KR20070089577A - Apparatus of driving plasma display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel is provided to prevent damage to switching elements by connecting the switching elements of an energy recovery unit to a common source terminal without using a coupling capacitor. An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel includes a pulse supply unit(80) for supplying a pulse to a panel, and an energy recovery unit(82). The energy recovery unit includes an inductor(L11) for generating an LC resonance, an energy recover determining unit(822), an energy storage unit(820). The energy recover determining unit determines whether to accumulate energy from the panel or to emit the accumulated energy to the panel during the resonance. The energy storage unit stores the accumulated energy. The energy recover determining unit includes a first drop switching element(S14) for determining the energy accumulation and a second drop switching element(S15) connected between the first drop switching element and the energy storage unit to form a current path through an internal diode.

Description

Apparatus of driving plasma display panel

1 is a view showing an example of the structure of a plasma display panel driven by the driving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode arrangement of the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for driving a plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

4 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a driving signal output from each driving unit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a sustain pulse among the driving signals of FIG. 4.

6 is a circuit diagram showing a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel compared with the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a driving IC for driving the fifth switching device of FIG. 6.

8 is a circuit diagram illustrating a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a driving IC for driving the first and second falling switching elements of FIG. 8.

10 is a circuit diagram showing a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a switching element driver driving the falling switching element of FIG. 10.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

Y1, ..., Yn ... scan electrode lines,

X1, ..., Xn ... holding electrode lines,

A1, ..., Am ... address electrode lines,

500, 800, 900 ... drives of plasma display panels,

50, 80, 90 ... pulse applying section, 52, 82, 92 ... energy recovery section,

501, 801, 901 ... first voltage applying unit, 520, 820, 920 ... energy storage unit,

522,822 ... Energy recovery decision.

The present invention relates to a driving device of a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to ensure the operational stability and reliability of a switching element during energy recovery in an energy recovery circuit provided in the driving device.

 Recently, a plasma display panel, which is attracting attention as a large flat panel display device, is discharged after a discharge gas is filled between two substrates on which a plurality of electrodes are formed, and a discharge voltage is applied thereto. The phosphor formed in a predetermined pattern is excited to obtain a desired image.

The driving apparatus of the plasma display panel includes a plurality of driving ICs for controlling switching operations of the plurality of voltage sources, the plurality of switching elements, and the plurality of switching elements to apply a driving signal to each of the plurality of electrodes. Equipped. The driving signal is output from the driving apparatus of the plasma display panel by the switching operation of the plurality of switching elements. The driving device of the plasma display panel is largely divided into a pulse applying unit and an energy recovery unit. The pulse applying unit applies pulses to the plasma display panel, and the energy recovery unit recovers energy (wall charge) from the discharge cells inside the panel in which the discharge is performed by the pulses applied by the pulse applying unit, and returns them to restore the reactive power consumption. Play a role of mitigation.

The energy recovery unit includes a switching element, an inductive element for resonance, and a capacitive element for storing the recovered energy (wall charge). The switching element is driven by a switching control signal. The switching control signal is output in the form of a pulse from an integrated device, commonly called a driving IC. At this time, the switching control signal in the form of a pulse passes through a capacitor for removing the DC component, which causes distortion of the waveform. By such a distorted switching control signal, the heat generation in the switching element is severe and the possibility of burnout increases. In particular, these problems are exacerbated in the switching element used in the energy recovery of the energy recovery portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve various problems including the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel which operates stably and ensures reliability.

The present invention provides a plasma display panel driving apparatus for driving a plasma display panel, comprising: a pulse applying unit configured to apply a pulse to the panel; And an inductor for causing LC resonance with the panel capacitor component of the plasma display panel, an energy recovery determining unit configured to determine whether to accumulate energy of the panel or to release the accumulated energy to the panel during the resonance, and to store the accumulated energy. A first falling switching element comprising an energy recovery unit including an energy storage unit, wherein the energy recovery determination unit determines to accumulate energy of the panel; And a second falling switching element connected between the first falling switching element and the energy storage unit and having an internal diode connected to form a current path toward the energy storage unit. do.

The first falling switching element and the second falling switching element are field effect transistors (FETs), and each source terminal may be commonly connected.

A common switching control signal may be input to each gate terminal of the first falling switching element and the second falling switching element.

A bootstrap capacitor may be connected to the common source terminal, and the bootstrap capacitor may be charged through a path of an internal diode, an inductor, and a ground terminal in the pulse applying unit of the first falling switch.

