JPH1055152A - Gas discharging type display device and its driving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve displaying quality without generating a writing defect and an erasing defect by executing a step making a discharge current flow in a direction from a scanning electrode group to a data electrode group and a step making a discharge current flow in the direction from a data electrode group to a scanning electrode group in all discharge cells. SOLUTION: A lead terminal part 13 of a scanning electrode and a lead terminal part 14 of a maintaining electrode are formed in a part of very small area in a longitudinal direction of a gas discharging type display device 1 along the both end sides of a glass substrate 2 and a lead terminal part of a data electrode is formed on the front surface of another glass substrate 11. Consequently, a part having an extremely small area becomes an invalid display area and an valid area 19 is made large. A step making a discharge current flow in a direction from a scanning electrode group to a data electrode group and a step making a discharge current flow in a direction from a data electrode group to a scanning electrode group are executed in all discharge cells. Consequently, in all discharge cells, a wall electric charge and a spacial electric charge are regularly replenished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a gas discharge type display device for displaying an image on a television, an advertisement display panel or the like using gas discharge light emission, and a driving method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The gas discharge type display device is a display device capable of realizing a large color display image without increasing the depth dimension, and therefore its use is rapidly expanding. In particular, an AC-driven indirect gas discharge type display panel having a memory function (hereinafter abbreviated as “AC-type PDP”) has high versatility, and therefore, there is a further demand for a large-sized, lightweight, and low-cost display panel. Such an AC type PDP and its driving method are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-39341 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-31775.

A conventional AC PDP disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-39341 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A is a partially enlarged view showing a main part of a conventional AC PDP, and FIG. 6B is a view showing VI of FIG. 6A.
It is sectional drawing of the same AC type PDP which took the cross section by the b-VIb line. 6A and 6B, on the first glass substrate 101, n scan electrodes 102-1,.
102-2,..., 102-n and n number of sustain electrodes 103-1 and 103-
, 103-n are arranged in parallel with each other. These n pairs of electrode groups are covered with the dielectric layer 104 and face the discharge space 106 via the protective film layer 105 further formed on the dielectric layer 104. still,
The dielectric layer 104 is made of borosilicate glass or the like, and the protective film layer 105 is made of MgO or the like. The discharge space 106 is filled with a discharge gas, for example, helium gas mixed with xenon gas. m data electrodes 10
, 107-m are arranged on the second glass substrate 108 on the discharge space 106 side so as to be orthogonal to the n pairs of electrode groups. Thus, the n pairs of electrode groups and the m data electrodes 107-1 and 107
,..., 107-m are arranged in a three-dimensional cross via the discharge space 106 and the like, and in the first and second glass substrates 101 and 108 forming the outer periphery of the AC type PDP, M × n discharge cells are formed in a matrix.
The scanning electrodes 102-1, 102-2,..., 102
−n, sustain electrodes 103-1, 103-2,..., 10
3-n, and data electrodes 107-1, 107-2,...
, 107-m are connected to and driven by a scanning electrode driving circuit, a sustain electrode driving circuit, and a data electrode driving circuit (not shown).

Next, a method of driving a conventional AC PDP will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing waveforms of pulses applied to data electrodes, scan electrodes, and sustain electrodes of a conventional AC PDP. As shown in FIG. 7, the display operation period of the AC PDP is divided into a write period tw, a sustain period tm, and an erase period te. First, in the writing period tw, the data electrodes 107-1, 107-2,... Selected according to a desired display image.
.., 107-m are applied with a write pulse of the voltage of + Vw (V) shown in FIG. 7A, and at the same time, the first scan electrode 102-1 is supplied with -Vs shown in FIG.
A scanning pulse having a voltage of (V) is applied. Thereby, for example, the write pulse is applied to the data electrode 107-
1, the data electrode 107-1 and the first scan electrode 102-1 have a three-dimensional crossing intersection W (FIG. 6).
(A)), a write discharge occurs, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 105 at the intersection W. next,
A data electrode 107 selected according to a desired display image
, 107-m are applied with the write pulse, and at the same time, the second scan electrode 102-2
A scanning pulse having a voltage of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. .., 107-m and the second scanning electrode 102-2 at a three-dimensional crossing intersection. Positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the portion of the protective film layer 105. Similar operations are continuously performed, and finally, data electrodes 107-1, 107-2,..., 107-m selected according to a desired display image.
, And at the same time, a scan pulse having a voltage of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. 7D is applied to the n-th scan electrode 102-n. This allows
The selected data electrodes 107-1, 107-2,...
A write discharge occurs at the intersection between the 107-m and the n-th scanning electrode 102-n at a three-dimensional intersection, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 105 at the intersection. As described above, in the writing period tw, the positive wall charges due to the writing discharge are accumulated in the discharge cells corresponding to the desired display image among the m × n discharge cells, so that the display light emission portion in the sustain period tm is obtained. Is selected and stored.

