KR20070087703A - Plasma display panel, apparatus, driving apparatus and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A plasma display panel, a plasma display apparatus, and an apparatus and a method for driving a panel are provided to reduce flickers by adjusting the width of a scan pulse supplied to scan electrodes during an address period. A plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel(100), drivers(122,123,124), and a scan pulse controller(121). The plasma display panel includes scan and sustain electrodes, and plural address electrodes formed to cross with the scan and sustain electrodes. The drivers drive the electrodes. The scan pulse controller controls the drivers in plural sub-field groups, divides one frame into plural sub-field groups including at least one sub-field group, and adjusts the width of a scan pulse supplied to the scan electrodes during an address period of at least one sub-field group to be wider than that of another sub-field group.

Description

Plasma Display Panel, Apparatus, Driving Device and Driving Method {Plasma Display Panel, Apparatus, Driving Apparatus and Method}

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

2 is a diagram illustrating a method of implementing image gradation of a conventional plasma display panel.

3 is a view showing an example of a driving waveform according to a driving method of a conventional plasma display panel.

4 is a view for explaining a width of a scan pulse applied to an address period in a conventional method of driving a plasma display panel.

5 is a view for explaining an arrangement of subfields for implementing an image of a plasma display panel in a conventional PAL method.

6 is a view for explaining a plasma display device of the present invention.

7A to 7B are diagrams for explaining an example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups.

8 is a view for explaining a driving waveform according to the first embodiment of the method for driving a plasma display panel of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups and selecting a subfield group within each subfield group. FIG.

10 is a view for explaining the width of a scan pulse according to the first embodiment of the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention;

11A to 11B are views for explaining the relationship between the widths of the scan pulses between the subfields for adjusting the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period beyond the first threshold time.

12A to 12B illustrate another example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups.

Fig. 13 is a view for explaining a driving waveform according to the second embodiment of the method for driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates another example of dividing a frame into a plurality of subfield groups and selecting a subfield group within each subfield group. FIG.

15 is a view for explaining the width of a scan pulse according to the second embodiment of the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention;

16A to 16B are diagrams for explaining another relationship between the widths of the scan pulses between the subfields for adjusting the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period beyond the first threshold time.

17A to 17B are views for explaining a third embodiment of a method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

18A to 18B are views for explaining a fourth embodiment of a method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

100: plasma display panel 121: scan pulse control unit

122: data driver 123: scan driver

124: sustain driver 125: drive voltage generator

The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to divide a frame into a plurality of subfield groups, and to control a width of a scan pulse applied to a scan electrode in an address period in the subfield group. A display panel, an apparatus, a driving device of the panel, and a driving method thereof.

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) and An inert gas containing the same main discharge gas 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 on 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 made of a scan electrode 102 and a sustain electrode 103, that is, a transparent electrode (a) formed of a transparent ITO material and a metal material to mutually discharge and maintain light emission of the cells in one discharge cell. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 provided as the bus electrode b are included in pairs. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 are covered by one or more upper dielectric layers 104 that limit the discharge current and insulate the electrode pairs, and to facilitate the discharge conditions on the upper dielectric layer 104 top surface. A protective layer 105 on which magnesium oxide (MgO) is deposited is formed.

The rear panel 110 is arranged such that a plurality of discharge spaces, that is, barrier ribs 112 of a stripe type (or well type) for forming discharge cells are maintained in parallel. In addition, a plurality of address electrodes 113 which perform address discharge to generate vacuum ultraviolet rays are arranged in parallel with the partition wall 112. On the upper side of the rear panel 110, R, G, and B phosphors 114 which emit visible light for image display during address discharge are coated. A lower dielectric layer 115 is formed between the address electrode 113 and the phosphor 114 to protect the address electrode 113.

A method of implementing image gradation in such a plasma display panel is shown in FIG. 2.

2 is a diagram illustrating a method of implementing image grayscale of a conventional plasma display panel.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional method of expressing a gray level of a plasma display panel, a frame is divided into several subfields having different number of emission times, and each subfield is a reset period (RPD) for initializing all cells again. ) Is divided into an address period APD for selecting a cell to be discharged and a sustain period SPD for implementing gradation according to the number of discharges. For example, when displaying an image with 256 gray levels, a frame period (16.67 ms) corresponding to 1/60 second is divided into eight subfields SF1 to SF8 as shown in FIG. 2, and eight subfields. Each of the SFs SF1 to SF8 is divided into a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period.

The reset period and the address period of each subfield are the same for each subfield. The address discharge for selecting the cell to be discharged is caused by the voltage difference between the address electrode and the transparent electrode which is the scan electrode. The sustain period is increased at a rate of 2 ⁿ ( ^where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) in each subfield. In this way, since the sustain period is different in each subfield, the gray scale of the image is expressed by adjusting the sustain period of each subfield, that is, the number of sustain discharges.

The driving waveforms according to the driving method of the plasma display panel are shown in FIG. 3.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a driving waveform according to a driving method of a conventional plasma display panel.

As shown in Fig. 3, the plasma display panel erases the reset period for initializing all the cells, the address period for selecting the cells to be discharged, the sustain period for maintaining the discharge of the selected cells, and the wall charges in the discharged cells. It is divided into an erase period for driving.

In the reset period, the rising ramp waveform Ramp-up is applied to all the scan electrodes at the same time in the setup period. This rising ramp waveform causes weak dark discharge within the full discharge cells. By this setup discharge, positive wall charges are accumulated on the address electrode and the sustain electrode, and negative wall charges are accumulated on the scan electrode.

During the set-down period, after the rising ramp waveform is supplied, the falling ramp waveform (Ramp-down) starts to fall from the positive voltage lower than the peak voltage of the rising ramp waveform and falls to a specific voltage level below the ground (GND) level voltage. By generating a weak erase discharge in the inside, the wall charges excessively formed in the scan electrode are sufficiently erased. By this set-down discharge, wall charges such that the address discharge can stably occur remain uniformly in the cells.

