KR100502352B1 - Panel driving method and apparatus with address-sustain mixed interval - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device that displays an image by sequentially performing an address period and a sustain period like a plasma display panel. In the dividing process, the addressing and sustaining discharge of pixels belonging to each group of the sub-panels are performed while the pixels of another group are in an idle state while performing an address period for the pixels of one group, During the sustain period after the address period is performed for the pixels, the sustain period is selectively performed for other groups of pixels that have already been previously addressed. The address period and the sustain period for the group correspond to the respective groups in different subpanels. Operate at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to.

Description

[Panel driving method and apparatus with address-sustain mixed interval}

The present invention relates to a display device that displays an image by sequentially performing an address period and a sustain period like a plasma display panel (PDP).

The electrode driving method of the PDP is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,541,618. The panel driving timing can be divided into a reset (initialization) period, an address (write) period, and a sustain (display) period. The reset period initializes the state of each cell so that the addressing operation can be performed smoothly on the cell, and the address period selects cells on the panel and cells not on the panel to accumulate wall charges. The sustain period performs a discharge for actually displaying an image in the addressed cells.

In the US patent, in order to implement gradation by the field-subfield structure, a method of driving the address period and the sustain period separately in time is adopted. In other words, the addressing operation from the first scan electrode to the last scan electrode is completed, and then the sustain operation is performed on all the pixels simultaneously. According to such a driving method, after the addressing operation is performed on one scan line, the sustain discharge operation is performed only after the addressing operation of the last scan line is completed. Therefore, there is a problem that a significant time gap occurs until the sustain discharge operation occurs in the cell where the addressing operation has occurred, the sustain discharge operation may be unstable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an electrode driving method and apparatus for a flat panel display device which can smoothly discharge discharge by minimizing a time gap between an address period and a sustain period.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a panel driving method includes dividing electrodes of a panel into a plurality of sub-panels, and then dividing the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups. The addressing and sustaining discharge of the pixels belonging to each of the pixels in each group are performed in an address period and a sustaining period sequentially, and then an address operation is performed on the pixels of each group, and then the pixels of the addressed group are performed. Performing the sustain period, and performing the address operation on the pixels of the other group after the sustain period has ended, so as to perform the sustain period on the pixels of one group, the other group which has already performed the address period previously A mixing section for performing the sustain period for the pixels of the pixel; A common period for performing a sustain period in common for a certain period of time for pixels belonging to all groups; And a correction period for selectively performing additional sustain periods for the pixels of each group so that the pixels of each group satisfy a predetermined gray level, and includes an address period for electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel; The sustain period may be operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a panel, wherein the electrodes of the panel are divided into a plurality of sub-panels, and then the electrodes of each sub-panel are divided into a plurality of groups. In the process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each of the pixels, the address period and the sustaining period are sequentially performed on the pixels of each group, and the address operation is performed on the pixels of the group, and then the pixels of the addressed group are performed. Perform the sustain period for the other group of pixels after the sustain period ends, and perform another sustain period for the pixels of any one group. A mixing section for performing the sustain period for the pixels in the group as well; A correction period for selectively performing additional sustain periods for the pixels of each group to match the gradation degree that differs for each group by a sustain period performed differently for each group during the mixing period; And a common period for performing a sustain period for a predetermined period in common for pixels belonging to all groups to satisfy a predetermined gray level, wherein the address period and the sustain period for electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel The other subpanel may be operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a panel driving method includes dividing electrodes of a panel into a plurality of sub-panels, and then dividing the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups. In the process of addressing and sustaining and discharging the pixels belonging to each other to have a predetermined gray level, an address period and a sustaining period are sequentially performed for pixels belonging to each group, and a series of addressing and sustaining periods for a group of pixels is performed. Then, the address period is performed for the pixels of the other group, and the sustain period is also performed for the pixels of the other group that have already performed the address period while the sustain period is performed for the pixels of one group. The predetermined gray level is achieved by the maintenance period performed so far for the other group. Even if the sustain period is performed in one of the groups, the idle state is maintained, and both the address period and the sustain period are performed up to the last group of pixels, and then the predetermined pixels are used for the pixels of the group that do not satisfy the predetermined gray level. Additional sustain periods are selectively performed to match the gradation level, wherein the address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are the same as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in the other subpanel. It is characterized in that the operation at the timing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a panel driving method includes dividing electrodes of a panel into a plurality of sub-panels, and then dividing the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups. The addressing and sustain discharge of the pixels belonging to the first electrode may be performed by sequentially applying scan pulses to the scan electrodes of the first group and performing the addressing operation. A sustain operation is performed by applying a pulse, and when the sustain period of the first group is completed, the address operation and the sustain discharge operation are sequentially performed on the scan electrodes of the second group, thereby addressing the first group to the last group. Periods and durations are performed in sequential order, with the address of the electrodes in each group of each subpanel The sustain period and the sustain period may be operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a panel, wherein the electrodes of the panel are divided into a plurality of sub-panels, and then the electrodes of each sub-panel are divided into a plurality of groups. In the process of addressing and sustaining and discharging the pixels belonging to one of the pixels, the other group of pixels is in the dormant state while the address period is performed for one group of pixels, and is maintained after performing the address period for one group of pixels. During the period, the sustain period is selectively performed for the pixels of other groups that have already performed the address period, but the address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are different from the other subpanels. Operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group All.

