KR100771604B1 - Apparatus and method for driving Plasma Display Panel - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a driving apparatus and a method of a plasma display panel. The apparatus divides the sustain period of each of the subfields included in each frame into a plurality of subsustainment periods, and is different for each subsustainment period but has the same width within each subsustainment period. And a sustain pulse supply unit for generating the same or a different number of sustain pulses for each sub sustain period, and an electrode driver for alternately supplying the generated sustain pulses to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode.

Plasma Display Panel, Sustain Pulse

Description

Apparatus and method for driving Plasma Display Panel}

1 is a diagram illustrating one frame including n subfields.

2 is a waveform diagram showing a width and a period of a conventional sustain pulse.

3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram for describing patterns in which sustain pulses are generated in any of the sustain periods shown in FIG. 1.

5A to 5C show exemplary waveform diagrams of sustain pulses generated in the sustain period of each subfield shown in FIG. 1.

6 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention of the sustain pulse supply unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an implementation example of each of the first, second, ..., and n-th tables shown in FIG. 6.

The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for driving a plasma display panel for generating a sustain pulse for sustain discharge in a plasma display panel.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a frame including n sub-fields (SF), wherein each sub-field SF includes a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. Divided by).

When an image is displayed on the plasma display panel, in order to express the gray level of the image, as shown in FIG. 1, one frame is driven by dividing the n subfields with different number of emission times. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the n subfields SF1, SF2, SF3,..., And SFn consists of a combination of a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. Each subfield has a sustain period corresponding to a weight of a predetermined gray level. Thus, a specific combination of subfields can be made to express the desired gradation.

Figure 2 is a waveform diagram showing the width (t _{_width sus)} and period (t _{sus _cycle)} of a conventional sustain pulse.

Sustain having a case of a drive system of a conventional plasma display panel, a certain period (t _{sus _cycle)} and width (t _{sus _width)} as shown in Figure 2 in the sustain period within one subfield in order to represent the gray level of the image A pulse is applied to two sustain electrode pairs, that is, a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, so that sustain discharge occurs. At this time, the brightness is determined according to the number of sustain pulses.

In recent years, as one of the important factors for determining the display image quality of plasma display panels, various attempts have been made to increase the contrast. As a representative example, a method of lowering black brightness or increasing peak brightness is provided. In the latter case, the sustain frequency is increased within a certain sustain period to increase the number of discharges, thereby increasing the peak brightness. However, since the sustain period per frame is limited, there is a limit to increasing the number of sustain pulses by increasing the frequency.

In addition, if the width of the pulse is reduced below a certain threshold in order to simply increase the number of sustain pulses, the discharge cannot be stably performed. Therefore, in order to increase the peak luminance at the same time as the stable discharge, a suitable compromise must be found between the aforementioned opposing conditions such as stable discharge and the minimum width, and the sustain cycle and the sustain width must be set by such compromise.

As a result, in the conventional plasma display panel driving method, since sustain discharge is generated by using sustain pulses having a constant width and a constant period, there is a limit to increasing the number of sustain pulses while achieving stable sustain discharge. . Therefore, there is a problem that there is a limit in increasing the peak brightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a plasma display panel driving apparatus and method capable of improving the peak luminance of a plasma display panel while achieving stable sustain discharge.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel, wherein each sustain period of each of the subfields included in each frame is divided into a plurality of subsustainment periods. An sustain pulse supply unit having the same width as each other in the sustain period and generating the same or different number of sustain pulses in each of the sub sustain periods, and an electrode alternately supplying the generated sustain pulses to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. It is preferable that it is comprised by a drive part.

Alternatively, the driving apparatus of the plasma display panel according to the present invention may include a sustain pulse supply unit for generating sustain pulses having different widths for each subfield but having the same width as each other, and the generated sustain pulses as scan electrodes and sustain electrodes. And a pulse width adjusting portion for adjusting the widths of the pulses in response to a result of checking whether the sustaining discharge is stably supplied in the sustain period and the sustain pulse supplying portion having the adjusted width. It is preferable to generate the sustain pulses and to check whether the sustain discharge is stable.