In the address period, the negative scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes, and the positive data pulses are applied to the address electrodes in synchronization with the scan pulses. As the voltage difference between the scan pulse and the data pulse and the wall voltage generated in the reset period are added, address discharge is generated in the discharge cell to which the data pulse is applied. In the cells selected by the address discharge, wall charges are formed such that a discharge can occur when the sustain voltage Vs is applied. The sustain electrode is supplied with a positive polarity voltage Vz during the set down period and the address period so as to reduce the voltage difference with the scan electrode so as to prevent mis-discharge with the scan electrode.

In the sustain period, a sustain pulse Su is applied to the scan electrode and the sustain electrodes alternately. In the cell selected by the address discharge, as the wall voltage and the sustain pulse in the cell are added, a sustain discharge, that is, a display discharge, occurs between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode every time the sustain pulse is applied.

After the sustain discharge is completed, in the erase period, a voltage of an erase ramp waveform Ramp-ers having a small pulse width and a low voltage level is supplied to the sustain electrode to erase the wall charge remaining in the cells of the full screen.

In the plasma display panel driven by the driving waveform, the width of the scan pulse Vsc applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the subfields of all the frames is the same in all the subfields. Looking at the width of the conventional scan pulse as shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram for describing a width of a scan pulse applied to an address period in a conventional method of driving a plasma display panel.

As shown in Fig. 4, in the conventional plasma display panel driving method, the width of the scan pulse applied in the address period is set equal to W in all subfields. In other words, the scan pulse widths are the same in the subfield which implements a low gray level due to its relatively low weight and the subfield which implements a high gray level by its relatively high weight.

Here, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the above-described address period is one of the main factors influencing the generation of the wall charges in the discharge cell, and the reverse polarity is increased from the scan reference voltage rising at the end of the set-down pulse. The larger the width of the falling scan pulse Vsc is, the longer the duration of the address discharge is, and more wall charges are generated in the discharge cells.

However, conventionally, since the widths of the scan pulses are equally set in all subfields regardless of the magnitude of the weight, that is, the magnitude of the grayscale value, the address discharge is performed in the initial subfield, that is, the subfield having the relatively low grayscale value. This is likely to become unstable. As a result, there is a problem in that address jitter is deteriorated.

In addition, the number of sustain pulses is less stable in the subfields having low gray scales than the subfields having high gray scales as described above, and the number of sustain pulses is smaller. As a result, the amount of wall charges accumulated in the discharge cells due to the unstable address discharge becomes insufficient for the sustain discharge, and the sustain discharge may become unstable. In consideration of such characteristics of the sustain discharge, a stable address discharge is generated in the address period to set the distribution of wall charges in the discharge cell to favor the sustain discharge. However, since the widths of the scan pulses are equally set in all the subfields regardless of the magnitude of the weight, that is, the magnitude of the grayscale value, the initial subfield, which is likely to become unstable in address discharge, that is, the grayscale value is relatively small. In the low subfield, there is a problem that the distribution of wall charges in the discharge cells after the address discharge is not sufficient, resulting in unstable sustain discharge or no sustain discharge.

On the other hand, in the plasma display panel driven by the driving waveform shown in FIG. 3 described above, flickering is generally generated.

Such flicker generally occurs when the afterglow time of the phosphor is shorter than the vertical frequency (frame frequency) of the image signal. For example, assuming that the vertical frequency is 60 Hz, an image of one frame is displayed per 16.67 m / sec, and the response speed of the phosphor is faster than this, causing flickering, or flickering of the screen.

In particular, in the PAL (Phase Alternating Line) method, the vertical frequency thereof is relatively short, such as 50 Hz, resulting in further occurrence of flicker.

In the PAL scheme, the above-described flicker problem is reduced by arranging subfields in a plurality of stages.

The arrangement of the subfields in the PAL method is illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing an arrangement of subfields for implementing an image of a plasma display panel in a conventional PAL method.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the conventional PAL scheme, subfields having different weights are arranged in a plurality of groups, preferably in two groups, within one frame. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first subfield group includes a weight, that is, a subfield of gradation value 1, a subfield of weight 8, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 32, and a subfield of weight 64. Let's do it.

In addition, the second subfield group includes a subfield of weight 2, a subfield of weight 4, two subfields of weight 8, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 32, and a subfield of weight 64.

As such, the sum of the weights of the subfields in one arranged frame, that is, the sum of the gray scale values is 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + (8 + 8) + (16 + 16) + (32 + 32) + (64 + 64), that is, 255. As a result, 256 gray levels can be realized.

As described above, in the PAL method of driving the plasma display panel by arranging the subfields in one frame in plural steps, the above-described generation of flicker is reduced, but the weight in one frame is relatively low. That is, there is a problem in that the number of low gray level subfields and low gray level subfields increases.

That is, in the general scheme in which the subfields are arranged in one frame in one frame, as shown in FIG. 2, the subfields having relatively low weights, that is, low gray scale values have gray scale values of 1, 2, 4, Suppose that the first, second, third, and fourth subfields of 8 are divided into subfields in which the weight is relatively low, that is, the gradation value is relatively low, in the PAL method in which the subfields are arranged in two stages within one frame. Are first and second subfields in the first subfield group and are first, second, third and fourth subfields in the second subfield group.

Accordingly, in the PAL method, the address discharge becomes unstable due to the increase in the number of subfields having a relatively low weight, that is, a low gradation value, compared to the general method of arranging subfields in one frame. In this large initial subfield, that is, a subfield having a relatively low gradation value, the distribution of wall charges in the discharge cells after the address discharge is insufficient, resulting in unstable sustain discharge or no sustain discharge. There is a further problem.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a plasma display panel for reducing the occurrence of flicker in the PAL driving method, stabilizing address discharge to prevent deterioration of address jitter, and stabilizing subsequent sustain discharge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a driving device and a driving method of a device, a panel.

The plasma display apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, a drive unit and a frame for driving the electrodes The subfield is divided into subfield groups, and the driving unit is controlled in the plurality of subfield groups so that the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address periods of at least one subfield in the at least one subfield group are different. And a scan pulse control unit which is larger than the subfield.

