JP2008234949A - Plasma display panel, and its drive method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PDP high in luminous efficiency even if its pixel size is small, and its drive method. <P>SOLUTION: Since each discharge gap between display electrodes 52, 52 is reduced by forming display electrodes 52 along longitudinal directions of discharge spaces 24, that is, along the longitudinal direction of a rectangular luminescent cell constituting each pixel, a width in a direction vertical to the discharge direction is kept sufficiently large even if the pixel size is small. Thereby, an electric field formed by discharge is prevented from intruding in a barrier rib 22, whereby discharge in the vicinity of the barrier rib 22 is weakened, and thereby the luminous efficiency is suitably prevented from being deteriorated. Accordingly, this PDP 10 capable of executing high-definition display with high luminous efficiency can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as a PDP) of a type that displays a desired image by light emission using discharge and a driving method thereof.

  A plurality of light-emitting sections formed in an airtight space formed between the front plate and the back plate arranged in parallel to each other and each of which emits light in any one of a plurality of predetermined light-emitting colors; A plurality of write electrodes provided along one direction to select a light-emitting section to emit light, and another direction intersecting with the one direction to generate discharge in the hermetic space There is known a PDP having a three-electrode structure that includes a plurality of sustain electrodes provided in parallel to each other and displays light by utilizing the discharge from a selected light-emitting section (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). See ~ 3). The front plate and the back plate are both made of a transparent glass plate, for example, and are hermetically sealed to each other at an outer peripheral edge with an appropriate interval of 1 (mm) or less. In this airtight space, a discharge gas such as a Ne-Xe mixed gas is sealed at an appropriate pressure of about several hundred Torr. Such a PDP directly uses, for example, light emission such as neon / orange accompanying generation of plasma generated by gas discharge, or excites a phosphor provided in a light emitting section by ultraviolet light generated by plasma. Display an image using light emission.

  By the way, the general structure of the PDP in practical use is that a plurality of sustain electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the front plate in parallel with each other at an appropriate interval, and a plurality of sustain electrodes are partitioned into a plurality of discharge spaces. Are provided along a direction perpendicular to the sustain electrode, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the write electrode. In this structure, a sustain discharge for display is generated between the sustain electrodes on the inner surface of the front plate. This is called a surface discharge type, and the discharge space is partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the sustain electrodes, so that the light emission section can be selected. It has become.

Further, instead of the surface discharge structure, a counter discharge type in which a pair of sustain electrodes parallel to each other is formed between two glass plates and discharge is performed between the opposing surfaces of the sustain electrodes has been proposed (for example, the non-discharge type). (See Patent Documents 1 and 3). According to such a counter discharge structure, since the discharge surfaces are opposed to each other, there is an advantage that variation in the discharge voltage between the light emitting sections is suppressed and the operation margin is wide as compared with the surface discharge structure. As an example of the counter discharge structure, a structure in which a sheet member provided with a conductor layer is arranged on the top of a rib-like wall has been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). The sheet member is provided with a conductor layer composed of a plurality of conductors extending in the other direction in a lattice-like support dielectric layer, and the plurality of conductors constitute the sustain electrode. In the configuration using such a sheet member, since the heat treatment for forming the sustain electrode on the inner surface of the front plate is unnecessary, there is also an advantage that distortion caused by the heat treatment is suitably suppressed.
Kikuchi et al. "Discharge characteristics of a new ACPDP structure using Thick-Film Ceramic Sheet technology", Journal of the SID 13/11, 2005 p.995-960 Jung et al. "A Study on the Characteristics of AC-PDP with Stacked Facing Electrode", IDW / AD '05, p.1453-1456 Jae et al. "Improvement of Luminous Characteristics of AC-PDP with Long Discharge Path Ridged Front Dielectric Layer", SID 05 DIGEST, p.630-633

Conventionally, the counter discharge structure PDP as described above has been put into practical use as a tile-type display for a large display. However, when this structure is applied to a TV receiver for general home use, it has been clarified that the luminous efficiency is remarkably lowered as compared with the surface discharge structure. In the home TV receiver, the pixel size is reduced in accordance with the screen size as compared with the tile-type display, so that the electric field between the display electrodes easily enters the partition provided along the discharge direction. The relative dielectric constant ε _rib of the partition made of glass is about 10, whereas the relative dielectric constant ε _gas of the discharge _gas is only about 1, so that the electric field is easily confined in the partition having a small relative dielectric constant. As a result, it is considered that the luminous efficiency decreases.

  Incidentally, the tile type display has a large pixel size of, for example, 1.5 × 1.5 (mm) or more, but a general home TV requires a small pixel size of about 0.9 × 0.9 (mm). In addition, in a display for full color display that constitutes one pixel with the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, one cell (that is, the light emitting section) constituting each color has a width dimension of about 1/3 of the length dimension and is 0.3 (mm). ) Degree. In this case, since each color is applied separately for each longitudinal discharge space provided along the write electrode, in a general stripe arrangement, the dimension of the discharge space for each light emitting section is the length dimension in the discharge direction. On the other hand, the width dimension in the direction perpendicular thereto is reduced. As a result, the electric field more easily enters the partition wall, and the light emission efficiency is further reduced. In particular, in a high definition TV (HDTV), the pixel size is much smaller than the conventional one, for example, about 0.66 (mm). That is, it is difficult to construct a small display device or a high-definition display device with high luminous efficiency with the counter discharge structure. In the present application, the “three primary colors” are not limited to those in a strict sense, but include those used in normal full color display.

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a PDP having a high light emission efficiency even when the pixel size is small and a driving method thereof.

  In order to achieve such an object, the gist of the first invention is that a compartment is formed in an airtight space formed between a front plate and a back plate arranged in parallel to each other, and each of the plurality of predetermined emission colors. A plurality of light emitting sections that emit light to any one of the plurality of light emitting sections, a plurality of write electrodes provided along one direction to select a lighting section that emits light among the plurality of light emitting sections, and an airtight space thereof A plurality of sustain electrodes provided in parallel to each other in a direction intersecting with one direction in order to generate a discharge within the light source, and display by emitting light from the selected lighting section using the discharge. (A) The plurality of light emitting sections are divided for each of the plurality of light emission colors by a plurality of partition walls extending along the other direction.

  In addition, the gist of the second invention for achieving the above object is that a partition is formed in an airtight space formed between a front plate and a back plate arranged in parallel to each other, and each planar shape is a rectangular longitudinal shape. A plurality of light-emitting sections, a plurality of write electrodes provided along one direction to select a lighting section to emit light among the plurality of light-emitting sections, and a discharge is generated in the hermetic space For this purpose, a plasma display panel having a plurality of parallel sustain electrodes provided along the other direction intersecting with the one direction and emitting light from the selected lighting section using the discharge. (A) The plurality of light emitting sections are separated from each other in the one direction by a plurality of partition walls whose longitudinal directions coincide with the other direction and extend along the other direction. That.

  In addition, a gist of the third invention for achieving the above object is a method for driving the PDP of the first invention or the second invention, wherein (a) the plurality of sustain electrodes are arranged in each group. A plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to one group selected from among the three or more groups so that there are two or more sustain electrodes belonging to other groups between the sustain electrodes belonging to The scanning voltage is sequentially applied to the scanning, and the writing voltage is applied to a predetermined one of the plurality of writing electrodes in synchronization with the scanning to generate a discharge therebetween. And (b) following the selection step, a sustain voltage is applied between the plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to the group and the plurality of sustain electrodes adjacent thereto. Within the selected lighting section by applying The display step for generating the sustain discharge is to select and repeat each of the groups in order to use all of the three or more groups for scanning within one TV field.