The driving method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to divide the sustain period of each of the sub-fields included in each frame into a plurality of sub-sustain periods, each sub-sustain period is different but Generating the same or different number of sustain pulses in each of the sub sustain periods, and alternately supplying the generated sustain pulses to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the sustain period. It is preferable.

Alternatively, the driving method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention may include generating sustain pulses having different widths for each subfield but having the same width in a single subfield, and generating the sustain pulses in the sustain period with the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. It is preferable to consist of the step of supplying alternately.

Hereinafter, a configuration and an operation of a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to the present invention and a method thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a driving apparatus for a plasma display panel according to the present invention, which is composed of a sustain pulse supply section 10, an electrode drive section 12, and a pulse width adjusting section 14.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 shown in FIG. 3 generates sustain pulses having different widths, and outputs the generated sustain pulses to the electrode driver 12.

At this time, the electrode driver 12 alternately generates sustain pulses having different widths in the sustain period of each of the subfields SB included in each frame as shown in FIG. 1 to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. Supply through output terminal OUT to make sustain discharge occur.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram for describing patterns in which sustain pulses are generated in any of the sustain periods shown in FIG. ₁ , and includes a plurality of patterns having different widths d ₁ , d _2, and d ₃ . Indicates sustain pulses.

For example, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 shown in FIG. 3 generates two sustain pulses having a width d ₁ at a time point 20 at which any sustain period starts, and at the time point at which the sustain period starts. At the next time point 22, two sustain pulses are generated having a width d ₂ less than the width d ₁ . At this time, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 generates three sustain pulses having a width d ₃ smaller than the width d ₂ at the next time point 24 of the time point 22.

As a result, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 shown in FIG. ₃ generates sustain pulses having different widths d ₁ , d _2, and d ₃ in the sustain period, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. The sustain pulses are output to the electrode driver 12.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, a pattern having a different width in the sustain period included in each of the subfields may be different for each subfield. If added, can be, if sustain pulses are also in the pattern shown in Figure 4 to played back, and the other subfield in the described sustain pulse width will change with different patterns shown in Fig. 4 are generated in any subfield. For example, for the other subfield, the sustain pulse supply 10 generates sustain pulses having a width d ₁ as shown in FIG. 4 in the period 20, and the width d in the period 22. _{It is possible} to generate sustain pulses with ₃ ), and to generate sustain pulses with width d ₂ in period 24.

According to the present invention, as shown in Fig. 4, the sustain pulse supply unit so that the width d ₁ of the sustain pulses generated first in each sustain period is larger than the width d ₂ or d ₃ of the sustain pulses generated later. 10 may generate sustain pulses. In particular, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 may generate a sustain pulse so that the width of the sustain pulse generated at the start of the sustain period is the largest among the widths of the sustain pulses included in each of the sustain periods shown in FIG. 1. have. This is because sustain discharge can stably occur when a sustain pulse having a wide width is generated at the start of the sustain period, that is, at the initial time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the duty of the sustain pulse may be set to 50%, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sustain pulse supply unit 10 may generate sustain pulses having various types of duty. .

According to the present invention, the driving apparatus of the plasma display panel illustrated in FIG. 3 may further include a pulse width adjusting unit 14. The pulse width adjusting unit 14 adjusts the widths of the sustain pulses in accordance with the result of checking whether the sustain discharge is stable, and outputs the adjusted pulse widths to the sustain pulse supply unit 10. To this end, the user checks whether the sustain discharge is stable and provides the inspected result to the pulse width adjusting unit 14. At this time, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 generates sustain pulses by reflecting the adjusted width input from the pulse width adjusting unit 14.

As a result, the user can adjust the width of the sustain pulse generated from the sustain pulse supply unit 10 while observing whether the sustain discharge occurs stably. Therefore, the pulse width adjusting unit 14 is used to minimize the sustain pulse width so that the sustain discharge can be stably generated and have the maximum peak luminance, so that the maximum number of sustain pulses can be generated from the sustain pulse supply unit 10. Can be.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 divides the sustain periods of each of the subfields included in each frame into a plurality of subsustainment periods, and in the divided subsustainment periods, The sustain pulses are generated and the generated sustain pulses are output to the electrode driver 12.

