JPH07146667A - Driving method for gas discharging display device and gas discharging display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method capable of making a shift from the scanning potential of a scanning signal to a biasing potential more rapid than a conventional method. CONSTITUTION:At the time of driving successively lines of a gas discharging display device provided with plural scanning electrodes 43, plural data electrodes 41. switching elements QK1 to QKN provided at every electrode between scanning electrodes and a part M to be a scanning potential, a scanning electrode biasing power source EK and a current limitting resistor RK provided between the scanning electrode biasing power source EK and each scanning electrode, both ends of the current limitting resistor are short-circuited in all period or one period of a time between a time when the switching element for a selected scanning electrode is turned off and a time when the switching element for the scanning electrode of the next stage of the selected scanning electrode is turned on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas discharge display device driving method and a gas discharge display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional gas discharge display device, for example, Document I (Television Society, Vol. 40, No.
10 (1986). 7 (A) and 7 (B) are views for explaining the gas discharge display device, and are cross-sectional views schematically showing the periphery of the discharge part 10 in particular. Here, FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the gas discharge display device taken along the longitudinal direction of the scan electrode 11 provided therein,
(B) is a sectional view cut along the longitudinal direction of the anode 13. Further, FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the discharge unit 10 and a typical drive circuit unit 20 for driving the discharge unit 10 together. It should be noted that FIG. 8 shows only a portion of the gas discharge display device which is composed of one scan electrode and one data electrode.

The discharge part 10 of the gas discharge display device disclosed in Document I has a first substrate 12 on which a plurality of scan electrodes (generally cathodes) 11 are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of data electrodes (anode) 13. And the second substrate 14 arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined gap and facing each other so that the scanning electrode and the data electrode are orthogonal to each other, and the discharge gas is filled in the gap. However, both boards 1
Discharge cells 16 are defined by providing cell partitions 15 between 2 and 14 in a predetermined arrangement. In addition, the second substrate 1
The phosphor 17 is provided on the peripheral portion of the fourth anode 13.

The drive circuit section 20 has the following structure. On the scan electrode 11 side, switching elements Q _KN (Q _K1 to Q _K1 ~
Q _KN ). Further, the scan electrode 11 is used when not scanning.
In order to increase the electric potential of the switching element Q _KN (Q _{K1 to} Q _KN ), a current limit is provided between the scanning electrode and the portion set to the scanning potential for each scanning electrode. The series circuit section 21 is composed of resistors R _KN (R _{K1 to} R _KN ) and a scan electrode bias power supply E _K. On the other hand, the data electrode 13 side is provided with a current limiting resistor R _A , a series circuit unit 22 including a switching element Q _A and a discharging power supply E _P.

Next, a method of driving the gas discharge display device will be described. FIG. 9 is a time chart used for the explanation. It should be noted that FIG. 9 shows only a time chart regarding a portion formed by a certain data electrode A and four scan electrodes C1 to C4 in the gas discharge display device.

Switching elements Q _{K1 to} Q _KN on the scanning electrode side
Are sequentially turned on for a fixed time, the potentials of the scan electrodes C1 to C4 are ideally bias voltage E _{K for the} scan time.
Changes to the scanning potential. On the other hand, when the switching element Q _A on the data electrode side is turned on, the voltage of the discharge power supply E _P is applied to the data electrode 13 through the switching element Q _A and the current limiting resistor R _A. Therefore, the potential of the data electrode 13 is, like the voltage rise time T _AR shown in A in FIG. 9,
Gradually rises. In the discharge cell at the intersection of the scan electrode and the data electrode, which is at the ground potential when the potential of the data electrode rises, the potential difference between the two electrodes exceeds the discharge start voltage, so that discharge current flows and light is emitted. A display image is generated by turning on / off the switching elements of the data electrodes according to the display data at the timing of scanning the scan electrodes line-sequentially.

In addition, for example, Document II (Science Technical Report EID92
-87 (1993-3), pp. 13-18),
An attempt has been made to make the drive circuit unit of the gas discharge display device a hybrid IC, and in particular, an example in which the drive circuit unit is hybridized when the gas discharge display device is driven by a so-called pulse memory drive system. FIG. 10 is a diagram provided for the explanation.

In the drive circuit section 30 of this gas discharge display device, the first switching element 32 is connected to the data electrode 31 through at least the first switching element 32.
A bias power supply 33 for increasing the potential of the data electrode when the switch is in an on state, and the data electrode 31 and a reference potential (a predetermined potential on the data electrode side for obtaining a non-light emitting state). Provided between the data electrodes 3
And a second switching element 34 for setting the potential of 1 as a reference potential at a predetermined time. However, in the case of the example in FIG. 10, the bias power supply 33 is a so-called sustaining pulse power supply V _SP in the pulse memory system (indicated by 33 ₁ in the drawing).
When an example of the potential of the data electrodes is a power supply V _'SP to so undergo an intermediate potential prevents be boosted directly discharge sustain voltage V _SP (. Shown in the drawing 33 _2). Therefore, the first switching element 32 also includes 32 ₁ and 32 _2.
There are two systems. Incidentally, in FIG. 10, T ₁ ~
T ₈ is a terminal, V _W is a write power supply for generating discharge, HDA 1 is a hybrid IC for supplying a write voltage to the data electrode, and HDA 2 is a potential of the data electrode during the write period when there is no write data. It is a hybrid IC for dropping to the GND level (reference potential).

