KR100563074B1 - Plasma display panel and driving method for driving same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a new structure plasma display panel capable of improving luminance and driving at a low voltage, and a driving method for driving the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, the first substrate and the second substrate disposed opposite to each other; A partition wall disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining discharge cells together with the first substrate and the second substrate; First discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cell; Second discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cells and spaced apart from the first discharge electrodes toward the first substrate or the second substrate; Auxiliary electrodes crossing the discharge cells and having protrusions protruding into the discharge cells; An electron emission layer surrounding protrusions of the auxiliary electrodes; A phosphor layer disposed in the discharge cell; And a discharge gas in the discharge cell, wherein, for the gradation display, a reset period for initializing the discharge cell and an address discharge for selecting the discharge cell to be turned on are selected. It is divided into a sustain period in which sustain discharge is performed in response to an address period to be performed and a gray scale weight in a selected discharge cell, and to apply an auxiliary pulse for electron emission to the auxiliary electrodes before performing the address discharge and before performing the first sustain discharge during the sustain discharge. A driving method of a plasma display panel is provided.

Description

Plasma display panel and driving method for driving same {Plasma display panel and driving method for the same}

1 is a partially separated perspective view of a three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plasma display panel of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. FIG.

3 is a view briefly illustrating an electrode arrangement of FIG. 1.

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

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating a driving signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

Fig. 6 is a partially separated perspective view showing the plasma display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a layout view illustrating discharge cells, first and second discharge electrodes, and auxiliary electrodes illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode arrangement of the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for driving a plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a timing diagram illustrating an embodiment of a driving signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrating another embodiment of a drive signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200 ... plasma display panel 201 ... first substrate

202.Second substrate 205.Bulk wall

206 ... first discharge electrodes 207 ... second discharge electrodes

209 ... protective layer 210 ... phosphor layer

Auxiliary Electrodes 213 Electron Emission Layer

Ce ... discharge cell

S1, ..., Sn ... scan electrode electrode lines

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

C1, ..., Cn ... auxiliary electrode lines

1000 Image Processing Unit 1002 Logic Controller

1004 ... S drive 1006 ... A drive

1008 ... C drive unit Vs ... 1st voltage

Vset ... second voltage Vset + Vs ... third voltage

Vnf1, Vnf2 ... fourth voltage Vsch1, Vsch2 ... fifth voltage

Vscl1, Vscl2 ... Sixth Voltage Va1, Va2 ... Seventh Voltage

Vc ... ninth voltage Vx ... ninth voltage

The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a driving method for driving the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new structure plasma display panel capable of improving luminance and driving at low voltage, and a driving method for driving the same.

Recently, a plasma display panel, which is drawing attention as a replacement of a conventional cathode ray tube display device, is discharged after a discharge gas is filled between two substrates on which a plurality of electrodes are formed. The phosphor formed in a predetermined pattern by the ultraviolet rays is excited to obtain a desired image.

1 is a partially separated perspective view of a three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel according to the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plasma display panel of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. A description with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 below.

The plasma display panel 1 of FIG. 1 includes a first panel 110 and a second panel 120.

The first panel 110 includes a first substrate 111, a first dielectric layer 115 disposed to cover the scan electrode lines 112 and the sustain electrode line 113 on a rear surface of the first substrate, and a first dielectric layer 115. A first passivation layer 116 is provided to protect the first dielectric layer 115. The scan electrode lines 112 and the sustain electrode lines 113 form a pair of sustain electrode pairs 114, and bus electrodes 112a and 113a made of a metallic material to increase conductivity, and indium tin oxide (ITO). Transparent electrodes 112b and 113b made of a transparent conductive material, and the like.

The second panel 120 covers the second substrate 121 and the address electrode line 122 formed in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the scan electrode lines 112 and the sustain electrode lines 113 extend. The second dielectric layer 123 disposed in the direction of the first substrate from the front surface of the second substrate, the partition wall 124 partitioning discharge cells on the second dielectric layer 123, and the partition walls 124. The phosphor layer 125 disposed in the space defined by the space and the second passivation layer 128 are provided on the entire surface of the phosphor layer 125 to protect the phosphor layer 125. Discharge gas is injected into the discharge cell Ce, which is a space defined by the partitions 124.

3 is a view schematically showing the arrangement of the electrode line of FIG. 1.