Next, in the sustain period tm, all sustain electrodes 103-1, 103-2,..., 103-n have sustain pulses of the voltage -Vs (V) shown in FIG. Is applied, and then all the scan electrodes 102-1 and 102-
, 102-n are applied with the above-described sustain pulses shown in FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D, respectively.
As a result, the positive wall charges accumulated during the writing period tw are changed to the protective film layer 10 by the first sustain pulse.
5, the sustain electrodes 103-1, 103-2,..., 10
The discharge is made to the 3-n side and the sustain discharge is started. And
This sustain discharge is applied to all the sustain electrodes 103-1 and 103-.
, 103-n and all the scanning electrodes 102-
, 102-n are alternately and repeatedly applied to the n pairs of electrode groups,
For example, it is maintained between the sustain electrode 103-1 and the scan electrode 102-1 (illustrated by a circle "S" in FIG. 6A). As a result, a desired display image is displayed on the matrix by light emission due to the sustain discharge. Subsequently, in the erasing period te,
All the sustain electrodes 103-1, 103-2,..., 10
A narrow erase pulse which is a voltage of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. 7E is applied to 3-n. As a result, an erasure discharge is generated in the discharge cell that emits display light, and the wall charges accumulated in the discharge cell are neutralized by the erasure discharge, and the sustain discharge stops. Thus, the conventional AC type PD
P displays a desired image by repeating this process with a display operation period including a writing period tw, a sustaining period tm, and an erasing period te as one cycle.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional gas discharge type display device and its driving method, a discharge cell that emits a display light according to a desired image during one display operation period has a write discharge. , Sustain discharge, and erase discharge are sequentially performed. On the other hand, the above-described discharge was not performed at all in the discharge cells that did not emit light for display. For this reason,
In the discharge cells that did not emit the display light, the wall charges of the protective film layer and the space charges existing in the discharge space were reduced as compared with the discharge cells that did the display light emission. As a result, when a discharge cell that did not perform display light emission performs display light emission during the next display operation period, there was a problem in that even if a write pulse was applied, a write discharge did not occur and a write failure occurred. Furthermore, if the write discharge is insufficient, the subsequent sustain discharge and erase discharge become unstable, and if the sustain discharge ends with a weak discharge, no erase discharge occurs even if an erase pulse is applied. There is a problem that erasure failure occurs. As described above, the conventional gas discharge type display device and the driving method thereof have a problem that a discharge cell having a writing failure or a discharge cell having an erasing failure is generated, and the display quality is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a gas capable of displaying high-quality images without generating defective writing cells or defective erasing discharge cells. It is an object to provide a discharge type display device and a driving method thereof.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for driving a gas discharge type display device, comprising: a first insulating substrate; and a second insulating substrate which is disposed to face the first insulating substrate and forms a discharge space. An insulating substrate, a plurality of scanning electrodes arranged in parallel on the surface of the first insulating substrate on the discharge space side, and a plurality of scanning electrodes on the first insulating substrate so as to form a pair with each of the plurality of scanning electrodes. And a plurality of sustain electrodes arranged in parallel with each other, and arranged in parallel with each other on the surface of the second insulating substrate on the discharge space side so as to face the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes via the discharge spaces. A plurality of data electrodes and a plurality of scan electrodes, a plurality of sustain electrodes, and a plurality of discharge cells each surrounded by the plurality of data electrodes and configured in the discharge space. A method for driving a display device, comprising: First step of flowing a discharge current in the direction of al the data electrodes, a second step of flowing the discharge current from the data electrodes in the direction of the scan electrodes, to run all of the discharge cell. With the above configuration, a discharge is generated between the data electrode and the scan electrode in all the discharge cells regardless of the display image to be displayed. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, a writing discharge, a sustaining discharge, and an erasing discharge are likely to occur, and the display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

Further, in a driving method of a gas discharge type display device according to another aspect of the present invention, the first step is performed in an initialization period in which a positive polarity initialization pulse is applied to the scan electrode to perform display light emission. A positive write pulse is applied to the data electrode selected according to the discharge cell, and a write period in which a negative scan pulse is applied to the scan electrode, and a positive full write pulse to the data electrode, and The second step is performed during an entire writing period in which at least one of the negative scanning-side entire writing pulse is applied to the scanning electrode. With the above configuration, a discharge is generated between the data electrode and the scan electrode in all the discharge cells regardless of the display image to be displayed. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, a writing discharge, a sustaining discharge, and an erasing discharge are likely to occur, and the display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