The energy recovery determining unit may further include a rising switching element that determines to release the energy accumulated in the energy storage unit to the panel, and a diode that is a one-way conductive element that transfers the accumulated energy to the panel.

The pulse applying unit includes: a first voltage source for supplying a first voltage; A first voltage switching element for switching the first voltage and transferring the first voltage to the panel; A second voltage source for supplying a second voltage; And a second voltage switching device for switching the second voltage to transfer the second voltage to the panel.

Preferably, the second voltage is a ground voltage.

The energy storage unit may include an energy storage capacitor connected between the ground terminal and the energy recovery determination unit.

The pulse may be a sustain pulse that causes a sustain discharge to be performed in a selected discharge cell among the discharge cells provided in the plasma display panel.

The pulse may be an address pulse for selecting a cell to be turned on among discharge cells included in the plasma display panel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel for driving a plasma display panel, comprising: a pulse applying unit configured to apply a pulse to the panel; And an inductor for causing LC resonance with the panel capacitor component of the plasma display panel, an energy recovery determining unit for determining the energy accumulated in the panel or emitting the accumulated energy to the panel during the resonance, and storing the accumulated energy. And an energy recovery unit including an energy storage unit, wherein the energy recovery determination unit includes a falling switching element configured to determine to accumulate energy of the panel, and between the falling switching element and the energy recovery unit from the falling switching element. The present invention provides a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel including a falling diode, which is a one-way conductive element connected to form a current path in an energy recovery portion.

A drive strap between the supply terminal of the high level voltage and the supply terminal of the low level voltage to be electrically connected to a driving terminal of the down switching element to drive the down switching element by applying a high level voltage or a low level voltage. It is preferable to further include a switching element driver connected to the capacitor.

The falling switching element may be a field effect transistor (FET), and a source terminal of the field effect transistor may be connected to the falling diode.

In order to drive the falling switching element by applying a high level voltage or a low level voltage electrically connected to the gate terminal of the falling switching element, it is preferable to further include a switching element driver connected to the bootstrap capacitor to the source terminal. Do.

The bootstrap capacitor may be charged through a path of an internal diode of the down switch, the inductor, and a ground terminal in the pulse applying unit.

Preferably, the switching element driver further includes an amplifier for outputting a high level voltage or a low level voltage in response to a control signal of the operation of the falling switching element.

One end of the bootstrap capacitor may be electrically connected to a high level power input terminal of the amplifier, and the other end of the bootstrap capacitor may be electrically connected to a low level power input terminal of the amplifier and a source of the falling switching element.

Preferably, the switching element driver further includes a bootstrap diode electrically connected between the high level power input terminal and one end of the bootstrap capacitor.

The switching element driver includes a first resistor electrically connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the gate terminal of the falling switching element, and a second resistor electrically connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the source terminal of the falling switching element. It is preferable to further include.

It is preferable that the low level voltage is a ground voltage.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a view showing an example of the structure of a plasma display panel driven by the driving apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 106 of the plasma display panel, the address electrodes (A1, ..., Am), the first and second dielectric layers (102, 110), Scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn, sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn, phosphor layer 112, barrier rib 114 and magnesium monoxide (MgO) protective layer 104 are provided. .

The address electrodes Al, ..., Am are formed in a predetermined pattern on the second substrate 106 in the direction of the first substrate 100. The second dielectric layer 110 is applied to cover the address electrodes A1, ..., Am. The partition walls 114 are formed on the second dielectric layer 110 in a direction parallel to the address electrodes A1,..., Am. The partition walls 114 function to partition the discharge region of each discharge cell and to prevent optical interference between the discharge cells. The phosphor layer 112 is applied on the second dielectric layer 110 on the address electrodes A1,..., Am between the partition walls 114, and sequentially a red light emitting phosphor layer, a green light emitting phosphor layer, A blue light emitting phosphor layer is disposed.

The sustain electrodes X1,..., Xn and the scan electrodes Y1,..., Yn are formed in the direction of the second substrate 106 so as to be orthogonal to the address electrodes A1,..., Am. 1 is formed on the substrate 100 in a predetermined pattern. Each intersection sets a corresponding discharge cell. Each of the sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn and each of the scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn may have conductivity with a transparent conductive material (Xna, Yna) made of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Metal electrodes (Xnb, Ynb) for increasing the ratio may be formed. The first dielectric layer 102 is formed by covering the sustain electrodes X1,..., Xn and the scan electrodes Y1,..., Yn. A protective layer 104 for protecting the panel from a strong electric field, for example, a magnesium monoxide (MgO) layer, is formed over the entire surface to cover the first dielectric layer 102. The plasma forming gas is sealed in the discharge space 108.

