JPH09190769A - Color plasma display panel and its driving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color plasma display panel which can achieve display refinement by enhancing the precision of the dots and pitches of a discharge cell. SOLUTION: In a color plasma display panel, in which a number of picture elements 38, in each of which discharge cells 36R, 36G, 36B, coated respectively with red, green, and blue emitting phosphors, are placed adjacent one another in a certain order in a crosswise direction, are placed lengthwise and crosswise, a part of the center one of the three discharge cells 36 (36R, 36G, 36B) constituting each picture element 38 is projected lengthwise from the other two discharge cells 36, and the projecting part of the discharge cell 36 is made to enter between the discharge cells 36 at both ends of another longitudinally adjoining picture element 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a color plasma display panel, and more particularly to a color plasma display panel which realizes high definition display by devising the arrangement of discharge cells and a driving method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional color plasma display panel has a rear substrate 62 made of an insulating material such as flat glass having a plurality of cathodes 60 disposed on the front surface, and a plurality of transparent substrates on the back surface. A front substrate 66 made of a transparent insulating material such as a flat glass provided with the anode 64 is arranged so that the cathode 60 and the anode 64 are orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the periphery of both substrates is sealed with a sealing material (Fig. A hermetically sealed container is formed by sealing it via a not shown), and the inner space of the hermetically sealed container is filled with an ultraviolet radiation gas. The internal space is divided by a lattice-shaped barrier rib 68 formed on the rear substrate 62, and the cathode 60 and the anode are separated.
For each intersection with 64, a large number of flat rectangular discharge cells 70 surrounded by the barrier ribs 68 are formed in a dot-matrix shape, on the rear substrate 62 excluding the cathode 64 and the barrier ribs 68 in the discharge cells 70. The phosphor 72 is attached to the inner wall.

Then, as shown in the plan view of the arrangement of the discharge cells 70 of FIG. 7, a discharge cell row to which a phosphor 72R for emitting red light which is the three primary colors is attached, and a phosphor 72 for emitting green light.
A discharge cell column to which G is attached and a discharge cell column to which a phosphor 72B for blue light emission is attached are sequentially arranged, and a discharge cell 70R for red light emission and a discharge cell 70 for green light emission that are laterally adjacent to each other.
Three discharge cells 70B for G and blue light emission form one pixel 74, and a large number of the pixels 74 are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. still,
In FIG. 7, the anode 64 is not shown for convenience of description.

When a direct current voltage is selectively applied between the cathode 60 and the anode 64, discharge is generated in a desired discharge cell 70 and ultraviolet rays are generated. This ultraviolet light excites the phosphor 72 in the discharge cell 70, and the light having a predetermined emission color is transmitted to the transparent anode.
It is transmitted through 64 and the front substrate 66 and radiated to the outside. As a result, it is possible to display arbitrary characters and figures on the front substrate 66.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional color plasma display panel, since the discharge cells 70 have a vertically long rectangular shape, the dot pitch of the discharge cells 70 in the horizontal direction is high. Conversion (0.3
However, the dot pitch of the discharge cell 70 in the vertical direction could not be made fine (0.3 mm or less), and it was not possible to deal with fine display.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, it is conceivable that the dot pitch of the discharge cells 70 in the vertical direction can be made finer by forming the discharge cells 70 in a planar rectangular shape. Since it is difficult to reduce the width of 60 in terms of manufacturing, the phosphor 72 that can be deposited inside the discharge cell 70
However, there is a drawback that the display brightness is lowered as a result. The present invention is intended to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and a color plasma display panel capable of realizing a finer display by making the dot pitch of the discharge cells not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction high. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, in a color plasma display panel according to the present invention, a front substrate and a rear substrate are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are sealed to be airtight. A container is formed, the discharge gas is filled in the airtight container, and a plurality of anodes and cathodes arranged side by side in the airtight container are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap, and a plurality of them are provided at intersections of both electrodes. And a phosphor for red light emission, a phosphor for green light emission, or a phosphor for blue light emission is deposited in the discharge cell, and a phosphor for red light emission is coated. Pixels configured by horizontally arranging three adjacent discharge cells, a discharge cell coated with a phosphor for green light emission, and a discharge cell coated with a phosphor for blue light emission in a horizontal direction Color plasma display consisting of multiple arrangements in the same direction In the panel, a part of the central discharge cell among the three discharge cells forming each pixel is vertically projected with respect to the other two adjacent discharge cells, and one of the projected discharge cells is The portion is configured to enter between the discharge cells at both ends of another pixel adjacent in the vertical direction.

