KR20040079133A - Plasma display panel drived with radio frequency signal and driving method and apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A high frequency plasma display panel and a method and an apparatus for driving the same are provided to reduce the number of elements including the photo coupler since it is driven by the data driving integrated circuit. CONSTITUTION: A method for driving a high frequency plasma display panel includes the steps of: supplying the data pulse to the data electrode line formed on the first substrate at an address period(APD); and alternatively supplying the first and the second triggering pulses to the scan electrode line and the sustain electrode line formed on the second substrate facing with the first substrate at the triggering/sustain period(SPD).

Description

High frequency plasma display panel, driving method and apparatus thereof {PLASMA DISPLAY PANEL DRIVED WITH RADIO FREQUENCY SIGNAL AND DRIVING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high frequency plasma display panel, and more particularly, to a high frequency plasma display panel capable of reducing manufacturing costs and a driving method and apparatus thereof.

Plasma Display Panel (hereinafter referred to as "PDP") is a display device in which ultraviolet light generated by gas discharge excites a phosphor to generate visible light from the phosphor. PDP has advantages such as thin, light, high-definition large screen and wide viewing angle compared to cathode ray tube (CRT), which has been the dominant display device. In recent years, research has been actively conducted on a radio frequency (“RF”) PDP, which can significantly improve discharge efficiency and brightness compared to an AC surface discharge PDP. In the RF PDP, electrons vibrating in the discharge space of the discharge cell by the high frequency signal continuously ionize the discharge gas, thereby causing continuous discharge for most of the discharge time.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional RF PDP having three electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional RF PDP having three electrodes includes a lower substrate 12 on which a data electrode 14 and a scan electrode 16 are formed, and an upper substrate 10 on which a high frequency electrode 20 is formed.

The high frequency electrode 20 is formed on the upper substrate 10 in parallel with the scan electrode 16. The high frequency electrode 20 is commonly connected to each scan electrode 16 so that a high frequency signal is applied in common. An upper dielectric layer (not shown) is formed on the upper substrate 10 on which the high frequency electrode 20 is formed. This upper dielectric layer accumulates wall charges during sustain discharge.

The data electrode 14 and the scan electrode 16 are formed to cross each other on the lower substrate 12, and the scan electrode 16 is formed in parallel with the high frequency electrode 20. The first lower dielectric layer 18 and the second lower dielectric layer (not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 12 on which these 14 and 16 are formed. The first dielectric layer 18 insulates the data electrode 14 and the scan electrode 16, and the second dielectric layer accumulates wall charges during sustain discharge.

A partition wall 22 for dividing the discharge cells is formed between the upper substrate 10 and the lower substrate 12. On the surface of the partition wall 22, a phosphor 24 for generating red, green or blue visible light is applied. Discharge gas is injected into the discharge space 26 provided by the upper substrate 10, the lower substrate 12, and the partition wall 22.

The driving method of the RF PDP is divided into a reset period, an address period, and a triggering / sustaining period.

During the address period, the data pulse is supplied to the data electrode 14 and the scan pulse is supplied to the scan electrode 16 to generate an address discharge for cell selection between the data electrode 14 and the scan electrode 16.

In the triggering / sustaining period, electrons having high mobility among the charged particles generated in the discharge space of the selected discharge cell are induced by the high frequency signal supplied to the high frequency electrode 20 to continuously generate sustain discharge. The high frequency signal with alternating polarity generates an electric field with alternating up and down directions in the discharge space 26. The electrons in the discharge space 26 vibrate up and down by this electric field.

Meanwhile, since the scan electrode 16 serves as a ground electrode for the high frequency signal during the triggering / sustaining period, the electrons in the discharge space 26 are scanned in the high frequency electrode 20 and the lower substrate 12 in the upper substrate 10. There is a vibration movement up and down between the electrodes (16). The vibrating electrons excite the discharge gas charged in the discharge space 26 continuously and cause discharge.