Meanwhile, the plasma display panel driven by the driving apparatus of the present invention is not limited to that shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, not a plasma display panel having a three-electrode structure, but a plasma display panel having a two-electrode structure in which only two electrodes are disposed. In addition, plasma display panels having various structures are possible. It will be sufficient if it is driven by the drive device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode arrangement of the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn and the sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn are arranged in parallel in parallel, and the address electrodes A1, ..., Am Is arranged to intersect the scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn and the sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn, and the intersecting area divides the discharge cell Ce.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for driving a plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the driving apparatus of the plasma display panel includes an image processor 300, a logic controller 302, a Y driver 304, an address driver 306, an X driver 308, and a plasma display panel 1. Equipped. The image processor 300 converts an external image signal from the outside and outputs it as an internal image signal, and the logic controller 302 receives an internal image signal, respectively, an address driving control signal S _A and a Y driving control signal ( S _Y ) and an X driving control signal S _X are output, and the Y driving unit 304, the address driving unit 306, and the X driving unit 308 receive driving control signals, respectively, and scan electrodes of the plasma display panel 1. Drive signals are output to the address electrodes and the sustain electrodes.

4 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a driving signal output from each driving unit of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, a unit frame for driving the plasma display panel (1 of FIG. 3) is divided into a plurality of subfields, and each subfield SF includes a reset period PR and an address period PA. And maintenance period PS.

First, during the reset period PR, a reset pulse consisting of a rising pulse and a falling pulse is applied to the scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn, and a falling pulse is applied to the sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn. From the second voltage (Vb) is applied to perform a reset discharge. All discharge cells are initialized by reset discharge. The rising pulse rises from the first voltage Vs by the third voltage Vset to finally reach the rising maximum voltage Vset + Vs, and the falling pulse falls from the first voltage Vs and finally the fourth voltage. (Vnf) is reached.

In the address period PA, scan pulses are sequentially applied to the scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn, and address pulses are applied to the address electrodes A1, ..., Am in accordance with the scan pulse. Address discharge is performed. The discharge cells to be subjected to the sustain discharge occurring in the sustain period PS by the address discharge are selected. The scan pulse has a fifth voltage Vsch and sequentially has a sixth voltage Vscl whose voltage is smaller than the fifth voltage Vsch, and the address pulse is a positive electrode according to the application of the sixth voltage Vscl of the scan pulse. It has a seventh voltage Va.

In sustain period PS, sustain pulses are alternately applied to sustain electrodes X1, ..., Xn and scan electrodes Y1, ..., Yn to perform sustain discharge. The luminance of the unit field composed of a plurality of subfields is represented by sustain discharge according to the gray scale weights assigned to each subfield. The sustain pulse alternately has a first voltage Vs and a ground voltage Vg.

Meanwhile, the driving signals shown in FIG. 4 are output from the respective driving units of FIG. 3, but are not limited to those shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a sustain pulse among the driving signals of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the sustain pulse is output from the X driver or the Y driver of FIG. 3, and the operation of the pulse applying unit (80 of FIG. 8) and the energy recovery unit (82 of FIG. The waveform is generated. The sustain pulse is the first period Ta that rises from the ground voltage Vg to the sustain voltage Vs, the second period Tb that maintains the sustain voltage Vs for a predetermined period, and the ground voltage Vs in the sustain voltage Vs. It is divided into a third period T3 that falls to Vg) and a fourth period Td that maintains the ground voltage Vg for a predetermined period. For reference, the first period Ta and the third period Tc are periods during which the energy recovery unit (82 in FIG. 8) described later operates, and the second period Tb and the fourth period Td apply pulses. It is a period during which the portion (80 in Fig. 8) is operated.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel compared to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a driving IC for driving the fourth switching device of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the driving apparatus 500 of the plasma display panel of FIG. 6 is divided into a pulse applying unit 50 and an energy recovery unit 52. The pulse applying unit 50 applies a pulse to one of the electrodes illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, specifically, the plasma display panel. In the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, the plasma display panel is represented by a panel capacitor Cp. Therefore, a pulse is applied to one end of the panel capacitor (first end of Cp, first electrodes of the plurality of electrodes). Another pulse signal is applied to the other end of the panel capacitor (the second end of the Cp, the second electrodes of the plurality of electrodes).