Thus, of the three discharge cells forming each pixel, a part of the central discharge cell is vertically projected with respect to the other two adjacent discharge cells, and the projected discharge is generated. Since a part of the cell is configured to enter between the discharge cells at both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel, the central discharge cell of one pixel is located at both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel. In relation to the discharge cells, the vertical dot pitch between the discharge cells becomes smaller. Therefore, when the cathode is scanned at a very high speed without causing flicker in the eyes, the dot pitch between all discharge cells in the vertical direction is recognized to be small due to the afterimage phenomenon of the eye, and as a result,
The display looks fine and the display is made finer.

It is desirable that a part of the surface of the cathode located in the discharge cell be covered with an insulator, and the insulator may be, for example, a phosphor. That is, when the exposed area of the cathode is large, it is necessary to lower the gas pressure of the discharge gas in the airtight container in order to discharge the entire surface of the cathode, and when the gas pressure is low, the impact of the ions generated by the discharge increases, and the color In order to accelerate the deterioration of the plasma display panel, by covering a part of the surface of the cathode located in the discharge cell with an insulator, the exposed area of the cathode is reduced, and as a result, the gas pressure of the discharge gas can be increased. it can. When the insulator is a phosphor, the area covered by the phosphor can be increased and the brightness can be improved.

Further, it is desirable to dispose a color filter having the same color as the emission color of the phosphor of each discharge cell between the front substrate and the rear substrate. That is, since the light emitted from the phosphor passes through the color filter, it is possible to obtain a pure monochromatic color.

Further, in the color plasma display panel, a plurality of cathodes arranged in parallel are divided into two different cathode groups alternately, and each cathode group is sequentially scanned independently in a time-division manner. A driving method in which scanning is performed so that the scanning pulse widths of both groups partially overlap is desirable.

The brightness of a DC drive type color plasma display panel is proportional to the pulse width of the voltage applied to each discharge cell, and this pulse width is inversely proportional to the number of scans on the cathode side. If the number of scans on the cathode side increases, the scan time per cathode decreases, the pulse width of the applied voltage narrows accordingly, and the lighting time of one discharge cell decreases,
A decrease in brightness occurs. Therefore, as described above, if the cathodes are divided into two cathode groups and each cathode group is independently scanned, the scanning time per cathode can be doubled, and the pulse width of the applied voltage can be 2 times. It is possible to double. As a result, the lighting time of the discharge cell is doubled, and the display brightness can be doubled. Moreover, since scanning is performed so that the scanning pulse widths of both groups partially overlap with each other, there is less interruption of lighting of the discharge cells, and as a result, flicker can be prevented.

[0013]

1 is an exploded perspective view of a color plasma display panel 10 according to the present invention. This color plasma display panel 10 includes a rear substrate 12 made of an insulating material such as flat glass having a thickness of several mm and a front substrate 14 made of a transparent insulating material such as flat glass having a thickness of several mm, with a predetermined gap. Are opposed to each other, and the both edges of the substrates are sealed with a sealing material (not shown) such as low-melting glass to form an airtight container, and a rare gas such as helium or xenon is used alone in the internal space of the airtight container. It is formed by enclosing an ultraviolet radiation gas mainly composed of a mixture.

On the facing surface (front surface) of the rear substrate 12, the A
Width of about 0.2 mm and thickness of about 2 mm made of g / Pd paste
A plurality of strip-shaped cathode lead-out patterns 16 of 0 to 30 μm are arranged side by side. Further, on the upper surface of each cathode extraction pattern 16,
A slender rectangular rod-shaped cathode 18 having a height of about 0.1 mm and a width of about 0.12 mm, which is made of an emitter material which is a mixture of GdB ₆ (gadolinium hexaboride) and BaAl ₂ O ₄ (barium aluminate), is arranged. ing. The lower end of the cathode 18 is buried in a transparent insulating layer 20 made of glass or the like that covers the surface of the rear substrate 12 and the surface of the cathode extraction pattern 16, and the upper end thereof is exposed to the outside of the transparent insulating layer 20. doing.

