, the discharge of the discharge cell C _{p, k} is generated while the priming particles are supplied from the priming discharge generated between the scan electrode SC _p and the priming electrode PR _p. Therefore, the supply of the priming particles from the priming cell is started. However, after the priming supply, the discharge delay is small and the discharge is stable.

By this address discharge, a positive voltage is accumulated on the scan electrode SC _p of the discharge cells C _{p, k} and a negative voltage is accumulated on the sustain electrode SU _p, and the address operation in the odd-numbered rows is completed.

Next, in the address operation of the discharge cells C _{p + 1,1 to} C _{P + 1, m in} the even-numbered row, the scan pulse voltage Va is applied to the scan electrode SCP _{+ 1} in the p + 1 row, and at the same time, among the data electrodes D _{1 to} D _m A positive address pulse voltage Vd is applied to the data electrode _Dk corresponding to the image signal to be displayed in the (p + 1) th row. As a result, a discharge occurs at the intersection between the data electrode _Dk and the scan electrode SCP _{+ 1} . At this time, a discharge in a state in which the discharge cell C _{P + 1, k} in sufficient priming particles from priming discharge generated between the scan electrodes SC _p and the priming electrodes PR _p has already been supplied occurs, the address discharge discharge delay Is a very small and stable discharge.

By this address discharge, a positive voltage is accumulated on the scan electrode SC _p of the discharge cell C _{p + 1, k} and a negative voltage is accumulated on the sustain electrode SU _p, and the address operation in the even-numbered row is completed.

Thereafter, the same address operation is performed until the discharge cell C _{n, k} in the _n- th row _, and the address operation is completed.

In the sustain period, after returning once to the scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n and sustain electrodes _SU 1 to SU _n to 0 (V), applies a positive sustain pulse voltage Vs to scan electrodes _SC 1 to SC _n. At this time, the voltage between the upper portion of scan electrode SC _{i and} upper portion of sustain electrode SU _i in discharge cell C _{i, j} in which the address discharge has occurred is in addition to positive sustain pulse voltage Vs, and scan electrode SC _i in the address period. The wall voltages accumulated on the upper part and the upper part of the sustain electrode SU _i are added to become higher than the discharge start voltage. As a result, a sustain discharge is generated in the discharge cells C _{i, j} . Thereafter, in the same manner, by applying sustain pulses alternately to scan electrodes SC _{1 to} SC _n and sustain electrodes SU _{1 to} SUn, the _number of sustain pulses is _equal to the number of sustain pulses for discharge cells C _{i, k} that have caused address discharge. The sustain discharge is continuously performed.

Here, in the first embodiment of the present invention, scanning is performed by applying the preliminary discharge pulse voltage Vp to the data electrode _Dk prior to the sustain discharge between the scan electrode SC _i and the sustain electrode SU _i. A preliminary discharge is generated between the data electrode _Dk and the electrode SC _i or the sustain electrode SU _i which is charged with a negative charge. This discharge is a short-time discharge that does not cause the wall charges accumulated in the address period to disappear, and the preliminary discharge improves the light emission efficiency by the sustain discharge. Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a pulse voltage having the same phase and the same polarity as the preliminary discharge pulse voltage Vp applied to the data electrode _Dk in at least the sustain period is also applied to the priming electrode PR _i to emit light. Reducing invalid power that does not contribute.

  Next, the reason why the light emission efficiency is improved and the reason why the invalid power that does not contribute to the light emission can be reduced will be described.

6 is an enlarged view of the sustain period of the drive waveform diagram shown in FIG. It is assumed that the sustain discharge in the following description is in the discharge cell C _{i, k} that has caused the address discharge.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, a positive preliminary discharge pulse voltage Vp is applied to the data electrode _Dk tp before applying the sustain pulse to the scan electrode SC _i or the sustain electrode SU _i . By applying the preliminary discharge pulse, a preliminary discharge is generated before the sustain discharge between the scan electrode SC _i and the sustain electrode SU _{i which is} negatively charged and the data electrode D _k . Next, a sustain discharge is generated between scan electrode SC _i and sustain electrode SU _i by applying a sustain pulse to scan electrode SC _i or sustain electrode SU _i . At this time, since the sustain discharge occurs following the preliminary discharge, the discharge path (discharge path) is from the discharge path between the scan electrode SC _i or the sustain electrode SU _i and the data electrode D _k to the scan electrode SC _i -sustain electrode SU _i. It changes to the discharge path between. As a result, the discharge path between the scan electrode SC _i and the sustain electrode SU _i is attracted to the data electrode side, and the discharge path becomes longer than when the sustain discharge is generated without the preliminary discharge, causing the phosphor to emit light. Therefore, it is thought that the amount of generated ultraviolet rays increases. Moreover, it is considered that when the discharge path approaches the phosphor, the amount of ultraviolet rays absorbed by the discharge gas before reaching the phosphor decreases, and the amount of light emitted from the phosphor further increases. As a result, the light emission amount can be increased without increasing the sustain discharge voltage, and the light emission amount per unit power consumption, that is, the light emission efficiency is considered to be improved. The pulse width of the preliminary discharge pulse may be set at least in a range from the occurrence of the preliminary discharge to the occurrence of the sustain discharge.