In this case, a pause period having a predetermined length is further included between the aforementioned frames, and the subfield groups of the frame are continuous in the same frame.

In addition, a first idle period having a predetermined length is further included between each frame, and a second idle period having a predetermined length is further included among the subfield groups within the same frame.

In addition, the lengths of the first and second idle periods are the same.

Each of the plurality of subfield groups may include a plurality of subfields, and the plurality of subfield groups may be arranged in an order of increasing magnitude of gray values within each group.

Each of the plurality of subfield groups may include a plurality of subfields, and the plurality of subfield groups may be arranged in order of decreasing magnitude of gray level values in each group.

The frame is divided into two subfield groups, and the two subfield groups each include a plurality of subfields.

In addition, the two subfield groups are characterized in that the arrangement order of the subfields in each group is different.

In addition, any one of the two subfield groups is characterized in that the subfields in each group are arranged in increasing order of the gray scale value.

In addition, one of the two subfield groups is characterized in that the subfields in each group are arranged in order of decreasing magnitude of the gray scale value.

In addition, one of the two subfield groups is arranged in the order in which the subfields in each group in the order of decreasing gray scale value, and one of the two subfield groups is the size of the gray level value in the subfields in each group Is arranged in increasing order.

In addition, the scan pulse controller is characterized in that the width of the scan pulse is greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is larger than other subfields in the address period.

Also, the first threshold time is 2.0 ms.

In addition, the subfield having the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than the first threshold time may be at least one or more.

The subfields having the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than the first threshold time may be included in at least one subfield group.

The subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is equal to or greater than the first threshold time may be a subfield having the lowest gray level value in the order of the gray scale value to a predetermined number of subfields. .

The subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is greater than or equal to the first threshold time may be a subfield from the lowest subfield to the third subfield in the order of the magnitude of the grayscale value. .

In addition, there are a plurality of subfields whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the address period, and the scan pulse controller controls the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period as the first threshold time. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of one subfield in the plurality of subfields described above is different from the other subfields.

In addition, there are a plurality of subfields whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the address period, and the scan pulse controller controls the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period as the first threshold time. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the plurality of subfields described above is different for each subfield.

Also, in a plurality of subfields in which the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes are different for each subfield, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes in the address period increases as the gray level value decreases. It is characterized by that.

The subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is greater than or equal to the first threshold time may be a subfield that uses sustain pulses less than or equal to the threshold number.

In addition, the threshold number is characterized in that less than 50% of the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame.

In addition, the threshold number is characterized in that less than 30% of the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame.

Also, the scan pulse controller may set the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the remaining subfields except the subfield having the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than the first threshold time. It is characterized by below time.

In addition, the second threshold time is characterized in that 1/2 times the first threshold time.

In addition, the second threshold time is characterized in that 1.5 ms.

In addition, a driving apparatus of the plasma display panel of the present invention for achieving the above object is a plasma display panel for driving a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. A driving apparatus for driving electrodes comprising: a driving unit for driving electrodes and a frame divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and controlling a driving unit in the plurality of subfield groups, at least any one of the plurality of subfield groups And a scan pulse controller configured to make the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of one subfield larger than that of the other subfields.

In addition, the plasma display panel of the present invention for achieving the above object is a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, the frame is a plurality of subfields The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of at least one subfield in the at least one subfield group among the plurality of subfield groups is larger than the other subfields.

In addition, the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention for achieving the above object is a frame in the driving method of a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, Is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and in at least one of the subfield groups, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of at least one subfield is larger than that of the other subfields. do.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a plasma display panel, an apparatus, a driving apparatus, and a driving method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 is a view for explaining a plasma display device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the plasma display apparatus of the present invention includes scan electrodes Y1 to Yn and sustain electrodes Z, and a plurality of address electrodes X1 to Xm intersecting the scan electrodes and sustain electrodes Z. As shown in FIG. And a combination of at least one subfield in which a driving pulse is applied to the address electrodes X1 to Xm, the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn, and the sustain electrode Z in the reset period, the address period and the sustain period. Plasma display panel 100 representing an image made of a frame, data driver 122 for supplying data to address electrodes X1 to Xm formed in plasma display panel 100, and scan electrodes Y1 to A scan driver 123 for driving Yn, a sustain driver 124 for driving the sustain electrodes Z serving as a common electrode, and a plasma display panel 100 driving And a scan pulse controller 121 for controlling the time scan driver 123 and a driving voltage generator 125 for supplying driving voltages necessary for the respective driving units 122, 123, and 124.

As described above, the plasma display apparatus of the present invention expresses an image made of a frame by a combination of at least one subfield to which a driving pulse is applied to the address electrode, the scan electrode, and the sustain electrode in the reset period, the address period, and the sustain period. The frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and the respective driving units 122, 123, and 124 are controlled in the plurality of subfield groups, so that at least one subfield group includes an address of at least one subfield. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the period is adjusted to be larger than the other subfields. The reason for adjusting the width of the scan pulse in this way is made clear in the following description.

Here, the aforementioned plasma display panel 100 is bonded to the front panel (not shown) and the rear panel (not shown) at regular intervals, and a plurality of electrodes, for example, scan electrodes Y1 to Yn and sustain. The electrodes Z are formed in pairs, and the address electrodes X1 to Xm are formed to intersect the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn and the sustain electrode Z.

The data driver 122 is subjected to inverse gamma correction and error diffusion by an inverse gamma correction circuit, an error diffusion circuit, and the like, and then mapped to each subfield by a subfield mapping circuit. The data driver 122 samples and latches data in response to a data timing control signal CTRX from a timing controller (not shown), and then supplies the data to the address electrodes X1 to Xm.

The scan driver 123 supplies the rising ramp waveform Ramp-up and the falling ramp waveform Ramp-down to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn during the reset period under the control of the scan pulse controller 121. In addition, the scan driver 123 sequentially supplies the scan pulse Sp of the scan voltage (-Vy) to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn during the address period under the control of the scan pulse controller 121, and during the sustain period. The sustain pulse su is supplied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn.