Further, on the surface of the transparent insulating layer 20, a cathode side barrier rib 22 for surrounding a discharge cell 36 described later is formed.
Are formed. The cathode side barrier rib 22 is made of an insulating material such as glass, extends along the longitudinal direction of the cathode 18, and partially covers the cathode 18, and the first wall portion 22a and the first wall portion 22a. A large number of hole portions 24 having a substantially rectangular plane shape are surrounded by a second wall portion 22b formed orthogonally to the above. As will be described later, since the cathodes 18 are sequentially scanned in a time-division manner, it is necessary to increase the gap between the cathodes in order to prevent erroneous discharge. Therefore, the first wall portion 22a described above is required.
Is formed wider than the second wall portion 22b.

The first wall portions 22a are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of each cathode 18, and the one first wall portion 22a formed so as to cover one cathode 18 is immediately adjacent to each other. Cathodes arranged side by side, not formed at the same position of adjacent cathodes 18.
It is formed every 18 rows. As a result, as shown in the plan view of the back substrate 12 of FIG. 2, the respective substantially flat rectangular hole portions 24 surrounded by the first wall portion 22a and the second wall portion 22b are slanted to the left and right. A part of the hole is inserted between the other two adjacent hole portions 24, and the other two holes that are adjacent diagonally downward to the left and right.
The holes 24 are arranged so that a part thereof is inserted between the holes 24.

Inner wall of the cathode-side barrier rib 22 and hole 24
A fluorescent material 26 made of an insulating material is adhered to the surface of the transparent insulating layer 20 in the inside and further to a part of the surface of the cathode 18 in the hole. There are three types of phosphors 26, which are phosphors for red light emission 26R, phosphors for green light emission 26G, and phosphors for blue light emission 26B, which are the three primary colors, and are arranged in the same row in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cathode. In the arranged holes 24, the phosphors 26 of the same color are deposited, and the row of the holes 24 to which the phosphor 26R for red light emission is deposited,
The row of holes 24 to which the phosphor 26G for green light emission is applied and the row of holes 24 to which the phosphor 26B for blue light emission is applied are sequentially arranged.

Incidentally, the reason why the phosphor 26 is adhered to a part of the surface of the cathode 18 is to improve the brightness by increasing the adhered area of the phosphor 26, and at the same time, for the following reason. . That is, when the exposed area of the cathode 18 is large, it is necessary to lower the gas pressure of the enclosed gas in the airtight container in order to completely discharge the cathode 18, but the lower the gas pressure, the greater the impact of ions generated by the discharge. In order to accelerate the deterioration of the color plasma display panel 10, the exposed area of the cathode 18 is reduced by applying the phosphor 26, which is an insulator, to a part of the surface of the cathode 18.

On the facing surface (back surface) of the front substrate 14, the N
ESA film (SnO ₂ ) and ITO film (In ₂ O ₃ · SnO ₂ )
A plurality of strip-shaped transparent anodes 28 made of, for example, are arranged in parallel.
A strip-shaped transparent insulating layer 30 is provided between the transparent anodes 28, and an elongated rectangular rod-shaped anode corresponding to the second wall portion 22b of the cathode-side barrier rib 22 is formed on the transparent insulating layer 30. Side barrier ribs 32 are formed.

Further, a plate-shaped color filter 34 shown in FIG. 3, which is made of thin glass of the same color corresponding to the emission color of each discharge cell 36 described later, is disposed between the anode-side barrier ribs 32, and the phosphor is used. The emitted light of 26 is transmitted through the color filter 34, so that a pure monochromatic color is obtained. The color filter 34 includes the transparent anode 28 and the cathode 18 described above.
An opening is provided in a portion corresponding to the discharge cell 36 so that the discharge can be performed between them. Above anode side barrier rib 32
The phosphor 26 is also applied to the inner wall of the device and the lower surface of the color filter 34 (the surface on the rear substrate 12 side).

