JPS6226743A - Gas discharge display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the discharge response by specifically arranging an igniter electrode, a cathode electrode, a variable and an anode electrode while performing priming discharge directly between igniter electrode and cathode electrode. CONSTITUTION:Discharging gas is encapsulated in a container 13 comprising a backface substrate 11 and a surface substrate 12. The backface substrate 11 is arranged with many igniter electrodes 14 in parallel and covered with a dielectric film 15 such as glass then a cathode electrode 16 is arranged while crossing perpendicularly with the electrode 14. Furthermore, a barrier rib 17 is provided while lapping less then half over the electrode 14 and combined with an anode electrode 19 on the inner face of the surface substrate 12. Then priming discharge is produced directly between the electrodes 14, 16 through a window 18 arranged closely to the cathode electrode 16 of the dielectric film 15 thus to emit light from the crossing section of the anode 19 and cathode 16 or the discharging cell section. Consequently, the discharge response and the display resolution can be improved easily.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is particularly applicable to a display device in which a large number of display dots expressed by gas discharge are arranged in a plane, and characters, figures, etc. are displayed by the dot display section. The present invention relates to a panel-shaped gas discharge display device.

[Background Art] A panel-shaped gas discharge display device for displaying characters, figures, etc. is a panel-shaped gas discharge display device in which a large number of strips are sealed on the inner surface of a rear substrate of a panel-shaped container filled with discharge gas. Cathode electrodes are formed in parallel at equal intervals, and a large number of anode electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the surface substrate of the container so as to face the cathode electrodes at small intervals in a direction perpendicular to the cathode electrodes. something is known.

That is, negative voltage signals with different phases are sequentially supplied to the large number of cathode electrodes, and positive voltage signals are supplied to a specified electrode among the large number of anode electrodes, and the specified cathode is A discharge potential is set at the intersection between the electrode and the anode electrode. Then, a discharge is generated at the intersection where the potential difference is set, and a dot display is performed by this discharge, and a character or figure is expressed by a large number of dots.

However, if the display dot section is simply constituted by a portion in which the cathode electrode and the anode electrode are set facing each other at a small interval, the discharge starting voltage in the display section must be made sufficiently large. Therefore, the power supply configuration becomes large, and it is very difficult to stabilize the start-up of the discharge operation. That is, it is difficult to improve display responsiveness.

As a means to solve this problem, for example, a barrier is formed at the intersection of the cathode electrode and the anode electrode so as to separate the cathode electrode and parallel to each of the anode electrodes, and each dot display section is divided. In addition to setting sections, it has been considered to further partition each sectioned display section with a barrier to set a pilot discharge area. That is, a pilot discharge is caused in the pilot discharge area by utilizing the stray capacitance of the cathode and the charging voltage of a small-capacity fixed capacitor connected to the anode circuit. Then, when driving the display, a discharge potential is set between the cathode 92 IU and the anode electrode, and the discharge current is increased using the energization of the pilot discharge,
A display discharge is generated by spreading the discharge over a display area set in a range excluding the pilot flame ati.

Therefore, in such a display device, the space of one discharge display element is operated in two discharge states, pilot discharge and display discharge, and the control state thereof is complicated. Become. In addition, if the light-emitting part caused by the pilot discharge leaks toward the top plate, the quality of the display will be degraded, and for this reason, a black film is formed on the inner surface of the top plate, covering the pilot discharge area. This results in a decrease in the area ratio occupied by the discharge light emitting portion during display, resulting in a decrease in display brightness.

In addition, since the pilot discharge is caused by the charging voltage to the stray capacitance of the fixed capacitor and cathode,
In addition to the discharge current, a displacement current flows, increasing power consumption in this display device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. etc., and in particular, by simplifying the display drive circuit,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas discharge display device that allows display operations to be performed with good discharge responsiveness without increasing power consumption.

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the gas discharge display device according to the present invention includes a plurality of first electrodes extending parallel to the first direction with respect to the rear substrate.
, and a large number of second electrodes are formed to face the first electrode at small intervals and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first electrode. ,
By setting a potential difference between the first and second electrodes, a discharge display is caused at the intersection of the first and second electrodes. Further, a dielectric film is interposed between the first electrode and the back substrate.
A large number of igniter electrodes are formed to extend in the direction of the first M.
A large number of windows are formed in the dielectric film so as to be exposed at positions close to the poles.

[Function] In the gas discharge display device configured as described above,
A voltage between the voltage signal constantly applied to the electrode of cylinder 1 and the voltage signal applied to the second electrode is supplied to the igniter electrode, and a driving voltage signal is supplied to the first electrode. At this time, a pilot discharge is caused to occur through the window formed in the dielectric film. Furthermore, if a voltage signal is supplied to the second electrode at the timing when this pilot discharge occurs, a display discharge will be effectively generated due to the induction of the pilot discharge. Display operations with excellent responsiveness can now be performed. In this case, for the above-mentioned pilot fire discharge, it is sufficient to constantly supply a common voltage to the igniter electrodes, and the drive circuit configuration can be sufficiently simplified.

