JPH02220330A - Gas discharge panel and method of driving same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve improved picture-quality and reduction in cost with lesser number of discharge retaining electrodes by forming electrodes in such a manner that each of the discharge electrodes arranged in parallel provided a display cell line with its adjacent electrode on either side of it. CONSTITUTION:Discharge electrodes are arranged in parallel on a base 1 in such a manner that electrodes are led out individually on an alternate basis and X-electrodes are available on both sides of them. On the rear of the base 1 are installed address electrodes A1-A5 via an insulating layer over the discharge electrode group. A barrier 6 is is installed between the center line of each discharge electrode and an address electrode to form a display cell which is a space delimited by the barrier. One Y electrode can drive two lines, with a reduced number of discharge retaining electrodes in use. For driving, provisions are made so that twice the frequency and half the voltage level are provided for retaining voltage pulses to the Y electrode group in conjunction with retaining voltage pulses to each X electrode group.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding the improvement of gas discharge panels used in display devices, in particular, a new electrode structure in AC-driven surface discharge type plasma display panels (FDP) and its drive. Regarding the method, the purpose is to reduce the number of discharge sustaining electrodes of a PDP, reduce the accompanying drive circuit, lower costs, and improve image quality. a plurality of discharge electrodes formed on the discharge electrode, a dielectric layer covering the discharge electrode, and a barrier formed on the dielectric layer at a position dividing each discharge electrode into two along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode. , an address electrode formed in a direction intersecting the discharge electrode, and a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate so as to define a gas discharge space therebetween.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to the improvement of gas discharge panels used in various display devices, and in particular to a new electrode structure in AC-driven surface discharge type plasma display panels (FDP).
The present invention relates to a driving method thereof.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 shows an electrode arrangement diagram of a conventional surface discharge type PDP.

As shown in Figure 3, in a conventional surface discharge type FDP, two parallel discharge electrodes are placed only on one of a pair of substrates that are placed opposite each other with a gas discharge space in between. X1
~X,, Y, ~Y, (hereinafter, n represents the final discharge electrode) are arranged to cover the dielectric layer, and further this electrode X1~
A plurality of address electrodes Al to Ai (1=5 in the figure) are formed in a direction intersecting X, Y, to Y7.

In such an FDP, the discharge electrodes X, -X, 1°Y, ~
Display is performed using horizontal surface discharge between adjacent pairs of electrodes XY of Y7. The minimum unit of display is the area divided by the barrier 6 shown by diagonal lines in the figure, which constitutes one dot as a display cell. Further, another substrate is disposed opposite to such an electrode supporting substrate, and an ultraviolet-excitable phosphor is provided on the inner surface of the substrate in correspondence with the display cells or lines so as to provide a color display. The address electrode may be formed on the inner surface of this other substrate.

To display the desired information on such an FDP,
The line sandwiched between each X and Y discharge electrode pair in Figure 3 (L in the figure
1 to Ln) is once completely illuminated. Thereafter, in order to selectively erase display cells that are unnecessarily lit, an erase discharge is caused between one electrode of the pair of electrodes constituting this display cell and an address electrode that intersects with it.
Erase display cells that are unnecessarily lit.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the timing of voltage pulses applied to each electrode when selectively erasing unnecessary display cells.

First, in order to once fully light up the display cells of the first line L1 at timing t, the electrodes X1 and Y are connected so that a voltage higher than the discharge starting voltage is applied between the pair of discharge electrodes constituting the first line. Apply write pulse V□+Vwy.

In order to maintain this discharge lighting, X+, Y+
Sustaining discharge pulses □+V*y are applied alternately to the discharge electrodes.

Next, in order to selectively erase display cells that are unnecessarily lit at the timing t2, between the address electrode AH (i is an arbitrary address to be selected) and the Y discharge electrode Y, which intersect at the display cell portion. A narrow selective erase pulse V is applied. +v*y
Apply. This narrow selective erasing pulse cancels out the wall charge of the display cell that is unnecessarily lit.
The desired information is displayed on the remaining discharge display cells.

