KR20000015445A - Driving method of plasma display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A driving method of plasma display panel is provided to improve the discharge efficiency of plasma panel. CONSTITUTION: The driving method of plasma display panel comprise: a step 1 that generates address discharge with the injection of writing pulse, corresponding to image signal, to the first auxiliary anode line, after priming discharge is caused between cathode and auxiliary anode with the injection of scan pulse to the first cathode line; a step 2 that generates maintaining discharge, following the address discharge; a step 3 that repeatedly proceeds the step 1 and step 2 so as to correspond to the number of cathode line. Thereby, it is possible to generate a stable townsend pulse and to reduce a driving voltage of townsend pulse. In addition, it is possible to improve a discharge efficiency and a picture quality with the stable maintaining discharge.

Description

Driving Methods of Plasma Display Panel

The present invention relates to a plasma display device, and more particularly to a method of driving a plasma display panel.

Recently, Liquid Crystal Display (hereinafter referred to as "LCD"), Field Emission Display (hereinafter referred to as "FED") and Plasma Display Panel (hereinafter referred to as "PDP") Flat display devices such as PDP have been actively developed. Among them, PDP is easy to manufacture due to its simple structure, high brightness and high luminous efficiency, memory function, and has a wide viewing angle of 160 ° or more, and realizes a large screen of 40 inches or more. It has the advantage of being able to. On the other hand, the PDP is a display device that uses the discharge of Xe or Xe-Ne mixed gas enclosed in the discharge cell to display characters or graphics by using visible light generated by the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge of the gas excited the phosphor. do. Such PDPs are generally classified into AC type and DC type according to the electrode structure. The alternating current type discharges by applying an alternating current voltage between electrodes with a dielectric interposed therebetween, and the direct current type discharges by applying a direct current voltage between electrodes directly exposed to the encapsulation gas. In addition, the DC-type PDP is roughly divided into a Townsend method and a Yanggwangju method. Hereinafter, the Townsend method will be described.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a direct current type PDP cell structure using a townsend method according to the prior art.

The cell of the DC-type PDP using the townzen method is composed of a display cell 4 and an auxiliary discharge cell 2 formed at the lower end of the display cell. A cathode (hereinafter referred to as "K") and an auxiliary anode (hereinafter referred to as "S") are disposed on the lower substrate 10, and a display anode (hereinafter referred to as "A") is disposed on the upper substrate 10. "Is arranged. In addition, a current limiting resistor (not shown) is disposed on the cathode K to suppress the runaway of the discharge current and the sputtering of the cathode K, thereby greatly extending the life of the cell. Meanwhile, a partition wall is formed between the lower substrate 8 and the upper substrate 10 to divide each cell and form a discharge space like the auxiliary discharge cell 2 and the display cell 4. At this time, the phosphor 6 is coated on the partition walls on which the display cells 4 are formed. The structure of the panel formed using the cell is shown in FIG. The DC type PDP using the Townsend method has the anode lines A1, A2, ..., An and the cathode lines K1, K2, ..., Kn alternately arranged in the horizontal direction, and the auxiliary anodes arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Lines S1, S2, ..., Sm are provided. An auxiliary discharge cell 2 is formed at the intersection of the cathode lines K1, K2, ..., Kn and the auxiliary anode lines S1, S2, ..., Sm, and the cathode lines K1, K2, ..., Kn and The display cell 4 is formed between the anode lines A1, A2, ..., An. Referring to Figure 3 will be described with respect to the driving method of the DC-type PDP using the Townsend method. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a driving signal, which will be described by dividing into a prime discharge period, an address discharge period, and a town discharge period. First, the priming discharge is performed during the priming discharge period. When a scan pulse is applied to the cathode electrode K, a potential difference occurs between the cathode K and the auxiliary anode S, and a priming discharge occurs in the auxiliary discharge cell 2. In this case, space charge is formed in the auxiliary discharge cell 2 by priming discharge. Subsequently, during the address discharge period, the priming discharge is stopped and the space charge distributed in the auxiliary discharge cell 2 is transferred to the display cell 4. When a driving voltage having a negative voltage level is applied to the auxiliary anode S, the potential difference between the cathode K and the auxiliary anode S is reduced, so that the priming discharge is stopped. On the other hand, since the potential difference between the display anode A and the cathode K becomes large, the space charge moves to the display cell 4 and address discharge is performed. In addition, when a Townsend pulse is applied to the display anode A, a potential difference is generated between the display anode A and the cathode K, and the town discharge is generated in the display cell 4 to maintain the address discharge. However, since the DC-type PDP driving method using the Townsend method according to the related art has to generate a Townsend pulse having a high voltage and a narrow pulse width, it is difficult to generate a stable Townsend pulse and a problem that the discharge efficiency is deteriorated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving a plasma display panel which improves the discharge efficiency of the plasma display panel.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a townsend cell structure according to the prior art.

