KR100278784B1 - Plasma Display Panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a PDP that can utilize the positive light main region of the discharge tube.

The PDP of the present invention intersects an upper substrate, which is a display surface of an image, a lower substrate arranged in parallel with the upper substrate, a partition wall extending vertically on the lower substrate to provide a discharge space inside the cell, and a lower substrate. And a second sustain electrode comprising an address electrode and a first sustain electrode arranged so as to be disposed, a first electrode formed on the upper substrate, and a first electrode extending along a partition wall from the second electrode.

According to the present invention, the discharge efficiency can be improved by increasing the discharge space and using the positive light main region.

Description

Plasma Display Panel

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plasma display device (hereinafter referred to as PDP), which is one of flat panel display devices, and more particularly to a PDP that can utilize a positive light main region of a discharge tube.

Recently, as a large flat panel display device is required, research on a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as PDP) has been actively conducted. PDP is a display device that displays an image using a gas discharge phenomenon, and is largely classified into a direct current (DC) method and an alternating current (AC) method according to a discharge method.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cell structure of a PDP of a three-electrode alternating current (AC) type which is commonly used is illustrated. Here, FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of the PDP cell cut along the horizontal axis, and FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the cell cut along the vertical axis.

The cell of the PDP shown in FIG. 1 includes an upper substrate 10 which is a display surface of an image, and a lower substrate 12 arranged in parallel with the upper substrate 10 by the partition 14. The barrier rib 14 isolates cells from each other to provide a discharge space 30 inside the cell. On the upper substrate 10, a pair of sustain electrodes, that is, a scan and sustain electrode (hereinafter referred to as Y sustain electrode) 16 and a sustain electrode (hereinafter referred to as Z sustain electrode) 18 are arranged side by side. The Y and Z sustain electrodes 16, 18 are transparent electrodes (ITO) 16a, 18a for transmitting light as shown in (B), and the conductivity of the transparent electrodes 16a, 18a is improved. And the bus electrodes 16b and 18b. The Y and Z sustain electrodes 16 and 18 and the address electrode 20 for causing discharge are disposed on the lower substrate 12. The Y and Z sustain electrodes 16 and 18 and the address electrode 20 are supplied with an alternating current (AC) voltage whose polarity is continuously reversed to maintain the discharge. The upper dielectric layer 22 for charge accumulation is formed flat on the upper substrate 10 on which the Y and Z sustain electrodes 16 and 18 are disposed, and a protective film 24 is formed on the upper dielectric layer 22 surface. Formed. The protective layer 24 protects the upper dielectric layer 22 from the sputtering of plasma particles to extend its lifespan, improve the emission efficiency of secondary electrons, and reduce the change of discharge characteristics due to oxide contamination of the refractory metal. Magnesium oxide (MgO) membrane is mainly used. The lower dielectric layer 26 for charge accumulation is also formed flat on the lower substrate 12 on which the address electrode 20 is disposed, and the intrinsic color visible rays R, G, and B are generated on the lower dielectric layer 26. Phosphor layer 28 is applied so as to capture partition 14. The phosphor layer 28 is excited by a short ultraviolet (Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV)) generated during gas discharge to generate visible light of red, green, and blue (R, G, B). The discharge space 30 provided inside the cell is mainly filled with a mixed gas of neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe) in order to increase ultraviolet emission efficiency. In a PDP cell having such a configuration, discharge occurs between the address electrode 20 and the Y sustain electrode 16 to form wall charges in the dielectric inside the cell. Then, when a voltage is applied between the Y and Z sustain electrodes 16 and 18, the discharge continues to occur only in the cell in which the wall charge is formed to emit vacuum ultraviolet rays. This vacuum ultraviolet light excites the phosphor 28 to generate visible light.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a region in which light emission occurs in the discharge space 30 inside the cell 32 and a voltage distribution diagram when the discharge occurs in the discharge space 30 are illustrated.