The scan electrode lines Y1, ..., Yn and the sustain electrode lines X1, ..., Xn are arranged in parallel to each other, and the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am are arranged in parallel with each other. It is disposed to perpendicularly cross the lines Y1, ..., Yn and the sustain electrode lines X1, ..., Xn, and the crossing area divides the discharge cell Ce.

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

The driving apparatus of the plasma display panel includes an image processor 400, a logic controller 402, a Y driver 404, an address driver 406, an X driver 408, and a plasma display panel 1. The image processor 400 receives an external image signal from the outside, converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and processes the digital signal into an internal image signal. The logic controller 402 receives an internal image signal from the image processor 400 and undergoes a gamma correction, an automatic power control (APC) step, and the like, such as an address driving control signal SA, a Y driving control signal SY, and Outputs the X drive control signal SX. The Y driver 404 receives the Y drive control signal SY from the logic controller 402 and reset pulses having a rising ramp pulse and a falling ramp pulse for initialization discharge in a reset period (PR of FIG. 5), The scanning pulse in the address period (PA in FIG. 5) and the sustain pulse in the sustain discharge period (PS in FIG. 5) are applied to the scan electrode lines Y1,..., Yn of the plasma display panel 1. The address driver 406 receives the address drive control signal SA from the logic controller 402 and selects a display data signal to select a cell to be turned on among all the cells in the address period (PA in FIG. 5). It outputs to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am of (1). The X driving unit 408 receives the X driving control signal SX from the logic control unit 402, and outputs a bias voltage (Vb in FIG. 5) and a sustain pulse in the sustain period during the reset period and the address period. It is applied to sustain electrode lines X1, ..., Xn of 1).

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating a driving signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 1.

The unit frame for representing an image is divided into a plurality of subfields, and each subfield selects a reset period PS for initializing discharge and discharge cells to be turned on so that discharge is performed according to gray scale weights. It is divided into an address period PA and a sustain period PS in which sustain discharge is performed according to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell. The drive signal is composed of a reset period PR, an address period PA, and a sustain period PS. During the reset period PR, the rising ramp pulse and the falling ramp pulse are applied to the scan electrode lines Y1, ..., Yn, and the falling ramp pulse is applied to the sustain electrode lines X1, ..., Xn. The bias voltage Vb is applied at the time, and the ground voltage Vg is applied to the address electrode lines Al, ..., Am to perform initialization discharge on the discharge cells. In the address period PA, a scan pulse is applied to the scan electrode lines Y1, ..., and Yn, and a discharge cell to be turned on in accordance with the scan pulse is applied to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am. A display data signal for selecting is applied. In the sustain period PS, the sustain discharge is performed according to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell to perform gray scale display so that the scan electrode lines Y1, ..., Yn and the sustain electrode lines X1, ..., Xn ), A sustain pulse is applied.

Meanwhile, in the three-electrode surface discharge plasma display panel shown in FIG. 1, sustain discharge is performed in the vicinity of the scan electrode and the sustain electrode during sustain discharge for gray scale display, which occurs only near the first substrate. For this reason, the conventional plasma display panel having a three-electrode surface discharge structure does not utilize the discharge space inside the discharge cell, so there is room for improvement in discharge efficiency and luminance. In addition, in order to drive the plasma display panel having a three-electrode structure, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased due to the complexity of the driving unit for outputting a driving signal applied to each electrode.

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 plasma display panel having a new structure with improved resolution and a driving method for driving the same.

In order to achieve the above object and various other objects, the present invention, the first substrate and the second substrate disposed opposite to each other; A partition wall disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining discharge cells together with the first substrate and the second substrate; First discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cell; Second discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cells and spaced apart from the first discharge electrodes toward the first substrate or the second substrate; Auxiliary electrodes crossing the discharge cells and having protrusions protruding into the discharge cells; An electron emission layer surrounding protrusions of the auxiliary electrodes; A phosphor layer disposed in the discharge cell; And a discharge gas in the discharge cell.

In the plasma display panel of the present invention, the electron emission layer is preferably formed of carbon nanotubes (CNT).

In the plasma display panel of the present invention, the partition wall is preferably a dielectric, and the first discharge electrodes extend in one direction, and the second discharge electrodes extend to cross the first discharge electrodes, and the auxiliary electrode. Preferably, the first discharge electrodes extend in the extending direction, and the auxiliary electrodes are preferably disposed on the second substrate, and further include a dielectric layer covering a portion other than the protrusion of the auxiliary electrodes. .

In the plasma display panel of the present invention, it is preferable to further include a protective layer disposed on at least part of the side surface of the partition wall.