The sustain driver 124 supplies a bias voltage of the sustain voltage Vs to the sustain electrodes Z during a period in which a ramp ramp down occurs and an address period under the control of a timing controller (not shown). Alternately with the scan driver 123 during the sustain period, the sustain pulse su is supplied to the sustain electrodes Z.

The scan pulse controller 121 generates a timing control signal CTRY for controlling the operation timing and synchronization of the scan driver 123 in the reset period, the address period, and the sustain period, and transmits the timing control signal CTRY to the scan driver ( The scan driver 123 is controlled by supplying it to 123. In particular, when it is assumed that the scan driver 121 divides a frame into a plurality of subfield groups, the scan driver 123 controls the aforementioned scan driver 123 in a plurality of divided subfield groups, thereby at least one of the plurality of subfield groups. In the subfield group, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period of at least one subfield is larger than the other subfields. More preferably, the control signal is adjusted to adjust the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode to be larger than the other subfields in the address period in the subfield displaying the low gray level because the weight is relatively low. Supply to the scan driver 123.

Here, when the plasma display panel 100 is driven by dividing the plasma display panel 100 into a plurality of subfields, the gray scale is represented by giving a luminance weight to each subfield, and in this case, the gray scale value in a subfield having a relatively low luminance weight is represented. Say.

The data control signal CTRX described above includes a sampling clock for latching data, a latch control signal, a switch control signal for controlling the on / off time of the energy recovery circuit and the driving switch element. The scan control signal CTRY includes an energy recovery circuit in the scan driver 123 and a switch control signal for controlling on / off time of the driving switch element. The sustain control signal CTRZ includes energy in the sustain driver 124. A switch control signal for controlling the on / off time of the recovery circuit and the drive switch element is included.

The driving voltage generator 125 generates a setup voltage Vsetup, a scan common voltage Vscan-com, a scan voltage -Vy, a sustain voltage Vs, a data voltage Vd, and the like. These driving voltages may vary depending on the composition of the discharge gas or the structure of the discharge cell.

The driving method performed by the plasma display apparatus of the present invention divides one frame into a plurality of subfield groups, and applies the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period of any one subfield in the divided subfield group. The width of the scan pulse is larger than that of the other subfields. To this end, an example in which the subfields are arranged in a plurality of stages in one frame is as follows.

7A to 7B are diagrams for explaining an example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups.

7A to 7B, by arranging subfields by dividing one frame into two subfield groups, for example, two subfields, that is, a first subfield group and a second subfield group as shown in FIG. 7A, The subfields were arranged in two steps.

First, referring to FIG. 7A, a rest period having a predetermined length is included between a first subfield and a second subfield, that is, one rest period is included between two subfield groups.

Here, the subfields are arranged in an increasing order of the magnitude of the weight, that is, the magnitude of the gray scale value, in each group, that is, the first subfield group and the second subfield group. That is, the weight of the subfield, that is, the subfield having the smallest gray level value is initially located within each subfield group, and the subfields having a higher weight are located later. For example, the first subfield group includes a weight 1, that is, a subfield of gradation value 1, a subfield of weight 8, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 32, and a subfield of weight 64 in this order. do.

In addition, the second subfield group has a weight 2, that is, a subfield having a gray scale value of 2, a subfield having a weight of 4, two subfields having a weight of 8, a subfield having a weight of 16, a subfield having a weight of 32, and a subfield having a weight of 64. Are included in turn.

As such, the sum of the weights of the subfields in one arranged frame is 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + (8 + 8) + (16 + 16) + (32 + 32) + (64 + 64), 255. As a result, 256 gray levels as shown in the frame of FIG. 2 in which subfields having weights of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 are sequentially arranged may be implemented. In addition, the first subfield group that can implement 121 gradations and the second subfield group that can implement 135 gradations may include effects of two frames implementing gradations of 121 and 135. As a result, the generation of flicker is reduced. The concept of the weight of the subfield in one frame and the concept of the rest period are shown in FIG. 7B.

Referring to FIG. 7B, two subfield groups, that is, a first subfield group and a second subfield group, are included in one frame, and a pause is included between these subfield groups. Note that the triangular shape represents the weights of the subfields included in each subfield group. This means that in each subfield, the subfields are arranged in increasing order of the weight, that is, the magnitude of the gray scale value.

As described above, in a method in which one frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups and driven, the width of the scan pulse is adjusted in one subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gray level value. Looking at the pulse as shown in FIG.

8 is a view for explaining a driving waveform according to the first embodiment of the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, scan electrodes Y1 to Yn and sustain electrodes Z, and a plurality of address electrodes X1 to Xm intersecting the scan electrodes and sustain electrodes Z, and a reset period And a driving waveform according to the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention, which represents an image formed of a frame by a combination of at least one subfield in which a driving pulse is applied to the address electrode, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the address period and the sustain period. Assuming that a frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, a scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in an address period of at least one subfield in at least one subfield group of the plurality of subfield groups Is wider than other subfields.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a scan applied to a scan electrode in an address period in a first subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gray level, in a first subfield, in a first subfield group or a second subfield group. The width of the pulse is W1, and assuming that the width of the scan pulse is W2 in another subsequent subfield, that is, from the second subfield to the nth subfield, the above-described W1 is larger than W2.

Here, as described above, in the subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gradation value, the subfield group for increasing the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period more than the other subfields includes all subfields in one frame. It may be a group of fields or may be a plurality of selected or one subfield in one frame. For example, when one frame is divided into a first subfield group and a second subfield group, as shown in FIG. 8, in a subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gray level value, in an address period in a first subfield group. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is larger than that of other subfields, and the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the subfield having a lower weight, that is, a low gray level value, is also applied in the second subfield group. Is larger than other subfields, or the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the subfield having a low weight, i.e., a low gray level value, is different in either one of the first subfield group or the second subfield group. It may be larger than the subfield.

As described above, in the subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period is larger than other subfields, the width of the scan pulse, that is, W1 has a length equal to or greater than the first threshold time. .

