KR100397433B1 - Plasma Display Panel Drived with Radio Frequency Signal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a driving method thereof for improving brightness and efficiency.

The plasma display panel according to the present invention includes a common holding electrode and an auxiliary holding electrode made of a metal, and a scan / holding electrode made of the metal and formed between the common holding electrode and the auxiliary holding electrode. The distance between the scan / hold electrode and the auxiliary sustain electrode is wider than the distance between the common sustain electrode and the scan / hold electrode.

Description

Plasma Display Panel and Driving Method {Plasma Display Panel Drived with Radio Frequency Signal}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a plasma display panel and a driving method thereof for improving luminance and efficiency.

Plasma Display Panel (hereinafter referred to as "PDP") is a display device in which ultraviolet light generated by gas discharge excites a phosphor to generate visible light from the phosphor. PDP has advantages such as thin, light, high-definition large screen and wide viewing angle compared to cathode ray tube (CRT), which has been the dominant display device. The PDP consists of discharge cells arranged in a matrix.

Referring to FIG. 1, the upper substrate 44 on which the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z are formed, the lower substrate 42 on which the address electrode X is formed, and the partition wall 54 extending vertically from the lower substrate 42 are described. A conventional three-electrode surface discharge type PDP is shown. The sustain electrode pair Y includes stacked transparent electrodes 46A and 46B and metal bus electrodes 48A and 48B. The transparent electrodes 46A and 46B are formed with a gap of about 60 to 100 μm therebetween so as to lower the discharge voltage. The metal bus electrodes 48A and 48B lower the high resistance of the transparent conductive material used as the material of the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B. The dielectric layer 50 and the passivation layer 53 are stacked on the upper substrate 44 so as to cover the sustain electrode pairs Y. The address electrode X may be formed in a direction perpendicular to the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z. 42). The lower dielectric layer 50 is formed on the lower substrate 42 on which the address electrode X is formed, and the partition wall 54 is formed thereon. Phosphor 56 is applied to the surfaces of the lower dielectric layer 50 and the partition wall 54. A mixed gas of He + Xe or Ne + Xe is injected into the discharge space 58 provided between the lower substrate 42, the upper substrate 24, and the partition wall 54.

The three-electrode surface discharge type PDP displays an image by an ADS (Address and Display Seperated) method in which the data writing period and the display period are time-divided. First, an address discharge occurs between the scan / hold electrode Y and the address electrode X of the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z. Charged particles are generated in the discharge space 58 by the address discharge, and the charged particles remain as wall charges on the dielectric layer 50. In the cells selected by the address discharge, sustain discharge is caused by an AC pulse signal supplied to the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z. The vacuum discharge (VUV) is generated as the discharge gas is excited by this sustain discharge and then transitions to the ground state, and the ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor 56. Then, the phosphor 56 is excited, and then transitions to the ground state to generate visible light of any one of red, green, and blue.

2 shows a driving waveform of a conventional three-electrode surface discharge type PDP.

Referring to FIG. 2, the driving waveform of the three-electrode surface discharge type PDP is divided into three sections.

The rising ramp signal rRAMP and the falling ramp signal fRAMP are continuously supplied to the scan / hold electrode Y in the first section (reset section or setup section). The rising ramp signal rRAMP generates a weak discharge between the scan / sustain electrode Y and the common sustain electrode Z, thereby generating a sufficient amount of wall charge in the cells of the entire screen. The falling ramp signal fRAMP eliminates unnecessary charge in the cell, thereby securing an operating margin. When the ramp signals rRAMP and fRAMP are supplied, weak discharge occurs, so that the contrast ratio can be increased, and wall charges necessary for the address discharge are equally formed in the cells of the entire screen.

In the second section (address section), data D is supplied to the address electrode X, and scan pulses synchronized with the data are sequentially supplied to the scan / sustain electrode Y for each scan line. As the external voltage due to the scan pulse and the data voltage difference and the wall voltage in the cell are added, the cells to which data is applied are discharged, and wall charges are generated in the cells. Desired cells are selected by this address discharge.

In the third section (sustain section), sustain pulses are alternately supplied to the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z. Then, the cells selected by the address discharge are continuously discharged every time the sustain pulse is supplied with the addition of the internal wall voltage and the external voltage by the sustain pulse. During the sustain discharge, the plasma discharge is generated between the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B having narrow inter-electrode intervals, and gradually diffuses toward the metal bus electrodes 48A and 48B. The erase signal Ers is supplied in signal form. This erase signal erases the wall drop while generating a weak discharge in the cell.