Similarly, at timing t3, a write pulse is applied between the pair of electrodes Xt and Yz constituting the display cells of the second row L2 to completely light up the line, and then selective erasing is performed at timing t4.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in a PDP with electrodes arranged as shown in Figure 3,
If there are nine X electrodes since each display line is composed of two pairs of electrodes, one Y electrode is also required. Therefore, in order to obtain a large and delicate display screen, the number of electrodes arranged on one substrate should be twice the number of display lines.
Problems have arisen in that the drive circuit and its external connections are complex and expensive.

Additionally, n Y electrodes are always required for every one X electrode, which hinders narrowing the distance between the electrodes.
There were also problems such as the screen resolution not increasing and the image quality not improving.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the number of discharge sustaining electrodes of FDP,
The aim is to reduce the number of drive circuits associated with this, lower costs, and improve image quality.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing an example of the electrode arrangement of a surface discharge PDP according to the present invention.

The present invention is characterized in that discharge electrodes arranged in parallel on one substrate are shared by adjacent display cell lines, as shown in FIG. 1(a). A barrier 6 for partitioning each cell is provided between the center of the discharge electrode and the address electrode. These discharge electrodes include every other Y electrode group and the X1 electrode group and the X1 electrode group which are alternately sandwiched between the Y electrode groups.
It is divided into three electrode groups: two electrode groups. As a result, every other Y discharge electrode is sandwiched between the Xl and Xt discharge electrodes, and a display cell line is formed between each other and different groups of electrodes adjacent to each other on both sides.

Address electrodes A1-A! (1=5 in the figure) are provided on the parallel discharge electrodes or on the inner surface of the opposing substrate as in the conventional case.

On the other hand, as a driving method, a method is adopted in which one line between adjacent discharge electrodes is once completely illuminated, and then unnecessarily illuminated display cells are selectively erased and only necessary display cells are illuminated. At this time, since each discharge electrode is shared by the display cell lines on both sides, the cell line between the XIX electrode group adjacent to one side with every other Y electrode group as a reference, and the cell line between the XIX electrode group adjacent to the other yt so that discharge in the opposite direction is simultaneously performed on the cell line between the X2 electrode group adjacent to the side.
The sustaining voltage pulse to the i group is set and driven so that the frequency is twice the frequency and the voltage level is half that of the sustaining voltage pulse to each X electrode group.

This makes it possible to set the application timing of selective erasing pulses for sequential addressing without erasing the display cells of the previous line that are already lit.

[For production]

In the panel configuration of the present invention, each of the parallel discharge electrodes disposed on the same substrate forms a display cell line with adjacent electrodes on both sides, so high resolution display is achieved with a small number of electrodes. can do.

Further, according to the driving method of the present invention, display without malfunction can be achieved by minimizing the number of electrode terminals for driving.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1(a) and 2(b) and FIG. FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of the electrode arrangement of an FDP according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view thereof. Further, FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining a method of driving a PDP according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 1(a), XI, xz, Y, ~Y,
The discharge electrodes A1 to As are arranged in parallel on the same substrate surface so that adjacent electrodes form a display cell line, and address electrodes A1 to As are arranged above them in an insulating relationship and intersecting with each other. be. Also, Xl, Xi, Y+-
A barrier 6 is formed between the center of the Y-electrode and the address electrode, and a discharge occurs in the space separated by this barrier, resulting in lighting.

In other words, this divided space constitutes a display cell, which is the minimum unit.

Among the discharge electrodes arranged in parallel, every other electrode is
The discharge electrodes are individually drawn out as an electrode group, and the discharge electrodes sandwiched between the Y electrodes are alternately connected in common to form an X electrode group and an Xt electrode group. Thus, each Y electrode must have both sides X, ,
, and two rows of lines can be driven with one Y electrode. The number of discharge electrode terminals required to drive 27 lines of display cells is two on the X electrode group side and n on the Y electrode group side, for a total of n+2 electrode terminals. Conventionally, to configure 2n lines of the same number of display cells, 2n X electrodes and 27 Y electrodes were required, totaling 47 electrodes and the same number of terminals, so the number of snow shovels was halved and the number of terminals The number will be reduced to approximately 1/4.