Further, in another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of driving a gas discharge type display device, wherein the second step is performed in an initialization period in which a negative polarity initialization pulse is applied to the scan electrode to perform display light emission. A negative write pulse is applied to the data electrode selected according to the discharge cell, and a write period in which a positive scan pulse is applied to the scan electrode, a negative write pulse to the data electrode, and The second step is performed during an entire writing period in which at least one of a positive scanning-side entire writing pulse of a positive polarity is applied to the scanning electrode. With the above configuration, a discharge is generated between the data electrode and the scan electrode in all the discharge cells regardless of the display image to be displayed. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, a writing discharge, a sustaining discharge, and an erasing discharge are likely to occur, and the display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

A gas discharge type display device according to the present invention comprises a first insulating substrate, a second insulating substrate disposed to face the first insulating substrate and forming a discharge space, and the first insulating substrate. A plurality of scan electrodes arranged in parallel with each other on the surface of the substrate on the discharge space side, and a plurality of sustain electrodes arranged in parallel on the first insulating substrate so as to form a pair with each of the plurality of scan electrodes A plurality of data electrodes arranged in parallel with each other on a surface of the second insulating substrate on the side of the discharge space so as to face the scan electrode and the sustain electrode via the discharge space; A plurality of discharge cells surrounded by each scan electrode, each of the plurality of sustain electrodes, and each of the plurality of data electrodes, and a discharge current flowing in the direction from the scan electrode to the data electrode. Occurs in all the discharge cells The scan pulse is applied such that a discharge current flowing from the data electrode in the direction of the scan electrode is generated in the discharge cells that emit light for display and the discharge cells that do not emit light. A scan electrode driving circuit for applying a side full-surface write pulse to each of the scan electrodes, and a discharge current flowing from the data electrode in the direction of the scan electrode is generated in the discharge cells that emit light for display and the discharge cells that do not emit light for display. And a data electrode driving circuit for applying a write pulse and an entire surface write pulse to the data electrode, respectively. With the above configuration, a discharge is generated between the data electrode and the scan electrode in all the discharge cells regardless of the display image to be displayed. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, a writing discharge, a sustaining discharge, and an erasing discharge are likely to occur, and the display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments showing a gas discharge type display device of the present invention and a driving method thereof will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

<< First Embodiment >> FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gas discharge type display device as a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral device of the gas discharge type display device 1 includes a first insulating substrate 2 and a second insulating substrate 11 formed of, for example, a soda-lime glass plate having a thickness of about 1 mm. I have. First insulating substrate 2 and second insulating substrate 11
Means that their outer peripheral end faces are sealed to each other by a frit 12 of a low melting point glass material. The outer dimensions of the outer package (H × L dimensions in the figure) are, for example, 290 mm × 117.
mm and constitutes a display screen equivalent to 12 inches.
The first insulating substrate 2 and the second insulating substrate 11 may be formed of a ceramic substrate in order to improve the strength of the outer case. In addition, one of the first insulating substrate 2 and the second insulating substrate 11 needs to transmit discharge light, and therefore needs to be transparent.

FIG. 2A is a partially enlarged view showing a main part of the gas discharge type display device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the same gas discharge type display device taken along a line IIb-IIb of FIG. 2A and 2B, on the lower surface of the first insulating substrate 2, n scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,. The n sustain electrodes 4-1 and 4-
, 4-n are arranged in parallel with each other.
These n pairs of scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n
The sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-n constitute scanning lines of the gas discharge display device 1. Further, the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n and the sustain electrodes 4-
.., 4-n are formed of a light-transmitting conductive film such as an ITO film or a tin oxide film, and are formed by a gas discharge type display using a conductive member such as Ag or Cu. The lateral direction of the device 1 (FIG. 1
In the "h" direction) to end faces opposite to each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a side surface lead 13a is provided on a side surface of the first insulating substrate 2, and the first insulating substrate 2
, 3-n, for example, are pulled out to the outside by providing the lead terminals 13 on the front side of the. The lead terminal portion 13 is formed in a very small area having a width of about 1 mm which does not impair the effective display area 19 of the gas discharge display device 1. Further, the scanning electrode 3-
, 3-n are formed by a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) made of, for example, polyimide.
It is pulled out from the front surface of the first insulating substrate 2 toward the second insulating substrate 11 and connected to the scan electrode drive circuit 16 (FIG. 3). Similarly, sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-n
Also, they are drawn out to the outside by the lead terminals 14 via the side leads 14a and connected to the sustain electrode drive circuit 17 (FIG. 3).

Scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n
, 4-n are covered with a dielectric layer 5 formed of lead borosilicate glass or the like,
Furthermore, it faces the discharge space 7 via the protective film layer 6. The protective film layer 6 is formed by laminating an alkaline earth oxide such as MgO on the entire surface of the dielectric layer 5. The discharge space 7 is filled with a mixed gas of at least one of helium, neon, and argon and a xenon gas as a discharge gas. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of partition walls 8 are provided in a stripe shape between the protective film layer 6 and the second insulating substrate 11,
The discharge space 7 is partitioned into a plurality of discharge cells. The partition 8 is made of a low-melting glass such as a zinc-based glass. Further, predetermined phosphors 9 are provided in stripes between adjacent partition walls 8, and data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,. I have. When performing color display, for example, three phosphors 9 emitting green (G), red (R), and blue (B) are used.
Are configured as one pixel, and m groups (m is a positive integer) are arranged in the horizontal direction of the gas discharge display device 1.

A plurality of data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
.., 10-p are n pairs of scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n and a sustain electrode 4-
1, 4--2,..., 4-n in the vertical direction of the gas discharge type display device 1 ("l" in FIG. 1).
(In the direction of (a)), are provided in parallel with each other between both end surfaces of the second insulating substrate 2. Thus, the plurality of data electrodes 10-
, 10-p, and n pairs of scanning electrodes 3
-1, 3-2,..., 3-n, and the sustain electrode 4-1.
4-2,..., 4-n are arranged in a matrix in the outer package of the gas discharge display device 1, and m sets × n discharge cells are formed at each intersection of the matrix. Also,
A plurality of data electrodes 10-1, 10-2, ..., 10-
p indicates that a side surface lead 15a is provided on the side surface of the second insulating substrate 11 as shown in FIG.
Of the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p
Is drawn out. The lead terminal portion is formed in a very small area having a width of about 1 mm similarly to the lead terminal portions 13 and 14. Further, the data electrode 10-
1, 10-2,..., 10-p are data electrode driving circuits 1 on a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) or the like.
8 (FIG. 3).

As described above, in the gas discharge type display device 1 of the present embodiment, the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
Lead terminal portion 13 and sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,.
.., 4-n lead terminal portions 14 along the both ends of first glass substrate 2 in the longitudinal direction of gas discharge type display device 1
It is formed in a very small area with a width of mm. The data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p
Are not provided on the first glass substrate 2 side, but are formed on the surface of the second glass substrate 11. As a result, the gas discharge display device 1 in which only a very small area having a width of about 1 mm provided on the outer periphery of the device becomes the invalid display region and the other portion becomes the effective display region 19 (FIG. 1). Is done. Thus, the effective display area 19 can be enlarged.

Next, a method of driving the gas discharge type display device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a driving device of the gas discharge display device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows waveforms of pulses applied to the data electrode, the scan electrode, and the sustain electrode, and a discharge current flowing between the data electrode and the scan electrode in the method of driving the gas discharge display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a timing chart showing the waveform of FIG. In FIG. 3, scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-1
3-n, sustain electrode groups 4-1 to 4-n, and data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p are connected to scan electrode drive circuit 16, sustain electrode drive circuit 17, and data electrode drive circuit 18, respectively. Driven. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation period of the gas discharge display device 1 is divided into an initialization period ti, a writing period tw, a sustaining period tm, an erasing period te, and an entire writing period ta. This operation period is equal to the required time of one subfield.

First, in the initialization period ti, all the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
A positive reset pulse whose voltage shown in (d) is + Vr (V) is applied. As a result, in all the discharge cells, the discharge current shown in FIG.
-1 to 3-n flow in the direction of the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to generate an initialization discharge, and the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-p.
Positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the phosphor 9 at each intersection of the n and the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p in a three-dimensional cross. Next, in the writing period tw, the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,... Selected according to a desired display image.
., A positive write pulse having a voltage of + Vw (V) shown in FIG.
The -Vs shown in FIG.
A negative scan pulse of the voltage (V) is applied.
Thus, for example, when a write pulse is applied to the data electrode 10-1, the discharge current shown in FIG. 4F is applied to the data electrode 10-1 and the first scan electrode 3-1.
At the intersection z (FIG. 3) at a three-dimensional intersection with the data electrode 10
-1 flows in the direction of the scan electrode 3-1 to generate write discharge, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection z. Next, the write pulse is applied to the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p selected according to the desired display image, and at the same time, the data is applied to the second scan electrode 3-2. A negative scan pulse, which is a voltage of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. 4C, is applied. As a result, the discharge current shown in (f) of FIG. 4 causes the three-dimensional intersection of the selected data electrode 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p and the second scan electrode 3-2. , 10-p from the selected data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p, flows in the direction of the scan electrode 3-2 to generate a write discharge.
Positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection. Similar operations are continuously performed, and finally, the data electrodes 10-1 and 10- selected according to a desired display image.
The write pulse is applied to 2,..., 10-p, and at the same time, a negative-polarity scan pulse which is a voltage of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. Is applied. As a result, the discharge current shown in FIG. 4 (f) is changed to the selected data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
, 10-p and the n-th scan electrode 3-n at a three-dimensional crossing intersection, and at the selected data electrode 10-1, 10-
, 10-p flows in the direction of the scanning electrode 3-n to generate a write discharge, and positive wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection. As described above, in the writing period tw, the positive wall charges due to the writing discharge are accumulated in the discharge cells corresponding to the desired display image among the m × n discharge cells, so that the display light emission in the sustain period tm is generated. Select and store the location.