The pulse applying unit 50 is divided into a first voltage applying unit 501 and a second voltage applying unit 503. The first voltage applying unit 501 switches the first voltage source Vs and the first voltage Vs from the first voltage source Vs to transfer the first switching element to the panel capacitor Cp. And a second switching element (503) for switching the second voltage source and the second voltage (Vg) from the second voltage source to the panel capacitor (Cp first stage). S2).

The energy recovery unit 52 is divided into an inductor, an energy recovery determination unit 522, and an energy storage unit 520. The inductor L1 causes LC resonance with the capacitance component of the panel capacitor Cp, and the energy recovery determining unit 522 recovers and accumulates the charge (energy) in the panel capacitor Cp to the energy storage unit 520. Or to release the charge (energy) stored in the energy storage unit 520 back to the panel capacitor Cp. To this end, the energy recovery determining unit 522 includes a third switching element S3 and a fourth switching element S4, and includes a first diode D1 and a second diode D2, which are unidirectional conductive elements. . The recovered charges (energy) are stored in the energy storage unit 520. The energy storage unit 520 is implemented with a capacitor C2.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the generation process of the sustain pulse, the third switching device S3 is turned on during the first period Ta, and the first switching device S1 is turned on during the second period Tb. The fourth switching device S4 is turned on during the third period Tc, and the second switching device S2 is turned on during the fourth period Td.

On the other hand, each switching device operates by receiving a switching control signal from the driving IC 701 of FIG. In detail, after the operating voltage from the operating voltage source Vcc is charged to the operating voltage capacitor Cc, the driving IC 701 is driven by a predetermined signal applied to the input terminal LIN of the driving IC 701. The switching control signal is output from the output terminal. The switching control signal output from the driving IC 701 is output in the form of a pulse having a pulse voltage of approximately 5V to 15V. On the other hand, conventionally, a DC coupling capacitor Cd is used to remove a DC component before a switching control signal is input to the switching element. However, the presence of such a DC coupling capacitor Cd causes a problem in that the waveform of the switching control signal is distorted. This problem is particularly problematic in the fourth switching element S4 in the energy recovery unit 52. That is, due to the waveform of the distorted switching control signal, the fourth switching element S4 has a heat generation problem, and the possibility of burnout has increased.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a driving IC for driving the first and second falling switching elements of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the driving apparatus 800 of the plasma display panel of the present invention includes a pulse applying unit 80 and an energy recovery unit 82. Hereinafter, the plasma display panel will be described by being electrically equivalent to the panel capacitor Cp.

The pulse applying unit 80 applies a pulse to the panel, and includes a first voltage applying unit 801 and a second voltage applying unit 803. That is, the first voltage applying unit 801 switches the first voltage source Vs and the first voltage Vs from the first voltage source Vs to transmit the first voltage Vs to one end (first end of Cp) of the panel capacitor. And a first voltage switching element S11, and the second voltage applying unit 803 switches the second voltage source and the second voltage Vg from the second voltage source to one end (first end of Cp) of the panel capacitor. It includes a second voltage switching element (S12) for transmitting. Here, the second voltage may be a ground voltage.

The pulse may be a sustain pulse that is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the sustain period PS of FIG. 2. In this case, the first voltage will be the sustain voltage Vs. In the case of the sustain pulse, one end (first end of Cp) of the panel capacitor may be a scan electrode, and the other end (second end of Cp) of the panel capacitor may be a sustain electrode. That is, the driving device 800 of the plasma display panel of the present invention may be part of the Y driving unit 304 of FIG. 3.

Of course, if one end of the panel capacitor (first end of Cp) is a sustain electrode, it may be part of the X driver 308 of FIG. 3. Further, the pulse may be an address pulse applied to the address electrode in the address period of FIG. In this case, the first voltage will be the address voltage Va.

 The energy recovery unit 82 includes an inductor L11, an energy recovery determination unit 822, and an energy storage unit 820. The energy recovery unit 82 recovers and accumulates the charge (energy) of the panel capacitor Cp or discharges the accumulated charge (energy) back to the panel capacitor Cp. The inductor L11 performs LC resonance with the capacitance component of the panel capacitor Cp to transfer energy when the pulse rises and falls.

The energy recovery determination unit 822 includes a first falling switching element S14, a second falling switching element S15, a rising switching element S13, and a diode D11 that is a one-way conductive element. The first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 are disposed on a path for transferring charge (energy) from the panel capacitor Cp to the energy storage unit 820. The rising switching element S13 and the unidirectional conducting element diode D11 are disposed on a path for transferring charge (energy) from the energy storage unit 820 to the panel capacitor Cp.