In the panel driving method, the number of scan lines allocated to each sub-panel unit or the number of scan lines allocated to each group unit is preferably the same or at least a part of them different from each other, and each unit group has one It is preferable that scan electrodes are alternately assigned in the scanning order.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a panel driving apparatus, wherein electrodes of a panel are divided into a plurality of subpanels, and then electrodes of each subpanel are divided into a plurality of groups, and the respective groups of the respective subpanels. A panel driver for addressing and sustaining and discharging pixels belonging to an apparatus comprising: an address signal generator for generating an address signal for selectively addressing a pixel that is turned on and a pixel that is not among pixels of a panel; A signal synthesizer having a sustain signal generator for generating a sustain signal for sustain discharge of the pixels; And a pixel driver for driving the pixels divided into the plurality of groups according to the signal of the signal synthesis unit for each group, wherein the signal synthesis unit sequentially performs the address period and the sustain period for the pixels belonging to each group. The other group of pixels is in a dormant state while the address period is performed for one group of pixels, and the address period has already been previously performed during the sustain period after performing the address period for one group of pixels. An address signal and a sustain signal are generated to selectively perform the sustain period for the pixels of the other group which have been performed, but the address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are different in the respective subpanels. Operate at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to the group The.

In the panel driver, the signal synthesizing unit performs all the address periods for the pixels belonging to all groups, and then generates a sustain signal for performing the sustain period in common for a predetermined period for the pixels belonging to all the groups. Preferably, it is also preferable to further generate a sustain signal for selectively performing an additional sustain period for the pixels of each group so that the pixels of each group satisfy the predetermined gray level. In addition, the signal synthesizing unit sequentially performs the address period and the sustain period for the pixels of the group, and as a result, if the predetermined gray level is achieved by the sustain period that has been performed so far for one group, the sustain period is not changed in another group. Even if it is performed, it is preferable to keep the pixels of the group in the dormant state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the driving method of the AC plasma display panel.

7 is a partial perspective view of an AC plasma display panel. On the first glass substrate 1, the scanning electrode 4 and the sustain (common) electrode 5 covered with the dielectric layer 2 and the protective film 3 are paired and arranged in parallel. A plurality of address electrodes 8 covered with the insulator layer 7 are provided on the second glass substrate 6. On the insulator layer 7 between the address electrodes 8, partition walls 9 are formed in parallel with the address electrodes 8. In addition, the phosphor 10 is formed on the surface of the insulator layer 7 and on both side surfaces of the partition wall 9. The first glass substrate 1 and the second glass substrate 6 have a discharge space 11 therebetween so that the scan electrode 4 and the address electrode 8 and the sustain electrode 5 and the address electrode 8 are orthogonal to each other. They are arranged to face each other. The discharge space at the intersection of the address electrode 8 and the pair of the scanning electrode 4 and the sustain electrode 5 forms a discharge cell 12.

8 shows an electrode arrangement diagram of a panel. The electrodes have a matrix configuration of m columns x n rows. Address electrodes A1 to Am are arranged in the column direction, and n rows of scanning electrodes SCN1 to SCNn and sustain electrodes SUS1 to SUSn are arranged in the row direction. The discharge cell shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the discharge cell 12 shown in FIG.

9 is a block diagram of a panel driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The analog video signal to be displayed on the panel 97 is converted into digital data and recorded in the frame memory 91. The subfield processing unit 92 divides the digital data stored in the frame memory 91 as necessary and outputs the data in subfield units. For example, in order to display gray scales, a panel divides one frame of pixel data stored in the frame memory 91 into a plurality of subfields, and outputs data of each subfield.

The pulse synthesizing unit 94 generates a reset signal for generating a signal waveform to be applied to each electrode in the reset period, the address period, and the sustain period to drive the address electrode, the scan electrode, and the sustain electrode forming the pixels of the panel 97. A generator 942, a write pulse generator 943, and a sustain pulse generator 944 are provided. The reset signal generator 942 generates a reset signal for initializing the state of each cell. The write pulse generator 943 generates an address signal for selecting and addressing a cell that is turned on and a cell that is not, and a sustain pulse generator 944. Generates a sustain signal for discharging the cells addressed by the address signal. The signal generated by the pulse synthesis unit 94 is applied to the scan electrode Y driver 96 and the sustain electrode X driver 95 of the panel 97 at a predetermined timing.