In addition, the subfields other than the subfield whose width of the scan pulses are applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the above-described address period are applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period in the remaining subfields. The width of the scan pulse, ie W2, has a length less than or equal to the second threshold time.

It is preferable that the above-mentioned 2nd threshold time is 1.5 ms, and W2 is 1.5 or less accordingly. In FIG. 8, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the first subfield, that is, the remaining subfields except each first subfield in the first subfield group or the second subfield group, is 1.5 μs or less. Shall be.

In this way, the remaining subfields except for the subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period in the first subfield group and the second subfield group in which one frame is divided is greater than or equal to the first threshold time The reason why the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the field is set to 1.5 mW or less is to implement an XGA (Extended Graphic Array) class panel in order to realize high quality, for example, HD (High Definition) quality. In this case, the XGA panel has a larger number of discharge cells than the VGA (Video Graphic Array) panel. In other words, in order to address a relatively large number of discharge cells within a limited address period, the width of the scan pulse is set to 1.5 mW or less. In this case, when the width of the above-described scan pulse exceeds 1.5 ms, the length of the entire address period becomes longer, and accordingly, the length of the sustain period is reduced. As a result, the number of sustain pulses applied to the sustain period is reduced, thereby reducing the absolute value of the plasma display panel. Since the brightness is reduced, the width of the scan pulse applied in the address period of the remaining subfields except for the subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period is greater than or equal to the first threshold time is determined. It is adjusted to less than 1.5㎲.

Here, as shown in the first subfield of FIG. 8, when the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period, that is, W1 is equal to or greater than the first threshold time, the first threshold time is twice the second threshold time. It is preferable. That is, the second threshold time is 1/2 times the first turn over time. More preferably, the second threshold time is 1.5 ms. That is, as described above, the second threshold time is preferably 1.5 ms or set to 1/2 of the first threshold time.

As described above, in each subfield group, that is, the subfield having the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the first subfield group and the second subfield group more than the first threshold time, the weight is relatively low. It is preferably a subfield that implements gradation.

In this way, each subfield group, i.e., the first subfield group and the second subfield group is applied to the scan electrode in the address period of any one subfield, more preferably, a subfield having a low gray scale value with low weight. The reason for adjusting the width of the scan pulse beyond the first threshold time is to stabilize the address discharge in a subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gray level value. That is, as described above, since the weight is relatively low and the subfield that implements low gradation is more likely to be unstable in address discharge, that is, the weight is larger than the subfield that implements the high gradation because the weight is relatively high. The address discharge is stabilized by setting the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the subfield of which is low, that is, the gradation value is lower than or equal to the first threshold time. This improves address jitter and stabilizes sustain discharge in subsequent sustain periods.

In addition, the reason why the width of the scan pulse is set to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time in a subfield that implements low gradation due to its low weight is that the number of sustain pulses exhibits high gradation in the subfield that implements low gradation because of its relatively low weight. The number of sustain pulses is smaller than that of other subfields. As a result, the amount of wall charges accumulated in the discharge cells is reduced, which may cause sustain discharge to become unstable. Therefore, the width of the scan pulse is larger than that of other subfields, so that stable address discharge is generated in the address period to generate stable address discharge in the discharge cell. This is to set the distribution of wall charges to be more advantageous to sustain discharge.

In FIG. 8, only the number of subfields for adjusting the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period beyond the first threshold time is illustrated and described. However, unlike FIG. 8, a plurality of subfields in the subfield group are different from each other. It is also possible to adjust the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the field to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time. Looking at such a driving method as shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram for explaining an example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups and selecting a subfield group within each subfield group.

As shown in FIG. 9, when one frame is divided into two subfield groups, that is, a first subfield group and a second subfield group, as shown in FIG. The subfield is selected, and the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the thus selected subfield is made larger than the other subfields. In other words, the width of the scan pulse is set to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time. As a result, there are a plurality of subfields in which the width of the scan pulse is adjusted beyond the first threshold time in each subfield group.

Looking at the width of the scan pulse in such a driving method with reference to Figure 10 as follows.

10 is a view for explaining the width of the scan pulse according to the first embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 9, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address periods of the subfields of the A region of the first subfield group and the C region of the second subfield group are different from each other. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes in the address period of the subfields of the B area of the first subfield group and the subfield of the D area of the second subfield group. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address periods of the subfields of the A region of the first subfield group and the C region of the second subfield group are W1, Assuming that the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the subfields of the B region of the first subfield group and the subfield of the D region of the second subfield group is W2, W1 is larger than W2. Here, as described above, the subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than the other subfields are subfields having low weights, that is, low gradation values in the subfield group.

As such, subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than other subfields may be included in the same number in each subfield group, that is, the first subfield group and the second subfield group. have. For example, in each of three subfields in the first subfield group and the second subfield group, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is larger than the other subfields.

Alternatively, subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than other subfields may be included in only one of the first subfield group and the second subfield group, and the other subfield group. It is also possible to not include it.

Alternatively, subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than the other subfields may be included in different numbers in the subfield groups, that is, the first subfield group and the second subfield group. Can be. For example, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the two subfields in the first subfield group and in the four subfields in the second subfield group may be larger than the other subfields. It is.

As described above, in the subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is larger than the other subfields, it is preferable to adjust the width of the scan pulse to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time as described above. The subfield for adjusting the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode for more than a first threshold time is from the subfield having the lowest gray value to the predetermined number of subfields in the order of weight, that is, the order of the gray value. desirable.

As described above, the relationship between the widths of the scan pulses between the subfields for adjusting the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period beyond the first threshold time is as follows.

11A to 11B are diagrams for explaining the relationship between the widths of the scan pulses between the subfields for adjusting the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period to the first threshold time or more.