The energy storage unit 820 may be implemented with an energy storage capacitor C12, and an energy storage capacitor C12 is disposed between the energy recovery determining unit 822 and the ground terminal.

The operation of the driving apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the sustain pulse waveform of FIG. 5. During the first period Ta, the rising switching element S13 is turned on and stored in the energy storage unit 820. Charge (energy) is transferred to the panel capacitor Cp through a path formed by the rising switching element S13, the diode D11, and the inductor L11. At this time, LC resonance is generated by the capacitance component of the inductor L11 and the panel capacitor Cp.

During the second period Tb, the first voltage switching element S11 is turned on to transfer the first voltage Vs from the first voltage source Vs to the panel capacitor Cp. During the third period Tc, the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 are turned on so that the charge (energy) of the panel capacitor Cp is changed to the inductor L11, The first falling switching device S14 and the second falling switching device S15 are transferred to the energy storage unit 820. During the fourth period Td, the second voltage switching element S12 is turned on to transmit the second voltage Vg to the panel capacitor Cp.

The first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 may be implemented by a field effect transistor (FET), and in this case, each source terminal is commonly connected. That is, common source is connected.

In addition, a common switching control signal is input to each gate terminal of the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15. The second falling switching element S15 functions as a one-way conductive element like the second diode D2 of FIG. 6.

That is, during the first period Ta, the charge (energy) from the energy storage unit 820 is turned off because the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 are turned off. Is not delivered. This is also because the directions of the internal diodes of the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 are opposite to each other.

Looking at the operation of the first falling switching device (S14) and the second falling switching device (S15) in detail, the first falling switching device (S14) and the second falling switching device (S15) is electrically connected to the driving IC (830). do. In order for the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 to operate, the bootstrap capacitor Cb1 connected to the common source terminal is first charged. When the second voltage switching element S12 is turned on, the operating voltage from the operating voltage source Vcc is the bootstrap capacitor Cb1, the internal diode of the first falling switching element S14, the inductor L11. ), A path is formed by the second voltage switching element S12 and the ground terminal, whereby the operating voltage is charged in the bootstrap capacitor Cb1.

In this case, the driving IC 831, the bootstrap capacitor Cb1, the bootstrap diode D1, and the resistors R11, R12, and R13 form the switching element driver 830. The bootstrap diode D1 is connected between the operating voltage source Vcc and the bootstrap capacitor Cb1 to block a current path that may be formed from the operating bootstrap capacitor Cb1 in the direction of the voltage source Vcc.

A resistor R11 may be connected between the operating voltage source Vcc and the bootstrap diode D1 to prevent an instantaneous voltage change. In addition, resistors R12 and R13 may be connected between the output terminal of the driving IC 831 and the gate terminals of the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 to prevent an instantaneous voltage change. Can be.

The driving IC 831 receives a driving control signal, as shown in FIG. 11, and amplifies the driving IC 831 to a voltage capable of driving the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15. The push pull amplifier 931 which can be outputted may be built in.

Next, when the operating voltage is charged and a predetermined signal is input to the input terminal HIN, the switching control signal is output from the output terminal HO of the driving IC 831. The switching control signal drives the first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 as a common switching control signal.

In comparison with FIG. 6, the DC coupling capacitor Cd is not provided between the driving IC 830 and the gate terminals of the switching elements S14 and S15, so that there is no distortion of the waveform and the operating voltage is stably charged. The first falling switching element S14 and the second falling switching element S15 also operate stably to ensure reliability.

10 is a circuit diagram showing a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a switching device driver driving the falling switching device of FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawings, the driving apparatus 900 of the plasma display panel according to the present invention includes a pulse applying unit 90 and an energy recovery unit 92. Hereinafter, the plasma display panel will be described by being electrically equivalent to the panel capacitor Cp.

The pulse applying unit 90 applies a pulse to the panel and includes a first voltage applying unit 901 and a second voltage applying unit 903. That is, the first voltage applying unit 901 is configured to switch the first voltage source Vs and the first voltage Vs from the first voltage source Vs to be transmitted to one end of the panel capacitor (first end of Cp). The second voltage applying unit 903 includes a first voltage switching element S21 and switches the second voltage source and the second voltage Vg from the second voltage source to one end of the panel capacitor (first end of Cp). And a second voltage switching element S22 for transmitting. Here, the second voltage may be a ground voltage.

The pulse may be a sustain pulse that is alternately applied to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the sustain period PS of FIG. 2. In this case, the first voltage will be the sustain voltage Vs. In the case of the sustain pulse, one end (first end of Cp) of the panel capacitor may be a scan electrode, and the other end (second end of Cp) of the panel capacitor may be a sustain electrode. That is, the driving apparatus 900 of the plasma display panel of the present invention may be part of the Y driving unit 304 of FIG. 3.