  Further, the gist of the fourth invention for achieving the above object is a method for driving the PDP of the first invention or the second invention, wherein (a) the plurality of sustain electrodes are those 2 groups selected from 3 groups divided into 3n-2 first group, 3n-1 second group, 3n third group (where n is a natural number) from the end of the array A scanning voltage is sequentially applied to the sustain electrodes belonging to one of the electrodes, and scanning is performed. In synchronization with this, a write voltage is applied to a predetermined one of the write electrodes to select a lighting section to emit light. A scanning process for accumulating electric charges, and (b) a sustaining process for generating a sustaining discharge in the lighting section by applying a predetermined sustaining voltage between the sustaining electrodes belonging to the two selected groups. 1st group and 2nd group, 2nd group and 3rd group, 3rd group and 1st group In repeating by selecting combinations sequentially.

  According to the first invention, in a PDP having a three-electrode structure, a plurality of light-emitting sections are provided for each of a plurality of light-emitting colors by the plurality of partitions extending along the other direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the plurality of sustain electrodes. Since it is divided, the discharge direction between the sustain electrodes is a direction crossing this. In this case, in the color display PDP in which one pixel is composed of a plurality of light emitting sections having different light emission colors, each light emitting section constituting the pixel is long in the direction along the partition wall so that one pixel is substantially square. It becomes a rectangle. Therefore, since the discharge direction in each light emitting section is a direction along the short side, even when the pixel size is small and the light emitting section is small, an electric field is generated in the partition wall when discharging between the sustain electrodes. Since the penetration is preferably suppressed, the discharge is weakened and extended in the vicinity of the partition wall, and the light emission efficiency is preferably suppressed from being lowered. Therefore, a PDP that can be displayed with high luminous efficiency even when the pixel size is small can be obtained.

  According to the second invention, in the PDP having a three-electrode structure, the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of light emitting sections is made to coincide with the other direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the plurality of sustain electrodes, and the plurality of extending along the longitudinal direction. Since the light emitting section is divided by the barrier ribs, the discharge direction between the sustain electrodes is in a direction crossing this. Therefore, the discharge direction in each light emitting section is a direction along the short side of the long light emitting section, and the length dimension in the direction intersecting the discharge distance in each light emitting section becomes longer. As a result, even when the pixel size is small and the light emitting section is small, the electric field is prevented from entering the partition when discharging between the sustain electrodes, so that the discharge is suppressed from becoming weak in the vicinity of the partition. In this case, a decrease in luminous efficiency is preferably suppressed. Therefore, a PDP that can be displayed with high luminous efficiency even when the pixel size is small can be obtained.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, in the selection step, scanning is performed by sequentially applying a scanning voltage to a plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to one of the three or more groups, and among the write electrodes in synchronization with the scanning voltage. A lighting section is selected to emit light by applying a write voltage to the predetermined one and generating a discharge between the sustain electrode and the write electrode, and then, in the display step, a plurality of sustain sections belonging to the group are selected. By applying a sustain voltage between the electrodes and a plurality of sustain electrodes adjacent to each of the electrodes, a sustain discharge is generated in the selected lighting section, and light is emitted from the lighting section. Then, each group is sequentially selected and the selection process and the display process are repeated, and a desired image is displayed by using all of the three or more groups for scanning within one TV field. At this time, since there are at least two sustain electrodes belonging to another group between the plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to each group, the lighting section can be arbitrarily selected in the selection step, and the display step In FIG. 5, a discharge is generated only in the selected lighting section, and the discharge does not reach the outside. That is, the lighting section can be easily selected by a combination of the sustain electrode belonging to the selected group and the write electrode intersecting with the sustain electrode. Therefore, in the PDPs of the first and second inventions in which the sustain electrodes are provided along the longitudinal direction of the partition walls, it is possible to reliably select the lighting section to emit light and easily drive it.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in the scanning step, the sustain electrode belonging to one of the two groups selected from the three groups is scanned by applying the scan voltage, and in synchronization with this, the write electrode is scanned. A lighting section to emit light is selected by applying a write voltage to a predetermined one to generate discharge, and then, in the sustaining process, a sustaining voltage is applied between the sustaining electrodes belonging to the two selected groups. Thus, a sustain discharge is generated in the selected lighting section. These scanning steps and maintaining steps are sequentially repeated for each combination of the first group and the second group, the second group and the third group, and the third group and the first group, thereby displaying a desired image. be able to. At this time, in the scanning process, wall charges can be accumulated on both sides of the sustain electrode to which the scan voltage is applied, that is, between the sustain electrodes belonging to any of the other two groups. Since a sustain voltage is applied only between the sustain electrode of the used group and one of the other two groups, a discharge occurs only between them, and the other sustain electrode There is no discharge between them. Therefore, by driving in the above three sets, it becomes possible to select a desired lighting section from all the light emitting sections. By repeating this, it is continuously performed in a cycle according to the repetition cycle. An image can be displayed on the screen. Therefore, in the PDPs of the first invention and the second invention in which the sustain electrodes are provided along the longitudinal direction of the partition walls, the light emitting section can be reliably selected and easily driven.

  Here, preferably, in the PDPs of the first and second inventions, the plurality of sustain electrodes are such that their discharge surfaces face each other. In this way, since the intervals between the discharge surfaces to be discharged can be made uniform within the discharge surface, the efficiency is increased compared to a so-called surface discharge structure in which the sustain electrodes are arranged on one plane, Due to the locally strong discharge, the dielectric layer covering the sustain electrode (in the case where a protective film made of MgO or the like is provided, the dielectric layer and the protective film) is prevented from being locally deteriorated. In this case, there is an advantage that the life of the display device is extended. The present invention can be applied to both the surface discharge structure and the counter discharge structure. However, as described above, the problem when the pixel size is reduced is remarkable in the case of the counter discharge structure. Application is particularly preferred.

  Preferably, in the PDP of the first and second inventions, each of the plurality of sustain electrodes is provided on each of a plurality of partition walls extending along the other direction. In this way, discharge is generated over a wide range in the discharge space formed between the barrier ribs, and light emission from the discharge space is suppressed from being blocked by the sustain electrode. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high luminous efficiency as compared with the case where one or both of the sustain electrodes forming a pair for generating discharge in each discharge space are disposed between the barrier ribs.

  In the aspect in which a plurality of sustain electrodes are provided on the partition wall as described above, when a sufficiently large aperture ratio can be secured, the write electrode and the write electrode are interposed between the plurality of sustain electrodes. Scan electrodes for generating a write discharge may be provided respectively. In this aspect, the sustain discharge in each light emitting section can be generated between a pair of sustain electrodes and scan electrodes on the barrier ribs. Therefore, the same driving method as in the case of the conventional surface discharge structure can be applied as it is. Such a scanning electrode can be provided on the front plate using a thick film printing technique, a thin film technique, or the like.

  Preferably, the PDPs of the first and second inventions include a plurality of longitudinal partition walls for forming a plurality of discharge spaces extending along the other direction in the airtight space, A lattice-shaped support dielectric layer composed of a plurality of components extending along one direction and the other direction, and a plurality of layers laminated on each of the component portions extending along the other direction of the support dielectric layer. Including a conductor and a supporting dielectric layer and a covering dielectric layer covering the conductor, and a lattice-shaped sheet member disposed on top of the plurality of partition walls, the plurality of sustain electrodes being disposed on the sheet It is composed of a plurality of conductors in the member. According to this configuration, the sheet member in which a plurality of conductors are provided in layers on the lattice-shaped support dielectric layer is arranged on the partition wall, so that the plurality of sustain electrodes are formed by the plurality of conductors. Since it comprises, the several sustain electrode is provided only by arrange | positioning the sheet | seat member between a front plate and a backplate. That is, the sustain electrode of the three-electrode AC type PDP can be easily formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform heat treatment on the front plate to form the sustain electrode on the inner surface of the front plate, and it is not necessary to form an electrode, a dielectric, or the like on the inner surface of the front plate on the light emission side. There is an advantage that the process of forming electrodes and the like is not complicated due to the requirement of high translucency on the front plate side.