[0009]

However, as shown in FIG.
In the conventional driving method of the gas discharge display device described with reference to FIG. 9, even if the switching elements Q _A on the data electrode side are turned on at the same time, there may be variations in the time during which the discharge current flows. Therefore, the brightness may not be uniform. The reason is that the potential of this scan electrode must rise promptly to the potential of the bias power supply V _K when the selection time of the scan electrode has elapsed after applying the scan pulse to a certain scan electrode. This is because the resistances R _{K1 to} R _KN delay the rise of the time constant due to the resistances R _{K1 to} R _KN . About this,
Will be described more specifically with reference to. In the example of FIG.
After the discharge cell at the intersection of the anode A and the cathode C2 is selectively emitted, the potential of the cathode C2 _gradually rises (see the section T _{KOFF in} FIG. 9). Here, if the display data corresponding to the discharge cell at the intersection of the anode A and the cathode C3 at the next scanning timing is display data instructing non-light emission, no problem will occur, but it is display data instructing light emission. The switching element Q _A is turned on, the write voltage for the discharge cell at the intersection of the anode A and the cathode C3 is supplied to the anode A, and the potential of the anode A rises. And
During the T _KOFF time in FIG. 9, the discharge of the discharge cell at the intersection of the anode A and the cathode C2, which should be in the non-luminous state, is maintained. Such a phenomenon becomes a cause of gradation unevenness particularly when low-luminance display is performed.

In the drive circuit described with reference to FIG. 10, although the switching elements 32 and 33 are provided, a system for boosting the potential of the data electrode (data electrode potential of V _SP or _V'PS is set). The system for setting the potential) and the system for setting the potential of the data electrode as the reference potential are connected via the data electrode 31 (to be precise, via the wiring portion 31a connected to the data electrode 31). Therefore, there is a risk that the power supply 33 and the portion that is at the reference potential (T ₃ terminal in the illustrated example) may be short-circuited due to various causes such as malfunction of the switching elements 32 and 33 due to external noise. There was a risk of circuit damage.

Further, since the gas discharge display device described with reference to FIG. 7 produces visible light by exciting the phosphor 17 with ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge, its brightness is proportional to the coating area of the phosphor. To do. However, in this conventional gas discharge display device, since the phosphor is formed only on the portion corresponding to the discharge cell 16 of the second substrate 14, there is a limit to the enlargement of the phosphor area, thus improving the brightness. Naturally, there was a limit.

This application has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, an object of the first invention of this application is to provide a method capable of making a transition of a scanning signal from a scanning potential to a bias potential steeper than in the past. It is in. Another object of the second invention of this application is to provide a gas discharge display device having a drive circuit unit suitable for carrying out the first invention. Another object of the third invention of this application is to provide a gas discharge display device capable of preventing a short circuit between a bias power supply connected to discharge electrodes for discharging and a reference potential point for stopping discharging. Another object of the fourth invention of this application is to provide a gas discharge display device capable of improving the brightness as compared with the conventional one.

[0013]

In order to achieve the object of the first invention, according to the first invention of this application, a plurality of scan electrodes, a plurality of data electrodes, and a scan electrode and a scan for each scan electrode. A line is a gas discharge display device including a switching element provided between a portion having a potential and a scan electrode bias power source, and a current limiting resistor provided between the scan electrode bias power source and each scan electrode. When driving in sequence,
The current limiting is performed during all or part of the period between when the switching element for the selected scan electrode is turned off and when the switching element for the scan electrode in the next stage of the selected scan electrode is turned on. It is characterized in that both ends of the resistor are short-circuited.

In order to achieve the object of the second invention,
According to the second invention of this application, a plurality of scanning electrodes, a plurality of data electrodes, and a switching element provided between each of the scanning electrodes and the portion set to the scanning potential,
A scan electrode bias power source, a current limiting resistor provided between the scan electrode bias power source and each scan electrode, and a short circuit for short-circuiting both ends of the current limiting resistor provided in parallel with the current limiting resistor for a predetermined period. And a circuit section for use.

In implementing the second aspect of the invention, instead of the current limiting resistor provided for each scan electrode, a diode is provided for each scan electrode so that the cathode side is connected to the connection point between the scan electrode and the switching element. , Connecting the anodes of these diodes in common, and providing a series circuit section consisting of a current limiting resistor and a scan electrode bias power supply between the common connection point of the anodes and the portion set to the scanning potential, and connecting in parallel to the current limiting resistor. It is preferable that the short-circuiting circuit section is provided in.

