JPH052993A - Surface discharge type plasma display panel and method for driving it - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of circuit components required to drive a surface discharge type plasma display panel using a matrix display system, and to make the display in high fineness by reducing the number of electroded for performing display with a specified number of lines. CONSTITUTION:No.1 electrodes X and No.2 electrodes Y constituting pairs when drive voltage is impressed are arranged parallelly and alternately to accomplish surface discharge type plasma display panel 1, wherein the No.1 electrodes X No.2 Y are laid at a constant pitch (p), and each inter-electrode space is mating a display line L. When the drive is made, the No.2 electrodes Y are grouped into a plurality of groups YA, YB so that adjoining ones Y belong to different groups YB, and each group is commonly connected electrically. Thereupon the drive voltage is impressed selectively on the No.1 electrodes X, group YA, and group YB.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a matrix display type surface discharge type plasma display panel (PDP) and a driving method thereof.

A surface discharge type PDP is a PDP in which electrodes to be paired when a drive voltage is applied are arranged adjacent to each other on a substrate, and is known as a PDP suitable for displaying various colors by phosphors.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing an electrode structure of a conventional surface discharge type PDP 1j, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing an essential part of FIG.

In FIG. 6, in the PDP 1j, a pair of discharge sustaining electrodes (hereinafter simply referred to as "electrodes") Xj and Yj which are parallel to each other are arranged for each display line L so as to be orthogonal to these electrodes Xj and Yj. A plurality of address electrodes A are arrayed in. The address electrodes A are electrodes Xj, Y.
It may be formed on the same substrate as j or may be formed on the counter substrate.

As well shown in FIG. 7, the electrode X
j and Yj are associated with the grid-shaped barrier ribs 19j partitioning the discharge space, and are arranged so as to define the discharge cells C in the unit light emitting region ESj surrounded by the barrier ribs 19j.

That is, the electrodes Xj and Yj have different arrangement pitches p1 and p2 (p2>) between the lines and between the lines.
p1) are arranged alternately.

The electrodes Xj and Yj are covered with a dielectric (not shown) for AC driving. Further, all the electrodes Yj are electrically shared, and a common drive voltage is applied to these electrodes Yj.

When displaying the PDP 1j, all electrodes Xj (individual electrodes) and electrodes Yj (common electrodes) are used to
A discharge sustaining voltage (a voltage lower than the discharge start voltage) whose polarity switches in a predetermined cycle is constantly applied to all the discharge cells C, and in this state, first, the first line (the uppermost line in the figure) is dealt with. An address voltage exceeding the discharge start voltage is applied to the discharge cells C to be discharged, thereby causing discharge in units of lines.

Then, by selectively applying an erasing voltage to a predetermined address electrode to cause an erasing discharge, the wall charges of the discharge cell C unnecessary for display are erased. As a result, the so-called display writing, that is, the determination of display dots is completed.

In the discharge cell C in which the wall charges are not erased, the discharge sustaining voltage alternately applied to the electrodes Xj and Yj causes repeated discharges thereafter and the display is continued.

After that, like the second line and the third line, the line-by-line discharge and the erasing of unnecessary wall charges are repeated for each line L to display one screen.

[0012]

In the prior art, the unit light emitting region ESj is miniaturized, that is, the display of the electrodes Xj, Yj is finer, that is, the display precision of the electrodes Xj, Yj and the alignment accuracy of the partitions 19j. There is a problem that it is difficult to achieve high definition (so-called fine pitch).

Further, when the number of lines is N (an arbitrary integer and usually about several hundreds), a total of (N + 1) driving circuits (high withstand voltage) are associated with each electrode Xj, Yj during driving. A driver circuit including a switching element and the like must be provided. Therefore, there are problems that the assembly of the drive circuit board becomes complicated and the PDP 1j becomes expensive.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of electrodes for displaying a predetermined number of lines to achieve high definition display.

Another object is to reduce the number of circuit components required for driving.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems] P according to the invention of claim 1
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the DP has a first electrode X and a second electrode X that form a pair when a drive voltage is applied, as shown in FIG.
A surface discharge type plasma display panel 1 in which electrodes Y are alternately arranged in parallel, wherein the first electrodes X and the second electrodes
The electrodes Y are arranged at a constant pitch p, and a space between the first electrode X and the second electrode Y is associated with a display line L.

In the driving method according to a second aspect of the present invention, each of the second electrodes Y is provided with a plurality of groups Y so that the adjacent second electrodes Y belong to different groups YA and YB.
The groups YA and YB are divided into A and YB and electrically connected in common to each group, and a drive voltage is selectively applied to the first electrode X and the groups YA and YB when writing a display.

[0018]

The other electrodes X and Y except the first or second electrodes X and Y at both ends in the array direction correspond to the two lines L formed on both sides of the electrodes.

Therefore, when the number of lines is N, the total number of electrodes X and Y is (N + 1). If N is an even number, the number of electrodes X is [(N / 2) +1] and the number of electrodes Y is (N / 2). If N is an odd number, the number of electrodes X is [(N + 1) / 2] and the number of electrodes Y is also [(N + 1) / 2].

The electrodes Y are divided into a plurality of groups YA and YB so that a driving voltage can be selectively applied to each line L at the time of driving, and electrically connected in common to each group YA and YB. To be done.

When the electrode Y is divided into two groups YA and YB, the number of electrically independent electrodes is the total of the number of electrodes X and the number of groups YA and YB. (N / 2) +3], and if N is an odd number [(N +
1) / 2 + 2].

[0022]

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the PDP 1 according to the present invention.