The present invention also provides a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other in order to achieve the above object; A partition wall disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining discharge cells together with the first substrate and the second substrate; First discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cells and extending in one direction; Second discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cells, spaced apart from the first discharge electrodes toward the first substrate or the second substrate, and extended to cross the extending direction of the first discharge electrodes; Auxiliary electrodes crossing the discharge cells and having protrusions protruding into the discharge cells and extending in a direction in which the first discharge electrodes extend; An electron emission layer surrounding protrusions of the auxiliary electrodes; A phosphor layer disposed in the discharge cell; And a discharge gas in the discharge cell.

For gradation display, the unit frame is divided into a plurality of subfields having respective gradation weights, each subfield having a reset period for initializing discharge cells, an address period for which address discharge is performed to select a discharge cell to be turned on, and It is divided into a sustain period during which a sustain discharge is performed corresponding to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell.

The present invention provides a method of driving a plasma display panel, wherein an auxiliary pulse for emitting electrons is applied to the auxiliary electrodes just before the address discharge is performed and just before the first sustain discharge is performed.

In the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention, a reset pulse having a rising ramp pulse and a falling ramp pulse is applied to the first discharge electrodes in a reset period, and a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to the address period, and a sustain period is applied. Retaining pulse is applied to

It is preferable that a display data signal for selecting a cell to be turned on in accordance with the scanning pulse in the address period is applied to the second discharge electrodes.

In the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention, the rising ramp pulse rises by the second voltage from the first voltage to finally reach the third voltage, and the falling ramp pulse falls from the first voltage and finally the fourth voltage. And the scan pulse has a fifth voltage and has a sixth voltage smaller than the fifth voltage, the display data signal has a positive seventh voltage in accordance with the scan pulse, and the sustain pulse has a negative first voltage. It is preferable to alternately have the first voltage of polarity.

In the driving method of the plasma display panel of the present invention, the sustain pulse may further have a ground voltage having an intermediate voltage between the first voltage and the first voltage of the negative polarity.

In the method for driving a plasma display panel of the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary pulse has a negative eighth voltage.

In the method of driving a plasma display panel of the present invention, the magnitude of the fourth voltage or the sixth voltage may be greater than that of the first voltage.

In the method of driving the plasma display panel of the present invention, the magnitude of the fourth voltage or the sixth voltage may be equal to the magnitude of the first voltage, and while the falling ramp pulse is applied, the second discharge electrodes may have a positive polarity. Preferably, the ninth voltage is further applied.

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

FIG. 6 is a partially separated perspective view illustrating a plasma display panel according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a layout view illustrating discharge cells, first and second discharge electrodes, and auxiliary electrodes illustrated in FIG. 6. The structure of the plasma display panel of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

The plasma display panel 200 of FIG. 6 includes a first substrate 201, a second substrate 202, first discharge electrodes 206, second discharge electrodes 207, auxiliary electrodes 212, and the like. Phosphor layers 210, barrier ribs 205, and a discharge gas (not shown).

The first substrate 201 and the second substrate 202 face each other and are spaced apart by a predetermined interval. The first substrate 201 or the second substrate 202 may be formed of a transparent material such as glass. The first substrate (111 in FIG. 1) is formed in a portion of the lower surface of the first substrate from the first substrate toward the second substrate to define the discharge cell Ce, as in the plasma display panel 1 of FIG. 1. 1, a sustain electrode pair (114 in FIG. 1) consisting of a scan electrode (112 in FIG. 1) and a sustain electrode (113 in FIG. 1), and a first dielectric layer (114) covering the sustain electrode pair (114 in FIG. 1). Since 115) does not exist, the front transmittance of visible light is remarkably improved. Therefore, while the visible light transmittance is about 60% in the related art, the visible light transmittance is 80% or more in the case of the present invention. As a result, the luminous efficiency and luminance can be improved, and if the image is realized with the conventional brightness, the first discharge electrodes 206 and the second discharge electrodes 207 can be driven at a relatively low voltage. Will be.