[Embodiments of the invention] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the gas discharge display device in a partially cutaway state, in which a back substrate 11 made of glass or the like,
A flat sealed container 13 is constituted by a surface substrate 12 constituted by a dielectric plate made of glass or the like and set opposite to this substrate 11 at a small interval.
Some discharge gases, such as Ne-Ar, Ne-
The main component is a rare gas such as Xe, Ne-Ar-Xe, 1He-Xe, etc., and is supplied monthly at 50 to 600 Torr.

On the inner surface of the rear substrate 11, there are a large number of igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, as shown partially enlarged in FIG.

... are formed at regular intervals and in parallel.

This igniter electrode is made of a metal material such as N1. It is formed by 1plA1 thin film or plating, etc., and these 1li14a, 14b 1...
For example, the line width is 0.05 to 0.5 mm, and the pitch is 0.1
It is formed with a thickness of ~0.8 mm. Then, on the inner surface of the rear substrate 11 including the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, . Make it.

On the dielectric [115], the igniter electrode 14
A large number of cathode electrodes 1e are made of a metal material such as Ni so as to extend orthogonally to
a, 18b, . . . are formed at regular intervals and in parallel. This cathode electrode 16a, IGb
, . . . are the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b,
..., and the line width and pitch are also formed in the same condition.

Here, the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b 1.
... are commonly connected and set, and these electrodes 14a.
, 14b1, . . ., a voltage signal of, for example, +130V is set to be constantly applied. Furthermore, among the large number of cathode electrodes lea, 16b, . . . , the cathode electrode 16a at the leading position is used as a reset cathode, and the remaining cathode electrodes 16b, 16C, . is divided into three groups and wired in multi-phase, for example, three phases, and each phase has a different phase, for example, +10
Negative pulse drive voltage signals φ1, φ2, and φ3 varying between 0V and Ov are distributed and supplied.

Further, on the dielectric film 15, a large number of barrier ribs 17a, 117b, . . . are arranged in parallel with the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, .
is formed. These barrier ribs 17a and 17b
,... are constructed by printing and sintering glass paste, and the cathode electrodes 16a, 16b,...
・It is formed in a state that goes straight upward,
The igniter ribs 114a, 14b, .
, . . . each have a width of 0.05 to 0.2 mmt' and a height of approximately 0.05 to 0.3 mm, and each of the cathode electrodes 16a, 16b, . . . is divided into a large number of parts. The display element portions are formed respectively.

Then, with respect to the dielectric film 15, the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, .
A large number of windows 18a, 18b are provided so that... are exposed.
, . . . are formed with openings. That is, this window 18
a, 18b.

... are igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, ...
These windows 18a, 18b are formed in a perfect circular shape, an elliptical shape, a square shape, etc. at equal intervals.
, . . . A discharge is generated between the cathode electrode and the nearest cathode electrode through each of them.

On the inner surface of the surface substrate 12 constituting the sealed container 13,
A large number of anode electrodes 19a, 19b, . . . are formed by thick film, thin film, plating, etc. of N:. The anode electrodes 19a, 19b, . . . are perpendicular to the cathode electrodes 16a, 16b, .
The anode electrodes 19a, 19b, . . . are formed in parallel with the barrier ribs 17a, 117b, . It is formed of. and,
The occupancy rate for light emission of the discharge cell portion constituted by the intersection of the anode electrodes 19a, 19b, . . . and the cathode electrodes 16a116b, . . . is increased.

That is, the cathode electrodes 16a, 16b, .
・・Respectively and anode electrodes 19a, 19b,・
The intersection with each of the anode electrodes 19a, 19b 1 constitutes a discharge cell and forms a display dot, and the anode electrodes 19a, 19b1... A positive pulsed display drive voltage signal varying between 100V and 100V is distributed and supplied.

Although not particularly shown in this figure, a black film is formed by printing and sintering glass paste or the like in a lattice pattern on the front substrate 12, leaving the display cell portion in the form of a window, and forming the display dot portion. is expressed with good contrast. In addition, if color display is to be performed in the display cell portions, phosphor may be coated in accordance with the position of each display cell portion.

That is, in the gas discharge display device configured as described above, the igniter voltage (i1
A voltage of about 130V is applied to the cathode electrodes 16a, 14b, . . . in this state.
When a negative voltage of about 100V is applied to 16b1..., the windows 18a118b formed in the dielectric film 15,
..., each igniter electrode 14a, 14b
.

... and the cathode electrode t(ia, , 16b
, . . . at which intersection a pilot (auxiliary) discharge in the form of a direct surface discharge 20 is ignited, causing charged particles to be generated at this point. Since this pilot discharge is a direct discharge, the discharge state is sustained and charged particles corresponding to the discharge current are generated.

The cathode electrode 16a is used as a reset cathode as described above, and the cathode electrode 16a is used as a reset cathode as described above.
The signal φR is set to be supplied to the cathode electrodes 6a, and the other three groups of cathode electrodes 16b, 16, .
For ・, the signal φ is in a state different in phase from the above φR.
1 to φ3 are distributed and supplied. Although not particularly shown in this figure, a pair of keep-alive electrodes are provided near the reset cathode electrode 16a to ensure its operation.