The scan electrodes of the panel are divided into a plurality of groups, and the scan electrode driver 96 includes a plurality of drive circuits 961, 962, ... 968 for driving the scan electrodes of each group. On the other hand, the sustain electrode X driver 95 drives the sustain electrode of the panel 97. The timing controller 93 generates various timing signals necessary for the operation of the subfield processing unit 92 and the pulse combining unit 94.

Hereinafter, a panel driving method according to the present invention will be described in detail, and such driving method may be performed in the structure and the apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. That is, a process of dividing a frame into subfields and sequentially performing address periods and sustain periods for each subfield unit, and sequentially performing address periods and sustain periods for a plurality of groups are illustrated in FIG. 9. It can be easily implemented in an integrated device.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a panel driving method according to the present invention, and illustrates a method of dividing pixels of a panel into a plurality of groups, and addressing and sustaining discharge pixels of each group.

The scan electrodes of the panel are divided into a plurality of groups G1 to n to sequentially perform address operations on the scan electrodes of each group. After the address operation is performed for one group, a sustain discharge pulse is applied to the scan electrodes of the group to perform the sustain period. If the sustain period is performed for one group of scan electrodes, the sustain period can be selectively performed for the other group of scan electrodes that have already been addressed. In this manner, a sustain period of a certain period is performed after the address period for one group of pixels, and then an address period is performed for the scan electrodes of another group for which the address operation has not yet been performed. Here, the number of scan electrodes belonging to each group may be equally divided or arbitrarily adjusted for each group while dividing the scan electrodes of one panel into a plurality of groups.

In FIG. 1A, one subfield may be displayed by being divided into a reset period R, a write / sustain mixed period T1, a common sustain period T2, and a luminance correction period T3. In the figure, the block indicated by the dot is the writing (address) period of the mixing section T1, the section indicated by the left diagonal line is the holding period of the mixing section T1, and the section indicated by the left and right diagonal lines is the common section T2. The maintenance period of and the section indicated by the right diagonal line indicate the maintenance period of the correction section T3, respectively.

The reset period R initializes the wall charge state of the pixel by applying a reset pulse to all the scan lines of the group. As another embodiment, instead of performing the reset period for all groups at the same time, the reset period may be separately performed for each group by performing the reset period before performing the address period for each pixel belonging to each group.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing that the reset period is separately performed for each group, and the address period and the sustain period operate in the same manner as described in FIG. 1A. As shown, first, the first reset period R1 is performed on the pixels of the first group, and then the address period A _G1 and the sustain period S ₁₁ are performed. After the sustain period S ₁₁ is performed, the second reset period R2 is performed for the pixels in the second group. Next, the address period A _G2 is performed for the second group, and the sustain periods S ₁₂ and S ₂₁ are performed for the pixels of the first and second groups.

The write / sustain mixing section T1 will be described. In the first group G ₁ , a scan pulse is sequentially applied from the first scan electrode Y ₁₁ to the last scan line Y _1m to perform the address period A _G1 . When all the address operations for the pixels of the first group are completed, the sustain period S _{11 for} sustaining and discharging these addressed pixels by a predetermined number of sustain pulses is performed.

When the first holding period S ₁₁ of the first group ends, the address period A _G2 for the pixels of the second group is performed. It is preferable that a separate operation pulse is not applied to the pixels of the other groups during the address period A _G2 of the second group. However, scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes of the second group, and the sustain pulses are applied to the other groups of electrodes for a period of time after the scan pulses are applied to one scan electrode and before the scan pulses are applied to the next scan electrode. It is possible to apply (as is applicable to the case of address periods of other groups).

When the address period A _G2 of the second group ends, that is, when all the addressing operations for the scan electrodes belonging to the second group are completed, the first holding period S ₂₁ for the second group is performed. At this time, the second holding period S ₁₂ is also performed in the first group in which the address period has already been performed (it may not be performed as described later). Of course, the pixels for which the address period has not yet been performed remain in the idle state.

When the first holding period S ₂₁ of the second group ends, the address period S _G3 and the first holding period S ₃₁ are performed in the same manner as described above with respect to the third group. During the first sustain period S ₃₁ , the sustain periods S ₁₃ and S ₂₂ may be performed on the pixels of the first and second groups that have already performed the address period.

Through the above process, the scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes belonging to the last group _Gn to perform the address period A _Gn and then the sustain period S _n1 . While the sustain period S _n1 is performed, the sustain period is also performed for the pixels of other groups.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example in which the sustain period is performed for all the pixels in the group in which the address period was previously performed while the sustain period is performed for one group of pixels. If it is assumed that the number of sustain pulses applied during the unit sustain period is the same (that is, the luminance expressed by the sustain pulses applied during the unit sustain period is the same), compared to the pixel of the nth group, the pixels of the first group Will be n times the luminance, the second group of pixels will have n-1 times the brightness, and the G _n-1 group the pixels will have twice the brightness.