2 is a view showing the structure of a townsend panel according to the prior art.

3 is a timing diagram of a drive signal according to the prior art.

4 is a view showing the structure of a townsend panel according to the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining a PDP driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view illustrating a PDP driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view for explaining a PDP driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram for explaining a gray scale implementation method in the plasma display panel of the present invention;

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

2: auxiliary discharge cell 4,14: display cell

6: phosphor 8: lower substrate

10: upper substrate

In order to achieve the above object, a method of driving a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention may include applying a scan pulse to a first cathode line to generate a priming discharge between a cathode and an auxiliary anode, and then image an image on the first auxiliary anode line. A first step of causing an address discharge by applying a writing pulse corresponding to the signal, a second step of causing a sustain discharge following the address discharge, and a third step of repeatedly performing the first and second steps so as to correspond to the number of cathode lines Steps.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of driving a plasma display panel may include applying a scan pulse to a first cathode line to generate a priming discharge between the cathode and the auxiliary anode, and then corresponding to an image signal on the first auxiliary anode line. A first step of applying a writing pulse to cause an address discharge, a second step of repeatedly performing the first step to correspond to the number of cathode lines, and sequentially generating an address discharge to the cathode line, and then applying a Townsend pulse to the anode and the And separating and applying the negative electrode to the negative electrode to simultaneously generate a sustain discharge.

Other objects and features of the present invention other than the above object will become apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

4, there is shown the structure of a townsend panel according to the present invention. Town type panel according to the present invention is the anode line (A) and the cathode line (K1, K2, ..., Kn) alternately arranged in the horizontal direction, and the auxiliary anode line (S1, S2, …, Sm). An auxiliary discharge cell (not shown) is formed at the intersection of the cathode lines K1, K2, ..., Kn and the auxiliary anode lines S1, S2, ..., Sm, and the cathode lines K1, K2, ..., Kn. ) And the display cell 14 is formed between the anode line (A). In this case, since the anode line A is connected in common, the use of a high voltage driving integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as “IC”) for driving the same is excluded.