The signals φ1 to φ3, which are arranged in three groups for the signal terminal KR1 for the cathode electrode IGa and the terminal portion of the cathode electrode 1, K2, . Set. In this state, each cathode electrode 16a, 16b, .
When a pulse signal voltage is set to be applied to ..., a reset discharge is ignited between the reset cathode electrode 16a and the igniter electrode 14a in response to the pulse φR. Then, in a state where this igniter electrode is shared, discharge is sequentially ignited in the cathode electrodes +eb, 16C1, . . . , and ignition control having a shift function is executed. in this case,
In the display device of the above embodiment, the pilot discharge is ignited by the direct surface discharge 20, and this discharge state is maintained, so that the igniter lights 1i14a, 14b,
. . , the flow 171 is in a state as schematically shown in FIG. 3.

On the other hand, the anode electrodes 1419a, 19b, . When the signal voltage is set to be supplied, a discharge is generated between the anode electrode to which this signal voltage is supplied and the cathode electrode to which the pulse signal is supplied, and a light emitting operation is performed to display a dot display.

In the above display device, the cathode electrode 16a116b
A pilot discharge is generated between the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, . . . by the multiphase pulse signal supplied to the igniter electrodes 14a, 14b, . When the discharge voltage is set between the anode electrodes U19a, 19b,..., the display discharge is started very smoothly and the display response is good. . In other words, the function as a flat discharge display device for displaying characters, figures, etc. of this type is sufficiently good, and the driving circuit thereof can be sufficiently simplified. .

In such a display device, the cathode electrode 16a,
16b, --... and anode electrodes 14a, 14
If the discharge current of the pilot discharge that occurs between b, -... is too large, the luminance due to this pilot discharge increases, that is, the background luminance due to discharge cells that are not performing display discharge increases, and the display There is a possibility that the contrast to 1 may be impaired. Furthermore, if the discharge current of the pilot discharge is too small, it becomes difficult to sustain the pilot discharge, resulting in insufficient energization of the charged particles to the discharge cells. In other words, during display discharge, it becomes impossible to start the discharge properly.

In order to improve this point more effectively, the cathode as shown in FIG. The pulsed drive voltage signals supplied to the electrodes 16a 1 , 16b , . . . are configured by narrow pulse train signals or by signals on which high-frequency pulses are superimposed. If a pilot discharge is caused between the igniter and the igniter by using a cathode drive signal constituted by such a pulse train signal, the discharge current I
is also shown in FIG. Therefore, when such a pilot discharge is started, charged particles from the past are energized into each discharge cell, and the information display discharge is generated without increasing the background brightness.

It can be activated easily.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the gas discharge display device according to the present invention has advantages over a display device using an ordinary soybean container.

Therefore, by using a sufficiently simple igniter electrode configuration and a simple circuit configuration in which a common voltage signal is always applied to this igniter electrode, a display operation with sufficiently good responsiveness of the discharge display operation can be performed. will be done. In particular, in this display device, the pilot discharge can be effectively shifted and controlled, and the area of the discharge cell portion that performs dot display can be effectively used for display. Therefore, it is highly effective in increasing the display area and improving the display resolution.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a gas discharge display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the display device, and FIG. is a drive voltage signal supplied to the cathode electrode of the display device,
Further, FIG. 4, which is a diagram showing the state of the discharge current flowing through the igniter electrode, is a diagram illustrating an example of a cathode drive voltage signal different from that in FIG. 3. 11... Back substrate, 12... Front substrate, 13...
Sealed container, 14a, 14b 1... Igniter electrode, 15... Dielectric film, 16a, 16b, --...
Cathode electrodes, 17a, 17b, ---barrier ribs, 18a, 18b, ---windows, 19a, 19
b, -... anode electrode. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Suzue Takehiko at Figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A large number of strip-shaped igniter electrodes formed on the rear substrate at equal intervals so as to extend parallel to a first direction, and a dielectric film formed on the rear substrate including the top of the igniter electrodes. , a large number of first electrodes each having a strip shape formed in parallel at equal intervals so as to extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the dielectric film; and formation of the first electrodes. formed on the above-mentioned back plate,
a large number of barrier ribs formed parallel to each of the igniter electrodes so that at least a portion exists between each of the large number of igniter electrodes; A plurality of second electrodes are arranged to face the electrodes at small intervals, and a plurality of second electrodes are formed on the dielectric film so as to expose the igniter electrodes at positions close to each of the plurality of first electrodes. between the first electrode and the second electrode, a pulsed first and second window is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode to set a discharge voltage for display;
A driving voltage signal is supplied to the igniter electrode, and a voltage between the voltages set for the first and second electrodes is constantly supplied to the igniter electrode. A gas discharge display device characterized in that a pilot discharge is performed between the first electrode and the first electrode. (2) The gas discharge display according to claim 1, wherein each of the pulsed first drive voltage signals supplied to the first electrode is constituted by a plurality of pulse signal trains. Device.