Furthermore, in carrying out the second invention,
The short-circuiting circuit portion is a circuit including a first diode, a second diode, a PNP transistor, an NPN transistor, and a capacitor, and has the following connection relationships (a) to (e). Is preferred.

(A) The anode of the first diode, the base of the PNP transistor, and the collector of the NPN transistor are connected to the terminal of the current limiting resistor on the scan electrode bias power supply side. .

(B) The emitter of the NPN transistor and one terminal of the capacitor are connected to the scanning electrode side terminal of the current limiting resistor.

(C) The base of the NPN transistor and the collector of the PNP transistor are connected.

(D) The cathode of the first diode is connected to the anode of the second diode and the other terminal of the capacitor.

(E) The cathode of the second diode and the emitter of the PNP transistor are connected.

In order to achieve the object of the third invention,
According to the third invention of this application, a scan electrode and a data electrode are provided, and further, at least one of the electrodes is connected to the first switching element and a bias connected through the first switching element. The power supply is connected to a bias power supply having a voltage that increases the potential difference between the one electrode and the other electrode when the switching element is in the ON state, and the one electrode is connected to the reference potential. In a gas discharge display device including a second switching element that is provided between the first switching element and a portion that is provided between the first switching element and the second switching element for setting the potential of the one electrode to the reference potential at a predetermined time. And a short circuit prevention circuit provided between the electrode side terminal and the electrode of the second switching element and for preventing a short circuit between the bias power supply and the reference potential.

In implementing the third invention, the short-circuit prevention circuit is a circuit including a diode (a Zener diode may be used), a PNP transistor and a resistor, and has the following connection relationships (i) to (vi). It is preferable that the circuit is composed of the above circuit.

(I) The anode of the diode, one end of the resistor and the base of the PNP transistor are connected.

(Ii) The cathode of the diode and the PN
It is connected to the emitter of the P-transistor.

(Iii) The other end of the resistor is connected to the collector of the PNP transistor.

(Iv) A connection point between the anode of the diode, one end of the resistor and the base of the PNP transistor is directly or indirectly connected to the first switching element.

(V) The connection point between the other end of the resistor and the collector of the PNP transistor is directly or indirectly connected to the second switching element.

(Vi) The cathode of the diode and the PN
The connection point with the emitter of the P-transistor is connected to the data electrode.

The diode may be replaced with a resistor in the configuration of the preferred embodiment of the third invention.

In order to achieve the object of the fourth invention,
According to the fourth invention of this application, a first substrate having one electrode for discharging, and a second substrate having a second electrode for discharging arranged to face the first substrate. In a gas discharge display device comprising a plurality of discharge cells whose space is defined by the first and second substrates and cell partition walls provided between these substrates, and a phosphor provided in each discharge cell. An electrode (partition wall electrode) connected to one electrode or the other electrode for discharge is provided on a part of the wall surface of the cell partition wall, and the phosphor is provided on the first substrate portion of each discharge cell or It is characterized in that it is provided on the second substrate portion and on all or part of the wall surface of the cell partition wall other than the portion where the partition wall electrode is provided. In implementing the fourth invention, one of the wall surfaces of the cell partition wall facing each other is provided with the partition electrode portion, and the phosphor is provided on at least the other wall surface (of course, it may be provided on the remaining surface. ) Is preferred.

[0032]

According to the structure of the first invention, the current limiting resistor is short-circuited in an arbitrary period from when the scanning signal for a certain scanning electrode is turned off to when the scanning electrode is scanned. When the current limiting resistor is short-circuited, the time constant of signal transmission in the system from the scan electrode bias power source to the scan electrode is correspondingly reduced, so that the potential of the scan electrode rises to the bias potential promptly.

According to the structure of the second invention, the first invention can be easily implemented. In the first and second inventions, of course, each of R _{K1 to} R _KN of the conventional circuit shown in FIG. 8 may be short-circuited when necessary. However, in the preferred embodiment of the second invention, the diode group is provided so that the potential of the non-selected scan electrode is not affected by the potential variation of the selected scan electrode, whereby the current limiting resistor and the short circuit circuit are fully scanned. It is shared by the electrodes. In addition, the short-circuit circuit section is connected to the first diode, the second diode, the PN
In the case of a circuit including a P-transistor, an NPN transistor, and a capacitor, which has the connection relationships (a) to (e) described above, details of the current-limiting resistor will be described in the embodiment section. Since the circuit itself automatically switches between short circuit and non-short circuit, it is not necessary to prepare a special synchronous circuit.

Further, according to the structure of the third invention, it is possible to prevent the power supply and the reference potential from being short-circuited.