Next, during the sustain period tm, all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-n have a negative polarity of -Vs (V) shown in FIG. , And then all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
The above-mentioned sustain pulses shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D are respectively applied to −n. As a result, the positive wall charges accumulated during the writing period tw are released to the sustain electrode groups 4-1 to 4-n on the protective film layer 6 by the first sustain pulse, and the sustain discharge is started. You. This sustain discharge is caused by all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-
n, and all the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
n by repeatedly applying the sustain pulse to n
Between the n pairs of electrode groups, for example, the sustain electrode 4-1 and the scan electrode 3
-1 (shown by a circle "T" in FIG. 3).
As a result, a desired display image is displayed on the matrix by light emission due to the sustain discharge. Subsequently, in the erasing period te, all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-n have a negative polarity of −Vs (V) shown in FIG. Is applied. As a result, an erasure discharge is generated in the discharge cell that emits display light, and the wall charges accumulated in the discharge cell are neutralized by the erasure discharge, and the sustain discharge stops. In addition, all the sustain electrodes 4-1 and 4
When the last sustain pulse is applied to −2,..., 4-n to stop the sustain discharge, the erase pulse is applied to all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,. Applied. Subsequently, in the entire writing period ta, all the data electrodes 10
, 10-2,..., And 10-p are applied with a positive write pulse of + Vw (V) shown in FIG. 3-2
.., 3-n show -Vs shown in (b) to (d) of FIG.
A scanning-side full-surface write pulse having a negative voltage of (V) is applied. As a result, in the discharge cells that were not selected during the writing period tw and did not perform display light emission, a discharge current flows from the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n. Write discharge occurs. This write discharge does not occur in a discharge cell that has performed display light emission. The reason is that the positive wall charges due to the setup discharge in the setup period ti remain accumulated on the surface of the phosphor 9 in the discharge cells that did not perform display light emission, whereas the display cells perform display light emission. In the discharge cell, the write discharge in the write period tw causes the scan electrode group 3-1.
This is because the potential is lower than that of the discharge cells that are emitted to the .about.3-n side and do not perform display light emission. As described above, the gas discharge type display device of the present embodiment has the initialization period t
i, write period tw, sustain period tm, erase period te,
A desired image is displayed by repeating this process with the display operation period including the entire writing period ta as one cycle. In this embodiment, when the gas discharge type display device 1 is configured to have 80 sets × 32 discharge cells, and one field operation period is configured by eight subfields, a write pulse, a scan pulse, Specific examples of the voltages and application times of the sustain pulse, the erase pulse, and the initialization pulse are as follows. The write pulse is +120 V, 5 μs, the scan pulse is −200 V,
5 μs, the sustain pulse is −200 V, 15 μs, the erase pulse is −200 V, 0.5 μs, and the initialization pulse is +180 V, 100 μs.

In the gas discharge type display device of this embodiment and its driving method, during the initialization period ti, all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,. By applying a pulse, scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p are applied to all discharge cells.
A first step of flowing a discharge current in the direction of is performed. In addition, during the writing period tw and the entire writing period ta, the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-
A second step of flowing a discharge current from p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n is performed. That is, in the writing period tw, a positive writing pulse is applied to the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p selected according to a desired display image, and all the scanning electrodes 3 −
By applying a scanning pulse of negative polarity to 1, 3-2,..., 3-n, the discharge cells for display emission emit data from the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-1. 3-n
A discharge current in the direction of. In addition, the entire writing period ta
, All the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
Applying a positive write pulse of positive polarity to 10-p
.., 3-n, and a discharge electrode that does not emit light for display is used to apply the data to the data electrode group 10-1.
A discharge current is caused to flow in the direction from-10 -p to scan electrode groups 3-1-3-n. By performing these first step and second step, in all the discharge cells,
Regardless of the display image to be displayed, the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-1
Discharge occurs between 0-p and scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, write discharge, sustain discharge, and erase discharge are likely to occur,
The display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

In the entire writing period ta, a positive writing pulse of + Vw (V) is applied to all the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p; All scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
In addition to the above description of applying a negative-polarity scan-side full write pulse, which is a voltage of -Vs (V) to 3-n, all data electrodes 10- are applied without applying a scan-side full write pulse. 1, 10-2, ..., 10-p
A voltage of + (Vw + Vs) (V) may be applied to the entire surface as a write pulse. Further, all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
.-, 3-n as the write pulse on the scanning side as-(Vw
+ Vs) (V) may be applied.