  Moreover, in the aspect using the above sheet | seat members, there exists an advantage which can implement | achieve an opposing discharge structure easily by comprising so that discharge may be generated between the side surfaces of the several conductor provided in layer form. That is, in the PDP of the present invention, a plurality of sustain electrodes can be provided by an appropriate method such as a printing method, but the sustain electrodes are provided by a method of placing the sheet member as described above on the top of the partition wall. Is the simplest and can provide high characteristics.

  More preferably, in the sheet member, the center interval of the plurality of conductors extending along the other direction is made to coincide with the center interval of the plurality of partition walls, and the plurality of conductors are positioned on the partition walls. To be arranged. In this way, since the plurality of sustain electrodes are provided on the partition walls, the discharge range is widened and the light shielding by the electrodes is suppressed, so that the light emission efficiency is increased.

  Further, as described above, in the case where the scanning electrode is further provided between the sustain electrodes, when the sheet member as described above is used, the scan electrode may be provided in the sheet member in the same manner as the conductor for forming the sustain electrode. good. That is, it is possible to have a laminated structure of a dielectric layer and a conductor layer in which components for laminating scan electrodes are provided on a supporting dielectric layer.

  Preferably, in the PDPs according to the first and second inventions, one or more phosphors that are excited by ultraviolet rays generated by the sustain discharge and generate visible light in the hermetic space. A layer is provided. In this way, it is possible to display various images in multiple colors by preparing a phosphor layer according to the desired display content. The PDP for multicolor display can be configured by color conversion using, for example, a color filter, but it is preferable to use a plurality of types of phosphor layers in terms of light emission efficiency and color purity. The phosphor layer is provided, for example, on the inner surfaces of the front plate and the rear plate and the side surfaces of the partition walls.

  Preferably, in the PDPs of the first and second inventions, the plurality of light emitting sections are separately coated with phosphors that emit light of three primary colors of red, green, and blue, and the plurality of light emitting sections corresponding to the three primary colors are used. This constitutes one pixel. The present invention is preferably applied to such a full-color display PDP.

  In the PDP for full color display, various arrangement forms of a plurality of light emitting sections constituting one pixel have been proposed, such as a stripe arrangement, a quartet arrangement, a delta arrangement, and the like. Also applies. However, the stripe arrangement is most preferable. One pixel needs to be composed of at least three light emitting sections in order to include all the three primary colors. However, since the size of the light emitting section is preferably limited from the viewpoint of generating a discharge, two or more of each color is required. It can also be configured with a light emitting section. For example, in the case of a stripe arrangement, each color can be composed of a plurality of light emitting sections arranged along the longitudinal direction of the stripe.

  Preferably, in the PDPs of the first and second inventions, the plurality of write electrodes are provided on an inner surface of the back plate. That is, in the PDP according to the present invention, the arrangement position of the write electrode is not particularly limited as long as it is provided along the one direction, but the structure provided on the back plate is similar to the conventional three-electrode structure PDP. It is the simplest to adopt.

  Preferably, in the first and second inventions, the one direction and the other direction are set to be orthogonal to each other.

  Preferably, in the first and second inventions, the plurality of partition walls are provided at a uniform center interval.

  Preferably, in the PDP driving method according to the third and fourth inventions, the plurality of light emitting sections are divided into three primary colors, and the driving method is configured so that the colors of the three primary colors are different from each other. The image is displayed by emitting light separately. According to the third and fourth inventions, in a PDP for full color display using the three primary colors, a desired image can be displayed by driving by dividing the period for each color in this way. More preferably, one of the three primary colors is selectively caused to emit light in each of one TV field divided into three light emission periods.

  Preferably, in the PDP driving method according to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, one TV field is divided into a plurality of subfields having different luminances, and each of the plurality of subfields is divided into the third subfield. In the invention, the selection process and the display process are performed, and in the fourth invention, the scanning process and the maintenance process are performed. In this way, gradation display according to the number of subfields can be obtained.

  In addition, when one TV field is divided into three light emission periods corresponding to the three primary colors, a plurality of subfields having different brightness from each other have the three light emission periods corresponding to the gradation display to be obtained. Provided for each.

  Preferably, in the PDP driving methods of the third and fourth inventions, sustain voltages having different frequencies are applied in the respective subfields. In this way, it is possible to perform gradation display by combining the subfields by making the luminance values of the subfields different from each other.

  Preferably, the driving methods of the third and fourth inventions include a full-surface writing step for forming wall charges in all the light emitting sections, and the selection step and the scanning step are the full-surface writing step. By selectively erasing the wall charges formed in (1), the light emitting section where the wall charges were not erased is selected as the lighting section for emitting light. In this way, in the selection process or the scanning process, the lighting section is easily selected by erasing unnecessary wall charges by generating discharge using the wall charges formed in the entire writing process. can do.

  The driving methods of the third and fourth inventions do not provide the full-surface writing process as described above, and generate a write discharge for forming wall charges in the light emitting section that emits light in the selection process or the scanning process. It may be allowed.

  Preferably, in the driving methods of the third and fourth inventions, in each of the light emission periods in which one of the groups is used for scanning, the display period is the light emission period immediately before the light emission period. A reset pulse for initializing wall charges is applied to the group used for display discharge. In this way, the wall charges in the discharge space that have been emitted in the immediately preceding light emission period are initialized, so that the erroneous discharge caused by the remaining wall charges is suitably suppressed. The potential of the reset pulse is determined so that the discharge is surely generated regardless of wall charges in the discharge space in consideration of the entire drive waveform.

  Preferably, the driving method according to the fourth aspect of the invention continues after the first group is used for scanning in the scanning process and a sustain discharge is generated between the first group and the second group in the sustaining process. In the light emission period (the subfield that follows if a subfield is provided; the same applies hereinafter), the third group is used for scanning in the scanning process, and the sustain discharge is performed between the third group and the first group in the sustaining process. In the subsequent light emission period, the second group is used for scanning in the scanning process, and the sustain discharge is generated between the second group and the third group in the sustaining process. In this way, the same waveform is applied to the first to third groups while being shifted in time in units of light emission periods, so that the driving method is simplified.

  Preferably, in the above driving method, the reset pulse is applied to one of the first to third groups used for scanning. In this way, the wall charges are initialized in both the light emitting section in which the sustain discharge is generated in the immediately preceding light emitting period and the light emitting section in which the sustain discharge is generated in the current light emitting period. The lighting and extinguishing of the compartments are more suitably controlled.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the drawings are appropriately simplified or modified, and the dimensional ratios, shapes, and the like of the respective parts are not necessarily drawn accurately.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an AC type color PDP (hereinafter simply referred to as PDP) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof cut away. In FIG. 1, a PDP 10 has a display area size of about 20 inches diagonal (ie, 400 × 300 (mm)), and is used for a display panel of a home TV receiver, for example. The PDP 10 includes a front plate 16 and a back plate 18 that are arranged in parallel to each other with a slight gap so that the substantially flat surfaces 12 and 14 face each other. The front plate 16 and the back plate 18 are overlapped with each other through a lattice-like sheet member 20 (that is, a thick film sheet electrode), and are hermetically sealed at the peripheral portion thereof, whereby the inside of the PDP 10 is hermetically sealed. A space is formed. In this airtight space, for example, a discharge gas such as Ne-Xe (15%) gas is enclosed at a pressure of about 6 × 10 ⁴ (Pa) (≈450 (Torr)).