Furthermore, by driving two lines with one Yli pole, the width of the display cell can be narrowed by the width of the discharge electrode, and the resolution of the screen can be increased.

Next, the structure of the panel of one embodiment will be explained using FIG. 1(b).

The X discharge electrodes 2 and 4 and the Y discharge electrodes 3 and 5 are mounted on a transparent insulating first substrate 1 made of glass! It is formed with a To film, and is covered with a transparent dielectric layer 7 made of low melting point glass. An insulating barrier 6 is formed on the dielectric layer corresponding to an intermediate position along the longitudinal direction of each discharge electrode using, for example, a thick film printing technique. On the other hand, the opposing glass substrate 1
0 is provided with an address electrode 11, an insulating film 12 covering the surface of the address electrode, and a barrier 13 parallel to the address electrode and partitioning each of the display cell lines in the column direction,
The barriers 6.13 of the upper and lower substrates abut each other in the cross direction, and are sealed to define a gas-filled space 8 between them. Further, on the inner surface of the second substrate on the upper surface side, a multicolor phosphor layer (not shown) is provided corresponding to the display cells or cell lines. As a result, the space separated by the barriers 6 and 13 becomes a unit display cell Dc, and for example, the discharge electrodes Y and X
, ,
An opposing discharge for erasing as shown by the arrowhead is generated between the t and t. In a panel in which a phosphor layer is added to the inner surface of the second substrate, a high-intensity color display can be obtained by viewing the display from the first substrate 1 side through the XY transparent electrodes.

Next, using the time chart in Figure 2,
A method of driving the PDP according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

First, the electrodes X and Y at timing t.

A write pulse V with a voltage exceeding the discharge starting voltage is generated between
By applying wx+ + V wy, the display cells of the first line L1 are once completely illuminated. Then, in order to continue lighting, a sustaining discharge pulse V is applied alternately to the X+ and Yr electrodes.
Apply SXI and v8y.

Next, at timing t2, display cells that are unnecessarily lit on line Ll are selectively erased.

This includes an address electrode A passing over the display cell to be erased.
Narrow erase pulses V a i l and v, between the electrodes H (i is the address of the display cell to be erased) and Y.

1 is applied to cause erasing discharge, canceling the wall charge and erasing the display cells that were unnecessarily lit.

In this way, only the necessary display cells are lit on the first cell line Ll.

Next, at timing t3, write pulses V, yl and Vwxt are applied to the X2 electrode and the X1 electrode, and the second cell line L2 is once completely illuminated. Then, in order to continue lighting, X2. Y, sustain discharge pulses Vs alternately applied to the electrodes
xffi and ■. Apply.

Next, display cells that are unnecessarily lit on line 2 are selectively erased. At timing t, erase pulses V, 2 and 2 are applied to cause an erase discharge between the address electrode A8 and the X1 electrode. y2 is applied, but by simply performing this pulse operation, even the necessary display cells that are already lit on line L1 will be selectively erased. To prevent this, an auxiliary sustaining discharge pulse is applied to the Xl electrode at timing t4, which is the same as or slightly before t. is applied to electrodes X1 and Y
A surface discharge occurs between the electrodes X1 and A, which occurs at t, and cancels out the effect of the erase discharge between the X1 electrode and the A electrode.

In this way, only unnecessary display cells on line L2 can be erased without erasing necessary display cells that are already lit on line L1.

Next, j&+t? Then, as in the case of Ll, L3 is once turned on completely, and then unnecessary display cells are selectively erased. Selective erasing at this time is performed by erasing discharge between the address electrode A and the X2 electrode at t, but this erasing discharge is
, ii poles, so the operation like t4 when selectively erasing L2 is not necessary.

Next, after completely lighting up L4 at tl, in order to avoid erasing the necessary display cells that are already lit at L3, just as with L2, at t9, the erase discharge is performed at the same time as the erasing discharge at tlO or slightly before. Then, the auxiliary sustaining discharge pulse VSS is applied to the X2 electrode.

As mentioned above, in the case of the discharge electrode configuration as shown in FIG.
n/2), the previous line L2m
-1, it is necessary to apply an auxiliary sustaining discharge pulse so as not to erase necessary display cells that are already lit.