<< Second Embodiment >> FIG. 5 shows waveforms of pulses applied to a data electrode, a scanning electrode and a sustain electrode in a method of driving a gas discharge type display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a timing chart showing a waveform of a discharge current flowing between a data electrode and a scan electrode. Example 2
The main difference between Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 1 is that during the initialization period ti,
A second flow of a discharge current in the direction from the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n in all the discharge cells.
Is performed in all the discharge cells in accordance with the writing period tw and the entire writing period ta.
That is, the first step of flowing a discharge current in the direction from -1 to 3-n to the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p was performed. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the duplicate description thereof will be omitted. That is, in the initialization period ti, all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
.., 3-n have the voltages shown in (b) to (d) of FIG.
A (V) negative polarity initialization pulse is applied. As a result, in all the discharge cells, the discharge current shown in FIG. 5 (f) flows from the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n and is initialized. Discharge occurs, causing scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n and data electrode group 10-1.
Negative wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the phosphor 9 at each intersection of a three-dimensional crossing with -10-p. Next, the writing period tw
Now, the data electrode 1 selected according to the desired display image
, 10-p are applied with a negative-polarity write pulse of 0 (V) shown in FIG. 5A, and at the same time, the first scan electrode 3-. 1 is applied with a positive scanning pulse which is a voltage of + Vs (V) shown in FIG. Thus, for example, when a write pulse is applied to the data electrode 10-1, the discharge current shown in FIG. 5 (f) causes the solid current between the data electrode 10-1 and the first scanning electrode 3-1. Intersecting intersection z (FIG. 3)
Then, a writing discharge occurs by flowing in the direction from the scanning electrode 3-1 to the data electrode 10-1, and negative wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection z. Next, the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
.., 10-p are applied with the above-mentioned write pulse, and at the same time, the second scanning electrode 3-2 is applied with + as shown in FIG.
A positive scan pulse, which is a voltage of Vs (V), is applied. As a result, the discharge current shown in FIG.
The selected data electrodes 10-1, 10-2, ..., 1
The data electrode 10 selected from the scanning electrodes 3-2 at the intersection of the 0-p and the second scanning electrodes 3-2 in a three-dimensional crossing manner.
, 10-2,..., 10-p, write discharge occurs, and negative wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection. Similar operations are performed continuously,
Finally, the write pulse is applied to the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p selected according to the desired display image, and at the same time, the drawing is applied to the n-th scan electrode 3-n. A positive scan pulse of + Vs (V) shown in FIG. 5D is applied. As a result, the discharge current shown in (f) of FIG.
, 10-p and the n-th scan electrode 3-n at a three-dimensional crossing intersection, the data electrodes 10-1, 10- selected from the scan electrodes 3-n. 2, ..., 1
Writing discharge occurs in the direction of 0-p, and negative wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the protective film layer 6 at the intersection. As described above, in the writing period tw, the negative emission of the display light emission in the sustain period tm is caused by accumulating the negative wall charges due to the writing discharge in the discharge cells corresponding to the desired display image among the m sets × n discharge cells. Select and store the location.

Next, during the sustain period tm, all the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
A sustain pulse of negative polarity, which is a voltage of 0 (V) shown in (d), is applied, and subsequently all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,.
, 4-n are applied with the above-described sustain pulse shown in FIG. As a result, the negative wall charges accumulated during the writing period tw are released to the sustain electrode groups 4-1 to 4-n on the protective film layer 6 by the first sustain pulse, and the sustain discharge is started. You. This sustain discharge is caused by all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-
n, and all the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,.
n by repeatedly applying the sustain pulse to n
Between the n pairs of electrode groups, for example, the sustain electrode 4-1 and the scan electrode 3
-1 (shown by a circle "T" in FIG. 3).
As a result, a desired display image is displayed on the matrix by light emission due to the sustain discharge. Subsequently, in the erasing period te, all the sustain electrodes 4-1, 4-2,..., 4-n have a narrow negative polarity having a voltage of 0 (V) shown in FIG. An erase pulse is applied. As a result, an erasure discharge is generated in the discharge cell that emits display light, and the wall charges accumulated in the discharge cell are neutralized by the erasure discharge, and the sustain discharge stops. In addition, all the sustain electrodes 4-1 and 4-
When the last sustain pulse is applied to 2, 4,..., 4-n to stop the sustain discharge, the erase pulse is applied to all scan electrodes 3
-1, 3-2,..., 3-n. continue,
In the entire writing period ta, all the data electrodes 10-
, 10-p, a negative write pulse of 0 V shown in FIG. 5A is applied to all the scan electrodes 3-1 and 3 simultaneously. -2, ...
+ Vs (V) shown in (b) to (d) of FIG.
, And a positive-side scanning-side entire write pulse having a voltage of? As a result, in the discharge cells that were not selected in the writing period tw and did not emit display light, the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to the data electrode group 10-
A discharge current flows in the direction of 1 to 10-p, and write discharge occurs. This write discharge does not occur in a discharge cell that has performed display light emission. The reason is that the negative wall charges due to the setup discharge in the setup period ti remain accumulated on the surface of the phosphor 9 in the discharge cells that did not perform display light emission, whereas the display cells perform display light emission. In the discharge cell, the write discharge during the write period tw causes the data electrode group 10-1.
This is because they are emitted to the 10-p side and have a lower potential than the discharge cells that did not perform display light emission. As described above, the gas discharge display device 1 of the present embodiment has the initialization period ti, the writing period tw, the sustaining period tm, and the erasing period t.
e, and a display operation period including the entire writing period ta is defined as one cycle, and a desired image is displayed by repeating the above operation.