Further, according to the structure of the fourth aspect of the invention, since the phosphor is provided not only on the substrate surface but also on the wall surface of the cell partition wall, the phosphor area can be expanded accordingly. In addition, since the discharge electrode is provided on the wall surface of the cell partition wall, the phosphor provided on the wall surface of the cell partition wall can be efficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[0036]

Embodiments of the invention of this application will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings used in the following description merely schematically show the dimensions, shapes, and positional relationships of the respective constituent components to the extent that these inventions can be understood. Further, in each of the drawings used for the description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

1. Description of Embodiments of First Invention and Second Invention FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining embodiments of the first invention and the second invention. In particular, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gas discharge display device 40 (that is, a gas discharge display device 40 of an embodiment of the second invention) having a drive circuit suitable for carrying out the driving method of the first invention, and FIG. Circuit part 51 for short circuit according to the second invention
3 is a circuit diagram showing a preferred example of FIG.

In the gas discharge display device 40 shown in FIG. 1 having a drive circuit section suitable for implementing the first invention, a plurality of data electrodes (here, anodes) 41 and a plurality of scan electrodes (here, cathodes) 43 are provided. A discharge cell 45 is formed at each of the intersections with and a discharge unit 47 is formed by these discharge cell groups. Further, in this gas discharge display device 40, the scanning electrode 4
Switching elements Q _{k1 to} Q _KN are provided between the scanning electrode and the portion (in this example, the line shown by M in FIG. 1) that is set to the scanning potential for each unit 3. Further, in this gas discharge display device 40, the diode D is connected so that the cathode side is connected to the connection point between the scan electrode and the switching element for each scan electrode.
_{K1 to} D _KN are provided. And these diodes D _K1
To D _KN anodes are connected in common, and further, a series circuit portion including a current limiting resistor R _K and a scan electrode bias power supply E _K between the common connection point of the anodes and a portion M set to the scan potential. 49 is provided, and further, a short circuit circuit portion 51 is provided in parallel with the current limiting resistor R _K. Further, in this gas discharge display device 40, each data electrode 41
The data electrode side current limiting resistor R _A , the data electrode side switching element Q _A and the discharging power supply E _P are connected to the.

Here, the switching element Q on the scanning electrode side
_In this case, each of _{K1 to} Q _KN is composed of an NPN transistor. When the switching element is turned on, the scanning electrode potential corresponding to the switching element becomes the scanning potential, so that the scanning electrode is in the selected state. When this switching element is turned off, the scan electrode potential rises to the potential of the bias power source E _K.

The short circuit portion 51 is provided between when the switching element for the selected scan electrode is turned off and when the switching element for the scan electrode in the next stage of the selected scan electrode is turned on. This is for short-circuiting both ends of the current limiting resistor R _K in all or part of the period.
The configuration of the short circuit portion 51 is not particularly limited as long as such an operation is performed. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
a, second diode 51b, PNP transistor 51
c, an NPN transistor 51d and a capacitor 51e, which are circuits having the following connection relationships (a) to (e).

(A) The anode of the first diode 51a, the base of the PNP transistor 51c, and the collector of the NPN transistor 51d are connected to the current limiting resistor R _K ,
It is connected to a terminal on the scan electrode bias power supply E _K side.

(B) The emitter of the NPN transistor 51d and one terminal of the capacitor 51e are connected to the terminal of the current limiting resistor R _K on the scan electrode 43 side.

(C) The base of the NPN transistor 51d is connected to the collector of the PNP transistor 51c.

(D) The cathode of the first diode 51a is connected to the anode of the second diode 51b and the capacitor 51.
It is connected to the other terminal of e.

(E) The cathode of the second diode 51b and the emitter of the PNP transistor 51c are connected.

Next, the operation of the gas discharge display device described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

In the circuit of FIG. 1, when the plurality of switching elements Q _A on the data electrode side are turned on, a voltage is applied to the data electrode 41 from the discharging power supply E _P through the switching element Q _A and the current limiting resistor R _A , Electrode 41
Potential rises. Considering the timing at which, for example, the switch element Q _K1 in the cathode side switching element is turned on while the scanning electrode side is line-sequentially driven corresponding to these data electrodes, the data electrode and the switching element Q
A potential difference required for discharge is generated between the scan electrode connected to _K1 and the scan electrode. Here, when Q _K1 is turned off when the operation on the data electrode side corresponding to the switching element Q _K1 is short-time discharge such as T _{C2 in} FIG. 9, in the present invention, the next stage from the time when it is turned off. all or part of the period until the switching element Q _K2 for scanning electrode is turned on (period shown by T _KOFF in FIG. 9), by operating the short circuit portion 51 shown in FIG. 1, the resistor R _K Short both ends. T _KOFF
The amount of time between the resistances R _K to be short-circuited during the period is determined according to the design. While the resistor R _K is short-circuited, the voltage of the scan electrode bias power supply E _K is short-circuited 5
1. Since the voltage is applied to the scan electrode 43 through the diode D _K1 , the potential of the scan electrode can be raised to the potential of the scan electrode bias power supply E _{K in} a shorter time than in the case where the resistor R _K is not short-circuited. When a certain scanning electrode 43 is selected, the potential on the data electrode 41 side may also decrease. However, even in such a case, when viewed from the diode (any one of D _{K1 to} D _KN ) provided for each scan electrode, the lowered data electrode potential is the scan electrode bias power supply E _K.
Since it is still higher, it has a reverse potential for these diodes. Therefore, the switching element (Q _K1
The discharge current flows only to the scan electrodes connected to the collectors of any one of (-Q _KN ).