At this time, the electrode driver 12 supplies sustain pulses generated in different numbers to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode alternately through the output terminal OUT to cause sustain discharge.

5A to 5C show exemplary waveform diagrams of sustain pulses generated in the sustain period of each subfield shown in FIG. 1.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sustain pulse supply unit 10 generates sustain pulses having different widths in the single subfield but different for each subfield, and outputs the generated sustain pulses to the electrode driver 12. . For example, in the first, second and third subfields SF1, SF2 and SF3, the sustain pulse supply 10 may generate sustain pulses having different widths d ₁ , d ₂ and d ₃ . Can be. That is, sustain pulses having a width d ₁ are generated in the first subfield SF1 as shown in FIG. 5A, and as shown in FIG. 5B in the second subfield SF2. The sustain pulses having the same width d ₂ may be generated, and the sustain pulses having the width d ₃ as shown in FIG. 5C may be generated in the third subfield SF3. As such, in the single subfield SF1, SF2 or SF3, the same pulse width d ₁ , d ₂ or d _{3 is} provided, but the widths d ₁ , d ₂ and d ₃ of the sustain pulses are different for each subfield. different.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of embodiment 10A according to the present invention of the sustain pulse supply unit 10 shown in FIG. 3, wherein the first and second counters 30 and 32, the pulse controller 34, and the first , Second, ..., and p-th sustain pulse generators 36, 38, ..., and 40.

The first counter 30 counts the order of the subfields and outputs the counted result to the pulse controller 34. The second counter 32 starts counting in response to the result counted by the first counter 32, and outputs the counted result to the pulse controller 34.

The pulse controller 34 prepares tables having at least one combination of the width and the number of sustain pulses generated for each subfield, selects one of the tables in response to a result counted by the first counter 30, and selects the selected table. The first, second, ..., and p-th sustain pulse generators 36, 38, ..., and 40 are selected as the control signal from the combination stored in the combination corresponding to the counted result of the second counter 32. Will output To this end, the pulse controller 34 may be implemented with the first, second, ..., and n-th tables 50, 52, ..., and 54.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an implementation example of each of the first, second, ..., and n-th tables 50, 52, ..., and 54 shown in FIG. Or 54) is implemented by address, width and number.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the first, second,..., And n-th tables 50, 52,..., And 54 shown in FIG. 6 has at least a combination of width and number 60. Have one. That is, the width d ₁ and the number x _{1 form} a combination (d ₁ , x ₁ ) 60, and the width d ₂ and the number (x ₂ ) are the other combination (d ₂ , x _2). ), And the width (d ₃ ) and the number (x ₃ ) form another combination (d ₃ , x ₃ ) (60).

In the case of Fig. 7, there are r combinations. For example, the widths d ₁ , d ₂ and d ₃ and the numbers x ₁ , x ₂ and x are assigned to a table assigned to a subfield containing a sustain period in which sustain pulses as shown in FIG. 4 are generated. ₃ ) is stored. Here, the value of each of the numbers x ₁ and x ₂ is '2', and the value of the number x ₃ is '3'.

In addition, since the first counter 30 counts the sequence numbers of the subfields, the tables allocated to the subfields of the sequence number corresponding to the result counted by the first counter 30 are the first through the n-th tables 50 and 52. , ... and 54). That is, one of the tables may be selected in response to the result counted by the first counter 30.

The second counter 32 starts counting in response to the counting result in the first counter 30. This is to select one of the combinations provided by the selected table in response to the counted result at the first counter 30. That is, from among r combinations existing in the selected table, which combination 60 is to be selected is referred to the result counted by the second counter 32. For this purpose, the result counted in the second counter 32 is input as the address a ₁ , a ₂ ,... Or a _r of the selected table.

In this case, each of the first, second, ..., and n-th tables 50, 52, ..., and 54 shown in FIG. 6 may be implemented as a look up table (LUT). . Therefore, the combination corresponding to the address which is the result counted by the second counter 32 can be output from the table.