  The front plate 16 and the back plate 18 are transparent glass substrates each having a planar size of about 450 × 350 (mm) and a uniform thickness of about 1.1 to 3 (mm). This glass substrate is made of, for example, soda lime glass having a softening point of about 700 (° C.).

On the back plate 18, a plurality of longitudinal partition walls 22 (that is, rib-like walls) extending in one direction and parallel to each other are within a range of 0.13 to 0.68 (mm), for example, about 0.3 (mm). The airtight space between the front plate 16 and the back plate 18 is divided into a plurality of discharge spaces 24. The partition wall 22 is made of, for example, a thick film material mainly composed of a low softening point glass such as PbO—B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —Al ₂ O ₃ —ZnO—TiO ₂ or a combination thereof. The width dimension is in the range of about 60 (μm) to 1.0 (mm), for example, about 200 (μm), and the height dimension is in the range of about 5 to 300 (μm), for example, about 20 (μm). It is a thing. In addition, the density, strength, shape retention, and the like of the film are adjusted by appropriately adding an inorganic filler (filler) such as alumina and other inorganic pigments to the partition wall 22 as appropriate. The sheet member 20 has a positional relationship in which a portion extending along one direction of the portions extending along two directions orthogonal to each other overlaps the top of the partition wall 22.

  On the back plate 18, a plurality of write electrodes 28 extending along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 22 are provided at a constant center interval of, for example, about 0.9 (mm). The writing electrode 28 is made of a conductive material such as thick film silver. An overcoat 30 made of a low softening point glass and an inorganic filler such as white titanium oxide is provided on the back plate 18 so as to cover the entire inner surface 14. The write electrode 28 is covered with the overcoat 30, and the partition wall 22 projects from the overcoat 30.

  In addition, on the surface of the overcoat 30 and the side surfaces of the barrier ribs 22, the phosphor layers 32 separately applied for each discharge space 24 have a thickness determined for each color in a range of about 10 to 20 (μm), for example. Is provided. The phosphor layer 32 is made of, for example, any one of three color phosphors that emit light in any of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) by ultraviolet excitation, and the write electrode A phosphor layer 32 </ b> R, a phosphor layer 32 </ b> G, and a phosphor layer 32 </ b> B are repeatedly provided in this order along the longitudinal direction of 28.

  On the other hand, on the inner surface 12 of the front plate 16, partition walls 34 are provided in stripes or lattices at positions facing the partition walls 22. The partition wall 34 is made of, for example, the same material as the partition wall 22. However, when the partition wall 34 also functions as a black stripe, for example, a black pigment powder (for example, a black metal oxide powder) is used in the same material system as the partition wall 22. It is made of a material in which In any case, it is provided with a thickness dimension (height dimension) of, for example, about 10 (μm), for example, within a range of about 5 to 300 (μm). A phosphor layer 36 is provided between the partition walls 34 on the inner surface 12 of the front plate 12 with a thickness of, for example, about 3 to 50 (μm), for example, about 5 (μm). The phosphor layer 36 has the same emission color as that of the phosphor layer 32 provided on the back plate 18 in the same discharge space 24 so that a single emission color can be obtained for each discharge space 24 (that is, R, G, or B), the phosphor layer 36R, the phosphor layer 36G, and the phosphor layer 36B are repeatedly provided along the longitudinal direction of the writing electrode 28 in this order. The height of the partition wall 34 is determined so that the surface of the partition wall 34 is higher than the surface of the phosphor layer 36 in order to prevent the sheet member 20 from coming into contact with the phosphor layer 36.

  The sheet member 20 includes a plurality of display electrodes 52 extending along the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 22 in an intermediate portion in the thickness direction. FIG. 2 shows a main part of the configuration of the sheet member 20 with a part thereof cut away. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part of a cross section along the longitudinal direction of the write electrode 28. 2 and 3, the sheet member 20 has a thickness within a range of, for example, 50 to 500 (μm) as a whole, for example, about 170 (μm), and has a lattice shape. The line width dimensions of the constituent parts of the lattice extending along the partition wall 22 or along the direction perpendicular thereto are, for example, about 0.2 (mm). The sheet member 20 includes an upper dielectric layer 38 and a lower dielectric layer 40 positioned on the front surface and the back surface thereof, a conductor layer 44 laminated therebetween, and side surfaces thereof (that is, a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the lattice). The surface of the plurality of constituent parts extending in the direction toward the other constituent parts adjacent to each other, hereinafter referred to as the side surface in the sheet member 20. The same or the entire outer peripheral surface of each constituent part is provided. The dielectric film 48 and a protective film 50 that further covers the dielectric film 48 and constitutes the surface layer portion of the sheet member 20.

Each of the upper dielectric layer 38 and the lower dielectric layer 40 has a thickness dimension in the range of 10 to 200 (μm), for example, about 50 (μm), and has the same planar shape. It is. These dielectric layers 38 and 40 are made of, for example, PbO—B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —Al ₂ O ₃ —ZnO—TiO ₂ or a combination thereof, such as Al ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —PbO. It is composed of a thick film dielectric material such as a softening point glass and a ceramic filler such as alumina. In this embodiment, these dielectric layers 38 and the like correspond to a lattice-like dielectric layer. Further, the constituent portions extending along the vertical and horizontal directions of the lattices of the dielectric layers 38 and 40 have a portion extending in the direction along the partition wall 22 within a range of 0.05 to 0.2 (mm), for example, about 0.1 (mm). It has a line width dimension, and is provided at the same center interval as the partition wall 22, for example, about 0.3 (mm). Further, the portion extending in the direction perpendicular to the barrier ribs 22, that is, in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the write electrode 28 has a line width dimension of about 0.1 (mm), for example, and is three times the center interval of the barrier ribs 22, for example, It is provided at a center interval of about 0.9 (mm).

  The conductor layer 44 is a thick film conductor containing, for example, silver, nickel, aluminum, copper or the like as a conductive component, and has a thickness in the range of, for example, 10 to 100 (μm), for example, about 30 (μm). It has dimensions. The conductor layer 44 is composed of a display electrode 52 composed of a plurality of strip-like thick film conductors extending along one direction of the lattice-like constituent parts of the dielectric layers 38 and 40. The plurality of display electrodes 52 have a line width dimension comparable to that of the dielectric layers 38 and 40, for example, and the center interval is, for example, about 0.3 (mm) which is equal to the center interval of the partition wall 22. As will be described later, during the light emitting display, the display electrodes 52 and 52 adjacent to each other are discharged as shown by D in FIG. 3, but as shown in FIG. 56 are mutually parallel and are made to oppose. That is, in this embodiment, the PDP 10 is configured to have a counter discharge structure in which discharge is performed in a direction along the inner surface 12 of the front plate 16.

  As will be described later, the display electrodes 52 are fluorescent layers 32R and 36R, 32G and 36G, 32B and 36B (hereinafter referred to as the front side and the back side when not distinguished from each other). Display electrodes 52R, 52G, and 52B used for scanning when light is emitted from the body layers R, G, and B are sequentially provided along the longitudinal direction of the write electrode 28, and are driven independently of each other. Connected to the circuit.

The dielectric film 48 is a thick film made of, for example, a low softening point glass such as PbO—B ₂ O ₃ —SiO ₂ —Al ₂ O ₃ —ZnO—TiO ₂ or a combination thereof. . The thickness of the dielectric film 48 is, for example, in the range of about 10 to 100 (μm) on the side surface of the sheet member 20, for example, about 50 (μm). Than it is thin enough. The dielectric film 48 is provided for ac discharge as described later by storing electric charges on the surface. At the same time, by covering the conductor layer 44 made of a thick film material, It also has a role of suppressing an atmosphere change in the discharge space 24 due to out gas generated from the conductor layer 44.