Referring to FIG. 6, a partition wall 205 is provided between the first substrate 201 and the second substrate 202. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the partition wall 205 may be implemented as one partition wall 205, and includes a first partition wall facing the first substrate 201 and a second wall facing the second substrate 202. It may be implemented as a partition. Hereinafter, a case in which the partition is provided as one partition 205 as illustrated in FIG. 6 will be described. The partition wall 205 defines discharge cells Ce together with the first substrate 201 and the second substrate 202. The discharge cells Ce partitioned by the partition walls 205 have a rectangular cross section, and the discharge cells Ce are arranged in a matrix form as a whole. However, the shape of the partition wall is not limited thereto, and as long as a plurality of discharge spaces can be formed, the partition walls may be partition walls of various patterns, for example, waffles, deltas, and the like. In addition, the cross section of the discharge space may be formed to be a polygon, such as a triangle, a pentagon, or a circle, an ellipse, or the like, in addition to the quadrangle. The partitions prevent erroneous discharges from occurring between the discharge cells Ce.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 are disposed to surround the discharge cell Ce. The first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 may have a rectangular ring shape as shown in the figure, and may also have a ladder shape (not shown). The first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 are spaced apart from each other. In the present embodiment, the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 are spaced apart from each other in the front and rear directions (z direction). The first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 are formed of a conductive metal such as aluminum, copper, or the like.

The first discharge electrodes 206 and the second discharge electrodes 207 extend perpendicular to each other and are disposed in the partition wall 205. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first discharge electrodes 206 may extend in the y-axis direction, and the second discharge electrodes 207 may extend in the x-axis direction. Of course, unlike the drawing, the first discharge electrodes 206 may extend in the x-axis direction, and the second discharge electrodes 207 may extend in the y-axis direction.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary electrode 212 has a protrusion projecting into the discharge cell Ce while traversing the discharge cell Ce in the z-axis direction. The protrusion is surrounded by an electron emission layer 213 that facilitates electron emission. In addition, a portion of the auxiliary electrode 212 other than the protruding portion is disposed on the second substrate 202 in a direction from the second substrate 202 to the first substrate 201. At this time, a portion of the auxiliary electrode 212 other than the protrusion may be covered by the dielectric layer 214. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the auxiliary electrodes 212 may extend in parallel in the y-axis direction in which the first discharge electrodes 206 extend.

The electron emission layer 213 covers the protrusion of the auxiliary electrode 212 and serves to facilitate electron emission. Therefore, the electron emission layer 212 is preferably formed of Carbon NanoTube (CNT). CNT refers to a material in which carbon atoms are bonded to each other to form an annular tube. Since the CNTs have excellent electron emission characteristics and field concentration effects, electrons are easily discharged into the discharge cell Ce by the voltage applied to the auxiliary electrode 212, thereby improving discharge efficiency and luminance. In addition, since the start voltages of the address discharge and the sustain discharge can be lowered, the first discharge electrode 216 and the second discharge electrode 217 can be driven at a low voltage to perform the address discharge and the sustain discharge. A detailed driving process will be described later in the driving method for driving the plasma display panel of this embodiment.

The dielectric layer 214 is formed as a dielectric that can induce charge while preventing cations or electrons from colliding with the auxiliary electrode 212 upon discharge and damaging the auxiliary electrode 212. Such dielectrics include PbO, B2O3, and SiO2. Etc.

On the other hand, the structure of the present plasma display panel has a two-electrode structure except for the auxiliary electrode, so that reset discharge, address discharge, and sustain discharge both occur between the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207. In this embodiment, the first discharge electrodes 206 are applied with a reset pulse in the reset period (PR in FIGS. 12 and 13) to relate to the reset discharge, and the scanning pulse is applied in the address period (PA in FIGS. 12 and 13). This is related to the address discharge, and a sustain pulse is applied in the sustain period (PS in Figs. 12 and 13) to effect the sustain discharge. On the other hand, the second discharge electrodes 207 are applied with the ground voltage (Vg in FIGS. 12 and 13) in the reset period (PR in FIGS. 12 and 13), but are related to reset discharge, and the address period (PA in FIGS. 12 and 13). The scan pulse is applied to the address discharge, and the ground voltage (Vg in FIGS. 12 and 13) is applied to the sustain period (PS in FIGS. 12 and 13), but is related to the sustain discharge.

The partitions 205 prevent the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 provided in the partition 205 from directly energizing each other, and the charged particles are discharged from the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge. It is prevented from directly colliding with the electrode 207 and damaging them, and is formed as a dielectric material capable of inducing charged particles to accumulate wall charges. Such dielectrics include PbO, B ₂ O ₃ , SiO _2, and the like.

It is preferably covered by an MgO layer that is at least a protective layer 209 on the sides of the partitions 205. In this embodiment, the MgO layer 209 prevents damage to the partition walls 205 formed of the dielectric material and emits a lot of secondary electrons upon discharge. The MgO layer 209 is formed as a thin film mainly by sputtering and E-beam epaporation.