For better understanding of the present invention, it is assumed that sustain pulses occur as shown in FIG. 4 in the sustain period included in the third subfield. At this time, when the first counter 30 counts the sequence number '3' of the subfield, the table assigned to the third subfield is selected and the second counter 30 starts counting. That is, the second counter 30 starts counting at the time point 26 shown in FIG. The combination d ₁ , x ₁ is selected during the period 20 counted in the second counter 32, the combination d ₂ , x ₂ is selected during the counted period 22, and the counted period 24 ), The combination d ₃ , x ₃ is selected. The selected combination is output to the first, second, ... and p-th sustain pulse generators 36, 38, ... and 40 as a control signal.

The first, second, ... and p-th sustain pulse generators 36, 38, ..., and 40 are configured to transmit sustain pulses having a width corresponding to the control signal among the sustain pulses having different widths to the control signal. Occurs as many as the corresponding number. That is, if a combination d ₂ , x ₂ corresponding to the address a ₂ is generated as the control signal among the widths stored in the k (1 ≦ k ≦ n) tables 50, 52,. The sustain pulse generator for generating a sustain pulse having a width d ₂ among the first, second, ..., and p (r ≦ p) sustain pulse generators 36, 38, ..., and 40 is turned. The on and turned on sustain pulse generator generates x ₂ sustain pulses. For example, suppose that the sustain pulses having the widths d ₁ , d ₂ and d ₃ are respectively generated in the first, second and third sustain pulse generators. At this time, the first sustain pulse generator 36 may generate sustain pulses SUS3 having a width d ₁ in response to a control signal corresponding to the selected combination d ₁ , x ₁ output from the third table. Occurs by the number (x ₁ ).

As described above, the driving apparatus and method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention can stably generate a sustain discharge in a constant sustain period and generate a larger number of sustain pulses, resulting in stable discharge and brighter peak brightness than in the prior art. It has an effect that can be produced.

Claims (8)

The sustain period of each of the subfields included in each frame is divided into a plurality of subsustainment periods, which are different for each subsustainment period but have the same width within each subsustainment period, and for each subsustainment period. A sustain pulse supply for generating the same or different numbers of sustain pulses; And And an electrode driver for alternately supplying the generated sustain pulses to a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. A sustain pulse supply unit for generating sustain pulses different in subfields but having the same widths in a single subfield; An electrode driver configured to alternately supply the generated sustain pulses to a scan electrode and a sustain electrode in a sustain period; And And a pulse width adjusting portion for adjusting the widths of the pulses in accordance with a result of checking whether the sustain discharge is stable. And the sustain pulse supply unit generates the sustain pulses having the adjusted width, and is checked by a user whether the sustain discharge occurs stably. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein a width of the sustain pulses generated first in each of the sustain periods is larger than a width of the sustain pulses generated later. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sustain pulse has a duty of 50%. The driving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plasma display panel is driven. And a pulse width adjusting unit for adjusting the widths of the pulses in accordance with a result of checking whether the sustain discharge occurs stably. And the sustain pulse supply unit generates the sustain pulses having the adjusted width, and is checked by a user whether the sustain discharge occurs stably. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sustain pulse supply unit A first counter for counting the order of the subfields; A second counter that starts counting in response to a result counted by the first counter; Providing at least one table having at least one combination of the width and the number to generate the sustain pulse for each subfield, selecting one of the tables in response to a result counted by the first counter, and storing the selected table in the selected table A pulse controller which outputs a combination selected as a control signal corresponding to a result counted by the second counter among the combinations; And And a sustain pulse generator for generating sustain pulses having a width corresponding to the control signal among the sustain pulses having different widths, the number corresponding to the control signal. The sustain period of each of the subfields included in each frame is divided into a plurality of subsustainment periods, which are different for each subsustainment period but have the same width within each subsustainment period, and for each subsustainment period. Generating the same or different number of sustain pulses; And And alternately supplying the generated sustain pulses to a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. delete

Images