Of course, if one end of the panel capacitor (first end of Cp) is a sustain electrode, it may be part of the X driver 308 of FIG. 3. Further, the pulse may be an address pulse applied to the address electrode in the address period of FIG. In this case, the first voltage will be the address voltage Va.

The energy recovery unit 92 includes an inductor L2, an energy recovery determination unit 922, and an energy storage unit 920. The energy recovery unit 92 collects and accumulates the charge (energy) of the panel capacitor Cp or discharges the accumulated charge (energy) back to the panel capacitor Cp. The inductor L2 resonates with the capacitance component of the panel capacitor Cp to transfer energy at the time of rising and falling of the pulse.

In this case, the inductor L2 may be connected between the energy recovery determining unit 922 and the panel capacitor Cp or between the energy recovery determining unit 922 and the energy recovery unit 92.

The energy recovery determination unit 822 includes a falling switching element S24, a falling diode D22, a rising switching element S23, and a diode D21 that is a one-way conductive element. The falling switching element S24 and the falling diode D22 are disposed on a path for transferring charge (energy) from the panel capacitor Cp to the energy storage unit 920. The rising switching device S23 and the diode D21, which is a unidirectional conducting device, are disposed on a path for transferring charge (energy) from the energy storage unit 220 to the panel capacitor Cp.

The energy storage unit 920 may be implemented as an energy storage capacitor C22, and an energy storage capacitor C22 is disposed between the energy recovery determining unit 922 and the ground terminal.

The operation of the driving apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the sustain pulse waveform of FIG. 5. During the first period Ta, the rising switching element S23 is turned on and stored in the energy storage unit 920. Charge (energy) is transferred to the panel capacitor Cp through a path formed by the rising switching element S23, the diode D21, and the inductor L2. At this time, LC resonance is generated by the capacitance component of the inductor L2 and the panel capacitor Cp.

During the second period Tb, the first voltage switching element S21 is turned on to transfer the first voltage Vs from the first voltage source Vs to the panel capacitor Cp. During the third period Tc, the falling switching element S24 and the falling diode D22 are turned on to charge (energy) of the panel capacitor Cp to the inductor L2 and the falling switching element S24. , And is transferred to the energy storage unit 920 through the falling diode (D22). During the fourth period Td, the second voltage switching element S22 is turned on to transmit the second voltage Vg to the panel capacitor Cp.

The falling switching element S24 may be implemented as a field effect transistor (FET). In addition, a switching control signal is input to each gate terminal of the falling switching element S24. The falling diode D22 functions as a one-way conductive element like the second diode D2 of FIG. 6. That is, during the first period Ta, the charge (energy) from the energy storage unit 920 is turned off, so that the charge is not transferred.

Looking at the operation of the falling switching element (S24) and the falling diode (D22) in detail, the first falling switching element (S14) is driven by the switching driving element unit 930, it is electrically connected to the driving IC (931). In order for the falling switching element S24 to operate, the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 connected to the source terminal is first charged. When the second voltage switching device S22 is turned on, the operating voltage from the operating voltage source Vcc is changed into the bootstrap capacitor Cb2, the internal diode of the falling switching device S24, the inductor L2, and the second voltage switching device S22. A path is formed by the two voltage switching element S22 and the ground terminal, whereby the operating voltage is charged in the bootstrap capacitor Cb2.

In this case, the driving IC 931, the bootstrap capacitor Cb2, the bootstrap diode D2, and the resistors R21 and R22 form the switching element driver 930.

Here, the driving IC 931 may be an amplifier 931 capable of receiving a driving control signal and amplifying and outputting the voltage at a level capable of driving the falling switching element S24.

The amplifier 931 outputs a high level voltage or a low level voltage capable of driving the gate of the falling switching element S24 in response to the control signal in. In general, the control signal in is a signal output from the controller 302 to control the turn on / off of the falling switching element S24, and has a low voltage range used by the controller 302. However, since the turn-on / turn-off of the falling switching element S24 cannot be controlled only by the level of the control signal in, an amplifier 931 for amplifying the level of the control signal in is used, for example, a push-pull. An amplifier can be used.

The high level power input of the amplifier 931 is connected to one end of the bootstrap capacitor Cb2, and the other end of the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 and the low level power input of the amplifier 931 are respectively the source of the falling switching element S24. It is connected to the terminal. In addition, one end of the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 is connected to, for example, a power supply for supplying a 15 V voltage Vcc, and an output of the amplifier 931 is connected to a gate of the falling switching element S24 through a resistor R1. have.