  The protective film 50 is made of a dielectric material mainly composed of MgO or the like and having a high secondary electron emission coefficient, and has a thickness dimension of, for example, about 800 (nm). The protective film 50 is a thin film formed by a thin film technique such as electron beam evaporation, but can also be formed by a thick film technique. The protective film 50 prevents sputtering of the dielectric film 48 by discharge gas ions, but is substantially composed of a dielectric material having a high secondary electron emission coefficient, and thus substantially functions as a discharge electrode.

  Since the lattice-shaped sheet member 20 is configured as described above, in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 22, the center interval is three times the center interval of the partition wall 22. The size is about 0.9 (mm), for example, and the mutual interval is 0.7 (mm) smaller than the line width of the sheet member 20. Further, in the direction perpendicular to this, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the write electrode 28, the center interval is equal to the center interval of the partition wall 22, for example, about 0.3 (mm), and the mutual interval is smaller than that by the line width of the sheet member 20. It is about 0.1 (mm). Therefore, the large number of rectangular openings provided in the sheet member 20 form a rectangle having a long direction along the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 22 and each has a size of, for example, about 700 × 100 (μm). In this embodiment, one opening corresponds to one cell of light emission (that is, one light emission section), and the cell pitch is about 0.9 (mm) in the longitudinal direction of each cell, and about 0.3 (mm) in the direction perpendicular thereto. As a result, the aperture ratio of each cell is about 26 (%).

  The PDP 10 having the above-described configuration is manufactured as follows, for example, using a well-known thick film screen printing technique. That is, the barrier ribs 34 and the phosphor layer 36 are formed on the front plate 16, while the write electrode 28, the overcoat 30, the barrier ribs 22, and the phosphor layer 32 are respectively formed on the back plate 18. Further, the sheet member 20 is formed on a glass substrate with a release layer made of a paste containing high melting point particles such as silica, alumina, zirconia, etc., and on the release layer, the lower dielectric layer 40, the conductor layer 44, the upper side A thick-film dielectric paste and a thick-film conductor paste for forming the dielectric layers 38 are sequentially printed and laminated in accordance with their shapes, fired, and then peeled off from the glass substrate. It is manufactured by dip-coating a dielectric paste for forming the body film 48, firing, and then forming the protective film 50 on the surface by dip-coating and firing or a thin film process. The manufacturing method of the sheet member 20 is substantially the same as that described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-303665, which was previously filed and filed by the present inventors. .

  After producing the front plate 16, the back plate 18, and the sheet member 20 as described above, the sheet member 20 is placed so that the conductor layer 44 overlaps the partition wall 22, and the front plate 16 is overlaid. And seal at the outer peripheral edge. And the said PDP10 is obtained by exhausting from the formed airtight container and enclosing predetermined discharge gas.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the display electrodes 52R, 52G, and 52B and the writing electrode 28 in the PDP 10 and each cell partitioned by the partition wall 22 and the sheet member 20. As shown in FIG. As described above, the discharge space 24 is a band-like space continuous in the longitudinal direction of the barrier ribs 22, and the phosphor layers R, G, and B of one color are provided for each discharge space 24. However, at the time of display, since light is emitted for each small unit divided also in the longitudinal direction of the discharge space 24 by the sheet member 20, in FIG. One pixel composed of three colors of RGB has a length dimension Px in the direction along the discharge space and a length dimension Py in a direction perpendicular to the length dimension Py, for example, 0.9 (mm). Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the width of the discharge gap g (which substantially matches the width of the discharge space 24) is about 0.1 (mm), and the line width of the sheet member 20 provided with the display electrode 52 is approximately. The dimension w (substantially coincides with the width dimension of the partition wall 22) is about 0.2 (mm) larger than that, but in FIG.

  4, the horizontal direction in the figure coincides with the longitudinal directions of the barrier ribs 22 and the display electrodes 52, and the vertical direction in the figure coincides with the longitudinal direction of the write electrodes 28. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the discharge space 24 is also the horizontal direction in the figure, and the phosphor layer R (32R, 36R) that emits light in each color of B, G, R from the discharge space 24 drawn at the top to the bottom. , G (32G, 36G) and B (32B, 36B) are repeatedly provided in this order. A display electrode 52B is provided between the phosphor layers B and G, a display electrode 52G is provided between the phosphor layers G and R, and a display electrode 52R is provided between the phosphor layers R and B. On the other hand, the write electrode 28 is provided along the direction orthogonal to the display electrode 52 and through the center of each cell.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the display electrode 52 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 22 so that the display electrode is formed along the long side of each of the RGB cells constituting one pixel having a substantially square planar shape. 52 is disposed, and a display discharge is generated between the display electrodes 52 and 52 facing each other across the cells. That is, it is discharged in the direction along the short side of each cell. Therefore, the discharge gap is sufficiently small with respect to the electrode width dimension in each cell even in a home TV with a pixel pitch as small as about 0.9 (mm) or a high-definition TV with a pixel pitch as small as about 0.66 (mm). Become. As a result, the problem in the conventional counter discharge structure in which the discharge direction is along the longitudinal direction of the barrier ribs, that is, the problem that the electric field enters the barrier ribs and the discharge in the vicinity of the barrier ribs is weakened appropriately. As a result, the luminous efficiency is dramatically increased.

  By the way, the PDP 10 configured as described above is driven by a so-called ADS driving method in which an address period and a display period are separated as in a conventional PDP having a counter discharge structure or a surface discharge structure. However, since the PDP 10 of this embodiment has a structure in which the display electrode 52 is provided along the partition wall 22, the electrode arrangement configuration is different from that of the conventional counter discharge structure, and thus the discharge direction of the sustain discharge is different. Therefore, the driving method is different from the conventional counter discharge structure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating driving waveforms for explaining an example of a driving method of the PDP 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, “write” indicates a voltage waveform applied to the write electrode 28, and B _{1 to} B _n , G _{1 to} G _n , and R _{0 to} R _n apply to the display electrodes 52B, 52G, and 52R, respectively. Represents a voltage waveform to be generated. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, one TV field is divided into three parts, a B light emission period, a G light emission period, and an R light emission period. Each light emission period is about 5.56 (ms) and includes a reset period of about 276.8 (μs), an address period of about 2618.7 (μs), and a display period of about 2660 (μs). Hereinafter, the main points of the driving method using the driving waveform of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 schematically showing changes in wall charges due to application of each pulse.

  In the reset period of the B light emission period shown in FIG. 5, first, a reset pulse Pr of about 398 (V), for example, is applied to all the display electrodes 52R. At this time, the other display electrodes 52B and 52G are held at 0 (V), and all the write electrodes 28 are held at about 55 (V). Accordingly, regardless of the wall charge or space charge state of each cell when the reset pulse Pr is applied, the gap between all the display electrodes 52R and the display electrodes 52G and 52B facing each other, the write electrode 28, and the like. (See “(1) Application of reset pulse Pr” in FIG. 6), and the wall charges of the cells in which these discharges are generated are initialized. That is, a discharge is generated in all cells provided with the phosphor layers R and B, negative wall charges are formed on the side surface of the display electrode 52R, and the discharge space 24 provided with the phosphor layer R is exposed to the surface. Positive wall charges are formed on the side surface of the display electrode 52G to be formed and the side surface of the display electrode 52B facing the discharge space 24 provided with the phosphor layer B. In addition, positive wall charges smaller than those of the display electrodes 52G and 52B are also formed on the write electrode 28 (see “(2) After application of Pr” in FIG. 6). The voltage of the reset pulse Pr is determined so as to exceed the discharge start voltage in all the cells even if a positive charge exists in the discharge space 24. The reset pulse Pr is applied after, for example, about 58 (μs) after the end of the previous TV field, and the application time is about 104 (μs). Note that no discharge occurs because there is no potential difference between the display electrodes 52G and 52B.