After all of the writing / holding mixing section T1 is performed, the common holding section T2 is performed. This period is a period in which sustain pulses are applied to all groups of pixels in common.

After the common maintenance section T2 is performed, the luminance correction section T3 is performed. Since the lengths of the sustain periods are different for each group in the mixing section T1, an additional sustain period is performed for each group to make the luminance of all pixels the same. For example, the luminance of the pixels of the first group G1 is determined by the sum of the sustain periods S ₁₁ , S ₁₂ ,... S _{1, n} and the common sustain period T2 performed during the mixing period T1. The pixels of the first group have the highest luminance at the start of the correction section T3. In order to make the pixels of the other group also have the luminance of the pixels of the first group, an additional sustain period S _{2, n for} the pixels of the second group G2 (this period is substantially the first group). Corresponding to S ₁₁ , which is a first holding period of, of the first group, and corresponding to the first and second holding periods S ₁₁ and S ₁₂ of the first group for the pixels of the third group G3. Additional maintenance periods (S _{3, n-1} , S _{3, n} ) shall be performed. In this manner, additional sustain periods (S _n2 , S _n3 , ,,, S _{n, n} ) should also be performed on the pixels of the last group Gn. By doing so, all the pixels of the panel can exhibit the same luminance.

As described above, when the sustain period for all the pixels ends, the operation of one subfield is completed and the reset period of the next subfield starts again.

According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1A, one subfield may be divided into three time domains due to its nature.

The write / sustain mixing section T1 is a period in which the sustain period is performed in the middle of performing the address period for all the pixels of the panel so that the address period and the sustain period are mixed in time. During the mixing period T1, the address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed for the pixels in each group, and then the address period and the sustain period for one group are performed, followed by the address period for the pixels in the other group. While the sustain period is performed for one group of pixels, the sustain period is also performed for the pixels of another group that have already been previously addressed.

The common sustain period T2 is a period in which the sustain period is performed in common for all pixels for a predetermined period. The luminance correction section T3 is a period in which the luminance of the pixels of each group is corrected by selectively performing an additional sustain period for each group so that the gray levels of the pixels of each group match each other. to be.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the holding period for applying the holding pulse is divided into the mixing section T1, the common section T2, and the correction section T3, and the holding pulse applied to the holding section of the mixing section is applied to the common section. It is desirable to make the pulse width wider or to make the pulse voltage higher than the sustain pulse applied. By doing so, the wall charges can be more sufficiently secured in each pixel after the address operation.

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment in which the panel driving method according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1A or B is applied to an AC PDP. In the mixing section T1, when scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes Y ₁₁ , Y ₁₂ ,... Belonging to the first group G1, the relationship with the address pulses applied to the address electrodes A is applied. The addressing operation occurs accordingly. When the addressing operation for all the scan electrodes of the first group G1 is completed, the address period for the first group G1 ends, and a sustain discharge pulse is applied to the common electrode X and the scan electrode Y. The period is performed in unison for all the pixels of the first group.

In FIG. 2A, three pairs of holding pulses are applied during the holding period, but these are merely shown for convenience. In practice, it is preferable that a sustain pulse is applied to a degree that can substantially sustain discharge the addressed pixel. For example, if 256 gray levels are to be implemented, it is desirable to allow the number of sustain pulses required to represent at least one gray level to be applied in one sustain period. On the other hand, in the case of the common electrode X, the sustain pulse can be applied only to the common electrode belonging to the group to be sustain discharged. In addition, even when the sustain pulse is applied to the common electrode X, the sustain discharge does not occur in the pixel when the sustain pulse is not applied to the scan electrode Y. Therefore, the sustain pulse may be applied to the common electrode X of all groups. .

When the address period and the sustain period of the first group are finished, the address period and the sustain period for the second group are next performed. The maintenance period is also performed in the first group while the maintenance period of the second group is performed. At this time, the sustain period performed after the address period of the first group and the sustain period performed after the address period of the second group do not necessarily have to have the same length of time or the number of sustain pulses. Can be.

In this manner, the address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed for the pixels of the fourth group G4 by sequentially performing the address period and the sustain period, and then the common period T2 is performed. The common period T2 performs the sustain period for all the pixels of the group, and the correction period T3 performs the additional sustain period for the luminance of all the pixels of the groups to match each other.

FIG. 2B conceptually illustrates the panel driving method illustrated in FIG. 1A, B, or 2A. In the mixing section T1, the pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of groups, and then an address period is sequentially performed for each group, but at least for one group of pixels between an address period of one group and an address period of another group. Carry out a maintenance period. Accordingly, it can be seen from the temporal timing relationship that the sustain period is operated in the middle while the addressing operation starts from the first scan line to the last scan line of the panel. When the mixing period T1 ends, the sustain period T2 is performed in common for all pixels, and finally, the additional sustain period T3 is selectively performed for each group.