When the second voltage switching device S22 is turned on and the 0V voltage is applied to one end of the panel capacitor Cp, unlike in FIGS. 6 and 7, the diode D2 between the inductor L2 and the falling switching device S24. ), The drain voltage of the falling switching element S24, which is a voltage applied to one end of the inductor L2, also becomes a 0V voltage. Then, the source voltage of the transistor Xf becomes the 0V voltage equal to the drain voltage of the falling switching element S24 by the body diode of the transistor Xf. Therefore, the capacitor Cb2 is charged with a 15V voltage.

In this case, a diode D2 may be further formed between the 15V power supply and the capacitor Cb2 to block a current path that may be formed in the direction of the 15V power supply from the capacitor Cb2.

Next, the operation of the switching element driver 930 of FIG. 11 will be described.

First, when the control signal in becomes 5V in order to reduce the voltage of the panel capacitor Cp in the third period Tc of FIG. 5, the amplifier 931 may include the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 of the high level power input terminal. Once the voltage is output. In this case, since the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 is bootstraped, one end voltage of the bootstrap capacitor Cb2 becomes a voltage higher than 15V higher than the source voltage of the falling switching element S24, which is the other end voltage of the bootstrap capacitor Cb2.

That is, the output voltage out of the amplifier 931 becomes a voltage higher than 15V than the source voltage of the falling switching element S24. Therefore, the gate-source voltage of the falling switching element S24 becomes 15V, and the falling switching element S24 is turned on.

When the control signal in becomes 0 V in the Td, Ta, and Tb periods after the voltage of the panel capacitor Cp is decreased, the source voltage of the falling switching element S24, which is a low level power input, is increased in the amplifier 931. Is output. As a result, the gate-source voltage of the falling switching device S24 becomes 0V, and the falling switching device S24 is turned off.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since only 15 V is always applied to both ends of the capacitor Cb2, a capacitor Cb2 having a low breakdown voltage can be used. In addition, since the output voltage of the amplifier 931 is directly transmitted to the gate of the falling switching element S24 without passing through the capacitor Cb2, no distortion occurs in the waveform. Since the drain of the falling switching element S24 is directly connected to the inductor L2 or the electrode without passing through the diode D22, a voltage of 15V may be charged in the capacitor Cb2.

In addition, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described as outputting a voltage of 15V from the amplifier 931, a voltage of another level capable of stably turning on the falling switching element S24 may be used instead of the 15V voltage.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the sustain discharge pulse of the Vs voltage is alternately applied to the Y electrode and the X electrode. Unlike FIG. 4, a sustain discharge pulse may be applied to the Y electrode and / or the X electrode such that the voltage difference between the Y electrode and the X electrode alternately has a Vs voltage and a −Vs voltage. For example, while the Y electrode is biased to the ground voltage, the sustain discharge pulse may be applied to the X electrode alternately having the Vs voltage and the -Vs voltage. In this case, the voltage level of the power source connected to the power recovery capacitor C22 and the switching elements S21 and S22 may be changed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the power recovery circuit is used in the sustain period. Alternatively, the power recovery circuit can be used in the address period. That is, an address pulse applied to the address electrode in the address period can be generated using the power recovery circuit.

6, the DC coupling capacitor Cd is not provided between the push-pull amplifier 931 and the gate terminal of the switching element S24, so that there is no distortion of the waveform and the operating voltage is stably charged. The falling switching element S24 also operates stably, thereby ensuring reliability.

According to the present invention as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the driving device of the display panel of the present invention, since the falling switching elements of the energy recovery unit are connected to a common source, and the DC coupling capacitor is not used, the operating voltage is stably charged, and the falling switching elements are stably operated. Reliability such as heat generation and the likelihood of burnout is reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (26)