In FIG. 2, secondary electrons generated and emitted by a cathode collision of ions are accelerated by an electric field to generate new electrons by collision with neutral particles. The secondary electrons are strongly accelerated in the portion A of FIG. 3 where the magnitude of the electric field is relatively large as the voltage change is large. These electrons continue to obtain energy as they ionize and reach the B region. In area B, energy is no longer obtained and energy is transmitted to the neutral particles by collision. In this process, the excited particles fall to the ground state to generate visible light and vacuum ultraviolet light. This area is shown in FIG. Glow) region 30a. The electrons passing through the sub-globule region 30a are so weak in energy that the overall plasma state is uniform, which is called a positive column region 30b. In the positive light main region 30b, only electrons having high energy in the entire area excite the gas and emit light, not energy due to an electric field. In this positive light main region 30b, ionization hardly occurs, and light emission due to excitation occurs a lot and energy is converted into light as a whole. When the distance between the electrodes is reduced in the light emission distribution of the discharge space, the positive light main region 30b is reduced in size, but does not affect the size of the sub glow region 30a.

Current PDPs have a small cell size, i.e., electrode spacing is so small that there is almost no positive light main area and is dependent on light emission by a sub-low area. Therefore, the brightness and the efficiency can be sufficiently improved when using the bright-light area in the PDP, so the research to increase the pressure of the PDP or to increase the discharge length is actively conducted to use the bright-light area with good luminous efficiency. It is becoming. However, in order to use this positive light area, there is a problem in that the size of the cell must be increased, but it cannot be enlarged indefinitely because the size of the scanning line and the resolution must be satisfied according to the size of the cell. Accordingly, there is a demand for a PDP that can use a positive light column area.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a PDP capable of improving discharge efficiency and brightness by increasing the distance between two sustain electrodes to utilize a positive light main region.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional AC PDP cell.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the light emitting regions when the sustain discharge occurs in FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a voltage distribution diagram according to a light emitting area during discharge.

4 is a view showing an electrode structure of a PDP cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of the cell of FIG. 4.

6 is a view showing an electrode structure disposed on the lower plate of the PDP according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a PDP upper plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a view showing the electrode disposed on the PDP according to an embodiment of the present invention as a whole.

9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an address discharge phenomenon occurring in a cell shown in FIG. 4 in stages.

10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sustain discharge phenomenon occurring in the cell shown in FIG.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10, 34: upper substrate 12, 36: lower substrate

14, 38: partition 16, 36: Y sustain electrode

18: Z sustain electrode 20, 40: address electrode

22: upper dielectric layer 24, 50: protective film

26: lower dielectric layer 28, 52: phosphor

30, 54: discharge space 30A: bugluu area

30B: positive light area 32, 56: cell

42: first sustain electrode 44: second sustain electrode

44A: first electrode 44B: second electrode

46: first dielectric layer 48: second dielectric layer

58: transparent electrode 60: PDP

In order to achieve the above object, a PDP according to the present invention extends in a vertical direction on an upper substrate, a lower substrate arranged in parallel with the upper substrate, and a lower substrate to provide a discharge space in a cell. And a second sustain electrode including a partition wall, an address electrode and a first sustain electrode disposed to intersect the lower substrate, a first electrode formed on the upper substrate, and a second electrode extending along the partition wall from the first electrode. Characterized in that.

According to the present invention, a PDP includes a cell arranged in a matrix structure, an address electrode line included in each cell and arranged to form a column, a first sustain electrode line included in each cell and formed to cross the address electrode line, and a cell. And a second sustain electrode line formed of a corresponding grid pattern structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention in addition to the above object will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one cell of a PDP according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cell of the PDP shown in FIG. A lower substrate 36 disposed in parallel with the upper substrate 34, an address electrode 40 and a first sustain electrode 42 formed on the lower substrate 36, and a first substrate formed on the upper substrate 34. A second sustain electrode 44 composed of an electrode 44A and a second electrode 44B extending along the partition wall is provided.