Meanwhile, the region in the priming cell PS _p of the data electrode D _k priming electrodes PR _p and m book face to overpass (hereinafter, abbreviated as facing region) there is one to present the priming electrodes PR _p is There are m facing areas. That is, m × n / 2 facing areas are generated in the entire PDP. In this facing region, as shown in FIG. 1, since the dielectric layer 33a is sandwiched between the data electrode 32 and the priming electrode 36, parasitic capacitance is generated. This parasitic capacitance depends on the area of the facing region. If the number of data electrodes 32 increases due to the high definition of the plasma display panel, the facing region increases and the parasitic capacitance increases.

  When a driving voltage is applied to the data electrode 32, a part of the electric power is used for charging the parasitic capacitance. This is invalid power (reactive power) that does not contribute to light emission of the PDP. Further, if the potential difference between the priming electrode 36 and the data electrode 32 is large, a large amount of power is required for charging the parasitic capacitance, and the reactive power increases.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the drive waveform having the same phase and the same polarity as the drive waveform applied to the data electrode 32 is applied to the priming electrode 36 at least in the sustain period. By reducing the potential difference with the data electrode 32, the power consumed for charging the parasitic capacitance is reduced, and the reactive power is reduced.

In order to confirm the effect of reducing power consumption according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a comparative experiment of power consumption was performed. In this experiment, when a test signal having a luminance level of 0% is input to a 13-inch PDP and the same drive waveform as that of the data electrode 32 is applied to the priming electrode 36 during the sustain period, the power consumption of the priming electrode 36 is set to 0 ( The power consumption when fixed to V) was examined and compared. At this time, the preliminary discharge pulse width is about 1.3 μsec, the time ts is about 200 nsec from the application of the sustain pulse to the scan electrode SC _i or the sustain electrode SU _i until the preliminary discharge pulse falls, and Vp is 100 (V) Vs was set to 170 (V). As a result of this experiment, the power consumption when the priming electrode 36 was fixed to 0 (V) was about 18 (w), whereas the same driving waveform as that of the data electrode 32 was applied to the priming electrode 36 during the sustain period. The power consumption when given was about 12 (w), and a reduction in power consumption of about 6 (w) could be confirmed.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the priming discharge is performed between the priming electrode provided on the back substrate side and the scan electrode provided on the front substrate side in the address operation of the discharge cells in the odd-numbered rows. By generating and supplying priming inside the discharge cell, it is possible to realize a fast and stable address discharge with a small discharge delay. Moreover, luminous efficiency can be improved by generating auxiliary discharge prior to sustain discharge. In addition, at least during the sustain period, the same drive waveform as that applied to the data electrode is applied to the priming electrode, thereby reducing the reactive power consumed for charging the parasitic capacitance between the data electrode and the priming electrode. , Power consumption can be reduced.

  Even if the preliminary discharge voltage is lower than the discharge start voltage and no preliminary discharge is generated, the positive discharge voltage is sufficient to draw the flow of electrons for the sustain discharge toward the data electrode and lengthen the discharge path. If there is, it is possible to improve the luminous efficiency.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which the same drive waveform as that applied from the data electrode drive circuit to the data electrode is applied to the data electrode during the sustain period by the switching operation of the switching circuit has been described. However, this is only an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the same applies to a configuration in which the priming electrode driving circuit operates so as to directly apply the same driving waveform as that of the data electrode to the priming electrode in the sustain period. An effect can be obtained.

  Further, even if the same drive waveform as the data electrode cannot be applied to the priming electrode due to limitations on the withstand voltage of the IC for driving the priming electrode, the drive waveform having the same phase and the same polarity as the drive waveform applied to the data electrode Is applied to the priming electrode, the potential difference between the priming electrode and the data electrode can be reduced, and the reactive power consumed for charging the parasitic capacitance can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the method of applying the drive waveform of the same phase and the same polarity to the priming electrode as many times as the number of times of applying the drive voltage for the preliminary discharge to the data electrode has been described. The number of times of application need not be the same as the number of times of application to the data electrode. For example, the number of times of application may be changed such that the number of times of application to the priming electrode is half that of the data electrode. In this case, the effect of reducing reactive power is reduced by reducing the number of times of application to the priming electrode, but since the power used for driving the priming electrode can be reduced, the number of times of application where the total power consumption is minimized. Can be set to

  Further, the same phase in the present invention means substantially the same phase, and the time lag between the drive waveform applied to the data electrode and the drive waveform applied to the priming electrode has the effect of the present invention. Allowed in the range to be obtained.