  Next, a charge adjustment pulse Pc of about 155 (V), for example, is applied to all the display electrodes 52B, for example, about 8 (μs) before the end of applying the reset pulse Pr. Next, simultaneously with the end of the application of the reset pulse Pr, the potentials of all the write electrodes 28 are lowered to 0 (V). When the application of the reset pulse Pr is completed, the potential difference between the display electrode 52R and the display electrodes 52G and 52B due to the wall charges formed by the reset pulse Pr exceeds the discharge start voltage. (Refer to “(3) Application of Charge Adjustment Pulse Pc” in FIG. 6). At this time, since the charge adjustment pulse Pc is applied to the display electrode 52B, the polarity is opposite to that after the application of the reset pulse Pr with a magnitude corresponding to the potential difference from the display electrode 52R returned to 0 (V). Are formed on the opposing surfaces of the display electrodes 52B and 52R (see “(4) After application of Pc” in FIG. 6). That is, a positive wall charge is formed on the display electrode 52R and a negative wall charge is formed on the display electrode 52B on the opposing surface of the display electrodes 52R and 52B facing the discharge space 24 provided with the phosphor layer B. Is done. These wall charges are adjusted to such a magnitude that no spontaneous discharge occurs. The application time of the charge adjustment pulse Pc is, for example, about 16 (μs).

  On the other hand, since no voltage is applied to the display electrode 52G at the end of the application of the reset pulse Pr, wall discharge is generated on the opposing surfaces of the display electrodes 52R and 52G after spontaneous discharge occurs as described above. Not formed. That is, the wall charges on the opposing surfaces of the display electrodes 52R and 52G facing the discharge space 24 provided with the phosphor layer R disappear or become extremely small. In “(4) after application of Pc” in FIG.

When the reset period ends, in the subsequent address period, after about 152 (μs) has elapsed from the end of applying the reset pulse Pr, an auxiliary pulse Pb of about 53 (V), for example, is applied to all the display electrodes 52R. The auxiliary pulse Pb is continuously applied during the address period, and the potential of the display electrode 52R is maintained at 53 (V). Next, after about 214 (μs) has elapsed from the end of the application of the reset pulse Pr, that is, after about 62 (μs) has elapsed from the start of the application of the auxiliary pulse Pb, the display electrodes 52B ₁ , 52B ₂ , and 52B _n are sequentially applied. For example, a negative scanning pulse Ps of about −72 (V) is applied. Further, in synchronization with the scanning pulse Ps, a write pulse Pa of, for example, about 55 (V) is applied to a predetermined one of the write electrodes 28 corresponding to the data to be displayed. The pulse widths of the scanning pulse Ps and the writing pulse Pa are both about 4 (μs), and the application interval of both pulses is about 56 (μs). That is, after applying the scan pulse Ps to the display electrode 52B _m (m is an arbitrary integer from 1 to n), the time until the scan pulse Ps is applied to the next display electrode 52B _{m + 1} is 60 ( μs).

  When the writing pulse Pa is applied in synchronization with the scanning pulse Ps as described above, the display electrode 52B to which the scanning pulse Ps is applied is provided with a surface facing the display electrode 52R, that is, the phosphor layer B. Since the surface located in the discharge space 24 has a potential obtained by superimposing a negative wall charge on a negative applied voltage, the intersection of the write electrode 28 and the display electrode 52B to which the voltage is applied (to be precise, “display electrode In the cell located at “the intersection of the discharge space 24 provided with the phosphor layer B between 52B and 52R and the write electrode 28” for convenience of explanation. The potential difference exceeds the discharge start voltage, and a discharge is generated. Further, with this discharge as a priming, a discharge is also generated between the display electrodes 52B and 52R (see “(5) Application of scan pulse Ps and write pulse Pa (applied cell only)” in FIG. 6).

  As a result, the display electrode 52B to which the scanning pulse Ps is applied and the writing pulse Pa are applied among the cells in which the discharge is generated, that is, the cells in which the phosphor layer B is provided between the display electrodes 52B and 52R. In the cell located at the intersection of the written electrode 28, a small wall charge whose polarity is reversed is formed on the display electrodes 52B and 52R and the write electrode 28. That is, in the cell to which the writing pulse Pa is applied in synchronization with the scanning pulse Ps, wall charges having a small polarity and an opposite polarity to those of the cell to which the writing pulse Pa is not applied are formed. In this embodiment, a cell in which discharge occurs in this address period is a non-lighted cell that does not emit light in a later display period, and a cell that does not generate discharge in a display period is a lighted cell (i.e., a lighted section). Therefore, the data for applying the write pulse Pa is configured such that discharge occurs in the extinguished cell.

  On the other hand, in the cell between the display electrodes 52B and 52G, that is, the phosphor layer G is provided, as described above, no discharge is generated when the reset pulse Pr is applied to the display electrode 52R, and wall charges are formed. Absent. Therefore, even when the scan pulse Ps is applied to the display electrode 52B and the write pulse Pa is applied to the write electrode 28, since there is no superimposed wall charge, the potential difference between them is small, so that no discharge occurs.

  In addition, in the cell between the display electrodes 52R and 52G, that is, in the cell provided with the phosphor layer R, the reset pulse Pr is applied, so that wall charges are formed once, but spontaneous discharge occurs at the end of the application of the reset pulse Pr. The wall charge has disappeared. Therefore, even when the write pulse Pa is applied to the write electrode 28, since there is no superimposed wall charge, the potential difference between any of the display electrodes 52R and 52G is small, so that no discharge occurs.

  Therefore, after the end of the address period, only the cells in which no discharge is generated between the display electrode 52B and the write electrode 28 among the cells provided with the phosphor layer B between the display electrodes 52B and 52R. After the charge adjustment pulse Pc is applied, a relatively large wall charge is formed (that is, the state of the cell sandwiched between the display electrodes 52B and 52R in “(4) After applying Pc” in FIG. 6). The cell has lost or reduced wall charges (that is, the state shown in “after applying Ps, Pa (only applied cell)” in FIG. 6).

  When the address period ends as described above, in the subsequent display period, the potentials of all the electrodes are temporarily returned to 0 (V), and after about 3.4 (μs), for example, all display electrodes 52R and 52B have, for example, 215 ( A sustain pulse Pd of about V) is applied alternately. The pulse width of the sustain pulse Pd is, for example, about 3 (μs), and the pulse interval is about 9 (μs). Further, the sustain pulse Pd applied to the display electrode 52R and the sustain pulse Pd applied to the display electrode 52B are pulses having the same waveform whose phases are shifted by a half cycle. In the example of the drive waveform in FIG. Since the positive wall charge is formed on the display electrode 52R of the cell to emit light after the end of the address period of the B light emission period (that is, the state after “(4) Pc application” in FIG. 6), the display electrode First, sustain pulse Pd is applied to 52R.