Since the scan electrodes 16 of the conventional RF PDP are supplied with different driving pulses in the address period and the triggering / sustaining period, there is a problem in that electrical mutual interference occurs in the two periods. That is, the high frequency signal applied to the discharge cell affects the scan driver supplying the scan pulse through the scan electrode 16 so that the RF PDP is affected by the high frequency signal during the address period.

In order to solve this problem, a four-electrode RF PDP having a high frequency base electrode is proposed as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, a discharge cell of a conventional four-electrode RF PDP includes a high frequency electrode 20, a high frequency base electrode 8, and a high frequency electrode formed in the partitions 22 facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell. 20 and the data electrode 14 formed on the lower substrate 12 in parallel with the high frequency base electrode 8, and the scan electrode 16 formed on the lower substrate 12 to cross the data electrode 14. It is provided.

The data electrode 14 and the scan electrode 16 are formed to cross each other on the lower substrate 12, and the scan electrode 16 is formed in parallel with the high frequency electrode 20. First and second lower dielectric layers 18 and 28 are formed on the lower substrate 12 on which these 14 and 16 are formed. The first dielectric layer 18 serves to insulate the data electrode 14 and the scan electrode 16, and the second dielectric layer 28 accumulates wall charges during sustain discharge.

A partition wall 22 for dividing the discharge cells is formed between the upper substrate 10 and the lower substrate 12. In the partition 22, a high frequency electrode 20 and a high frequency base electrode 8 which are positioned in a direction parallel to the data electrode 14 are formed.

Phosphors 24 for generating visible light of red, green, or blue color are coated on the surfaces of the barrier ribs 22 and the upper substrate 10. Discharge gas is injected into the discharge space provided by the upper substrate 10, the lower substrate 12, and the partition wall 22.

Meanwhile, since the distance between the high frequency electrode 20 and the high frequency base electrode 8 of the four-electrode RF PDP is similar to the height of the partition wall of the three-electrode RF PDP, the thickness of the four-electrode RF PDP can be relatively reduced.

3 is a view showing a driving device of a four-electrode RF PDP, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a driving method of a four-electrode RF PDP.

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving apparatus of the four-electrode RF PDP includes an RF PDP 30, a scan driver 34 for driving the scan electrode line Y, and a high frequency for driving the high frequency electrode line R. A driver 36 and a data driver 32 for driving the data electrode line X are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data driver 32 includes a data driver integrated circuit 42 which generates a drive signal supplied to the data electrode line X, and a data driver. A photocoupler 40 is connected to the input terminal of the IC 42.

The data driver ICs 42 supply the signal pulse generated by the power supply unit (not shown) to the data electrode line X in response to the control signal generated by the timing controller (not shown).

The photo coupler 40 is used in connection with the input terminal of the data driving ICs 42 to prevent the malfunction of the data driving ICs 42. When the triggering pulse is supplied to the data electrode lines X for sustain discharge in the triggering / sustain period, the data driving IC 42 is affected by the data driving input signals of 0 to 5V by the triggering pulse of about 0 to 250V. Will not work. As a result, the input terminals of the data driver ICs 42 are not affected by the triggering pulse of about 0 to 250V using the photo coupler 40.

Using this driving device, the four-electrode RF PDP is driven by being divided into a reset period (RPD), an address period (APD), and a triggering / sustain period (SPD) as shown in FIG.

In the reset period RPD, the first and second reset pulses RP1 and RP2 generated by the scan driver are supplied to the scan electrode line Y. That is, by applying an integrated waveform first reset pulse RP1 to the scan electrode line Y, wall charges are accumulated in the discharge cell, and a second reset pulse RP2 of integrated waveform is applied to the wall charge in the discharge cell. By erasing all the discharge cells are initialized.