5 is a waveform of a driving signal for explaining a PDP driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The first scan pulse is applied to the first cathode line K1 to cause a priming discharge. (First Step) When a first scan pulse is applied to the first cathode line K1, a potential difference occurs between the cathode K and the auxiliary anode S, thereby priming discharge in an auxiliary discharge cell (not shown). This will happen. When a writing pulse corresponding to the image signal is applied to the first auxiliary anode line S1, the space charge moves to the display cell 14 to perform address discharge. (Second Step) When a writing pulse having a negative voltage is applied to the auxiliary positive electrode S, the potential difference between the negative electrode K and the auxiliary positive electrode S becomes small and the discharge is stopped. In this case, since the data driving IC is used for the auxiliary anode S, 0V is applied to Va for the line with data and -Va voltage is applied to Va for the dataless line to control the generation and stop of discharge. . At this time, since 0V is applied to the line having data and a writing pulse is applied to the anode A, an address discharge occurs due to a potential difference between the anode A and the cathode K, thereby addressing data. Following the address discharge, a sustain discharge is caused. (Step 3) A Townsend pulse is continuously applied to the anode A to cause a sustain discharge. Townsend pulses use high voltages, typically 200-300V, and the pulse widths are very small, such as 0.2 ms, making it difficult to generate these high and very narrow pulses. Accordingly, when a DC voltage having a predetermined level is applied to the cathode K during the sustain discharge to facilitate pulse generation and to perform a stable operation, the driving voltage of the Townsend pulse applied to the anode A can be lowered. do. On the other hand, since the cathode K is for scanning, a driving IC must be used to address data every moment. Accordingly, a portion of townsend pulses are generated at the cathode K, thereby eliminating the use of an additional driving unit. In addition, since the Townsend pulse is continuously applied at the anode A, the circuit IC can be simplified because the driving IC is not used separately. On the other hand, when the scan of the first cathode line K1 is finished, the scan of the second to nth cathode lines K2 to Kn is sequentially performed, and the sustain discharge is subsequently performed after the scan is completed. The first and second steps may be repeated to correspond to the number of cathode lines. (Fourth step) The first and second steps represent a process of driving one cathode line. The second to nth cathode lines K2 to Kn are sequentially driven to display an image corresponding to an image signal on the entire screen. Accordingly, the PDP driving method according to the first embodiment of the present invention generates a stable townsend pulse and lowers the driving voltage of the townsend pulse. In addition, the sustain discharge is stably performed to improve discharge efficiency and image quality.

6, a waveform of a driving signal for explaining a PDP driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Scan pulse is applied to the first cathode line K1 to cause priming discharge. (Step 11) When a scan pulse is applied to the first cathode K line, a potential difference is generated between the cathode K and the auxiliary anode S to cause the priming discharge in the auxiliary discharge cell (not shown). do. When a writing pulse corresponding to the image signal is applied to the auxiliary anode S, the space charge moves to the display cell 14 to cause an address discharge. (Step 12) When a writing pulse having a negative voltage is applied to the auxiliary positive electrode S, the potential difference between the negative electrode K and the auxiliary positive electrode S becomes small, so that discharge is stopped. In this case, since the data driving IC is used for the auxiliary anode S, 0V is applied to Va for the line with data and -Va voltage is applied to Va for the dataless line to control the generation and stop of discharge. . At this time, since 0V is applied to the line with data and a writing pulse is applied to the anode A, the discharge is performed by the potential difference between the anode A and the cathode K to address the data. On the other hand, when the address discharge of the first cathode line K1 is completed, the priming discharge and the address discharge of the second to nth cathode lines K2 to Kn are sequentially performed. In other words, this addressing action is performed to correspond to the number of lines. After the scanning of each line is completed, a town discharge pulse is separately applied to the anode A and the cathode K in each line to generate sustain discharge at the same time. (Step 13) Townend applied to the anode (A) when a negative voltage is applied to the cathode (K) negatively during the sustain discharge to facilitate the generation of the Townsend pulse and to perform a stable operation. The driving voltage of the pulse can be lowered. In addition, since the Townsend pulse is continuously applied at the anode A, the circuit IC can be simplified because the driving IC is not used separately. That is, the PDP driving method according to the second embodiment applies the ADS (Addressing Display Separated) method and sequentially scans each line, and then simultaneously performs sustain discharge of each line. Accordingly, the PDP driving method according to the second embodiment of the present invention generates a stable townsend pulse and lowers the driving voltage of the townsend pulse. In addition, the sustain discharge is stably performed to improve discharge efficiency and image quality.