Next, the short circuit portion 51 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the switching element Q _KN on the scan electrode side is turned on, and a current flows from the scan electrode bias power source E _K through the resistor R _K and the diode D _KN to the scan electrode, between the terminals of the resistor R _K (see FIG. 2). Voltage is generated. At this time, since the terminal side has a high potential, the diode 51a is in the forward direction, so that the capacitor 51e is charged. At this time PN
Since the emitter potential of the P-transistor 51c is lower than the base potential of the P-transistor 51c, no current flows, and the P-transistor 51c is turned off. As a result, the NPN transistor 51d is also turned off, so that both ends of the resistor R _K are not short-circuited. In contrast,
When the transistor Q _KN for the scan electrode is turned off, a voltage is applied from the scan electrode bias power supply E _K through the resistor R _K , so that the potential of the terminal of the resistor R _K starts to rise. At this time, the potential of the terminal on the second diode 51b side of the capacitor 51e, which has been charged to a voltage close to the voltage E _K , also rises. Therefore, through the second diode 51b, P
Since a current flows between the emitter and base of the NP transistor 51c, the collector of the PNP transistor 51c receives N
A current flows toward the base of the PN transistor 51d, and as a result, the NPN transistor 51d is turned on to raise the potential of the terminal of the resistor R _K. Therefore, the potential on the anode side of the second diode 51b via the capacitor 51e is rapidly increased. Here, the PNP transistor 51b and the NPN transistor 51c are turned on (the both ends of the resistor R _K are short-circuited) until the discharge of the capacitor 51e is completed. When the discharge of the capacitor 51e is completed, the potentials at both ends of the resistor R _K become approximately the same potential, so this short circuit portion 51 shown in FIG. 2 can be said to be a low power consumption type circuit. In addition, the short circuit portion 5 shown in FIG.
1 can be said to be a circuit in which the resistor R _K can be short-circuited as desired without providing a special synchronizing circuit or the like because it automatically operates every time the scanning electrode switching elements Q _{K1 to} Q _KN are turned off.

2. Description of Embodiments of Third Invention Next, embodiments of the third invention of this application will be described.
In this embodiment, an example in which the third invention is applied to the circuit described with reference to FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram used for the description. In FIG. 3, the components described with reference to FIG. 10 may be assigned the numbers used in FIG. 10 and the description thereof may be omitted.

The discharge part of the gas discharge display device of this embodiment can have the structure described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 1, for example. Further, in the drive circuit unit 60 of the gas discharge display device of this embodiment, the bias power supply 33 for increasing the potential of the data electrode 31 (in this example, as described in the section of the prior art,
The power source V _SP and the power source V'denoted by 33 ₁ and 33 ₂ in FIG.
Both _SPs . ) Is connected to the data electrode 31 via the corresponding _first switching elements 32 ₁ and 32 ₂ and the corresponding diodes D ₁ and D ₂ and the short circuit prevention circuit 61, and is also connected to the reference potential (non-emission). A portion (T _{3 in} the example of FIG. 3) connected to the predetermined potential on the data electrode side for obtaining the state is connected via the second switching element 34, the diode D ₃ and the short circuit prevention circuit 61. And is connected to the data electrode 31. Therefore, the line for raising the potential of the data electrode 31 and the line for lowering the potential of the data electrode 31 are separated, and the short circuit prevention circuit 61 is provided between both lines. The short circuit prevention circuit 61 and each switching element 32
The diodes D ₁ and D ₂ provided between the power source V _{SP and} the diode D ₁ and D ₂ are provided to prevent the voltage of the power source V _{SP from} reaching the line side of the power source V ′ _SP or the opposite state. Is not essential in.

Although the short-circuit prevention circuit can be constructed by any suitable one, the short-circuit prevention circuit 61 of this embodiment has a diode 6
1a, a PNP transistor 61b, and a resistor 61c, which are circuits having the following connection relationships (i) to (vi).

(I) Anode of diode 61a and resistor 6
One end of 1c is connected to the base of the PNP transistor 61b.

(Ii) Cathode of diode 61a and PNP
It is connected to the emitter of the transistor 61b.

(Iii) The other end of the resistor 61c is connected to the collector of the PNP transistor 61b.

(Iv) Anode of diode 61a and resistor 6
The connection point between one end of 1c and the base of the PNP transistor 61b is connected to the first switching elements 32 ₁ and 32 ₂ in this case via the corresponding diode D ₁ or D ₂ .

(V) The connection point between the other end of the resistor 61c and the collector of the PNP transistor 61b is connected to the second switching element 34 via the diode D ₃ in this case.

(Vi) Cathode of diode 61a and PNP
The connection point of the transistor 61b with the emitter is connected to the data electrode 31.