In the driving device of the plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel, A pulse applying unit applying a pulse to the panel; And an inductor for causing LC resonance with the panel capacitor component of the plasma display panel, an energy recovery determining unit configured to determine whether to accumulate energy of the panel or to release the accumulated energy to the panel during the resonance, and to store the accumulated energy. An energy recovery unit including an energy storage unit to be provided, The energy recovery determination unit, A first falling switching element for determining accumulation of energy of the panel; And And a second falling switching element connected between the first falling switching element and the energy storage unit and having an internal diode connected to form a current path toward the energy storage unit. The method of claim 1, The first falling switching element and the second falling switching element are field effect transistors (FETs), and a driving device of the plasma display panel to which each source terminal is commonly connected. The method of claim 2, And a common switching control signal is input to each gate terminal of the first falling switching element and the second falling switching element. The method of claim 2, Bootstrap capacitor is connected to the common source terminal, the bootstrap capacitor, the driving device of the plasma display panel is charged through the path of the ground terminal in the internal diode, the inductor, and the pulse applying unit of the first falling switch . The method of claim 1, The energy recovery determining unit may further include a rising switching device that determines to release energy stored in the energy storage unit to the panel, and a diode that is a unidirectional conducting device that transfers the accumulated energy to the panel. Drive of the panel. The method of claim 1, The pulse applying unit may include: a first voltage source supplying a first voltage; A first voltage switching element for switching the first voltage to transfer the first voltage to the panel; A second voltage source for supplying a second voltage; And a second voltage switching element for switching the second voltage to transfer the second voltage to the panel. The method of claim 6, And the second voltage is a ground voltage. The method of claim 1, And the energy storage unit includes an energy storage capacitor connected between a ground terminal and the energy recovery determination unit. The method of claim 1, And the pulses are sustain pulses for performing sustain discharge in selected discharge cells among the discharge cells provided in the plasma display panel. The method of claim 1, And the pulse is an address pulse for selecting a cell to be turned on among discharge cells provided in the plasma display panel. In the driving device of the plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel, A pulse applying unit applying a pulse to the panel; And An inductor for causing LC resonance with the panel capacitor component of the plasma display panel, an energy recovery determining unit for determining the accumulation of energy of the panel or the emission of accumulated energy to the panel during the resonance, and storing the accumulated energy. An energy recovery unit including an energy storage unit, The energy recovery determining unit is connected to a falling switching element for determining the accumulation of energy in the panel, and a current path is formed from the falling switching element to the energy recovery unit between the falling switching element and the energy recovery unit. An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel including a falling diode, which is a unidirectional conductive element. The method of claim 11, A drive strap between the supply terminal of the high level voltage and the supply terminal of the low level voltage to be electrically connected to a driving terminal of the down switching element to drive the down switching element by applying a high level voltage or a low level voltage. The driving device of the plasma display panel further comprises a switching element driver connected to the capacitor. The method of claim 11, And the falling switching element is a field effect transistor (FET), and a source terminal of the field effect transistor is connected to the falling diode. The method of claim 13, A plasma display further comprising a switching element driver electrically connected to a gate terminal of the falling switching element to apply a high level voltage or a low level voltage to drive the falling switching element, and a bootstrap capacitor connected to the source terminal. Drive of the panel. The method of claim 14, And the bootstrap capacitor is charged through a path of an internal diode of the down switch, the inductor, and a ground terminal in the pulse applying unit. The method of claim 14, And the switching element driver further comprises an amplifier for outputting a high level voltage or a low level voltage in response to a control signal of the operation of the falling switching element. The method of claim 16, One end of the bootstrap capacitor is electrically connected to a high level power input terminal of the amplifier, and the other end of the bootstrap capacitor is electrically connected to a low level power input terminal of the amplifier and a source of the falling switching element. Drive system. The method of claim 17, And the switching element driver further includes a bootstrap diode electrically connected between the high level power input terminal and one end of the bootstrap capacitor. The method of claim 16, The switching element driver includes a first resistor electrically connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the gate terminal of the falling switching element, and a second resistor electrically connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the source terminal of the falling switching element. Driving device of the plasma display panel further comprising. The method according to claim 12 or 14, wherein And the low level voltage is a ground voltage. The method of claim 11, The energy recovery determining unit further includes a rising switching element that determines to release energy stored in the energy storage unit to the panel, and a rising diode which is a unidirectional conducting element transferring the accumulated energy to the panel. Drive of display panel. The method of claim 11, The pulse applying unit switches a first voltage source for supplying a first voltage, a first voltage switching element for switching the first voltage to the panel, a second voltage source for supplying a second voltage, and the second voltage. And a second voltage switching device to transfer the voltage to the panel. The method of claim 22, And the second voltage is a ground voltage. The method of claim 11, And the energy storage unit includes an energy storage capacitor connected between a ground terminal and the energy recovery determining unit. The method of claim 11, And the pulse is a sustain pulse which causes a sustain discharge to be performed in a selected discharge cell among discharge cells provided in the plasma display panel. The method of claim 11, And the pulse is an address pulse for selecting a cell to be turned on among discharge cells provided in the plasma display panel.

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