In the gas discharge type display device of this embodiment and its driving method, during the reset period ti, all the scan electrodes 3-1, 3-2,. By applying a pulse, the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n in all the discharge cells.
A second step of flowing a discharge current in the direction of is performed. In addition, in accordance with the writing period tw and the entire writing period ta, the first discharge current flowing in the direction from the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p in all the discharge cells. Perform the steps of That is, in the writing period tw, a negative writing pulse is applied to the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p selected according to a desired display image, and all the scanning electrodes 3 −
By applying a positive scanning pulse to 1,3-2,..., 3-n, a discharge cell for display emission emits data from the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-1. 10-p
A discharge current in the direction of. In addition, the entire writing period ta
, All the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
· Apply a negative write pulse to 10-p
.., 3-n, a scan electrode group 3-1 to 3-3 is formed of discharge cells that do not emit light for display by applying a positive scan-side entire write pulse to all scan electrodes 3-1 to 3-2.
A discharge current flows from −n to the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p. By performing these first step and second step, in all the discharge cells,
Regardless of the display image to be displayed, the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-1
Discharge occurs between 0-p and scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n. As a result, wall charges and space charges are periodically supplied to all the discharge cells. As a result, write discharge, sustain discharge, and erase discharge are likely to occur,
The display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

During the entire writing period ta, a negative writing pulse of 0 (V) is applied to all the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p, and All scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,..., 3
In addition to the above description of applying the positive scan-side full-area write pulse of + Vs (V) to −n, all the data electrodes 10-1 and 10-are applied without applying the scan-side full-area write pulse. A voltage of -Vs (V) may be applied to 2,. Further, a voltage of + (Vw + Vs) (V) is applied to all the scanning electrodes 3-1, 3-2,. Is also good.

In the above two embodiments, the sustain pulse,
Although the case where the erase pulse has a negative polarity has been described, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained when one or both of the sustain pulse and the erase pulse have a positive polarity. Further, the scan pulse, the sustain pulse, and the erase pulse all have the same Vs
Although the voltage amplitude is (V), the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained by using pulse voltages having different voltage amplitudes. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, although a square wave pulse voltage is used for the initialization pulse, a pulse voltage having a waveform that gradually rises or falls gradually may be used for the initialization pulse. The same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the first embodiment, in the initialization period ti in which the initialization pulse is applied, the direction from the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p in all the discharge cells. The first step of flowing a discharge current to the write period tw and the entire write period t
a and the data electrode group 10− in all the discharge cells.
The case where the second step of flowing a discharge current from 1 to 10-p in the direction of scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n has been described. Further, in the second embodiment, in the initialization period ti in which the initialization pulse is applied, the data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-p to the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-1 in all the discharge cells.
A second step of flowing a discharge current in the direction of 3-n is performed, and in all the cells, from the scan electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to the data electrode groups 10 in the write period tw and the entire write period ta. The case where the first step of flowing the discharge current in the direction of -1 to 10-p has been described. Even during other operation periods using pulses other than those described,
Scanning electrode groups 3-1 to 3-n to data electrode groups 10-1 to 10-1
A first step of causing a discharge current to flow in the direction of 10-p, and a scan electrode group 3-1 to a data electrode group 10-1 to 10-p.
If the second step of flowing a discharge current in the direction of 3-n is performed in all discharge cells, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