Next, the operation of the short circuit prevention circuit 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIGS. 4B and 4C are time charts when the gas discharge display panel of this embodiment is driven by a so-called pulse memory, and FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of portion a of FIG. 4B. FIG. The signal shown in (B) is a signal applied to the data electrode 31, and the signal shown in (C) is a signal applied to the scan electrode. Here, since ON / OFF of the first switching element and the second switching element described below is controlled by a known method in the pulse memory system, description of these ON / OFF control units is omitted. To do.

In the period of T _a in FIG. 4A, only the switching element 32 ₂ for the power supply V ′ _SP shown in FIG. 3 is turned on and the voltage V ′ _SP is the diode D ₂ and the short circuit prevention circuit 61. Since it is supplied to the data electrode 31 through the diode 61a, the potential of the data electrode 31 rises to V ′ _SP .

Next, in the period of T _b in FIG.
Since only the switching element 32 ₁ for the power supply V _SP shown in FIG. 6 is turned on and the voltage V _SP is supplied to the data electrode 31 through the diode D ₁ and the diode 61a in the short circuit prevention circuit 61, the potential of the data electrode 31 is increased. Rises to V _SP . That it and the phenomenon of the reverse voltage reaches the power supply V _'SP side at this time V _SP occurs it is prevented by the diode D ₁ and D _2. Therefore, there is no possibility that malfunction switching timing of the switching element 32 ₁ and the power source V 'switching device 32 ₂ for the _SP for power supply V _SP is short-circuited also is between the power supply occurs. However, this was also done in the prior art.

Next, in the period of T _c in FIG.
Since only the second switching element 34 shown in FIG. 6 is turned on, the potential of the data electrode 31 which has been raised to the voltage V _SP is passed through the emitter and collector of the PNP transistor 61b of the short circuit blocking circuit 61 and the diode D _3. It is pulled down to the reference potential. At this time, if the voltage of V _SP or V ′ _SP is not applied to the terminal (see FIG. 3) of the short circuit prevention circuit through the diode D ₁ or D ₂ , the PNP is applied.
Since the current flows through the resistor 61c to the base of the transistor 61b, the PNP transistor 61b can be turned on. Where only the second switching element 34 should be turned on, the first switching element 32 ₁ or 3
2 ₂ is delayed to be turned off and V is applied to the terminal of the short circuit prevention circuit.
If the voltage of the _SP or V _'SP is had been applied, P
Since a reverse bias is applied between the base and emitter of the NP transistor 61b and the transistor 61b is turned off, the bias power source 33 and the reference potential portion (here, T _No short circuit is formed between ( ₃ ) and (short circuit can be prevented).

Next, in the period of T _{d in} FIG. 4A, in order to raise the data electrode potential, which has dropped to the reference potential in the period of T _c described above, to the discharge voltage V _W when there is display data. HDA1 is turned on. As a result, the voltage V _W is applied to the data electrode 31 through the diode 61a in the short circuit prevention circuit 61, so that the potential of the data electrode 31 is V _W.
Rise to. At this time, even if the second switching element 34 or the HDA 2 is in the ON state, the potential of the terminal of the short circuit prevention circuit 61 becomes higher than the potential of the terminal of the circuit 61 (see FIG. 3), so that a short circuit occurs. Since the base-emitter of the PNP transistor 61b in the blocking circuit 61 is reverse-biased, a short circuit is not formed between the power supply V _W and the portion having the reference potential.

In the above-described third embodiment of the invention, three types of power supplies, V _SP , _V'SP and V _W , are shown, but this is an example and the number of power supplies is not limited. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the prevention of the short circuit on the data electrode (anode) side is exemplified,
The scanning electrode side can also be implemented by applying the idea on the data electrode side.

3. Description of Fourth Invention Next, an embodiment of the fourth invention will be described. 5 and 6 are diagrams provided for the description. In particular, FIG. 5 is a view showing a cross section of a gas discharge display device according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention, taken along the longitudinal direction of one of the discharge electrodes (cathode in this case) provided for the device. Is. However, hatching showing the cross section is omitted for some constituent components. FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining a preferred example of the method for manufacturing the gas discharge display device of the embodiment.

In the gas discharge display device of the fourth invention, the first substrate 73 having one electrode (cathode) 71 for discharge is used.
And a second substrate 77 having a second electrode (anode) 75 for discharge, which are opposed to each other so that the cathode 71 and the anode 75 intersect with each other. In addition, these first
And a cell partition 81 for defining a number of discharge cells 79 between the second substrate. Further, in this gas discharge display device, one electrode for discharge, here, an electrode 75a connected to the anode 75 (hereinafter referred to as "partition electrode 75a") is provided on a part of the wall surface of the cell partition 81. The fluorescent substance 83 is provided on the second substrate 7 of each discharge cell.
7 and the wall surface of the cell partition 81, which is the partition electrode 7
It is provided on all or part of the surface other than the portion where 5a is provided. The first and second substrates are bonded together at the substrate edge with a predetermined gap. Then, a discharge gas is sealed in the void.