In the PDP cell shown in FIG. 4, the address electrode 40 is formed on the lower substrate 36, and the first sustain electrode 42 is formed on the address electrode 40 in a direction perpendicular to the address electrode 40. do. A lower dielectric layer 48 is formed between the address electrode 40 and the first sustain electrode 42. The lower dielectric layer 48 is formed so as to apply only a partial surface of the first sustain electrode 42. The portion of the first sustain electrode 42 not covered with the dielectric layer 48 does not cause a voltage drop due to the wall charge accumulated in the dielectric layer 48 during the sustain discharge, so that efficient discharge occurs. The partition wall 38 vertically extending on the lower dielectric layer 48 isolates the cells, thereby providing a discharge space 54 in the cells. The second sustain electrode 44 is formed on the upper substrate 34, and the second sustain electrode 44 is connected to the first electrode 44A and the first electrode 44A formed on the upper substrate 34. The second electrode 44B extends along the partition wall 38 toward the lower substrate 36. The second electrode 44B is formed to be close to the lower first sustain electrode 42 so that the sustain discharge between the two sustain electrodes 42 and 44 is separated even if the first and second sustain electrodes 42 and 44 are far apart from each other. Let this happen well. Here, since the interval between the first sustain electrode 42 and the second sustain electrode 44 can be increased, the positive light main region can be used during the sustain discharge. On the second sustain electrode 44, an upper dielectric layer 46 for charge accumulation is formed to apply the first electrode 44A and the second electrode 44B. A protective film 50 is formed on the surface of the upper dielectric layer 46 corresponding to the first electrode 44A. The protective film 50 not only protects the upper dielectric layer 46 from sputtering of plasma particles during discharge, thereby extending its life, but also improves the emission efficiency of secondary electrons and reduces the change in discharge characteristics due to oxide contamination of the refractory metal. As a main role, a magnesium oxide (MgO) film is mainly used. On the surface of the partition 38 except for the second electrode 44B, a phosphor layer 52 for generating intrinsic colors visible rays R, G, and B is coated. The phosphor layer 52 is excited by a short ultraviolet (Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV)) generated during gas discharge inside the cell to generate visible light of one of red, green, and blue (R, G, B). The discharge space 54 provided inside the cell is mainly filled with a mixed gas of neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe) in order to increase the ultraviolet emission efficiency.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ in the cell shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, most of the interior of the partition 38 is coated with the phosphor 52 to improve luminance. Here, the barrier rib 38 is conventionally formed only in parallel with the address electrode as shown in FIG. 1, whereas the barrier rib 38 is formed in a lattice structure in the PDP according to the present invention. In addition, it can be seen that the phosphor is not applied on the upper dielectric layer 46 corresponding to the second electrode 44B of the second sustain electrode to easily cause discharge.

6 illustrates an electrode structure disposed on the lower substrate 36 of FIG. 4, wherein the address electrode 40 and the first sustain electrode 42 are orthogonal to each other on the lower substrate 36 of the PDP according to the present invention. It is. Each cell 56A, 56B is formed at the intersection of the address electrode 40 and the first sustain electrode 42. When the first sustain electrode 42 is positioned above the address electrode 40 and discharge occurs between the two electrodes 40 and 42, wall charges are formed on the first sustain electrode 42 so that the first and the lower plates of the upper and lower plates are formed. When a sustain voltage is applied between the two sustain electrodes 42 and 44, the sustain discharge is started.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper substrate 34 shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 7, the first electrode 44A of the second sustain electrodes formed on the upper substrate 34 increases the conductivity of the transparent electrode 58 and the transparent electrode 58 for passing visible light generated from the discharge space. 44A of metal electrodes are provided. Here, since the metal electrode 44A cannot pass light, the metal electrode 44A is formed in a lattice structure like a shape of a partition wall dividing cells.

Referring to Fig. 8, the electrode structure of the entire PDP is shown.

The PDP shown in FIG. 8 includes an address electrode X arranged in rows on a lower substrate, a first sustain electrode Y disposed to intersect the address electrode 40 of the lower substrate, and a first electrode disposed on the upper substrate. The two sustain electrodes Z are formed in a lattice structure. Here, the first sustain electrode Y and the address electrode X are driven line by line, while the second sustain electrode 44 of the lattice structure is driven in common.

FIG. 9 shows stepwise an address discharge phenomenon occurring in the cell shown in FIG.

In the cell 56 shown in FIG. 9, an address discharge occurs between the address electrode 40 and the first sustain electrode 42 to form wall charges in the dielectric layer 48 of the first sustain electrode 42. At this time, a high voltage is applied to the first sustain electrode 42 and a low is applied to the address electrode 40 so that address discharge occurs as shown in (A). When this address discharge occurs and wall charge is formed inside the cell, the discharge gradually decreases and disappears, leaving only the wall charge in the lower dielectric layer 48 as shown in (B).