The back substrate 12 and the front substrate 14 are arranged such that the cathode 18 and the anode 32 formed on the opposite surfaces thereof are orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the second wall portion 22 of the cathode side barrier rib 22.
The top surface of b and the top surface of the anode-side barrier rib 32 are positioned so as to contact each other, and the peripheral edges of both substrates 12 and 14 are sealed with a sealing agent (not shown) to form an airtight container. The first wall portion 22a and the second wall portion 22b of the cathode-side barrier rib 22 are provided at each intersection of the cathode 18 and the anode 28 in the airtight container.
Also, a large number of discharge cells 36 having a rectangular shape in a plan view surrounded by the anode-side barrier ribs 32 are formed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a discharge cell array coated with a phosphor 26R for red light emission, a phosphor for green light emission.
A discharge cell row having 26G deposited thereon and a discharge cell row having a blue light emitting phosphor 26B deposited thereon are sequentially arranged, and a red light emitting discharge cell 36R and a green light emitting discharge arranged laterally adjacent to each other. A pixel 38 is composed of three cells 36G and blue discharge cells 36B, and a large number of the pixels 38 are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The central discharge cell 36G among the three discharge cells 36R, 36G and 36B constituting each pixel 38 is
The two discharge cells 36R and 36B are vertically projected, and a part of the projected discharge cell 36G enters between the discharge cells 36R and 36B at both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel 38. Is configured. That is, a part of each pixel 38 is arranged so as to overlap another pixel 38 adjacent in the vertical direction.

As a result, the central discharge cell 36G in one pixel 38 has vertical dots between discharge cells 36R and 36B in relation to the discharge cells 36R and 36B at both ends of the other pixel 38 adjacent in the vertical direction. The pitch X can be reduced.

For example, the dimension of each discharge cell is 0.460 in the vertical direction.
mm, width 0.225 mm, vertical gap between discharge cells 0.140 mm, horizontal gap 0.075 mm, horizontal dot pitch between discharge cells 0.3 mm
And the central discharge cell 36G in one pixel 38
And the discharge cells 36 at both ends of another pixel 38 adjacent in the vertical direction.
The vertical dot pitch X between the R and 36B discharge cells is also 0.3 mm. By the way, if conventional discharge cells are arranged in a dot matrix,
Since the pitch is always 0.6 mm, in the present embodiment, the central discharge cell 36G in one pixel 38,
Discharge cells 36R and 36R on both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel 38
Regarding the relationship with B, the dot pitch in the vertical direction can be halved as compared with the conventional one.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the anode-side barrier rib 32 is the second barrier rib 22 of the cathode-side barrier rib 22.
Since it is formed in an elongated rectangular rod shape corresponding to only the wall portion 22b of the anode 22, a gap is formed between the anode-side barrier ribs 32 for communicating the discharge cells 36 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the anode 28, and through this gap. Ions between the discharge cells 36 can flow along the longitudinal direction of the anode 28.

Next, a driving method of the color plasma display panel 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of cathodes 18 arranged side by side
Of two different cathode groups 18A (18A-1 to 18A-1
An, however, in Fig. 5 up to 18A-5), 18B (18B-1
.About.18B-n, but 18B-5 is shown in FIG. 5), and a scanning row driver circuit (not shown) is connected to the terminal portion of each cathode 18. A column driver circuit (not shown) that supplies a DC voltage is connected to the terminal portion of each anode 28.

Each of the cathodes 18 independently scans the respective cathode groups 18A and 18B to which they belong via the row driver circuit in a time-divisional manner, and as shown in timing charts A and B of FIG. , The scanning pulse widths of both groups 18A and 18B are overlapped by 50%. That is, first, the cathodes 18A-1 belonging to the cathode group 18A are scanned (timing chart a), and when the pulse width reaches 50%, the scanning of the cathodes 18B-1 belonging to the cathode group 18B (timing chart b) is performed. Be started. Next,
When the scanning pulse width of the cathode 18B-1 reaches 50%, the scanning of the cathode 18A-2 belonging to the cathode group 18A (timing chart c) is started to reach 50% of the scanning pulse width of the cathode 18A-2. At that point, scanning (timing chart d) of the cathode 18B-2 belonging to the cathode group 18B is started. Hereafter, the same scanning is performed for the cathodes 18A-3, 18B-3, 18A-4, 1
8B-4, 18A-5, and 18B-5 are performed in this order (timing charts e to h).

By applying a DC voltage from the column driver circuit to the anode 28 in synchronism with the scanning of the cathode 18, discharge is generated in any discharge cell 36 and ultraviolet rays are generated. This ultraviolet ray excites the phosphor 26 in the discharge cell 36, and light having a predetermined emission color passes through the anode 28 and the front substrate 14 and is radiated to the outside to display arbitrary characters or figures on the front substrate 14. You can do it. At this time, the cathode extraction pattern 16 also has a function as a reflector, and reflects the light of the phosphor 26 that passes through the transparent insulating layer 20 and goes toward the rear substrate 12 side toward the front substrate 14 side. The brightness of the color plasma display panel 10 is improved.