First, referring to FIG. 11A, when the width of a scan pulse applied to a scan electrode in an address period in four subfields as in the region C of the second subfield of FIG. 9 is greater than other subfields, that is, the first, When the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the 2, 3, 4 subfields is made larger than the other subfields, the address periods of these subfields, i.e., the first, 2, 3, 4 subfields. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is adjusted above the first threshold time. In addition, the width of the scan pulse of any one of the subfields in which the width of the scan pulse is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time is greater than the width of the scan pulse of the remaining subfields.

As such, among the subfields in which the scan pulse has a width greater than or equal to the first threshold time, the subfield having the scan pulse of the larger pulse width has the lowest weight in the subfield group, that is, the gray scale value. It is preferable that this is the lowest subfield.

For example, in the first, second, third, and fourth subfields in which the width of the scan pulse is greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the second subfield group, as shown in FIG. Assuming that the pulse width of W1 is the pulse width of W1 and the remaining subfields, that is, the second, third, and fourth subfields, W1 is larger than W2.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 11B, unlike in FIG. 11A, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period are different from each other in the subfields in which the scan pulses have a width greater than or equal to the first threshold time. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the widths of the scan pulses in the first subfield and the second subfields in the first, second, third, and fourth subfields in which the widths of the scan pulses in the second subfield group are equal to or greater than the first threshold time. The width of the scan pulse in, the width of the scan pulse in the third subfield and the width of the scan pulse in the fourth subfield are different from each other. For example, the width of the scan pulse in the first subfield is W1, the width of the scan pulse in the second subfield is W2, the width of the scan pulse in the third subfield is W3, and the width of the scan pulse in the fourth subfield. When W4 is assumed to be W4, W1, W2, W3, and W4 are different from each other, and the size is determined according to the magnitude of the weight of the corresponding subfield, that is, the magnitude of the gray scale value. That is, as shown in FIG. 11B, the width W1 of the scan pulse in the first subfield having the lowest weight in the order of the magnitudes of the weights of the first, second, third, and fourth subfields, that is, the magnitude of the gradation values, is the largest. W2, then W3, then W4. In other words, the relationship W1> W2> W3> W4 holds.

Meanwhile, the subfield adjusting the width of the scan pulse beyond the first threshold time may be determined in view of the number of sustain pulses in the sustain period. In other words, a subfield having a low number of sustain pulses has a low weight, that is, a subfield that implements low gray levels, and a subfield having a high number of sustain pulses has a high weight and has a high weight. to be. Since the weight of the subfield, that is, the gray level, is determined according to the number of the sustain pulses, the sustain pulse is used as a reference for selecting a subfield that adjusts the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period more than the first threshold time. The width of the scan pulse is adjusted to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the subfield having the number of sustain pulses smaller than the threshold number of the sustain pulses.

The threshold number is preferably 50% or less than the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame. More preferably, the threshold number is 30% or less than the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame.

For example, if you use a total of 1000 sustain pulses in one frame, select a subfield that uses less than 30% of the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame, that is, 300 sustain pulses or less. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the field is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time.

Meanwhile, in the above description, the subfields are arranged in the order of increasing weight in the subfield group of one frame as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B. However, the weights may be arranged in the order of decreasing weight. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12B.

12A to 12B are diagrams for describing another example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups.

First, referring to FIGS. 12A to 12B, one frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and in each subfield group, the subfields are arranged in order of decreasing weight, that is, magnitude of gray level.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the subfields are arranged in order of decreasing magnitude of weight, that is, magnitude of grayscale value, in each group, that is, one subfield group and a second subfield group. That is, the subfield which has the highest weight of the subfield and implements the highest gradation is positioned at the beginning of each subfield group, that is, the first subfield group or the second subfield group, and the later, the more the weight, that is, the lower the gradation, is. The subfield is located. For example, the first subfield group includes a subfield of weight 64, a subfield of weight 32, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 8, and a subfield of weight 1.

In addition, the second subfield group includes a subfield with a weight of 64, a subfield with a weight of 32, a subfield with a weight of 16, two subfields with a weight of 8, a subfield with a weight of 4, and a subfield with a weight of 2 in this order. . The concept of the weight of the subfield in one frame and the concept of the rest period are shown in FIG. 12B.

12B, two subfield groups, that is, a first subfield group and a second subfield group, are included in one frame, and a pause is included between these subfield groups. Note that the triangular shape represents the weights of the subfields included in each subfield group. This means that in each subfield, the subfields are arranged in order of decreasing weight, that is, magnitude of gray level value.

Here, the idle period having a predetermined length is further included between the aforementioned first subfield group and the second subfield group.

In this way, the sum of the weights of the subfields in one arranged frame is 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + (8 + 8) + (16 + 16) + (32 + 32) as shown in FIG. + (64 + 64), ie 255. As a result, subfields having weights of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 are arranged in the reverse order of the magnitude of the gray scale values, so that the total weight and the total gray scale values can implement 256 gray levels as in the frame of FIG. have. In addition, a second subfield group that can implement 121 gradations and a first subfield group that can implement 135 gradations can be obtained, and effects of two frames implementing gradations of 121 and 135 can be obtained. As a result, the generation of flicker is reduced.

As described above, in a method in which one frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups and driven, the width of the scan pulse is adjusted in one subfield having a low weight, that is, a low gradation value. Looking at the pulse as shown in FIG.

13 is a view for explaining a driving waveform according to the second embodiment of the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the second embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention, unlike in FIG. 8, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the last subfield, that is, the nth subfield, is shown. Is larger than other subfields.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, in the first subfield group or the second subfield group, a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the subfield having a low weight, that is, the gray level is low, that is, the nth subfield. Assuming that the width is W1 and that the width of the scan pulse is W2 in another subfield, that is, from the first subfield to the n-th subfield, the above-described W1 is larger than W2.

Here, as described above, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period is larger than the other subfields, that is, the width of the scan pulse in the nth subfield as shown in FIG. That is, W1 has a length greater than or equal to the first threshold time.

Further, in the above-described address period, the subfields other than the subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn is greater than or equal to the first threshold time, that is, the first subfield to the n-th subfield The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn in the address period in the subfield of ie, W2 has a length less than or equal to the second threshold time.