Here, when the discharge cell 79 is, for example, a box-shaped one having four wall surfaces, the partition wall electrode 75
It is preferable that a is provided on one of the four wall surfaces, and the phosphor 83 is provided at least on the wall surface opposite to the wall surface provided with the partition electrode 75a. Of course, the phosphor 83 may be provided on the remaining wall surface. In addition, the partition electrode portion 75
The a may not be provided on the entire surface of one wall surface, but may be a part thereof, or conversely, it may be provided on two or more wall surfaces.

Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the gas discharge display device described with reference to FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
However, in this description, only the step of forming the partition electrode 75a and the phosphor 83 according to the fourth invention will be described. This is because the other constituents can be formed by a known method.

The plate 9 for screen printing is formed on the cell partition side of the second substrate 77 on which the anode 75 and the cell partition 81 have been formed.
Place 0. However, in disposing the plate 90 for screen printing, the plate for screen printing is so arranged that the portion 90a where the mesh is not crushed for passing the printing paste is located above the cell partition wall on one side of the discharge cell 79. 90 is arranged on the second substrate 77. In this state, a partition electrode forming paste (for example, a nickel paste, although not limited to this) is printed. Then, the paste is selectively printed on the wall surface of the cell partition 79 on one side of the discharge cell 79. Also, during this printing, the paste reaches the anode 75 on the second substrate 77. Therefore, when this paste is fired, the electrical connection between the anode 75 and the partition electrode 75a is completed. On the other hand, the phosphor 83 can be formed by the same procedure as the procedure for forming the partition wall electrode 75a. When the pitch of the cell partition walls 79 is 0.2 mm and the width of the cell partition walls 79 is 80 μm, the width of the portion 90a where the mesh of the plate 90 for screen printing is not crushed is 80 to
When the above printing was performed in a state of about 100 μm, desired printing could be performed on the wall surface of the cell partition 79. Of course, this dimension is only an example.

If the partition wall electrode 75a comes into contact with the other discharge electrode (cathode), the anode and cathode are short-circuited and discharge cannot be performed. To avoid this, a method of controlling the printing conditions so that the partition electrode forming paste is lower than the height of the cell partition after the printing is completed ,: A cell partition is further formed on the current cell partition after the partition electrode is formed. A method of forming by printing, such as a method of printing an insulating glass paste on the other electrode (cathode) to obtain an insulating film, and the like.

[0070]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first invention of this application, the current limiting resistor on the scan electrode side is short-circuited at a predetermined time, so that the system from the scan electrode bias power supply to the scan electrode is used. Since the time constant of signal transmission becomes small, the potential of the scan electrode rises from the scan potential to the bias potential promptly. Therefore, when the data signal for the scan electrode of the next stage arrives, the scan signal of the previous stage is turned off in a predetermined manner, so that non-uniform discharge does not occur. The method of the first aspect of the present invention exhibits a remarkable effect particularly when discharging a low gradation (low luminance).

According to the second invention, the first invention can be easily implemented. Further, in particular, in the configuration in which the diode group of the preferred example of the second invention is provided, the potential of the non-selected scan electrodes is not affected by the potential fluctuation of the selected scan electrodes, whereby the current limiting resistance and the short-circuit circuit portion are provided. It is shared by all scanning electrodes. Therefore, the circuit configuration can be simplified. Also,
In the preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the short-circuiting circuit section includes a first diode, a second diode, a PNP transistor, and an NP.
In the configuration including the circuit including the N-transistor and the capacitor, the circuit itself can automatically switch between short-circuiting and non-short-circuiting of the current limiting resistance, so that it is not necessary to prepare a synchronizing circuit specially, and a low power consumption type device. Becomes Furthermore, since this configuration is a low resistance pull-up type open collector transistor circuit, it can operate at high speed.

Further, according to the third invention, it is possible to prevent the power supply and the reference potential from being short-circuited. Therefore, a safe and highly reliable gas discharge display device can be obtained. Further, since the short circuit between the power source and the reference potential can be prevented, the display timing of the display device can be adjusted while the device is operating.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the phosphor area can be expanded not only on the substrate surface but also on the wall surface of the cell partition wall, and the fluorescent material provided on the partition wall surface provided with the partition electrode. Due to the synergistic effect of being able to efficiently irradiate the body with ultraviolet rays, a gas discharge display device with higher brightness and higher efficiency than in the past can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a gas discharge display device suitable for implementing the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a preferred example of a short circuit circuit section according to a second invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the third invention.

4A to 4C are views following FIG. 3 for explaining an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the fourth invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a method of manufacturing the device of the fourth invention.

7 (A) and 7 (B) are explanatory views of a discharge part of a conventional gas discharge display device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a conventional drive circuit and drive method.