The brightness of the DC drive type color plasma display panel 10 is proportional to the pulse width of the voltage applied to each discharge cell 36, and this pulse width is inversely proportional to the number of scans on the cathode side. If the number of scans on the cathode side is increased, the scan time per cathode is reduced, the pulse width of the applied voltage is narrowed accordingly, and the lighting time of one discharge cell is reduced, resulting in a decrease in brightness.

Therefore, as described above, the cathode 18 is divided into two cathode groups 18A and 18B, and each cathode group 18
If A and 18B are separately scanned, the scanning time per cathode can be doubled and the pulse width of the applied voltage can be doubled. As a result, the lighting time of the discharge cell 36 is doubled, and the display brightness can be doubled.

Moreover, since the scanning pulse widths of the two groups 18A and 18B are overlapped by 50%, the discharge cells 36 are less likely to be interrupted in lighting, and as a result, flicker can be prevented.

When the cathode 18 is scanned at a very high speed by the above driving method so as not to cause flicker in the eyes, as described above, the central discharge cell 36G in one pixel 38 and the vertical direction. If the dot pitch X between the discharge cells 36R and 36B on both ends of another pixel 38 adjacent to the pixel 38 is small, all the discharge cells 36 in the vertical direction due to the afterimage phenomenon of the eyes.
The dot pitch between them is recognized to be small, and as a result, the display looks fine and the display is made fine.

[0034]

In the color plasma display panel according to the present invention, of the three discharge cells forming each pixel, a part of the central discharge cell is adjacent to the other two discharge cells. Since the discharge cells at the center of each pixel are vertically projected, the discharge cells at the center of each pixel are arranged so that a part of the projected discharge cells enter between the discharge cells at both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel. In relation to the discharge cells at both ends of another pixel adjacent in the direction, the dot pitch in the vertical direction between the discharge cells can be reduced. Therefore, when the cathode is scanned at a very high speed without causing flicker in the eyes, the dot pitch between all discharge cells in the vertical direction is recognized to be small due to the afterimage phenomenon of the eyes, and as a result, the display The image looks fine and the display is made finer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a color plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a back substrate of a color plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a color filter.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement mode of discharge cells and pixels of the color plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a driving method of a color plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional color plasma display panel.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement mode of discharge cells and pixels of a conventional color plasma display panel.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement mode of discharge cells and pixels of a conventional color plasma display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Color plasma display panel 12 Rear substrate 14 Front substrate 18 Cathode 22 Cathode side barrier rib 24 Hole 26 Phosphor 28 Anode 32 Anode side barrier rib 34 Color filter 36 Discharge cell 38 Pixel

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A front substrate and a rear substrate are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval, the peripheral edges of both substrates are sealed to form an airtight container, and the airtight container is filled with a discharge gas. A plurality of anodes and cathodes arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined gap to face each other to form a plurality of discharge cells at the intersections of both electrodes, and further within the discharge cells, a phosphor for red light emission and a green color. A discharge cell in which either a phosphor for light emission or a phosphor for blue light emission is adhered and a phosphor for red light emission is adhered, a discharge cell in which a phosphor for green light emission is adhered, and blue light emission In a color plasma display panel in which a large number of pixels are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, each of which is configured by adjoining the three discharge cells coated with the phosphor in the horizontal direction in an arbitrary order, and Part of the middle discharge cell In addition to vertically projecting with respect to the other two discharge cells, a part of the projecting discharge cells is inserted between the discharge cells at both ends of another vertically adjacent pixel. Color plasma display panel. 2. The color plasma display panel according to claim 1, wherein a part of the surface of the cathode located in the discharge cell is covered with an insulator. 3. The color plasma display panel according to claim 2, wherein the insulator is a phosphor. 4. The color filter according to claim 1, wherein a color filter having the same color as the emission color of the phosphor of each discharge cell is arranged between the front substrate and the rear substrate. Color plasma display panel. 5. The color plasma display panel according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cathodes arranged in parallel,
Color plasma characterized in that it is divided into two different cathode groups alternately, and each cathode group is independently scanned sequentially in a time-division manner, and the scanning pulse widths of both groups are partially overlapped. Display panel driving method.