  Thereby, in the cell selected as the lighting cell, the display electrode 52R in which the positive wall charge is superimposed on the positive sustain pulse Pd and the display electrode in which the negative wall charge is held at 0 (V). Discharge occurs because the potential difference from 52B exceeds the discharge start voltage. The phosphor layers 32 </ b> B and 36 </ b> B provided in the lighting cell are excited by the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge to emit blue light, and the light is emitted through the front plate 16. However, in the extinguished cell in which the discharge is generated in the address period, the wall charges are extinguished, so the potential difference between the display electrodes 52R and 52B does not reach the discharge start voltage, and no discharge occurs. Further, since no wall charge exists between the display electrodes 52R and 52G, no discharge occurs. Further, since the potential difference between the display electrodes 52B and 52G is 0 (V), no discharge occurs. That is, no discharge occurs due to the absence of wall charges or no pulse being applied to these extinguished cells, and a discharge is selectively generated only in the lit cells. As described above, the lighted cell is a cell in which no discharge is generated in the address period among the cells provided with the phosphor layer B between the display electrodes 52R and 52B. That is, a discharge is generated only in the lighted cell selected in the address period, and light is emitted.

  As a result of the occurrence of discharge as described above, negative wall charges are accumulated on the display electrode 52R in the lighting cell, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the display electrode 52B. For this reason, when the next pulse delayed by a half cycle is applied to the display electrode 52B and the pulse applied to the display electrode 52R falls, the positive and negative polarity is reversed between the display electrodes 52R and 52B in the lighting cell. In the same manner as described above, a discharge is generated and light is emitted. The application of the sustain pulse Pd is continued during the display period.

  Note that the potential of the write electrode 28 is raised to, for example, 55 (V) simultaneously with the start of application of the sustain pulse Pd, and is maintained at this potential during the display period. Thereby, the discharge between the display electrode 52 and the write electrode 28 during the display period is suitably suppressed.

  When the B light emission period ends as described above, the G light emission period starts. In the G light emission period, the display electrode 52B used for scanning in the previous B light emission period is selected as the electrode to which the reset pulse Pr is applied, and the display electrode 52G not used for display in the B light emission period is used for scanning. It is selected as an electrode to be used. Similarly to the B light emission period, each of the pulses Pr, Pc, Ps, Pa, Pb, and Pd is applied, so that the lighting cell selected according to the data given to the write electrode 28 emits green light. It is done.

  In the R light emission period following the G light emission period, the display electrode 52G used for scanning in the immediately preceding G light emission period is selected as the electrode to which the reset pulse Pr is applied, and is not used for display in the G light emission period. The display electrode 52R is selected as an electrode used for scanning, and the lighted cell selected in the same manner as in the B light emission period and the G light emission period is caused to emit red light.

  In this way, one TV field is divided into three, and each pixel is caused to emit light in one color of RGB, so that each pixel composed of three colors of RGB in one TV field is caused to emit light in a color tone according to input data. Alternatively, one image is displayed while being kept off. Then, by repeating such an operation, images are continuously displayed while being changed according to the input data.

  In the driving waveform shown in FIG. 5, the B to R light emission periods may be one of a plurality of subframes obtained by dividing one frame according to the number of gradations. May be divided into a plurality of subframes according to the number of gradations. In any case, the length of the subframe is determined according to the number of gradations, and the length of each light emission period and display period is determined accordingly.

  Here, the results of measuring the luminous efficiency of the PDP 10 of this example at several pixel sizes are the results of measuring the luminous efficiency of the conventional counter discharge type PDP in which the display electrodes are provided along the direction perpendicular to the barrier ribs. It will be described together. The conventional counter discharge type PDP is provided with a sheet member manufactured in the same manner as the PDP 10 of the embodiment. However, the connection state between the electrodes provided in the sheet member is different, and relative to the partition wall. The orientation is different. FIG. 7 shows an example of the electrode configuration.

  In FIG. 7, the phosphor layers indicated by rectangles indicated as RGB in the figure are repeatedly provided in the horizontal direction of the figure in the order of RGB, and one color phosphor layer is provided in the vertical direction of the figure. Address electrodes (that is, write electrodes; indicated as “Address”) corresponding to the respective phosphor layers are provided along the vertical direction of the figure, and a partition wall (not shown) is provided between the phosphor layers, that is, between the address electrodes. Located between. In addition, sustain electrodes (indicated as “Sustain”) and scanning electrodes (indicated as “Scan1” and “Scan2”) are provided along the horizontal direction of the figure orthogonal to these. The plurality of sustain electrodes are all connected to each other at the left end in the figure, and the same voltage is applied collectively. On the other hand, each scanning electrode is made independent.

  The conventional counter discharge type PDP configured as described above is driven with a driving waveform shown in FIG. 8, for example. This drive waveform is composed of a reset period, an address period, and a display period, like the drive waveform of the present embodiment shown in FIG. The pulse applied to each electrode in each period has a fixed role so that the scan electrode is always used for scanning and display, while the sustain electrode is always used for reset and display, and in the light emission period for each color. Except for not being divided, it is the same as the driving method of this embodiment. In the electrode configuration shown in FIG. 7, since a plurality of sustain electrodes are connected to each other, a drive pulse is applied at a time, so that only one waveform is applied to the sustain electrodes.

  The measurement results of the luminous efficiency of the PDP 10 of the example and the PDP of the conventional structure are shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1, there are two types of discharge gaps of 0.45 (mm) and 0.25 (mm) in the conventional structure, and one type of 0.25 (mm) in the examples. In addition, there are three types of pixel sizes: 3.0 × 3.0 (mm), 1.5 × 1.5 (mm), and 0.9 × 0.9 (mm). However, in the structure of the example, a pixel size of 3.0 × 3.0 (mm) was evaluated as the discharge gap was remarkably large as 0.75 (mm) and the discharge voltage exceeded the allowable voltage of the drive circuit (350 (V)). could not.

  The discharge gap in the conventional counter discharge type PDP was adjusted by changing the number of electrodes provided in one pixel and the electrode width dimension. That is, for a sample with a pixel size of 3.0 × 3.0 (mm), for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the electrode width dimension w is 0.30 (mm), and the number of electrodes in one pixel is four. g was 0.45 (mm). Further, a sample having the same pixel size and a discharge gap g of 0.25 (mm) was produced, for example, by setting the electrode width dimension w to 0.25 (mm) and the number of electrodes in one pixel to six. If the width dimension of the partition wall is 0.1 (mm), the width dimension of each color constituting one pixel is 0.9 (mm).

  Further, a sample having a pixel size of 1.5 × 1.5 (mm) can be obtained, for example, by setting the electrode width dimension w to 0.3 (mm) and the number of electrodes in one pixel to two as shown in FIG. Was set to 0.45 (mm). In addition, a sample having the same pixel size and a discharge gap g of 0.25 (mm) was produced, for example, by setting the electrode width dimension to 0.25 (mm) and the number of electrodes in one pixel to three. When the width dimension of the partition wall is 0.1 (mm), the width dimension of each color constituting one pixel is 0.4 (mm).

  Further, a sample having a pixel size of 0.9 × 0.9 (mm) can be obtained, for example, by setting the electrode width dimension w to 0.45 (mm) and the number of electrodes in one pixel as shown in FIG. Was set to 0.45 (mm). If the width dimension of the partition wall is 0.1 (mm), the width dimension of each color constituting one pixel is 0.2 (mm). A sample having a discharge gap g of 0.25 (mm) with this pixel size has not been evaluated because the dielectric film could not be formed on the sheet member. When the discharge gap g is set to 0.25 (mm), the size of the opening of the sheet member becomes as small as 0.2 × 0.25 (mm). Therefore, when performing dip coating for forming a dielectric film, the dielectric paste Is clogged. That is, the dielectric film cannot be formed.