The PDP 1 is provided with a pair of glass substrates 11 and 21 facing each other with a discharge space 30 provided therebetween, and electrodes X arranged on the glass substrate 11 on the display surface H side to generate a surface discharge as described later. , Y, a dielectric layer 17 covering the electrodes X, Y, a grid-shaped partition wall 19, an address electrode A provided on the glass substrate 21 on the back side, a band-shaped partition wall 29, and a phosphor 28 of a predetermined emission color. It consists of

The electrodes X and Y are formed by patterning a transparent conductive film such as a Nesa film using a photolithography method.

The discharge space 30 is filled with a discharge gas in which neon is mixed with a small amount of xenon. Phosphor 28
Is excited by the ultraviolet rays generated by the surface discharge and emits light.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an electrode structure of a PDP 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of FIG.

In the PDP 1, the electrodes X and Y are alternately arranged in parallel at a constant pitch p so as to be orthogonal to the address electrodes. The number of electrodes X and the number of electrodes Y are the same.

As best shown in FIG. 2, electrodes X, Y
Is arranged so as to straddle two unit light emitting regions ES which are vertically adjacent to each unit light emitting region ES which is surrounded by partition walls 19 which partition the display screen into dots, and between the respective electrodes. A discharge cell C is defined.

That is, in the PDP 1, the space between the electrodes X and Y is associated with the display line L. Therefore, when the number of lines is N, the total number of electrodes X and Y is (N
+1).

When the drive voltage is applied, the electrodes X are electrically independent individual electrodes, while the electrodes Y are common electrodes common to each other in order to simplify the drive circuit. .

However, if all the electrodes Y are made common to each other, each line cannot be selected selectively. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrodes Y are adjacent to each other in different groups. As seen from the above, every other electrode Y (every second electrode) is included in the electrode Y, and the electrode X is included in every 3 electrodes.
Each group (every fourth line) is divided into groups, and each group is connected to the common terminals TA and TB.

This gives the total number of electrically independent electrodes,
That is, the total number of drive circuits required for driving is [(N / 2) +3], which is the sum of the number of electrodes X [(N / 2) +1] plus 2 when the number of lines N is an even number. .

In the following description, the electrode Y connected to the common terminal TA is referred to as an electrode YA, and the electrode Y connected to the common terminal TB is referred to as an electrode YB, which may be distinguished from each other.

The electrode Y is commonly used for the glass substrate 11
Alternatively, a method such as crossover wiring or capacitive coupling (float electrode structure) wiring may be used, or may be performed on a flexible printed wiring board or a drive circuit board outside the glass substrate 11.

Here, even if a pair of electrodes is arranged for each line L like the conventional PDP 1j, it is possible to reduce the total number of drive circuits by sharing the electrodes.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, two adjacent electrodes are commonly connected between each line,
Every other group is separated into individual electrode side (X side) and common electrode side (Y
Side), and each group on the common electrode side may be divided into groups for common use.

That is, the electrode structure shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to a combination of two electrodes of each set in FIG.

Next, a method of driving the PDP 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart schematically showing the driving method according to the present invention.

The PDP 1 is also driven by the line-sequential method which has been conventionally used. That is, writing is performed line by line from the first line so that the screen is line-scanned.

First, the first electrode X and the electrode YA are selected to write the first line, and then the second electrode X is selected.
And the electrode YA are selected to write the second line. Then, in the writing of the third line, the third electrode X and the electrode YB are selected, and in the writing of the fourth line, the fourth electrode X and the electrode YB are selected.

When writing each line L thereafter, 1
As with the fourth line, the electrodes X are sequentially selected one by one, and the electrodes Y are alternately selected every two lines.
A and the electrode YB are selected.

According to the electrode structure according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the total number of electrodes X and Y is (N + 1), whereas the total number of electrodes Xj and Yj is 2N with respect to the number N of lines.
Therefore, the display can be made finer.

According to the driving method according to the above-described embodiment, when the number of lines N is an even number, the total number of driving circuits required for driving can be [(N / 2) +3]. Since it is (N + 1), if the number N of lines is set to about several hundreds, it can be almost halved as compared with the conventional case.

In the above embodiment, the electrode Y is replaced by the electrode Y.
Although it has been described as being divided into two groups of A and YB, when the number of electrodes Y that can be shared is limited due to the limitation of the current capacity of the driving circuit, the electrodes may be divided into three or more groups. . In that case, if the number of groups is increased by one, the total number of drive circuits is also increased by one, but as a whole, the total number of drive circuits is substantially reduced as compared with the conventional case.

[0046]

According to the invention of claim 1, the number of electrodes for displaying a predetermined number of lines can be reduced,
Higher definition of display can be achieved.

According to the invention of claim 2, the number of circuit components required for driving can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an electrode structure of a PDP according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an enlarged main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a PDP according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart schematically showing a driving method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an electrode structure intended to simplify a drive circuit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing an electrode structure of a conventional PDP.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PDP X electrode (first electrode) Y electrode (second electrode) L display line YA electrode (group) YB electrode (group)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nakahara             1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture             Within Fujitsu Limited

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A surface discharge type plasma display panel (1) in which first electrodes (X) and second electrodes (Y) forming a pair upon application of a driving voltage are arranged in parallel alternately. The first electrode (X) and the second electrode (Y) are arranged at a constant pitch (p), and the respective electrodes of the first electrode (X) and the second electrode (Y) are associated with the display line (L). A surface discharge type plasma display panel characterized by being formed. 2. A method of driving a surface discharge type plasma display panel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second electrodes (Y) are adjacent to each other in different groups (Y). It is divided into a plurality of groups (YA) (YB) so as to belong to YA) (YB), and each group (YA) (Y
B) electrically connected in common to each other and selectively applying a drive voltage to the first electrodes (X) and the groups (YA) (YB) when writing a display. Display panel driving method.