3A illustrates an example in which the pixels of the panel are divided into four groups, and the present invention as described above is applied. One subfield is composed of a reset period R, a write / sustain mixing section T1, a common holding section T2, and a luminance correction section T3, as described in Figs. 1A, B or 2A. It works.

In the method of dividing the plurality of scan lines constituting the panel into a plurality of groups, a plurality of groups may be formed by grouping several scan electrodes in the order in which they are arranged. For example, when the panel is formed of 800 scan lines, the first to 100th scan lines may be set as the first group and the 101st to 200th scan lines may be set as the second group while being divided into eight groups. However, in grouping the scan lines, adjacent lines may not be collected, but scan lines spaced apart from each other may be collected in the same group. In this example, the first, 9, 17, ... (8k + 1) th scan electrodes are allocated to the first group, and the second, 10, 18, ... (8k + 2) are assigned to the second group. The first scan electrode is allocated. On the other hand, if necessary, it is possible to group scan lines even in an irregular manner.

In the case where the scan lines which are not adjacent to each other are operated in a group, when the sustain period is performed after the address period for the scan electrodes of one group, a priming effect is generated by the sustain discharge, and charges are transferred to the scan lines adjacent thereto. This may help move the address operation. For example, when the address period and the sustain period are performed for the first group, the second, 10, ... scan lines adjacent to each other by the sustain discharge operation on the first, ninth, ... scan lines are performed. Charges in accordance with the priming effect are generated, whereby an address operation can be more reliably generated when an address period is performed for the second group.

3B is a view for explaining another driving method of FIG. 3A. In this example, the luminance correction section T3 is performed before the common holding section T2. In other words, after the writing / sustaining mixing section T1 is performed, an additional holding period T3 for correcting the difference in brightness for each group is first performed to adjust the luminance of all the pixels to match. In this way, the luminance correction interval T3 is performed, and then the sustain period T2 is commonly performed for all pixels to achieve the required gray level. In other words, the correction period T3 selectively performs an additional sustain period for the pixels of each group to match the gradation degree that differs for each group by the sustain period performed differently for each group during the mixing period T1. In addition, the common period T2 is to perform the sustain period for a predetermined period in common for the pixels belonging to all groups in order to satisfy the predetermined gray level.

4A to 4C illustrate various embodiments of a panel driving method according to the present invention. For example, when up to 90 sustain pulses are allocated to one subfield, the method of distributing them to each sustain period varies considerably according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the pixels of the panel are divided into four groups and driven in the manner of FIG. 3A, ten sustain pulses may be allocated to each sustain period of the mixing section T1, and 50 sustain pulses may be allocated to the common section. That is, in the first group, 10 * 4 in the mixed section and 50 sustain pulses are allocated in the common section, in the second group, 10 * 3 in the mixed section, 50 in the common section, and 10 in the correction section. Each sustain pulse is assigned.

On the other hand, the number of holding pulses applied during each holding period of the mixing section T1 can be variously selected according to the design specification. In the above example, it is assumed that 30 holding pulses are allocated to each holding period. Then, a timing diagram as shown in FIG. 4A can be obtained.

In the case of the first group, all 90 sustain pulses can be applied in only three sustain periods corresponding to the address periods of the first to third groups in the mixed section. The sustain pulse is not applied to the pixels of one group. For the third group, the holding periods S ₃₁ and S ₃₂ in the mixing section T1 are performed, and then an additional holding period S ₃₃ is performed to match the luminance of the first and second groups. The same applies to groups.

Therefore, Fig. 4A shows an example in which one subfield is composed of the write / sustain mixing section T1 and the luminance correction section T3 without a common holding period. In this embodiment, at least one group should be implemented so that the number of sustain pulses allocated for the gradation degree required in one subfield can be applied during the sustain periods included in the write / sustain mixture section T1.

FIG. 4A is a timing diagram illustrating a method of classifying pixels of a panel into a plurality of groups to address and sustain discharge the pixels belonging to each group to have a predetermined gray level. In the mixing period T1, while the sustain period is performed for one group of pixels, the sustain period is also performed for the other group of pixels that have been previously addressed, and thus performed for one group. If the predetermined gradation level is achieved by the maintenance period, the state of rest is maintained even if the maintenance period is performed in another group. After the address period and the sustain period are both performed to the last group of pixels, an additional sustain period is selectively performed for the pixels of the group that do not satisfy the predetermined gray level.