In the address period APD, the scan pulse SP is generated in the scan driver gas can electrode line Y, and the data pulse DP generated in the data driver is supplied to the data electrode line X. That is, the negative scan pulse SP is applied to the scan electrode line Y and the data pulse DP synchronized with the scan pulse SP is supplied to the data electrode line X. At this time, discharge is selectively generated in discharge cells to which the data pulse DP is applied in synchronization with the scan pulse SP. In this process, charged particles are generated in the discharge space of the selected discharge cell, and wall charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer.

In the triggering / sustain period SPD, the first triggering pulse TP1 generated by the scan driver is supplied to the scan electrode line Y, and the second triggering pulse TP2 generated by the data driver is the data electrode line X. Supplied to. In addition, the high frequency signal Rf generated by the high frequency driver is supplied to the high frequency electrode line R. That is, in the triggering / sustain period SPD, electrons having relatively high mobility among the charged particles generated in the discharge space are induced by the high frequency signal supplied to the high frequency electrode line R to continuously generate the sustain discharge. At this time, the first and second triggering pulses TP1 and TP2 for starting the high frequency sustain discharge are alternately applied to the scan electrode line Y and the data electrode line X. This is because even when the high frequency signal Rf is applied to the high frequency electrode line R, the level of the high frequency signal Rf is not large enough to initiate a discharge in the addressed discharge cell, so that a high frequency discharge cannot be generated by itself. Accordingly, the first and second triggering pulses TP1 and TP2 are signals for inducing full-scale high frequency discharge. Here, triggering / sustaining discharge occurs between the high frequency electrode line R and the high frequency base electrode line (not shown) that face in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell. The high frequency signal Rf whose alternating polarity alternates generates an electric field in which the direction alternates in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell in the discharge space. Accordingly, the electrons in the discharge space vibrate in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell by the electric field, unlike in the conventional structure. The vibrating electrons excite the discharge gas charged in the discharge space continuously and cause discharge. The ultraviolet light generated in the discharge space during the discharge excites the phosphor coated on the inner wall of the partition and a portion of the upper substrate, thereby generating visible light, thereby realizing an image of the PDP.

The photocoupler 40 mounted in the data driver 32 of the conventional RF PDP is required as many as the number of input lines of the data driver IC 42. For example, if there are six input lines of the data driving IC 42 mounted on the data driver 32 based on a 20-inch screen, a total of 60 photocouplers 40 are required. Furthermore, as the RF PDP becomes larger, more and more photocouplers 40 are required. Accordingly, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the RF PDP increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for driving a plasma display panel which can reduce manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a plasma display panel using a conventional three-electrode high frequency wave.

2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional plasma display panel using a four-electrode high frequency wave.

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a driving apparatus for driving the plasma display panel shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a view illustrating in detail the data driver illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a method of driving the plasma display panel shown in FIG. 2.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a plasma display panel using a high frequency according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a driving apparatus for driving a plasma display panel using high frequency shown in FIG. 6.

8 is a view showing in detail the sustain drive unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating in detail a data driver illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a waveform diagram illustrating a method of driving a plasma display panel using high frequency shown in FIG. 6.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

10,60: upper substrate 12,62: lower substrate

14,64 data electrode 16,66 scan electrode

18,28,68,78,94: Dielectric layer 20,70: High frequency electrode

22,72: bulkhead 24,74: phosphor

30,80: High Frequency Plasma Display Panel

32,82: data driver 34,84: scan driver

36,86: high frequency drive part 40: photo coupler

96: sustain electrode 98: sustain drive unit

In order to achieve the above object, a method of driving a high frequency plasma display panel according to the present invention includes a method of driving a plasma display panel which is divided into a reset period, an address period and a triggering / sustaining period; Supplying a data pulse to a data electrode line formed on a first substrate during the address period; And alternately supplying first and second triggering pulses to scan electrode lines and sustain electrode lines formed on the second substrate facing the first substrate during the triggering / sustaining period.

The driving method of the high frequency plasma display panel may further include supplying first and second reset pulses to the scan electrode lines during the reset period.

The driving method of the high frequency plasma display panel further comprises supplying a DC voltage signal to the sustain electrode line during the address period and simultaneously supplying a scan pulse to the scan electrode line in synchronization with the data pulse. do.

The DC voltage signal may have the same voltage level as the second triggering pulse.

The driving method of the high frequency plasma display panel may further include supplying a high frequency signal to the high frequency electrode line during the triggering / sustaining period.

In order to achieve the above object, a driving apparatus of a high frequency plasma display panel according to the present invention includes: a high frequency plasma display panel having a plurality of electrode lines; a reset pulse for a reset period and a scan pulse for an address period for a scan electrode line of the panel; A scan driver for supplying a first triggering pulse during the triggering / sustaining period; A data driver for supplying a data pulse synchronized with the scan pulse to a data electrode of the panel during the address period; A high frequency driver supplying a high frequency signal to the high frequency electrode of the panel during the triggering / sustaining period; And a sustain driver for supplying a second triggering pulse to the sustain electrode of the panel during the triggering / sustaining period.

The data driver is characterized by consisting of a data driving integrated circuit.

The sustain driver comprises: a first switching element disposed between the sustain electrode line and a sustain voltage source; And a second switching device disposed between the sustain electrode line and the base voltage source.

The sustain driver is configured to supply a DC voltage signal to the sustain electrode during the address period.

In order to achieve the above object, the high-frequency plasma display panel according to the present invention comprises a data electrode formed on the upper substrate; A scan electrode formed on the lower substrate facing the upper substrate to cross the data electrode; First and second high frequency electrodes formed in the partition wall positioned between the upper substrate and the lower substrate in parallel with the data electrodes; And a sustain electrode formed on the lower substrate in parallel with the scan electrode.

The high frequency plasma display panel includes an upper dielectric layer formed on an upper substrate on which the data electrodes are formed; A first lower dielectric layer formed between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode; A second lower dielectric layer formed to cover the scan electrode; It characterized in that it further comprises a phosphor formed on the upper dielectric layer and the partition wall.

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

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

6 is a view showing a discharge cell of the RF PDP according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the RF PDP according to the present invention includes an upper substrate 60 on which the data electrode 64 is formed, a lower substrate 62 on which the scan electrode 66 and the sustain electrode 96 are formed, and a high frequency electrode ( 70 and a partition wall 72 in which the high frequency base electrode 58 is incorporated.

The data electrode 64 is formed on the upper substrate 60 to cross at least one of the scan electrode 66 and the sustain electrode 96. An upper dielectric layer 94 is formed on the upper substrate 60 on which the data electrodes 64 are formed to accumulate wall charges during sustain discharge.

The scan electrode 66 and the sustain electrode 96 are formed on the lower substrate 62 with a predetermined interval in the same direction. At least one of the scan electrode 66 and the sustain electrode 96 is formed to cross the data electrode 64. First and second lower dielectric layers 68 and 78 are formed on the lower substrate 62 on which the 66 and 96 are formed. The first dielectric layer 68 insulates the sustain electrode 96 and the scan electrode 66, and the second dielectric layer 78 accumulates wall charges during the sustain discharge.

A partition wall 72 for dividing the discharge cells is formed between the upper substrate 60 and the lower substrate 62. In the partition 72, a high frequency electrode 70 and a high frequency base electrode 58 which are positioned in parallel with the data electrode 64 are formed.

On the surfaces of the partition wall 72 and the upper substrate 60, a phosphor 74 is formed to generate visible light of red, green, or blue color. Discharge gas is injected into the discharge space provided by the upper substrate 60, the lower substrate 62, and the partition wall 72.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a driving device for driving the RF PDP shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, the driving apparatus of the RF PDP according to the present invention includes a data electrode line X, a scan electrode line Y, a high frequency electrode line R, a high frequency base electrode line G, and a sustain electrode line Z. RF PDP 80 formed therein, a data driver 82 for driving the data electrode line X, a scan driver 84 for driving the scan electrode line Y, and a high frequency electrode line R And a high frequency driver 86 for driving the sustain electrode and a sustain driver 98 for driving the sustain electrode line Z.

The scan driver 84 supplies the first and second reset pulses to the scan electrode line Y during the reset period, supplies the scan pulses to the scan electrode line Y during the address period, and scans during the triggering / discharge sustain period. The first triggering pulse is supplied to the electrode line Y.

The high frequency driver 86 supplies a high frequency signal to the high frequency electrode line R during the triggering / sustaining period. Meanwhile, the base level signal of the high frequency signal applied to the high frequency electrode line R is continuously applied to the high frequency base electrode line G.

The sustain driver 98 supplies the second triggering pulse to the sustain electrode line Z during the triggering / discharging period.

As shown in FIG. 8, the sustain driver 98 includes a first switching element T1 disposed between the sustain voltage source Vs and the sustain electrode line Z, and the ground voltage source GND and the sustain electrode line Z. As shown in FIG. And a second switching element T2 provided between the two electrodes.

The first and second switching elements T1 and T2 are formed of, for example, field effect transistors (FETs).

The first switching element T1 is turned on by the first control signal S1 generated by the timing controller (not shown) to connect the sustain electrode line Z to the sustain voltage source Vs. That is, when the first switching device T1 is turned on, the second triggering pulse TP2 is supplied to the sustain electrode line Z. The second switching element T2 is turned on by the second control signal S2 generated by the timing controller to connect the sustain electrode line Z to the ground voltage source GND. That is, when the second switching device T2 is turned on, the sustain electrode line Z is initialized.

The data driver 82 supplies the data pulse DP to the data electrode line X during the address period. Since the data driver 82 generates the second triggering pulse TP2 necessary for the triggering / triggering / sustaining period in the sustain driver 98, only the data pulse DP to be supplied to the data electrode line X is generated. Accordingly, since the data driver 82 does not have to form a photocoupler positioned at the input of the data driver IC 88 as shown in FIG. 9, the number of parts can be reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

The driving method of the RF PDP is divided into a reset period RPD, an address period APD, and a triggering / sustain period SPD as shown in FIG. 10.

In the reset period RPD, the integrated waveform first reset pulse RP1 is applied to the scan electrode line Y to accumulate wall charges in the discharge cell, and the second reset pulse RP2 of the integrated waveform is applied to the discharge cell. The wall charges in the inside are erased in an appropriate amount so that the wall charges are reduced to assist the next address discharge without causing an erroneous discharge. In order to reduce the wall charge, a positive DC voltage Vd is supplied to the sustain electrode line Z when the second reset pulse RP2 is applied. Since the second reset pulse RP2 is gradually reduced with respect to the positive DC voltage Vd, the scan electrode line Y is negative relative to the sustain electrode line Z. As a result, the polarities are reversed, thereby reducing wall charges generated when the first reset pulse RP1 is applied.

In the address period APD, a negative scan pulse SP is applied to the scan electrode line Y, and a data pulse DP synchronized with the scan pulse SP is applied to the data electrode line X. do. At this time, discharge is selectively generated in discharge cells to which the data pulse DP is applied in synchronization with the scan pulse SP. Charged particles are generated in the discharge space of the selected discharge cell, and wall charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer. The stored wall charges lower the discharge voltage during triggering / sustain discharge.

In the triggering / sustain period SPD, first and second triggering pulses TP1 and TP2 are alternately supplied to the scan electrode line Y and the sustain electrode line Z. At the same time, the high frequency signal Rf is supplied to the high frequency electrode line R.

That is, in the triggering / sustain period SPD, relatively high mobility electrons of charged particles generated in the discharge space are induced by the high frequency signal Rf supplied to the high frequency electrode line R to continuously generate sustain discharge. . At this time, the first and second triggering pulses TP1 and TP2 for starting the high frequency sustain discharge are alternately applied to the scan electrode line Y and the sustain electrode line Z. This is because even when the high frequency signal Rf is applied to the high frequency electrode line R, the level of the high frequency signal Rf is not large enough to initiate a discharge in the addressed discharge cell, so that a high frequency discharge cannot be generated by itself. Accordingly, the first and second triggering pulses TP1 and TP2 are signals for inducing full-scale high frequency discharge. Here, triggering / sustaining discharge occurs between the high frequency electrode line R and the high frequency base electrode line (not shown) that face in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell. The high frequency signal Rf whose alternating polarity alternates generates an electric field in which the direction alternates in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell in the discharge space. Accordingly, the electrons in the discharge space vibrate in the longitudinal direction of the discharge cell by the electric field, unlike in the conventional structure. The vibrating electrons excite the discharge gas charged in the discharge space continuously and cause discharge. The ultraviolet light generated in the discharge space during the discharge excites the phosphor coated on the inner wall of the partition and a portion of the upper substrate, thereby generating visible light, thereby realizing an image of the PDP.

Meanwhile, the RF PDP according to the present invention can be driven not only in the subfield method but also in the subframe method.

As described above, the plasma display panel according to the present invention and its driving method and apparatus generate a triggering pulse in the sustain driver and supply it to the sustain electrode. The data driver generates data pulses using only a data driver integrated circuit without a photocoupler unit separately formed at an input terminal. Accordingly, since the data driver is driven by the data driver integrated circuit without the photocoupler, the number of parts including the photocoupler can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

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 (11)

A driving method of a plasma display panel which is driven by being divided into a reset period, an address period, and a triggering / sustaining period; Supplying a data pulse to a data electrode line formed on a first substrate during the address period; And alternately supplying first and second triggering pulses to the scan electrode lines and the sustain electrode lines formed on the second substrate facing the first substrate during the triggering / sustaining period. How to drive the display panel. The method of claim 1, And supplying first and second reset pulses to the scan electrode lines during the reset period. The method of claim 1, And supplying a scan pulse to the scan electrode line in synchronization with the data pulse while supplying a DC voltage signal to the sustain electrode line during the address period. The method of claim 3, wherein And the DC voltage signal has the same voltage level as the second triggering pulse. The method of claim 1, And supplying a high frequency signal to the high frequency electrode line during the triggering / sustaining period. A high frequency plasma display panel having a plurality of electrode lines; A scan driver for supplying a reset pulse for a reset period, a scan pulse for an address period, and a first triggering pulse for a triggering / sustaining period to a scan electrode line of the panel; A data driver for supplying a data pulse synchronized with the scan pulse to a data electrode of the panel during the address period; A high frequency driver supplying a high frequency signal to the high frequency electrode of the panel during the triggering / sustaining period; And a sustain driver for supplying a second triggering pulse to the sustain electrode of the panel during the triggering / sustaining period. The method of claim 6, And the data driver comprises a data driver integrated circuit. The method of claim 6, The sustain drive unit A first switching element disposed between the sustain electrode line and a sustain voltage source; And a second switching element disposed between the sustain electrode line and the ground voltage source. The method of claim 6, And the sustain driver supplies a DC voltage signal to the sustain electrode during the address period. A data electrode formed on the upper substrate; A scan electrode formed on the lower substrate facing the upper substrate to cross the data electrode; First and second high frequency electrodes formed in the partition wall positioned between the upper substrate and the lower substrate in parallel with the data electrodes; And a sustain electrode formed on the lower substrate in parallel with the scan electrode. The method of claim 10, An upper dielectric layer formed on the upper substrate on which the data electrodes are formed; A first lower dielectric layer formed between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode; A second lower dielectric layer formed to cover the scan electrode; And a phosphor formed on the upper dielectric layer and the partition wall.