FIG. 10 is a step-by-step view of the sustain discharge phenomenon occurring inside the cell shown in FIG.

The sustain discharge in the cell 56 shown in FIG. 10 occurs only in the cell in which the wall discharge is formed on the side of the first sustain electrode 42 due to the address discharge as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in (A), the sustain discharge is formed by the wall charges accumulated on the surface of the first sustain electrode 42 and the end of the second electrode 44B extending along the partition wall of the second sustain electrode 44. It will start between the parts. This is because discharge at any pressure starts from the closest part where the strength of the electric field is strongest. When the sustain discharge is started, wall charges are formed on the surfaces of the dielectric layer 46 and the first sustain electrode 42 of the partition wall so that no further discharge occurs and as shown in (B), the second electrode ( The discharge moves upward of 44B), and eventually, the site where the discharge phenomenon occurs is enlarged to the entire cell as shown in (C). When wall charges are accumulated on the dielectric layer 48 of the first sustain electrode 42, the discharge is no longer maintained due to the reverse voltage caused by the wall charge in the entire cell, and the discharge is lost as shown in (D). Here, when only a part of the first sustain electrode 42 is coated with the dielectric layer 48, when the entirety of the first sustain electrode 42 is covered with the dielectric layer 48, the wall charge is shortly after the discharge starts. 48), the discharge is not maintained and disappears. In other words, part of the first sustain electrode 42 is covered with the dielectric layer 48 and the other part is exposed to the discharge space so that the wall charges do not accumulate during the sustain discharge so that there is no voltage drop due to the wall charge. The first electrode 44A of the second sustain electrode 44 of the upper plate is developed to be generated. Eventually, the charges are paired on the second sustain electrode 44 side to stop the discharge.

As a result, in the PDP according to the present invention, the length of the discharge space is increased, thereby making it possible to utilize an efficient light-emitting area.

As described above, according to the PDP and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, as the light emitting area is enlarged by increasing the distance between the two sustain electrodes, the positive light main area is used, thereby improving discharge efficiency and luminance. In addition, according to the PDP and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, while the distance between the sustain electrodes is large by using the auxiliary electrode extended along the partition wall, the discharge can be easily started.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (12)

In any cell configured in the plasma display panel, An upper substrate which is an image display surface, A lower substrate arranged in parallel with the upper substrate; A barrier rib extending in the vertical direction on the lower substrate to provide a discharge space in the cell; An address electrode and a first sustain electrode disposed to intersect the lower substrate; And a second sustain electrode comprising a first electrode formed on the upper substrate and a second electrode extending along the partition wall from the first electrode. The method of claim 1, A first dielectric layer formed between the address electrode and the first sustain electrode; A second dielectric layer formed on the second sustain electrode; A protective film formed on a surface of an upper substrate side of the second dielectric layers; And a phosphor layer applied to a surface of the partition wall and a surface of the partition wall of the second dielectric layer. The method of claim 2, And the first dielectric layer is formed to apply a portion of the first sustain electrode. The method of claim 1, Plasma display panel characterized in that the discharge space is filled with an inert gas. The method of claim 1, And the address discharge is caused by a driving voltage applied between the address electrode and the first sustain electrode. The method of claim 1, And a sustain discharge is generated by a driving voltage applied between the first and second sustain electrodes. The method of claim 6, Wherein the sustain discharge is initiated between the first sustain electrode and the end of the first electrode of the second sustain electrode and grown toward the second electrode. The method of claim 1, The first display electrode and the second sustain electrode of the first electrode of the plasma display panel, characterized in that the large distance to use the positive light main region during the sustain discharge. The method of claim 1, The first electrode of the first sustain electrode is a transparent electrode for transmitting visible light, And a metal electrode for increasing conductivity of the transparent electrode. The method of claim 1, And the partition wall is formed in a lattice structure. Pixel cells arranged in a matrix structure, An address electrode line included in each of the pixel cells and arranged to form a column; A first sustain electrode line included in each of the pixel cells and formed to cross the address electrode line; And a second sustain electrode line formed in a lattice pattern structure corresponding to each of the pixel cells. The method of claim 11, And the second sustain electrode line is connected in common.