Here, as in the first embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention described above, the second threshold time is preferably 1.5 ms, so that W2 is 1.5 ms or less. Here, in FIG. 13, the subfield having the smallest weight in the first subfield group or the second subfield group, that is, the last subfield of each subfield group, for example, the remaining subfields except the nth subfield of the second subfield group. The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is set to 1.5 ms or less.

As described above, in each subfield group, that is, the subfield having the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the first subfield group and the second subfield group more than the first threshold time, the weight is relatively low. It is preferably a subfield that implements gradation. Here, the description of FIG. 13 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 8 of the first embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention. Accordingly, further description of overlapping description is omitted.

13 illustrates only a case where the number of subfields for adjusting the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time is one, but differently, the plurality of subfields in the subfield group are different. It is also possible to adjust the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the field to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time. This driving method will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing another example of dividing one frame into a plurality of subfield groups and selecting a subfield group within each subfield group.

As shown in FIG. 14, another example of dividing a frame into a plurality of subfield groups and selecting a subfield group within each subfield group is different from the case of FIG. 9. Since the lower subfield is located at the rear end of each subfield group, the scan pulses of the rear subfield of each subfield group, that is, the subfields of the B region of the first subfield group and the D region of the second subfield group, The width is made larger than the width of the scan pulses of the other subfields, that is, the area A of the first subfield group and the area C of the second subfield group. That is, the widths of the scan pulses of the subfields of the B region of the first subfield group and the D region of the second subfield group are set to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time.

The width of the scan pulse in the driving method described above will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

15 is a view for explaining the width of the scan pulse according to the second embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, in the address periods of the subfields of the B region of the first subfield group and the D region of the second subfield group, as shown in FIG. It is larger than the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes in the address periods of the subfields of the A region of the first subfield group and the C region of the second subfield group. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address periods of the subfields of the B region of the first subfield group and the D region of the second subfield group are W1, Assuming that the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the subfields of the A region of the first subfield group and the C region of the second subfield group is W2, W1 is larger than W2. Here, as described above, the subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than the other subfields are subfields having low weights, that is, low gradation values in the subfield group.

As described above, a plurality of subfields having a larger width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period than the other subfields may be included in one subfield group. Looking at the relationship of the width of the scan pulse between the sub-fields for adjusting the width of the scan pulse to be greater than or equal to the first threshold time as shown in Figure 16a to 16b.

16A to 16B are diagrams for describing another relationship between the widths of the scan pulses between the subfields that adjust the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period to the first threshold time or more.

First, referring to FIG. 16A, when the width of a scan pulse applied to a scan electrode in an address period in four subfields as in the region B of the first subfield of FIG. 14 is greater than other subfields, that is, the first subfield In the case where the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period in the third, fourth, and fifth subfields within the field group is made larger than other subfields, these subfields, i.e., the third, fourth, fifth The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of the subfield is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time. In addition, the width of the scan pulse of any one of the subfields in which the width of the scan pulse is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the first threshold time is greater than the width of the scan pulse of the remaining subfields.

As such, among the subfields in which the scan pulse has a width greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the subfield group, the subfield having the scan pulse having the larger pulse width has the lowest weight in the subfield group, that is, the gray scale value. It is preferable that this is the lowest subfield.

For example, in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh subfields in which the width of the scan pulse is greater than or equal to the first threshold time in the second subfield group as shown in FIG. 16A, the seventh subfield having the lowest weight, that is, the lowest gray level value, is used. Assuming that the pulse width of W1 is W1 and the pulse widths of the remaining subfields, i.e., the fourth, fifth and sixth subfields are W2, W1 is larger than W2.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 16B, unlike in FIG. 16A, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period are different from each other in the subfields in which the scan pulses have a width greater than or equal to the first threshold time. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 16B, the width of the scan pulse in the fourth subfield and the fifth subfield in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh subfields in which the width of the scan pulse in the first subfield group is greater than or equal to the first threshold time. The width of the scan pulse in, the width of the scan pulse in the sixth subfield and the width of the scan pulse in the seventh subfield are different from each other. For example, the width of the scan pulse in the seventh subfield is W1, the width of the scan pulse in the sixth subfield is W2, the width of the scan pulse in the fifth subfield is W3, and the width of the scan pulse in the fourth subfield. Assuming that the width is W4, W1, W2, W3, and W4 are different from each other, and the size is determined according to the magnitude of the weight of the corresponding subfield, that is, the magnitude of the gradation value. That is, as shown in FIG. 16B, the width W1 of the scan pulse in the seventh subfield having the lowest weight in the order of the magnitudes of the weights of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh subfields, that is, the magnitude of the gray scale values, is the largest. W2, then W3, then W4. In other words, the relationship W1> W2> W3> W4 holds.

In the above description, one frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and one pause period is included between the plurality of subfield groups divided as described above. Alternatively, as described above, between the subfield groups as well as between each frame. It is also possible to further include a rest period having a predetermined length, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 17B.

17A to 17B are views for explaining a third embodiment of a method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

17A to 17B, unlike the first embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention in FIGS. 7A to 7B, a first idle period having a predetermined length at the front end of the frame is included, A second idle period having a predetermined length is also included between the first subfield group and the second subfield group.

First, referring to FIG. 17A, the subfields of one frame are divided into a plurality of groups, preferably two subfield groups, that is, a first subfield group and a second subfield group. It is arranged in order of increasing magnitude, that is, magnitude of gray scale values. That is, the weight of the subfield, that is, the subfield having the smallest gray level value is initially located within each subfield group, and the subfields having a higher weight are located later. For example, the first subfield group includes a weight 1, that is, a subfield of gradation value 1, a subfield of weight 8, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 32, and a subfield of weight 64 in this order. do.

Further, the second subfield group has a weight of 2, that is, a subfield of gray level 2, a subfield of weight 4, two subfields of weight 8, a subfield of weight 16, a subfield of weight 32, and a subfield of weight 64. Are included in turn.