However, the conventional PDP has a problem of low luminance and low efficiency due to the structure of the sustain electrode pairs Y and Z. In detail, since the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B are formed to have a wide width, the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B act as a factor for increasing the capacitance value of the panel and lowering the efficiency since the displacement current is increased relative to the discharge luminance. In addition, since the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B occupy a relatively large area on the display surface, the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B absorb or scatter visible light passing through the display surface, thereby lowering light transmission efficiency, thereby lowering luminance. In addition, since the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B are formed by a deposition process, a photolithography process using a mask pattern, or a sputtering process, the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B complicate the top plate manufacturing process and increase the number of processes.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention relates to a PDP and a driving method thereof for improving luminance and efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a discharge cell structure of a surface discharge plasma display panel of a conventional AC driving method.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving waveforms of the plasma display panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a plan view of the plasma display panel shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the plasma display panel shown in FIG. 3; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving waveforms of the plasma display panel illustrated in FIG. 3.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

2,42: Lower board 4,44: Upper board

10,20,50: dielectric layer 12,52: protective film

14,54: bulkhead 16,56: phosphor

18,58: discharge space 46A, 46B: transparent electrode

48A, 48B: metal bus electrodes Y, Y ', Z: sustain electrode

X: address electrode

In order to achieve the above object, the PDP according to the embodiment of the present invention is a scan / maintenance electrode and the auxiliary holding electrode made of a metal, respectively, and the metal is formed between the common holding electrode and the auxiliary holding electrode And a distance between the scan / sustain electrode and the auxiliary sustain electrode is greater than a distance between the common sustain electrode and the scan / sustain electrode. Initializing a full screen by supplying a setup waveform to at least one of the scan / hold electrode and the auxiliary sustain electrode in a period; and supplying a scan pulse to the scan / hold electrode during an address period and supplying a data signal to the address electrode. Selecting a cell by supplying a discharge and supplying the discharge; during the sustain period, the auxiliary holding electrode and the scanning / holding electrode Alternately supplying an alternating current pulse to maintain the discharge of the selected cell, and supplying a pulse signal to the common sustain electrode during the sustain period.

Other objects and features of the present invention in addition to the above object will be apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

3 to 5, the PDP according to the present invention includes an auxiliary holding electrode Y, a scan / hold electrode Y ', and a common holding electrode Z formed on the upper substrate 4 at different intervals. do. The auxiliary holding electrode Y, the scan / hold electrode Y 'and the common holding electrode Z are metal electrodes. The upper dielectric layer 10 and the passivation layer 12 are stacked on the upper substrate 4 to cover the metal electrodes Y, Y ', and Z. The upper dielectric layer 10 serves to accumulate charged particles generated during discharge to form wall charges, and the protective layer 12 protects the metal electrodes Y, Y ', and Z and the upper dielectric layer 10 from discharge. And increases the emission efficiency of secondary electrons during discharge. The address electrode X is formed on the lower substrate 2 facing the upper substrate 4 with the discharge space 18 therebetween. In addition, the lower dielectric layer 20 is formed on the lower substrate 2 to cover the address electrode X, and the partition 14 is formed thereon. Phosphors 16 are formed on the surfaces of the lower dielectric layer 20 and the partition wall 14. A mixed gas of He + Xe or Ne + Xe is injected into the discharge space 18 provided between the lower substrate 2, the upper substrate 4, and the partition wall 14.

The distance d2 between the auxiliary sustain electrode Y and the scan / hold electrode Y 'is set to be wider than the distance d1 between the scan / hold electrode Y and the common sustain electrode Z. FIG. The distance d1 between the scan / hold electrode Y and the common sustain electrode Z is set equal to the distance between the transparent electrodes 46A and 46B in the conventional PDP.

A driving method of the PDP according to the present invention will be described with reference to the waveform diagram of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the driving method of the PDP according to the present invention is largely divided into three sections.

Signals for causing a setup discharge are applied to the auxiliary sustain electrode Y and the scan / sustain electrode Y 'in the first section (reset section or setup section). The rising ramp signal rRAMPY 'and the falling ramp signal fRAMP are continuously supplied to the scan / sustain electrode Y', and the DC bias voltage is supplied to the common sustain electrode Z. Then, a negative discharge between the scan / hold electrode Y 'and the common sustain electrode Z forms a negative wall charge on the scan / hold electrode Y' and a positive wall on the common / hold electrode Y '. An electric charge is formed. At the same time, the rising ramp signal rRAMPY is supplied to the auxiliary holding electrode Y, and a DC bias voltage is supplied to the address electrode X, so that a slight discharge occurs between the auxiliary holding electrode Y and the address electrode X. . Therefore, negative wall charges are formed on the auxiliary holding electrode Y, and positive wall charges are formed on the address electrode X. FIG. Undesired charges in the cell are erased by the falling ramp signal fRAMP supplied to the scan / sustain electrode Y '. The wall voltage accumulated in the cell is controlled by the slope and magnitude of the ramp signals rRAMPY ', rRAMPY, and fRAMP. The wall charges required for the address discharge are equally formed in the cells of all screens by the setup discharge generated in the first section.