FIG. 9 is a time chart when the gas discharge display device is driven by the conventional method.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a drive circuit unit of another example of the conventional gas discharge display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

31: Data electrode 32 (32 ₁ , 32 ₂ ): First switching element 33 (33 ₁ , 33 ₂ ): Bias power supply 34: Second switching element T ₃ : Part used as reference potential 61: Short circuit prevention Circuit 40: Gas discharge display device of the embodiment of the second invention 41: Data electrode (anode) 43: Scan electrode (cathode) 45: Discharge cell 47: Discharge part 49: Series circuit part 51: Short circuit part M: Scanning potential The part that is said to be

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of scan electrodes, a plurality of data electrodes, a switching element provided between each scan electrode and a portion where the scan electrode and the scan potential are provided, a scan electrode bias power supply, and the scan. When line-sequentially driving a gas discharge display device including an electrode bias power supply and a current limiting resistor provided between each scan electrode, when a switching element for a selected scan electrode is turned off and when the selected one is selected. A method for driving a gas discharge display device, characterized in that both ends of the current limiting resistor are short-circuited during all or part of the period between when the switching element for the scan electrode in the next stage of the scan electrode is turned on. 2. A plurality of scan electrodes, a plurality of data electrodes, a switching element provided between each scan electrode and a portion where the scan electrode and the scan potential are provided, a scan electrode bias power supply, and the scan. An electrode bias power source and a current limiting resistor provided between each scanning electrode, and a short circuit circuit portion provided in parallel with the current limiting resistor for short-circuiting both ends of the current limiting resistor in a predetermined period. A gas discharge display device characterized by: 3. The gas discharge display device according to claim 2, wherein instead of the current limiting resistor provided for each scan electrode,
A diode is provided for each scan electrode so that the cathode side is connected to the connection point between the scan electrode and the switching element, and the anodes of these diodes are connected in common, and the common connection point of the anode and the scan potential are set. The gas discharge display device is characterized in that a series circuit portion including a current limiting resistor and a scan electrode bias power supply is provided between the current limiting resistor and the current limiting resistor, and the short-circuiting circuit portion is provided in parallel with the current limiting resistor. . 4. The gas discharge display device according to claim 2, wherein the short-circuit circuit section includes a first diode, a second diode, a PNP transistor, an NPN transistor, and a capacitor. A gas discharge display device comprising a circuit having the following connection relationships (a) to (e). (A) The anode of the first diode and the PNP
The base of the transistor and the collector of the NPN transistor are connected to the terminal of the current limiting resistor on the scan electrode bias power supply side. (B) The emitter of the NPN transistor and one terminal of the capacitor are connected to the scanning electrode side terminal of the current limiting resistor. (C) The base of the NPN transistor and the collector of the PNP transistor are connected. (D) The anode of the second diode and the other terminal of the capacitor are connected to the cathode of the first diode. (E) The cathode of the second diode and the emitter of the PNP transistor are connected. 5. A bias power supply comprising a scan electrode and a data electrode, further comprising at least one electrode connected to the first switching element and the bias switching power source via the first switching element. A portion connected to a bias power supply whose voltage is such that the potential difference between the one electrode and the other electrode expands when the switching element is in the on state, and the one electrode is set to the reference potential. And a second switching element that is provided between the first switching element and the second switching element for setting the potential of the one electrode to the reference potential at a predetermined time, the electrode side terminal of the first switching element, and the second switching element. A gas discharge display device comprising a short-circuit prevention circuit provided between an electrode-side terminal of an element and an electrode and for preventing a short circuit between a bias power supply and a reference potential. 6. The gas discharge display device according to claim 5, wherein the short circuit prevention circuit is a circuit including a diode, a PNP transistor and a resistor, and has the following connection relationships (i) to (vi). A gas discharge display device characterized in that the gas discharge display device is configured by the above circuit. (i) The anode of the diode, one end of the resistor and the base of the PNP transistor are connected. (ii) The cathode of the diode and the emitter of the PNP transistor are connected. (iii) The other end of the resistor is connected to the collector of the PNP transistor. (iv) A connection point between the anode of the diode, one end of the resistor, and the base of the PNP transistor is directly or indirectly connected to the first switching element. (v) The connection point between the other end of the resistor and the collector of the PNP transistor is directly or indirectly connected to the second switching element. (vi) The connection point between the cathode of the diode and the emitter of the PNP transistor is connected to the data electrode. 7. The gas discharge display device according to claim 6, wherein a resistor is used instead of the diode. 8. A first substrate having one electrode for discharge, a second substrate arranged so as to face the first substrate and having a second electrode for discharge, and the first and second electrodes. A gas discharge display device comprising a second substrate and a large number of discharge cells whose space is defined by cell barriers provided between these substrates, and a phosphor provided in each discharge cell. Is provided with an electrode (partition wall electrode) connected to one electrode for discharge or the other electrode for discharge, and a phosphor is provided on the first substrate portion or the second substrate portion of each discharge cell. A gas discharge display device, characterized in that the gas discharge display device is provided on the whole surface or a part of a wall surface of the cell partition wall other than a portion where the partition wall electrode is provided.