As described above, a second pause period having a predetermined length is included between the subfield groups arranged as described above, and a first pause period having a predetermined length is included between each frame. The first and second idle periods may be different in length or may be the same. Preferably, however, the lengths of the first idle period and the second idle period are the same in consideration of the effect of visual division and ease of driving control between the respective subfield groups.

Thus, the visual effect of recognizing one frame as two frames is further increased by the first pause period between the frames and the second pause period between the subfield groups. Accordingly, the occurrence of flicker is further reduced to improve the image quality. Since the third embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment of FIGS. 7A to 7B, further descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Unlike the third embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention, the subfields may be arranged in the order of decreasing weight, that is, the gray scale value in each subfield group. Same as 18a to 18b.

18A to 18B are views for explaining a fourth embodiment of a method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 18A to 18B, the fourth embodiment of the method of driving the plasma display panel according to the present invention differs from the above-described FIGS. 17A to 17B in the order in which the subfields in each subfield group are reduced in weight, that is, in gray level. Is arranged.

Since the fourth embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the second embodiment of the method for driving the plasma display panel of the present invention described above with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12B, redundant description thereof will be omitted.

As such, the technical configuration of the present invention described above can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention.

Therefore, the exemplary embodiments described above 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 foregoing detailed description, and the meaning and scope of the claims are as follows. 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 in detail above, the plasma display panel, the apparatus, the driving apparatus, and the driving method of the present invention divide one frame into a plurality of subfield groups, and in the address period of one or more subfields in the divided subfield group, By adjusting the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode, there is an effect of reducing the occurrence of flicker, stabilizing the address discharge to improve the address jitter characteristics and stabilizing the sustain discharge.

Claims (28)

A plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode; A driving unit for driving the electrodes; And The driving unit is controlled in the plurality of subfield groups to divide one frame into a plurality of subfield groups each including at least one subfield, and at least one or more subfield groups in the at least one subfield group. A scan pulse controller which makes a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode larger than another subfield in an address period of a subfield; Plasma display device comprising a. The method of claim 1, Between each frame A rest period having a predetermined length is further included, And the subfield groups of the frame are continuous in the same frame. The method of claim 1, Between each frame A first rest period having a predetermined length is included, Between the subfield groups within the same frame And a second rest period having a predetermined length. The method of claim 3, wherein And the first idle period and the second idle period have the same length. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Each of the plurality of subfield groups includes a plurality of subfields, The plurality of subfield groups The subfields are arranged in increasing order of the gray level value in each group. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Each of the plurality of subfield groups includes a plurality of subfields, The plurality of subfield groups And subfields are arranged in order of decreasing magnitude of gray level value in each group. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The frame is divided into two subfield groups, Each of the two subfield groups includes a plurality of subfields, And the two subfield groups are arranged in the order of magnitude of different gradation values of the subfields within each subfield group. The method of claim 7, wherein One of the two subfield groups The subfields are arranged in increasing order of the gray level value in each group. The method of claim 7, wherein One of the two subfield groups And subfields are arranged in order of decreasing magnitude of gray level value in each group. The method of claim 7, wherein One of the two subfield groups is arranged in the order that the subfields in each group are reduced in magnitude of gray level values, One of the two subfield groups, the subfields in each group are arranged in the order of increasing the magnitude of the gray scale value. The method of claim 1, The scan pulse controller And the width of the scan pulse is greater than or equal to a first threshold time in a subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode is larger than other subfields in the address period. The method of claim 11, And the first threshold time is 2.0 ms. The method of claim 11, And at least one subfield having a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than a first threshold time. The method of claim 11, And at least one subfield having a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than a first threshold time is included in each of the subfield groups. The method of claim 11, The subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is greater than or equal to a first threshold time may range from a subfield having the lowest gray value to a predetermined number of subfields in the order of the magnitude of the gray value. Plasma display device. The method of claim 15, The subfield whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is greater than or equal to the first threshold time is from the subfield having the lowest gradation value to the third subfield in the order of the gradation value. Display device. The method of claim 11, There are a plurality of subfields whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is equal to or greater than a first threshold time, The scan pulse controller may be a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of one subfield in a plurality of subfields having a width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than a first threshold time. Plasma display device characterized in that the width of the different from the other subfield. The method of claim 11, There are a plurality of subfields whose width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is equal to or greater than a first threshold time, The scan pulse controller may be configured to have a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period within a plurality of subfields having a width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period equal to or greater than a first threshold time. Plasma display device, characterized in that different for each field. The method of claim 18, In the plurality of subfields, the widths of the scan pulses applied to the scan electrodes in the address period are different for each subfield. And the scan pulse controller increases the width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period as the gray level value decreases. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, And a subfield having a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode to be equal to or greater than a first threshold time is a subfield using a sustain pulse equal to or less than a threshold number. The method of claim 20, The threshold number is Plasma display device characterized in that less than 50% of the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame. The method of claim 21, The threshold number is Plasma display device characterized in that less than 30% of the total number of sustain pulses used in one frame. The method of claim 11, The scan pulse controller The width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is less than or equal to the second threshold time in the remaining subfields except for the subfield in which the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period is greater than or equal to the first threshold time. Plasma display device characterized in that. The method of claim 23, And the second threshold time is 1/2 of the first threshold time. The method of claim 23, And the second threshold time is 1.5 ms. A driving apparatus of a plasma display panel for driving a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. A driving unit for driving the electrodes; The frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and the driving unit is controlled in the plurality of subfield groups so that at least one of the plurality of subfield groups is transferred to the scan electrode in an address period of at least one subfield. A scan pulse controller which makes the width of the applied scan pulse larger than other subfields; Driving apparatus for a plasma display panel comprising a. A plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and a sustain electrode and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. The frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and in at least one subfield group of the plurality of subfield groups, the width of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period of at least one subfield is larger than the other subfields. Plasma display panel characterized in that. A driving method of a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. The frame is divided into a plurality of subfield groups, and in at least one subfield group of the plurality of subfield groups, a width of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in an address period of at least one subfield is larger than another subfield. A driving method of a plasma display panel, characterized in that.

Images