FIG. 4B shows that in FIG. 4A, the maintenance period S ₁₃ of the first group and the maintenance period S ₂₃ of the second group include the maintenance period S ₃₃ of the third group and the maintenance period S ₄₂ of the fourth group. This is an example configured to be performed together in time. In this way, it is possible to selectively determine whether or not the maintenance period is performed in another group in which the address period has already been performed while the maintenance period is performed in one group in the mixed period. Also, the number of sustain pulses allocated to each of the plurality of sustain periods included in the mixing section can be adjusted to be the same, partly the same, or all differently.

4C illustrates another example in which the luminance correction section T3 is first performed after the write / sustain mixture section T1 and then the common sustain period T2 is compared with the driving method of FIG. 4B.

5 is a timing diagram illustrating a panel driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention. The address pulse is sequentially applied to the scan electrodes of the first group to perform the addressing operation. When the address operation to all the scan electrodes of the first group is completed, the sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrodes.

When the sustain period for the first group is completed, the address operation and the sustain discharge operation are sequentially performed on the scan electrodes of the second group, and the address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed sequentially from the first group to the last group. do. This embodiment is particularly useful in the case where it is possible to allocate all the maintenance pulses corresponding to the desired gradation degree during one maintenance period in the mixing section T1. In this case, the address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed in sequence for each group.

6A to 6C illustrate examples of applying various driving methods of the present invention after dividing pixels of a panel into eight groups. FIG. 6A illustrates an example in which one subfield is driven by being divided into a write / sustain mixing section T1, a common sustain period T2, and a luminance correction section T3, and is substantially the same as the method shown in FIG. 3A. Do.

6B illustrates a method in which a sustain period is selectively performed in a group in which an address period has been previously performed while a sustain period is performed in any one group in the mixing section T1. FIG. 6C shows an example in which one subfield is composed of a write / sustain mixing section T1 and a luminance correction section T3 without a common holding period.

10 to 12B illustrate various examples of driving the electrodes of the panel by grouping the panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which all scan lines of a panel are divided into two subpanels, scanlines belonging to each subpanel are divided into two groups, and scanlines belonging to the same group are driven together in time. That is, addresses of the scan electrodes Y ₁₁ to Y _{1, i} belonging to group 1 of subpanel 1 and the scan electrodes Y _{1, i + 1} to Y _{1, p} belonging to group 1 of subpanel 2 period and the sustain discharge period is operated in time the same timing, and the scan electrodes belonging to the group 2 of the sub-panel _{1 (Y 21 ~ Y 2,} j) and the scan electrodes belonging to the group 2 of the sub panel 2 (Y _{2 The} address period and the sustain discharge period for _{, j + 1} to Y _{2, g} ) are operated at the same timing in time.

On the other hand, in the order of scanning the scan electrodes belonging to one unit group in the address period, it may be the same as or different from the physical order of the line in which the scan electrodes are arranged, the order can be arbitrarily determined according to the designer's intention have.

FIG. 11A is a generalization of the case of FIG. 10, in which all scan lines of a panel are divided into a plurality of sub-panels, and scan lines belonging to each sub-panel belong to one of two groups G1 and G2. Next, an example in which scan lines belonging to the same group are driven together in time is shown. In this example, each unit group is displayed as including a plurality of scan lines, but it is possible to generalize to at least one or more.

In dividing one panel into a plurality of sub-panels, the number of pixels (or electrodes) allocated to each sub-panel may be equal to each other, or some of the sub-panels may be set the same and others may be different. In addition, in dividing one subpanel into a plurality of subpanels, the number of pixels (or electrodes) allocated to each group may be the same, or some of the groups may be set to be the same and others may be set differently. On the other hand, the number of pixels assigned to a group of one subpanel can be equal to or different from the number of pixels assigned to a group of another subpanel corresponding to the positive.

FIG. 11B illustrates a special example in which one scan line is allocated to each unit group in the example of FIG. 11A, and the odd scan lines and the even scan lines are alternately assigned to groups 1 and 2 according to the scan line order. Alternately addressed simultaneously.

12A illustrates that the scan lines of the panel may be divided into a plurality of sub-panels, and then the scan lines of each sub-panel may be divided into at least two groups (four groups in this example). May be assigned. In addition, since the number of scan lines allocated to each subpanel unit or the number of scan lines allocated to each group unit can be arbitrarily set, they may be identical to each other or some may be different from each other.

FIG. 12B illustrates a special example of FIG. 12A, wherein the number of groups of each subpanel is 4 and one scan line is allocated to each unit group. Therefore, the addressing operation takes place alternately every four lines.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus in which the panel driving method as described above is implemented. The electrodes of the panel are divided into a plurality of sub-panels, and the electrodes of each sub-panel are divided into a plurality of groups. The present invention relates to a panel driver for addressing and sustaining and discharging pixels belonging to each group of the panel. The address operation and the sustain operation according to the driving method according to the present invention are performed on the pixels of the panel 97 by the pulse synthesizing unit 94 and the scanning electrode driver 96.