This is done by applying an auxiliary sustaining discharge pulse VS3 to the X electrode or X2 electrode of line L2m-1 at the same time as or slightly before the erasing discharge between the Y1 electrode and address electrode A of line L2m. The effect of unnecessary erasing discharge occurring between the electrode or the X electrode and the address electrode A is canceled to prevent the display cells already lit as necessary on line L2m-1 from being erased.

In addition, in the FDP of the present invention, two lines are driven by one Y discharge electrode, so the sustain discharge pulse of the Y discharge electrode is
Twice as many pulses are required for each X discharge electrode. That is, the sustaining discharge pulse of the X electrode group has twice the frequency of the sustaining discharge pulse of each X electrode group. However, the phase of the sustaining discharge pulse ■ and y for the X electrode group is the sustaining discharge pulse V
, The relationship is as follows.

In addition, the size of the sustaining discharge pulse in terms of panel characteristics is ■. However, in the present invention, the magnitude of the sustaining discharge pulse v,8 of the X discharge electrode is specified to be twice the magnitude of the sustaining discharge pulse V3y applied to the Y discharge electrode. As a result, when a sustain discharge pulse of 8X is issued to one of the X1 electrodes that shares the Y electrode, a pulse of the same polarity at 1/2 level is also issued to the Y discharge electrode, and in the cell line on the X electrode side, the Y electrode side A sustaining voltage is applied with a high potential and a low potential on the X electrode side, while in the cell line on the X2 electrode side, a sustaining voltage is applied with a reverse polarity relationship where the shared Y electrode side is a low potential and the X2 electrode side is a high potential. Given.

Time Chart FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the electrode arrangement of a conventional PDP. FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining a driving method of a conventional PDP.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by sharing all of the X and Y discharge electrodes, the number of discharge electrodes can be reduced by nearly half compared to the conventional method, and the drive circuit associated with this can also be reduced by nearly half. It has the effect that it can.

Furthermore, by reducing the width of the display cell, the resolution of the screen can be increased.

In the figure, 1... first substrate, 3...Y, electrode, 5... Y Ei. ,electrode, 7...Dielectric layer, 9...address electrode, ...XIX electrode ...X2 electrode, ···barrier, ...discharge space, 0...Front board.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing the electrode arrangement of the PDP of the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view of essential parts of the FDP of the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates the driving method of the present invention. To do this, the 9 anus of the Myanmar electrician PDF q'li filter mts inn Ig 1 Figure (0) Dou Liaofu: n candy electrified PDPni Tou Shun! Figure 1 + b +'s grain PDP transmitter distribution control Juwei 11W yesterday p RF3 Tsubu Yu 4 Child yard Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A first substrate (1) made of an insulator, a plurality of discharge electrodes (2 to 5) formed in parallel on the first substrate (1), and a covering to the discharge electrodes (2 to 5). a barrier (6) formed on the dielectric layer (7) at a position dividing each of the discharge electrodes (2 to 5) into two along the longitudinal direction; an address electrode (9) formed in a direction intersecting the discharge electrodes (2 to 5); and a second substrate (10) arranged to face the first substrate and define a gas discharge space therebetween. A gas discharge panel comprising: (2) In the method for driving a gas discharge panel according to claim (1), the discharge electrodes (2 to 5) are arranged between every other Y electrode group and X_1 discharge electrodes that are alternately sandwiched between the Y electrode groups. group and X
_2 discharge electrode group is divided into three electrode groups, and the frequency of the sustaining discharge pulse for the Y discharge electrode group is set to 2 of each X discharge electrode group.
At the same time, the phase of the pulse for the Y electrode group is made to alternately match the phase of the pulse for each X electrode group, and the magnitude of the pulse for both X discharge electrode groups is set to
The AC sustaining voltage of opposite polarity is alternately applied to the display cell lines between the adjacent X_1 and X_2 electrodes that share each Y electrode by setting it to twice the magnitude of the required sustaining voltage pulse for the discharge electrode. A method for driving a gas discharge panel, characterized in that: