KR20070003444A - The plasma display panel and method of manufacturing thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A plasma display panel and a method for manufacturing the same are provided to reduce a manufacturing cost by forming a scan electrode and a sustain electrode only with metal electrodes. A scan electrode and a sustain electrode are mounted by forming a discharge starting part for generating initial discharge and a discharge diffusion part for diffusing the discharge to the entire area by using the initial discharge on a glass substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on the glass substrate. The scan electrode and the sustain electrode are formed with a symmetrical structure. The scan electrode and the sustain electrode are formed with an H-shaped structure or a U-shaped structure.

Description

Plasma Display Panel and Method of Manufacturing

1 is a view showing the structure of a typical plasma display panel.

2 is a process diagram sequentially showing a front panel manufacturing process according to an embodiment of a conventional plasma display panel.

3 is a plan view of a discharge cell having a fence-type electrode structure;

4 is a view for explaining a discharge region between electrodes.

5 is a plan view of a discharge cell having a fence-type electrode structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a plan view of a discharge cell having another fence-type electrode structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 schematically illustrates a differential dielectric layer of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 schematically illustrates a differential dielectric layer of another plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a process diagram sequentially illustrating a front panel manufacturing process of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a front panel manufacturing process of another plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a plasma display panel and a method of manufacturing the improved electrode structure and dielectric layer of the plasma display front panel.

In general, a plasma display panel is a partition wall formed between a front panel and a rear panel to form one unit cell, and each cell includes neon (Ne), helium (He), or a mixture of neon and helium (Ne + He). An inert gas containing a main discharge gas such as and a small amount of xenon is filled. When discharged by a high frequency voltage, the inert gas generates vacuum ultraviolet rays and emits phosphors formed between the partition walls to realize an image. Such a plasma display panel has a spotlight as a next generation display device because of its thin and light configuration.

1 illustrates a structure of a general plasma display panel.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plasma display panel includes a front panel in which a plurality of sustain electrode pairs formed by pairing a scan electrode 102 and a sustain electrode 103 are arranged on a front glass 101 that is a display surface on which an image is displayed. The rear panel 110 in which the plurality of address electrodes 113 are arranged so as to intersect the plurality of sustain electrode pairs on the back glass 111 forming the back surface 100 and the rear surface is coupled in parallel with a predetermined distance therebetween. .

The front panel 100 is a bus made of a metallic material and a scan electrode 102 and a sustain electrode 103, that is, a transparent electrode a made of a transparent material and for mutual discharge in one discharge cell and maintaining light emission of the cell. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 provided as the electrodes b are included in pairs. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 are covered by a dielectric layer 104 which limits the discharge current and insulates the electrode pairs, and the upper surface of the upper dielectric layer 104 is made of magnesium oxide to facilitate discharge conditions. A protective layer 105 on which MgO) is deposited is formed.

The rear panel 110 has an address electrode 113 arranged in a direction crossing the scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 arranged in parallel on the front glass 101 on the rear glass 111. The lower dielectric layer 115 is formed on the electrode 113. In addition, a partition wall 112 is formed on the lower dielectric layer 115 to partition the discharge cells, and a phosphor layer 114 is applied to the discharge cell space to discharge R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Visible light having any one color is generated.

Here, the manufacturing process of the front panel in the conventional method of manufacturing a plasma display panel is as shown in FIG.

2 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a front panel manufacturing process of a conventional plasma display panel.

As shown in FIG. 2, in step (a), a transparent electrode 201 of indium tin oxide (ITO) material including indium oxide and tin oxide is formed on the front glass 200.

Looking at an example of the method of forming the transparent electrode 201, by laminating a dry film photoresist on the transparent electrode film formed of ITO material exposed to a pattern of a photo mask formed with a predetermined pattern, the development and Through the etching process, the scan transparent electrode 201a and the sustain transparent electrode 201b are formed.

Thereafter, in step (b), after printing the black paste for forming the black layer 202 on the front glass 200 on which the scanning transparent electrode 201a and the sustain transparent electrode 201b are formed, about 120 It is dried to about ° C, and in step (c), a photo mask 205 having a predetermined pattern is formed on the dried black paste and irradiated with ultraviolet rays to dry it. This process is called photolithography.

In the step (d) on the black layer 202 subjected to the exposure process, silver (Ag) paste is coated and printed to form the bus electrodes 203a and 203b, followed by drying.

Thereafter, in step (e), the photomask 206 having a predetermined pattern is placed on the coated silver (Ag) paste and exposed. After the exposure process, in step (f), the uncured portion is developed and then fired for about 3 hours in a firing furnace (not shown) of about 550 ° C. or higher to scan the bus electrode 203a and the sustain bus electrode. 203b is formed.

Thereafter, an upper dielectric layer 207 is formed on the front glass 200 on which the scan electrodes 201a and 203a and the sustain electrodes 201b and 203b are formed in step (g). An example of a method of forming the upper dielectric layer 207 will be described. After applying and drying the dielectric glass paste, the upper dielectric layer is formed by baking at a temperature of about 500 ° C to 600 ° C.

Finally, in step (h), a protective film 208 made of magnesium oxide (MgO) is formed on the surface of the upper dielectric layer 207 by CVD, ion plating, or vacuum deposition to form a front panel of the plasma display panel. This is done.

Since such a general plasma display panel and a method of manufacturing the same include expensive transparent electrodes, manufacturing costs increase. In order to solve this problem, a fence type electrode structure without using a transparent electrode has been proposed.

3 is a plan view of a discharge cell having a conventional fence type electrode structure. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge cell 310 having a fence type electrode structure does not form an expensive transparent electrode on a front substrate (not shown), and includes an upper discharge diffusion part 320 made of only a metal electrode. And a lower discharge spreader 340 are formed, and a partition wall 330 is formed on the rear substrate (not shown) to partition the discharge cells 310.

In this case, the upper discharge spreader 320 and the lower discharge spreader 340 are provided with three discharge units 320a and 340a and two connection discharge units 320b and 340b, respectively. The discharge gap 350 is formed between the 320 and the lower discharge spreader 340 and connected to the connection discharge units 320b and 340b to diffuse the discharge. In other words, since the transparent electrode having a large effective area with the discharge space is not formed, the upper discharge spreader 320 and the lower discharge diffuser 340 are formed to compensate for the effective area with the discharge space.

However, the discharge cell of the fence-type electrode structure has a problem that the opacity of the upper discharge spreader and the lower discharge spreader occupy a large area in the discharge space in the discharge cell, thereby reducing the aperture ratio during discharge. In addition, since the effective area is formed narrower than that of the transparent electrode, there is a limit in efficiently discharging the discharge.

As a result, the luminance decreases and the discharge start voltage for starting the discharge increases during driving, which causes a problem of low discharge efficiency. In addition, since the distance d between the upper discharge spreader and the lower discharge spreader is too small in the discharge cell, only the negative glow area of the discharge area is used during the driving. Here, the discharge region described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

4 is a diagram for explaining a discharge region between electrodes.

In FIG. 4, when voltages are respectively applied to the cathode and the anode, secondary electrons generated and emitted by the cathode collision of ions are accelerated by an electric field and collide with new particles by collision with neutral particles. Will be generated. Secondary electrons are accelerated more strongly in the negative glow region where the magnitude of the electric field is larger as the voltage changes. The electrons generated as a collision continue to obtain energy in the state of ionization, and reach the positive column region. In the positive region, energy is no longer obtained, and energy is transmitted to the neutral particles through the collision. In this process, the excited particles fall to the ground and generate visible and vacuum ultraviolet rays.

Of these discharge areas, the positive light main area emits light by exciting gas only with electrons high in the whole, not energy by an electric field. In addition, in the positive light main region, ionization hardly occurs and a lot of light emission due to excitation is generated, so that energy is converted into light as a whole.

Accordingly, when the distance between the upper discharge spreader and the lower discharge spreader is reduced in the discharge cell of the plasma display panel, the size of the sub glow area is not largely changed while the size of the positive light main area is relatively reduced. Therefore, a problem arises in that the light emission luminance of the plasma display panel is lowered.

Therefore, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to adopt a long discharge gap (Long Gap) to ensure high efficiency, and the problem of rising discharge voltage at this time to provide a plasma display panel that can use a short discharge gap (Short Gap) will be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel.

Technical problems to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. Could be.

A plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the technical problem is provided with a discharge ignition for generating an initial discharge on a glass substrate and a discharge diffusion unit for diffusing to the whole during the discharge by using the initial discharge. And a dielectric layer formed on the glass substrate, including the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, the scan electrode, and the sustain electrode.

The scan electrode and the sustain electrode may be symmetrical to each other.

In addition, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is characterized in that formed in the 'H' shape.

In addition, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is characterized in that formed in a 'U' shape.

In addition, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is characterized in that formed only of a metal electrode.

The upper discharge ignition unit and the lower discharge ignition unit may be positioned above the partition wall.

In addition, the interval between the upper discharge ignition unit and the lower discharge ignition unit is characterized in that 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less.

The interval between the upper discharge spreader and the lower discharge spreader may be 150 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

In addition, the line width of the metal electrode is characterized in that more than 20 ㎛ 70 ㎛.

In addition, the dielectric layer is characterized in that it is formed with a differential thickness so that the dielectric layer of the discharge region portion causing the initial discharge is thin.

In addition, the dielectric layer formed in the differential thickness is characterized in that formed in the groove shape.

In addition, an auxiliary dielectric layer having a relatively high dielectric constant relative to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is formed on the thinly formed dielectric layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel, including: (a) forming a scan electrode and a sustain electrode on a front glass substrate, and (b) forming the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. Forming a dielectric layer to cover and (c) forming a groove in the dielectric layer.

In addition, after the step (c), (d) characterized in that it comprises the step of forming an auxiliary dielectric layer in the groove.

In addition, the groove of the dielectric layer is characterized in that formed in the discharge region portion causing the initial discharge.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

5 to 8, a plasma display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 5 is a plan view of a discharge cell having a fence-type electrode structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a plan view of a discharge cell having another fence-type electrode structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5 or 6, in the plasma display panel according to an exemplary embodiment, scan electrodes 520 and 620 and sustain electrodes 540 and 640 are formed on a front glass substrate (not shown). A positive column region may be used during plasma discharge on a back glass substrate (not shown) having an address electrode (not shown) arranged to cross the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640. Partition walls 530 and 630 are formed so as to partition the discharge cells 560 and 660.

In this case, the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 have symmetrical shapes. Here, the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 are preferably formed in an 'H' shape. (FIG. 5) Also, the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 are formed. Is preferably formed in a 'U' shape (Fig. 6).

The reason why the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 are designed to have an 'H' shape or a 'U' shape is to allow sufficient wall charge to be accumulated while securing as much opening ratio as possible compared to the prior art. To do this.

In this case, the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 are preferably formed of only metal electrodes. Here, forming the scan electrodes 520 and 620 and the sustain electrodes 540 and 640 only as metal electrodes without forming transparent electrodes is a metal having a relatively small area in the discharge space instead of expensive transparent electrodes. By changing the structural design of the electrode, the role of the transparent electrode can be replaced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost consumed when forming the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. The structural design of the metal electrode has the same effect as the transparent electrode. To get

Here, the metal electrodes 520, 540, 620, and 640 are located along the partition walls 530 and 630 that divide the discharge cells 560 and 660, and the upper discharge ignition portions 520a and 620a and the lower portion, which cause initial discharge, are disposed. An upper discharge diffusion unit that generates light in a positive column region within the discharge cells 560 and 660 by using the discharge ignition units 540a and 640a and initial discharge, and diffuses the light into the entire discharge cells 560 and 660. 520b and 620b and lower discharge diffusion parts 540b and 640b.

In this case, the line widths of the metal electrodes 520, 540, 620, and 640 are preferably 20 μm or more and 70 μm or less.

At this time, the interval between the upper discharge ignition unit 520a, 620a and the lower discharge ignition unit 540a, 640a is preferably 50 µm or more and 150 µm or less.

In addition, the interval between the upper discharge diffusion parts 520b and 620b and the lower discharge diffusion parts 540b and 640b is preferably 150 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

The upper discharge ignition portions 520a and 620a and the lower discharge ignition portions 540a and 640a are located above the partition wall, so that the discharge ignition portions 520a, 620a, 540a, and 640a are weak discharges, and thus do not generate plasma. Therefore, in order not to disturb the aperture ratio.

The discharge ignition parts 520a, 620a, 540a, and 640a have an effect of easily causing a discharge even when the discharge voltage is not high due to the short gaps 550a and 650a when the discharge starts. At this time, when the discharge is started, the diffusion is spread to the discharge diffusion parts 520b, 620b, 540b, and 640b, and the discharge is effective even if the discharge voltage is not high.

Therefore, the discharge ignition parts 520a, 620a, 540a, and 640a are formed to obtain high efficiency with a relatively low discharge start voltage.

In addition, the plasma display panel has a structure such as a capacitor. As the distance between the electrodes increases, the capacitance becomes smaller, and when the capacitance becomes smaller, the reactive power falls, so that the discharge efficiency is improved.

For the same reason, the long discharge gaps 550b and 650b can obtain high discharge efficiency.

Differential dielectric layers capable of reducing the discharge voltage and improving the discharge efficiency of the plasma display panel formed as described above are shown in FIGS. 7 to 8.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a differential dielectric layer of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a schematic view showing a differential dielectric layer of another plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the differential dielectric layer of the plasma display panel limits the discharge current between the scan electrode 710 and the sustain electrode 720, and a dielectric layer 730 is formed to insulate the electrode pairs. In addition, a protective layer 750 on which magnesium oxide (MgO) is deposited is formed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 730 to facilitate discharge conditions.

At this time, the above-described dielectric layer 730 is made of a differential thickness, the shape has a structure including a depression recessed to a predetermined depth in the center of the discharge cell. At this time, it is preferable that the position of the depression recessed to a predetermined depth is located between the metal electrodes. (C) It is also preferable that the position of the depression recessed to a predetermined depth is located only in the discharge ignition portion of the metal electrode. (FIG. 7D)

Here, the dielectric layer 730 having a differential thickness is preferably formed in a groove shape. Here, the groove shape described above has various shapes such as U-shaped, trapezoidal, semi-circular, and the like.

In addition, it is preferable to form an auxiliary dielectric layer 740 having a relatively high dielectric constant relative to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 730 on the thin dielectric layer 730 of the above-described differential thickness. (FIG. 7B)

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that the position of the depression recessed to the predetermined depth is located between the metal electrode and the end portion of the metal electrode. (FIG. 8C)

Here, the dielectric layer 830 formed with a differential thickness is preferably formed in a groove shape. Here, the groove shape described above has various shapes such as U-shaped, trapezoidal, semi-circular, and the like.

   In addition, it is preferable to form the auxiliary dielectric layer 840 having a relatively high dielectric constant relative to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 830 on the thin dielectric layer 830 of the above-described differential thickness. (FIG. 8B)

As described above, the differential dielectric layers 730 and 830 and the auxiliary dielectric layers 740 and 840 can increase the amount of wall charges by increasing the electric field intensity generated when the plasma display panel is driven, thereby driving voltage during plasma surface discharge. It is possible to lower the discharge efficiency can be improved.

9 to 10, a front panel manufacturing process of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 9 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a process of manufacturing a front panel of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a manufacturing process of a front panel of another plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, in step (a), silver (Ag) paste is coated and printed to form a metal electrode 601 on the front glass upper part 600, and then dried. Thereafter, in step (b), the photomask 604 having a predetermined pattern is placed on the coated silver (Ag) paste and exposed. After the exposure process, in step (c), after developing the uncured portion, the metal electrode 601 is formed by baking for about 3 hours in a baking furnace (not shown) of about 550 ° C. or more.

Thereafter, in step (d), a dielectric layer 602 is formed on the front glass 600 on which the metal electrode 601 is formed. At this time, the above-described dielectric layer 602 is a differential dielectric layer, and differentially forms the dielectric layer 602 at the discharge gap portion between the metal electrodes 601.

  An example of a method of forming the dielectric layer 602 having such a differential thickness will be described. After the dielectric layer 602 is formed on the front glass 600 with a predetermined thickness, the photoresist is etched in a predetermined pattern on the entire surface of the front glass 600, and then the photosensitive film is etched. Using this as a mask, the dielectric layer is etched to an ideal depth to form grooves to form one discharge space.

  Finally, in step (e), a protective film 603 made of magnesium oxide (MgO) is formed on the surface of the dielectric layer 602 by using a CVD method, an ion plating method, a vacuum deposition method, or the like to form a front panel of the plasma display panel. Is completed.

At this time, the groove of the dielectric layer 602 is preferably formed in the discharge region portion that causes the initial discharge.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, after the step (d) of FIG. 9, the auxiliary dielectric layer 704 may be formed on the dielectric layer 702 in a predetermined pattern.

  At this time, the groove of the dielectric layer 702 is preferably formed in the discharge region portion causing the initial discharge.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. will be. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive in all respects, and the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and the meaning and scope of the claims and All changes or modifications derived from the equivalent concept should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention has the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost consumed when forming the scan electrode and the sustain electrode is formed of only the metal electrode without forming the scan electrode and the sustain electrode transparent electrode, The discharge voltage rise problem caused by adopting a long discharge gap to secure high efficiency and forming a long discharge gap has an effect of lowering the discharge voltage by using a short discharge gap. In addition, by forming a differential dielectric layer and an auxiliary dielectric layer, it is possible to lower the driving voltage during plasma surface discharge, thereby improving the discharge efficiency.

Claims (15)

A scan electrode and a sustain electrode each having a discharge ignition portion for generating an initial discharge on a glass substrate and a discharge diffusion portion that diffuses to the whole during the discharge by using the initial discharge; And a dielectric layer formed on the glass substrate including the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. The method of claim 1, And the scan electrode and the sustain electrode are symmetrical to each other.  The method of claim 1,  And the scan electrode and the sustain electrode are formed in an 'H' shape.  The method of claim 1, And the scan electrode and the sustain electrode are formed in a 'U' shape. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And the scan electrode and the sustain electrode are formed of only metal electrodes. The method of claim 5, And the upper discharge ignition portion and the lower discharge ignition portion are located above the partition wall. The method of claim 5, And a distance between the upper discharge ignition unit and the lower discharge ignition unit is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less. The method of claim 5, And a distance between the upper discharge spreader and the lower discharge spreader is 150 μm or more and 500 μm or less. The method of claim 5, And a line width of the metal electrode is 20 μm or more and 70 μm or less. The method of claim 5, And the dielectric layer is formed to have a differential thickness so that the dielectric layer in the discharge region portion causing the initial discharge is thin. The method of claim 10, And the dielectric layer formed to have a differential thickness is formed in a groove shape. The method of claim 10 or 11, And forming an auxiliary dielectric layer having a relatively high permittivity relative to the permittivity of the dielectric layer on the thinly formed dielectric layer. (a) forming a scan electrode and a sustain electrode on the front glass substrate; (b) forming a dielectric layer to cover the scan electrode and the sustain electrode; And (c) forming a groove in the dielectric layer. The method of claim 13, And (d) after the step (c), forming an auxiliary dielectric layer in the groove. The method according to claim 13 or 14, The groove of the dielectric layer is formed in the discharge region portion which causes the initial discharge.

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