Referring to FIG. 7, a waveform of a driving signal for explaining a PDP driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The first scan pulse is applied to the first cathode line K1 to cause a priming discharge. (Step 31) When the first scan pulse is applied to the first cathode line K1, a potential difference occurs between the cathode K and the auxiliary anode S, thereby priming discharge in the auxiliary discharge cell (not shown). This is done. When a writing pulse corresponding to the image signal is applied to the first auxiliary anode line S1, the space charge moves to the display cell 14 to cause an address discharge. (Step 32) When a writing pulse having a negative voltage is applied to the auxiliary positive electrode S, the potential difference between the negative electrode K and the auxiliary positive electrode S becomes small and the discharge is stopped. In this case, since the data driving IC is used for the auxiliary anode S, 0V is applied to Va for the line with data and -Va voltage is applied to Va for the dataless line to control the generation and stop of discharge. . At this time, since 0V is applied to the line with data and a writing pulse is applied to the anode A, an address discharge occurs due to the potential difference between the anode A and the cathode K, thereby addressing the data. A town discharge pulse is separately applied to the anode A and the cathode K to generate a sustain discharge. (Step 33) When a pulse having the same period and pulse width as the Townsend pulse and the opposite phase is applied to the cathode K during the sustain discharge to facilitate the generation of the Townsend pulse and to perform a stable operation, the anode ( It is possible to lower the driving voltage of the Townsend pulse applied to A). In addition, since the Townsend pulse is continuously applied at the anode A, the circuit IC can be simplified because the driving IC is not used separately. On the other hand, when the scan of the first cathode line K1 is finished, the scan of the second to nth cathode lines K2 to Kn is sequentially performed, and the sustain discharge is subsequently performed after the scan is completed.

The first and second steps are repeated to correspond to the number of the cathode lines. (Step 34) The steps 31 and 32 represent a process of driving one cathode line. The second to nth cathode lines K2 to Kn are sequentially driven to display an image corresponding to an image signal on the entire screen. Accordingly, the PDP driving method according to the third embodiment of the present invention generates a stable townsend pulse and lowers the driving voltage of the townsend pulse. In addition, the sustain discharge is stably performed to improve discharge efficiency and image quality.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a diagram for explaining a gray scale implementation method in the plasma display panel of the present invention. The PDP according to the present invention employs a method of realizing gradation by dividing one frame and combining the number of subfields as in the conventional AC PDP. That is, time division is performed for the same number of sub-fields (SF) as the number of bits of one frame, and the sustain discharge time is set differently for each subfield to determine the gray scale value corresponding to the sustain discharge period, and combine the gray scale values. By doing so, the gray level of one frame is realized. At this time, the AC-type PDP performs sustain discharge to maintain the discharge at the same time after scanning the screen, while the PDP according to the present invention performs sustain discharge to maintain the discharge in a linear order while scanning with a forward vehicle.

As described above, the driving method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention has the advantage of generating a stable townsend pulse and lowering the driving voltage of the townsend pulse.

In addition, the driving method of the plasma display panel according to the present invention has the advantage that the sustain discharge is performed stably to improve the discharge efficiency and image quality.

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 first step of applying a scan pulse to the first cathode line to generate a priming discharge between the cathode and the auxiliary anode, and then applying a writing pulse corresponding to the image signal to the first auxiliary anode line to cause an address discharge; A second step of causing sustain discharge following said address discharge; And a third step of repeating the first and second steps so as to correspond to the number of cathode lines. The method of claim 1, In the second step, And applying a negative DC voltage having a predetermined voltage level to the cathode and continuously applying a Townsend pulse to the anode to cause the sustain discharge. The method of claim 1, In the second step, A method of driving a plasma display panel characterized by continuously applying a townsend pulse to the anode and applying a pulse having the same period and width as the townsend pulse and having a reverse phase to the cathode. . A first step of applying a scan pulse to the first cathode line to generate a priming discharge between the cathode and the auxiliary anode, and then applying a writing pulse corresponding to the image signal to the first auxiliary anode line to cause an address discharge; A second step of repeatedly performing the first step so as to correspond to the number of cathode lines; And sequentially generating an address discharge on the cathode line, and then applying a Townsend pulse to the anode and the cathode to cause sustain discharge at the same time. The method of claim 4, wherein In the third step, And applying a negative DC voltage having a predetermined voltage level to the cathode and continuously applying a Townsend pulse to the anode to cause the sustain discharge.