  The PDP driving method and the plasma display apparatus according to the present invention further reduce the delay in discharge during the addressing operation and stabilize the discharge characteristics even when the definition is increased. Reactive power can be reduced and power consumption can be reduced, which is useful as a display device such as a wall-mounted television or a large monitor and a driving method thereof.

Sectional drawing which shows PDP in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the structure by the side of the back substrate of the PDP typically Electrode arrangement of the PDP Block diagram of the PDP drive device Drive waveform diagram of the PDP Enlarged view of the sustain period of the drive waveform diagram shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

21 Front electrode (made of glass) 22 Scan electrode 22a, 23a Transparent electrode 22b, 23b Metal bus 22b 'Auxiliary electrode 23 Sustain electrode 24 Front plate dielectric layer 33a, 33b Dielectric layer 25 Protective layer 28 Light absorbing layer 31 (Glass Back substrate 32 Data electrode 34 Partition 34a Vertical partition 34b Horizontal partition 35 Phosphor layer 36 Priming electrode 40 Main discharge cell 41 Gap 41a Priming (discharge) cell 50 Front plate 60 Rear plate

Claims (6)

A scan electrode and a sustain electrode arranged parallel to each other on the first substrate;
A data electrode disposed in a direction intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode on a second substrate opposed to the first substrate across a discharge space;
A dielectric layer covering the data electrode;
A priming electrode provided on the dielectric layer and disposed in parallel with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode;
Plasma having a plurality of main discharge cells formed by the scan electrodes, the sustain electrodes, and the data electrodes, and a partition that partitions a plurality of priming discharge cells formed by the scan electrodes and the priming electrodes. A display panel driving method comprising:
One field is composed of a plurality of subfields having an initialization period, an address period, and a sustain period,
Generating a discharge in the priming discharge cell between the scan electrode and the priming electrode in the address period;
Generating a discharge in the main discharge cell between the scan electrode or the sustain electrode and the data electrode in the sustain period;
A driving method of a plasma display panel, wherein a voltage having a driving waveform having the same phase and the same polarity as that of a driving voltage applied to the data electrode is applied to the priming electrode at least in the sustain period. The discharge generated in the main discharge cell between the scan electrode or the sustain electrode and the data electrode in the sustain period is generated between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the main discharge cell in the sustain period. 2. The method of driving a plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the discharge is a preliminary discharge generated prior to a sustain discharge generated therebetween. 3. The method of driving a plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the preliminary discharge is generated before the sustain discharge is generated and is terminated after the sustain discharge is generated. The number of times that the voltage of the driving waveform having the same phase and the same polarity as the waveform of the driving voltage applied to the data electrode in the sustain period is applied to the priming electrode is equal to or less than the number of occurrences of the preliminary discharge. The method of driving a plasma display panel according to claim 2. A scan electrode and a sustain electrode arranged parallel to each other on the first substrate;
A data electrode disposed in a direction intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode on a second substrate opposed to the first substrate across a discharge space;
A dielectric layer covering the data electrode;
A priming electrode provided on the dielectric layer and disposed in parallel with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode;
A plasma including a plurality of main discharge cells formed by the scan electrodes, the sustain electrodes, and the data electrodes, and a partition that partitions a plurality of priming discharge cells formed by the scan electrodes and the priming electrodes. A plasma display device having a display panel,
A scan electrode driving circuit for applying a scan pulse to the scan electrode at least in an address period;
A sustain electrode driving circuit for applying a sustain pulse to the sustain electrode at least in a sustain period;
A data electrode driving circuit for applying an address pulse to the data electrode at least in an address period and applying a preliminary discharge pulse to the data electrode in a sustain period;
A priming electrode driving circuit that applies a driving waveform for priming discharge to the priming electrode at least in the address period, and applies a driving waveform having the same phase and polarity as the preliminary discharge pulse in the sustain period. A characteristic plasma display device. The priming electrode driving circuit includes a switching circuit connected to the data electrode driving circuit, and the switching circuit is configured to apply the preliminary discharge pulse to the data electrode when the data electrode driving circuit applies the preliminary discharge pulse to the data electrode in the sustain period. 6. The plasma display device according to claim 5, wherein switching is performed so that the preliminary discharge pulse is also applied to the priming electrode.

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