The panel driving apparatus according to the present invention divides the pixels of the panel 97 into a plurality of groups, addresses and sustains the pixels belonging to each group, and the pulse synthesizing unit 94 generates an address period for the pixels belonging to each group. While the sustain period is sequentially performed, the pixels of the other group are in the dormant state while the address period is performed for one group of pixels, and the sustain period is performed after the address period is performed for the pixels of one group. In the meantime, the address signal and the sustain signal are generated to selectively perform the sustain period even for the other groups of pixels that have already been previously addressed.

The scan electrode Y driver 96 applies a scan pulse to the scan electrodes of each group (in this case, an address pulse is applied to the address electrode) to perform an address period, and then applies a sustain pulse to the scan electrodes. The sustain period is performed so that the address period and the sustain period are operated in a mixed manner. The sustain electrode (X) driver 95 applies a sustain pulse to the sustain electrodes while the sustain period is performed in each group of pixels.

The pulse synthesizing unit 94 performs all the address periods for the pixels belonging to all the groups, and then generates a common sustain signal for performing the sustain period in common for a predetermined period for the pixels belonging to all the groups. The interval can be performed. In addition, the luminance correction section may be performed by further generating a sustain signal for selectively performing an additional sustain period for the pixels of each group so that the pixels of each group satisfy the predetermined gray level.

As a result of performing the address period and the sustain period for the pixels of each group in turn, if the predetermined gray level is achieved by the sustain period performed so far for one group, the pixel of the group is performed even if the sustain period is performed in another group. It is desirable to keep them at rest.

Meanwhile, in performing the reset period, before the address period is performed for the pixels of the first group, the reset period is simultaneously performed for all the pixels of the group or the address period is performed for the pixels of each group. Preferably, the reset period is performed on the pixels of the group before.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of groups, and the address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed on the pixels belonging to each group. Then, while performing the address period for one group of pixels, the other group of pixels are in the dormant state, and while the sustain period is performed after the address period for the group of pixels, the address has already been previously addressed. The sustain period is selectively performed for other groups of pixels in which the period has been performed. Thus, the sustain period is selectively performed for each group between each address period while all the address periods starting from the first group to the nth group are performed.

The present invention is applicable to a display device that sequentially performs an address period for preselecting a cell to be turned on and a sustain period for emitting the selected cell in a method of driving an electrode of a panel. For example, not only an AC type PDP but also a DC type PDP, an apparatus for displaying a screen by sequentially performing an address period and a sustain period by space charge, such as an EL (optical) display device or a liquid crystal device, may be used. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the technical idea may be applied as it is.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include any type of recording device that stores programs or data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, hard disk, floppy disk, flash memory, optical data storage, and the like. Here, the program stored in the recording medium refers to a series of instruction instructions used directly or indirectly in an apparatus having an information processing capability such as a computer to obtain a specific result. Thus, the term computer is used to mean all devices having an information processing capability for performing a specific function by a program, including a memory, an input / output device, and an arithmetic device, regardless of the name actually used. In the case of a device for driving a panel, its use is limited to a specific field of panel driving, and in reality, it is a kind of computer.

As described above, the pulse synthesizing unit included in the panel driver includes an integrated circuit including a memory and a processor therein to store a program in which a method for driving the panel is implemented. In driving the panel, a program stored in a memory may be executed to perform the addressing and holding operation according to the present invention. Therefore, the integrated circuit in which the program for executing the panel driving method is stored should be interpreted as a kind of the recording medium.

The best embodiments have been disclosed in the drawings and specification above. Although specific terms have been used herein, they are used only for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the meaning or claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible from this. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, according to the panel driving method and apparatus according to the present invention, the pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of groups, and the address period and the sustain period are successively performed for the pixels of each group. Therefore, by performing the sustain discharge operation within a short time after the address operation in each pixel, stable sustain discharge can be obtained even if the width of the scan pulse and the address pulse applied in the address period is narrower. This means that the time required for addressing all pixels is reduced, which means that more time can be allocated to sustain discharge during one TV field time. Therefore, the brightness of the screen can be improved, and a high gradation device can be realized even for a panel having more scan lines.

Figure 1a, b is a view showing an embodiment of a panel driving method according to the present invention.

2A illustrates an example in which the panel driving method according to the present invention is applied to an AC PDP.

2B conceptually illustrates a panel driving method according to the present invention.

3A and 3B illustrate examples of applying the present invention by dividing pixels of a panel into four groups.

4A to 4C illustrate various embodiments of a panel driving method according to the present invention.

5 is a timing diagram illustrating a panel driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6C illustrate examples of applying various driving methods of the present invention after dividing pixels of a panel into eight groups.

7 is a partial perspective view of an AC plasma display panel, and FIG. 8 shows an electrode arrangement diagram of the panel.

9 is a view showing an embodiment of a panel driving apparatus according to the present invention.