In the present embodiment, the phosphor layers 210 are disposed in the discharge cells Ce. The phosphor layers 210 may be disposed at various positions. In this embodiment, the positions of the phosphor layers 210 are as follows. In the direction from the first substrate 201 to the second substrate 202, a groove is formed in the upper surface of the first substrate 201, the phosphor layers 210 are disposed in the groove. The phosphor layers 210 may include a blue light emitting phosphor layer, a red light emitting phosphor layer, and a red light emitting phosphor layer for each discharge cell Ce.

The phosphor layer 210 includes a component that receives visible ultraviolet rays emitted by the discharge between the first discharge electrode 206 and the second discharge electrode 207 and emits visible light. The red light emitting phosphor layer is formed of Y (V, A phosphor such as P) O 4: Eu, and the green light emitting phosphor layer includes phosphors such as Zn 2 SiO 4: Mn, YBO 3: Tb, and the like, and the blue light emitting phosphor layer includes phosphors such as BAM: Eu and the like.

 In the discharge cell Ce, a discharge gas such as Ne, Xe or the like and a mixed gas thereof is encapsulated. In the present invention including the present embodiment, except for the auxiliary electrode 212, it can be seen as a two-electrode structure surrounding the partition wall, it was formed in a closed curve along the side of the discharge cell (Ce) compared to the three-electrode surface discharge structure Gradually diffuses to the center portion of the discharge cell Ce. As a result, the volume of the region where the discharge occurs is increased, and the space charge in the discharge cell Ce, which is not well used in the past, also contributes to light emission. That is, since the discharge area is enlarged to increase the amount of plasma, the discharge efficiency and luminance are improved. Low voltage driving is also possible. Therefore, in the case of the present invention, even when a high concentration of Xe gas is used as the discharge gas, it is possible to drive a low voltage, thereby significantly improving the luminous efficiency. This solves the problem of low voltage driving when using a high concentration of Xe gas as a discharge gas in a conventional plasma display panel.

Hereinafter, the first discharge electrode 206 is also referred to as a scan electrode, and the second discharge electrode 207 is also used as an address electrode.

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode layout of the plasma display panel of FIG. 6. Referring to the drawings, n scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn are arranged side by side in the row direction of the panel, and the scan electrode lines S1, ..., in the column direction of the panel. M address electrode lines A1, ..., Am are arranged to intersect Sn). An area where the scan electrode lines S1,..., Sn and the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am intersect the discharge cell Ce. Meanwhile, n auxiliary electrode lines C1,..., And Cn are disposed in parallel with the scan electrode lines S1,..., Sn. Although the actual arrangement of the auxiliary electrode lines C1, ..., Cn is disposed below the scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn, it is reasonable that it is not shown in FIG. The electrode lines S1,..., Sn are disposed close to each other.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for driving a plasma display panel for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

The structure of the plasma display panel according to the present invention can be regarded as a two-electrode structure, unlike the conventional one, if the role of the auxiliary electrode is ignored as a new electrode structure having improved discharge efficiency and luminance. Therefore, the driving device for driving the plasma display panel is more concise than in the related art.

Referring to the drawings, an image processor 1000, a logic controller 1002, an S driver 1004, an A driver 1006, a C driver 1008, and a plasma display panel 200 are provided.

The image processor 1000 receives an external image signal such as a PC signal, a DVD signal, a video signal, or a TV signal from the outside, converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and processes the digital signal into an internal image signal. The internal video signals are 8-bit red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image data, clock signals, and vertical and horizontal sync signals, respectively.

The logic controller 1002 receives an internal image signal from the image processor 1000 and undergoes a gamma correction, an automatic power control (APC) step, and the like, to respectively drive an S drive control signal SS and an A drive control signal SY. And the C drive control signal SC.

The S driver 1004 receives the S drive control signal SS from the logic controller 1002 and outputs the rising ramp pulse and the falling ramp pulse to initialize the discharge cells in the reset period (PR of FIGS. 12 and 13). A positive scan high voltage (Vsch1 in FIG. 12 and Vsch2 in FIG. 12) is applied to the reset pulse configured and the address period (PA in FIGS. 12 and 13), and the negative polarity is sequentially changed in the vertical direction of the panel 200. Scan pulses having a scan low voltage (Vscl1 in FIG. 12 and Vscl2 in FIG. 13), and a positive sustain discharge voltage (Vs in FIGS. 12 and 13) and negative in sustain discharge periods (PS in FIGS. 12 and 13). A sustain pulse having a sustain discharge voltage having a polarity (-Vs in FIGS. 12 and 13) is applied to the scan electrode lines S1,..., Sn of the plasma display panel 200.