In the second section (address section), the data D is supplied to the address electrode X, and the scan pulse SCN synchronized with the data is sequentially supplied to the scan / sustain electrode Y 'for each scan line. At the same time, the positive bias voltages Vzb and Vyb are supplied to the common sustaining electrode Z and the auxiliary sustaining electrode Y, respectively. As the external voltage due to the difference between the scan pulse SCN and the data voltage D and the wall voltage in the cell are added, the cells to which data is applied are discharged, and wall charges are generated in the cells. Desired cells are selected by this address discharge. At this time, positive wall charges are formed on the scan / hold electrode Y 'and negative wall charges are formed on the common sustain electrode Z by the positive bias voltage Vzb. The auxiliary holding electrode Y is not misdischarged with the address electrode X by the positive bias voltage Vyb.

In the third section (sustain section), sustain pulses SUSY 'and SUSY are alternately supplied to the auxiliary sustain electrode Y and the scan / sustain electrode Y'. Then, the cells selected by the address discharge are continuously discharged every time the sustain pulse is supplied with the addition of the internal wall voltage and the external voltage by the sustain pulse. Only when this sustain discharge occurs in the discharge at a long distance between the auxiliary sustain electrode Y and the scan / hold electrode Y 'can increase the discharge efficiency and generate a large amount of vacuum ultraviolet rays. To this end, the common sustain electrode Z is supplied with a pulse in phase with the scan / sustain electrode Y '. The pulse supplied to the common sustain electrode Z may not be supplied after the first discharge occurs between the auxiliary sustain electrode Y and the scan / sustain electrode Y '. At the end of the third section, the common sustain electrode Z is supplied with the erase signal Ers in the form of a ramp signal. This erase signal erases the wall drop while generating a weak discharge in the cell.

As described above, the PDP and the driving method thereof according to the present invention reduce the loss of electrons by maximizing the distance between electrodes as far as possible and increase the motion path of the charged particles during discharge, and sufficiently emit vacuum ultraviolet rays due to collision excitation to obtain luminance and Vacuum ultraviolet ray efficiency can be increased. In addition, according to the PDP and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, since the electrode area formed on the upper substrate is small, the light transmittance can be increased to increase brightness and efficiency. In addition, according to the PDP and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, since the electrode area is reduced, the capacitance value of the panel can be lowered, thereby reducing the displacement current and the amount of current flowing in the electrode during discharge, thereby reducing power consumption and improving driving efficiency. 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 (5)

A common holding electrode Z and an auxiliary holding electrode Y each made of metal; A scan / hold electrode Y 'formed of the metal and formed between the common sustain electrode Z and the auxiliary sustain electrode Y; The distance d2 between the scan / hold electrode Y 'and the auxiliary sustain electrode Y is wider than the distance d1 between the common sustain electrode Z and the scan / hold electrode Y'. Plasma display panel. The method of claim 1, An upper substrate on which the common sustain electrode Z, the auxiliary sustain electrode Y, and the scan / hold electrode Y 'are formed; A lower substrate facing the upper substrate with a discharge space therebetween so that an address electrode to which data is supplied is orthogonal to the common sustain electrode Z, the auxiliary sustain electrode Y, and the scan / hold electrode Y '. and, Barrier ribs formed vertically between the lower substrate and the upper substrate; And a phosphor formed on surfaces of the lower substrate and the partition wall. A common holding electrode Z, an auxiliary holding electrode Y, and a scanning / holding electrode Y 'each made of a metal are formed on the upper substrate, and between the scan / holding electrode Y' and the auxiliary holding electrode Y, respectively. A method for driving a plasma display panel in which a distance d2 is wider than a distance d1 between the common sustain electrode Z and the scan / hold electrode Y '. Initializing a full screen by supplying a setup waveform to at least one of the scan / hold electrode Y 'and the auxiliary sustain electrode Y during a setup period; Selecting a cell by supplying a scan pulse SCN to the scan / hold electrode Y 'and supplying a data signal D to the address electrode X in an address period to cause discharge; Maintaining an electric discharge of the selected cell by alternately supplying an alternating pulse to the auxiliary sustain electrode (Y) and the scan / sustain electrode (Y ') during a sustain period; And supplying a pulse signal to the common sustain electrode (Z) during the sustain period. The method of claim 3, wherein Initializing the full screen, Continuously supplying a rising ramp signal and a falling ramp signal to the scan / hold electrode Y '; And supplying the rising ramp signal to the auxiliary holding electrode (Y). The method of claim 3, wherein And supplying a DC voltage to the common sustain electrode (Z) during the address period.