  As shown in Table 1 above, in the conventional counter discharge structure, when the pixel size is 3.0, that is, one pixel is 3.0 × 3.0 (mm), 3.7 (lm) when the discharge gap is 0.45 (mm). / W) and a high luminous efficiency of 3.2 (lm / W) are obtained when the discharge gap is 0.25 (mm). However, the smaller the pixel size, the smaller the electrode length dimension in the direction perpendicular to the length dimension of each cell in the discharge direction (i.e., the discharge gap). descend. Therefore, with a pixel size of 1.5 x 1.5 (mm), the luminous efficiency drops to 2.7 (lm / W) even when the discharge gap is 0.45 (mm), and to 2.0 (lm / W) when the discharge gap is 0.25 (mm). To do. Further, when the pixel size is reduced to 0.9 × 0.9 (mm), the light emission efficiency when the discharge gap is 0.45 (mm) is only 1.0 (lm / W). That is, in the conventional counter discharge structure, as the pixel size is reduced, the light emission efficiency is lowered. Therefore, even if it can be applied to a PDP for large screen display, it is difficult to apply to a home TV.

  On the other hand, in the PDP 10 of the embodiment, contrary to the conventional type, it is difficult to manufacture a pixel size of 3.0 × 3.0 (mm). However, even if the pixel size is 1.5 × 1.5 (mm), the discharge gap is 0.25. If (mm), a luminous efficiency of 3.2 (lm / W) was obtained, and even if the pixel size was 0.9 × 0.9 (mm), a luminous efficiency of 3.0 (lm / W) was obtained. That is, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, there is an advantage that high luminous efficiency can be obtained even with a small pixel size such as a home TV or with an HDTV.

  In short, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the display electrode 52 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the discharge space 24, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the rectangular light emitting cells constituting each pixel, thereby displaying the display. Since the discharge gap between the electrodes 52 and 52 is made small, the width dimension in the direction perpendicular to the discharge direction is kept sufficiently large even when the pixel size is small. For this reason, since the electric field formed by the discharge does not enter the barrier ribs 22, it is suitably suppressed that the discharge becomes weak in the vicinity of the barrier ribs 22 and the luminous efficiency decreases. Therefore, the PDP 10 capable of fine display with high luminous efficiency can be obtained.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, one TV field is divided into three light emission periods of R, G, and B, and two display electrodes 52 used for scanning are selected and driven. Even if 52 is provided along the partition wall 22, a cell to be lit can be easily selected, and a desired image can be displayed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an NTSC panel has been described. However, since the present invention obtains high luminous efficiency even when the pixel size is small as described above, for example, The present invention is also suitably applied to a high-definition TV (HDTV) having about 1024 × 1280 pixels. In this case, for example, the substrate size is about 750 × 900 (mm) and the display area size is about 676 × 845 (mm). Further, when driving with, for example, 32-bit gradation using the driving method as shown in FIG. 5, since the length of one subfield is about 522 (μs), there is a period for displaying each color of RGB. Each of them is about 174 (μs), the length of the reset period is about 50 (μs), the address period is about 102.4 (μs), and the sustain period (that is, the display period) is about 22 (μs). The pulse width of the drive pulse is preferably about 0.1 (μs).

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail with reference to drawings, this invention can be implemented also in another aspect, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the main point.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of PDP of one Example of this invention by notching a front plate. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the sheet electrode with which PDP of FIG. 1 is equipped. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a main part for explaining a cross-sectional structure in a direction along a write electrode of the PDP in FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of each cell and electrode of RGB in PDP of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an example of a driving waveform for driving the PDP of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining discharge and wall charge from a reset period to an address period in the drive waveform of FIG. 5. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of each cell and electrode of RGB of conventional PDP. It is an example of the drive waveform for driving PDP of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the pixel structure in the conventional PDP in case a pixel size is 3.0 (mm) and a discharge gap is 0.45 (mm). It is a figure which shows an example of the pixel structure in the conventional PDP in case a pixel size is 1.5 (mm) and a discharge gap is 0.45 (mm). It is a figure which shows an example of the pixel structure in the conventional PDP in case a pixel size is 0.9 (mm) and a discharge gap is 0.45 (mm).

Explanation of symbols

10: PDP, 16: front plate, 18: back plate, 20: sheet member, 22: barrier rib, 28: write electrode, 38: upper dielectric layer, 40: lower dielectric layer, 44: conductor layer, 48 : Dielectric film, 52: Display electrode, 56: Counter discharge surface

Claims (8)

A plurality of light-emitting sections formed in an airtight space formed between the front plate and the back plate arranged in parallel to each other and each of which emits light in any one of a plurality of predetermined light-emitting colors; A plurality of write electrodes provided along one direction to select a lighting section to emit light among the light emitting sections, and another direction intersecting with the one direction to generate discharge in the hermetic space A plurality of sustain electrodes provided in parallel to each other, and a plasma display panel of a type for displaying light by utilizing the discharge from a selected lighting section,
The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting sections are divided for each of the plurality of light emission colors by a plurality of partition walls extending along the other direction. A plurality of light emitting sections that are partitioned in an airtight space formed between a front plate and a back plate arranged in parallel with each other and each planar shape has a rectangular longitudinal shape, and lighting that emits light among the plurality of light emitting sections A plurality of write electrodes provided along one direction for selecting a section, and parallel to each other provided along another direction intersecting with the one direction for generating discharge in the hermetic space. A plasma display panel of a type that includes a plurality of sustain electrodes and displays light by using the discharge from a selected lighting section,
The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting sections are separated from each other in the one direction by a plurality of partition walls whose longitudinal directions coincide with the other direction and extend along the other direction.   3. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sustain electrodes have discharge surfaces facing each other.   4. The plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sustain electrodes is provided on each of the plurality of partition walls extending along the other direction. 5. A plurality of longitudinal barrier ribs for forming a plurality of discharge spaces extending along the other direction in the airtight space;
A lattice-like support dielectric layer composed of a plurality of components extending along the one direction and the other direction, and a plurality of layers stacked on each of the component portions extending along the other direction of the support dielectric layer. And a lattice-shaped sheet member disposed on top of the plurality of partition walls having a covering dielectric layer covering the conductor dielectric layer and the supporting dielectric layer, and the plurality of sustain electrodes The plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plasma display panel is composed of a plurality of conductors in a sheet member. A method of driving the plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The plurality of sustain electrodes are divided into three or more groups so that there are two or more sustain electrodes belonging to other groups between the sustain electrodes belonging to each group, and selected from the three or more groups A scan voltage is sequentially applied to the plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to the group and scanned, and a write voltage is applied to a predetermined one of the plurality of write electrodes in synchronization with the scan, A selection step of selecting a lighting section to emit light by generating a discharge between them;
Subsequent to the selection step, a sustain discharge is generated in the selected lighting section by applying a sustain voltage between the plurality of sustain electrodes belonging to the group and a plurality of sustain electrodes adjacent to each of the sustain electrodes. A method of driving a plasma display panel, wherein the three or more groups are used for scanning in one TV field by selecting and repeating each of the groups in sequence. A method of driving the plasma display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The plurality of sustain electrodes are divided into 3n-2 first group, 3n-1 second group, and 3n third group (where n is a natural number) from the end of the array. A scan voltage is sequentially applied to the sustain electrodes belonging to one of the two groups selected from the group for scanning, and a write voltage is applied to a predetermined one of the write electrodes in synchronization therewith. A scanning step of selectively accumulating charges in the lighting section that emits light,
A sustaining step of generating a sustaining discharge in the lighting section by applying a predetermined sustaining voltage between the sustaining electrodes belonging to the two selected groups, the first group, the second group, the second group, 3. A method for driving a plasma display panel, wherein the third group and the combination of the third group and the first group are sequentially selected and repeated.   The plasma display panel according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the plurality of light emitting sections are divided into three primary colors, and each of the three primary colors is caused to emit light separately in different periods. Driving method.

Images