The driving method of the gas discharge type display device according to the present invention is the same as that of the data electrodes 10-10 shown in the first and second embodiments.
The data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-p are not limited to the gas discharge type display device, in which 1, 10-2,. It can also be applied to those covered with body layers. Further, without providing the phosphor 9, the data electrodes 10-1, 10-2,.
Also in the case where the 10-p is exposed to the discharge space 7 and display is performed by directly utilizing discharge light emission, during the writing period tw, although no wall charges are accumulated on the surface of the data electrode, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode are not used. Since the wall charges equivalent to the wall charges are respectively accumulated on the surfaces of the covering protective film layers, the driving method of the present invention can be applied.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiments, the gas discharge type display device and the driving method according to the present invention provide a discharge current from the scanning electrode group to the data electrode group. The first step of flowing a discharge current and the second step of flowing a discharge current in the direction from the data electrode group to the scan electrode group are executed in all the discharge cells. As a result, in all the discharge cells, the wall charge and the space charge are periodically supplied, and the write discharge, the sustain discharge, and the erase discharge easily occur. As a result, the display quality can be improved without causing a writing defect or an erasing defect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gas discharge type display device which is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of the gas discharge display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a driving device of the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a waveform of a pulse applied to a data electrode, a scan electrode, and a sustain electrode, and a discharge current flowing between the data electrode and the scan electrode in the method of driving the gas discharge display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a timing chart showing waveforms of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a waveform of a pulse applied to a data electrode, a scan electrode, and a sustain electrode, and a discharge current flowing between the data electrode and the scan electrode in the method of driving the gas discharge display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a timing chart showing waveforms of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a conventional AC PDP.

FIG. 7 shows a data electrode, a scanning electrode, and a conventional AC type PDP.
4 is a timing chart showing waveforms of pulses applied to sustain electrodes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 First insulating substrate 3 Scan electrode 4 Sustain electrode 7 Discharge space 10 Data electrode 12 Second insulating substrate 16 Scan electrode drive circuit 18 Data electrode drive circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first insulating substrate, a second insulating substrate disposed to face the first insulating substrate and forming a discharge space, and a surface of the first insulating substrate on a side of the discharge space. A plurality of scan electrodes arranged in parallel on each other, a plurality of sustain electrodes arranged in parallel on the first insulating substrate so as to form a pair with each of the plurality of scan electrodes, and via the discharge space A plurality of data electrodes arranged in parallel with each other on the surface of the second insulating substrate on the discharge space side so as to face the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes; the plurality of scan electrodes; A method for driving a gas discharge type display device, comprising: a plurality of sustain electrodes; and a plurality of discharge cells each of which is surrounded by the plurality of data electrodes and is configured in the discharge space. First step of flowing discharge current in the direction The driving method of a gas discharge display apparatus characterized by performing a second step of flowing the discharge current from the data electrodes in the direction of the scanning electrodes, with all of the discharge cells. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first step is performed in an initialization period in which a positive polarity initialization pulse is applied to the scan electrode, and the data electrode selected in accordance with the discharge cell performing display light emission has a positive polarity. And a write pulse of
A write period in which a negative scan pulse is applied to the scan electrode; a full write pulse in which a positive write pulse is applied to the data electrode; and a full scan period in which at least one of a negative scan-side write pulse is applied to the scan electrode. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second step is performed. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second step is performed in an initialization period in which a negative polarity initialization pulse is applied to the scan electrode, and the data electrode selected according to the discharge cell performing display light emission has a negative polarity. And a write pulse of
A write period in which a positive scan pulse is applied to the scan electrode; a full write pulse in the data electrode; and a full write period in which at least one of a positive scan-side full write pulse is applied to the scan electrode. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second step is performed. 4. A first insulating substrate, a second insulating substrate disposed to face the first insulating substrate and forming a discharge space, and a surface of the first insulating substrate on a side of the discharge space. A plurality of scan electrodes arranged in parallel with each other, a plurality of sustain electrodes arranged in parallel on the first insulating substrate so as to form a pair with each of the plurality of scan electrodes, and A plurality of data electrodes arranged in parallel with each other on the surface of the second insulating substrate on the discharge space side so as to face the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes; the plurality of scan electrodes; A plurality of discharge cells each surrounded by each sustain electrode and the plurality of data electrodes and configured in the discharge space, and a discharge current flowing in a direction from the scan electrode to the data electrode is generated in all of the discharge cells. Run the initialization pulse to produce A scan pulse, and a scan-side entire write pulse so that a discharge current that is applied to the scan electrode and flows from the data electrode in the direction of the scan electrode is generated in the discharge cell that emits light for display and the discharge cell that does not emit light for display. A scan electrode driving circuit to be applied to each of the scan electrodes; and a write pulse so that a discharge current flowing from the data electrode in the direction of the scan electrode is generated in the discharge cells that emit light for display and the discharge cells that do not emit light for display. A data electrode driving circuit for applying a write pulse to each of the data electrodes.