10 to 12B illustrate various examples of driving the electrodes of the panel by grouping the panel according to the present invention.

Claims (12)

Divide the electrodes of the panel into a plurality of sub-panels and then divide the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, The process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each group of each subpanel, The address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed on the pixels of each group, the address operation is performed on the pixels of each group, and then the sustain period is performed on the pixels of the addressed group. After the termination, the address operation is performed on the pixels of the other group, and the sustain period is also performed on the pixels of the other group that have already been previously addressed while the sustain period is performed on the pixels of one group. Mixing section; A common period for performing a sustain period in common for a certain period of time for pixels belonging to all groups; And A correction period for selectively performing an additional sustain period for the pixels of each group so that the pixels of each group satisfy a predetermined gray level; The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel. Divide the electrodes of the panel into a plurality of sub-panels and then divide the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, The process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each group of each subpanel, The address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed on the pixels of each group, the address operation is performed on the pixels of each group, and then the sustain period is performed on the pixels of the addressed group. After the termination, the address operation is performed on the pixels of the other group, and the sustain period is also performed on the pixels of the other group that have already been previously addressed while the sustain period is performed on the pixels of one group. Mixing section; A correction period for selectively performing additional sustain periods for the pixels of each group to match the gradation degree that differs for each group by a sustain period performed differently for each group during the mixing period; And It includes a common period for performing a sustain period for a certain period in common for pixels belonging to all groups in order to satisfy a predetermined gradation degree, The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel. Divide the electrodes of the panel into a plurality of sub-panels and then divide the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, The process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each group of the sub-panels to have a predetermined gray level, Address periods and sustain periods are sequentially performed for pixels belonging to each group, a series of address periods and sustain periods for one group of pixels are performed, and then address periods for pixels of another group are performed. While the sustain period is performed for one group of pixels, the sustain period is also performed for the other group of pixels that have been previously addressed. If the predetermined gray level is achieved by the maintenance period performed so far for the other group, the idle state is maintained even if the maintenance period is performed in any one group. After performing both the address period and the sustain period up to the last group of pixels, an additional sustain period is selectively performed for the pixels of the group that do not satisfy the predetermined gray level, so as to match the predetermined gray level. The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel. Divide the electrodes of the panel into a plurality of sub-panels and then divide the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, The process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each group of each subpanel, When the scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes of the first group to perform the addressing operation, and the address operation to all scan electrodes of the first group is completed, the sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrodes to perform the sustain operation. When the sustain period for the first group is completed, the address operation and the sustain discharge operation are sequentially performed on the scan electrodes of the second group. From the first group to the last group, the address period and the sustain period are performed sequentially in time, The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel. Divide the electrodes of the panel into a plurality of sub-panels and then divide the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, The process of addressing and sustaining discharge the pixels belonging to each group of each subpanel, While performing an address period for one group of pixels, the other group of pixels are at rest, During the sustain period after the address period is performed for one group of pixels, the sustain period is selectively performed for the other group of pixels that have already been previously addressed. The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in another subpanel. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of scanlines assigned to each subpanel unit or the number of scanlines assigned to each group unit is such that they are the same or at least partially different from each other. Panel drive method. The panel driving method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one scan electrode is alternately assigned to each unit group in a scanning order. A panel driving apparatus for dividing electrodes of a panel into a plurality of sub-panels, and then dividing the electrodes of each sub-panel into a plurality of groups, and addressing and sustaining and discharging pixels belonging to the respective groups of the sub-panels. An address signal generator for generating an address signal for selectively addressing pixels that are turned on among pixels of the panel and a sustain signal generator for generating a sustain signal for sustaining discharge of the pixels addressed by the address signal generator; Signal synthesis unit having a; And A pixel driver configured to drive the pixels divided into the plurality of groups according to the signal of the signal synthesis unit for each group; The signal synthesis unit The address period and the sustain period are sequentially performed for the pixels belonging to each group, while the pixels of the other group are in the idle state while the address period is performed for the pixels of one group, While the sustain period is performed after the address period, the address signal and the sustain signal are generated to selectively perform the sustain period for the pixels of other groups that have already performed the address period. The address period and the sustain period for the electrodes belonging to each group of each subpanel are operated at the same timing as the electrodes belonging to the group corresponding to each group in the other subpanel. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal synthesis unit And a sustain signal for performing a sustain period in common for a predetermined period of time for all pixels in the group after performing all the address periods for the pixels in all the groups. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal synthesis unit And a sustain signal for selectively performing an additional sustain period for the pixels of each group so that the pixels of each group satisfy a predetermined gray level. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal synthesis unit As a result of performing the address period and the sustain period for the pixels of each group in turn, if the predetermined gray level is achieved by the sustain period performed so far for one group, the pixel of the group is performed even if the sustain period is performed in another group. Panel drive device, characterized in that to maintain the idle state. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1 on a computer.