The A driver 1006 receives the A drive control signal SA from the logic controller 1002 and, in the reset period, the ground voltage (Vg in FIG. 12) or the bias voltage (Vx in FIG. 13) and the address in the address period. The display data signal having the address voltage (Va1 in FIG. 12 and Va2 in FIG. 13) and the ground voltage (Vg in FIGS. 12 and 13) in the sustain period are selected to select a cell to be turned on in accordance with the scanning pulse. To the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am in 200;

The C driving unit 1006 receives the C driving control signal SC from the logic control unit 1002 and applies the ground voltage (Vg in FIGS. 12 and 13) to the reset period, the address period, and the sustain period, but only the address discharge. Before this is performed, that is, before the scan low voltage (Vscl1 in FIG. 12 and Vscl2 in FIG. 13) is applied, and before the first sustain discharge is performed, that is, the first sustain pulse is applied. Before the process, the auxiliary electrode lines C1,... In the plasma display panel 200 are instantaneously supplied with a negative auxiliary voltage (Vc in FIGS. 12 and 13) to emit electrons inside the discharge cell to facilitate discharge. ., Cn).

FIG. 12 is a timing diagram illustrating an embodiment of a driving signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6.

In order to drive the plasma display panel of the present invention, a unit frame, which is one unit for displaying an image, is divided into a plurality of subfields having different gray scale weights, each subfield having a reset period for initializing discharge cells, It is divided into an address period for selecting a discharge cell to be turned on and a sustain period in which a sustain discharge is performed according to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell to perform gray scale display. The number of the plurality of subfields is determined according to a design specification. For example, if eight subfields are used for 256 gray scale display, each gray weight of each of the 1 to 8 subfields is 1,2,4 respectively. It can be assigned as 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, which can also be changed according to design specifications.

Referring to the drawings, one subfield SF includes a reset period PR, an address period PA, and a sustain period PS.

First, in the reset period PS, a reset pulse consisting of a rising ramp pulse and a falling ramp pulse is applied to the scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn so as to initialize the discharge cells. The rising ramp pulse rises from the first voltage Vs, which is the sustain discharge voltage, to the second voltage Vset, which is the rising voltage, and finally reaches the third voltage Vset + Vs, which is the highest rising voltage, and the falling ramp pulse is zero. It descends from one voltage Vs and finally reaches the fourth voltage Vnf1, which is the lowest falling voltage. During the reset period PR, the ground voltage Vg is applied to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am and the auxiliary electrode lines C1, ..., Cn. When the rising ramp pulse is applied, negative wall charges begin to accumulate in the vicinity of the scan electrode in the discharge cell, and relatively positive wall charges begin to accumulate in the vicinity of the address electrode, thereby weakening the gap between the scan electrode and the address electrode. Discharge will occur. When the falling ramp pulse is applied, negative wall charges begin to be erased in the vicinity of the scan electrode, and positive wall charges begin to be erased in the vicinity of the address electrode, which causes weak discharge between the scan electrode and the address electrode. do. As a result, at the end of the reset period PR, a small amount of negative wall charges accumulates near the scan electrode, and a small amount of positive wall charges accumulates near the address electrode.

In the address period PA, a scanning pulse and a display data signal are applied to select a discharge cell to be turned on. The scan pulse maintains the fifth voltage Vsch1, which is the scan high voltage, and is sequentially applied to the sixth voltage Vscl1, which is the scan low voltage, and is applied to the scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn. For example, a first scan pulse having a sixth voltage Vscl1 is first applied to the first scan electrode line S1, and the nth scan electrode lines Sn from the second scan electrode lines S2. Until the scan pulse is applied sequentially. In order to select a discharge cell to be turned on, a display data signal having a seventh voltage Va1, which is an address voltage, is applied to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am in accordance with the scan pulse. The negative wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode in the discharge cell, the positive wall charges accumulated near the address electrode, the negative sixth voltage Vscl1 applied to the scan electrode, and the positive electrode applied to the address electrode The address discharge is performed between the scan electrode and the address electrode by the seventh voltage Va1 of the castle, and positive wall charges are accumulated in the vicinity of the scan electrode by the address discharge, and negative wall charges are formed in the vicinity of the address electrode. Will accumulate.

Meanwhile, a main feature of the driving method of the present invention is to apply an auxiliary pulse, that is, an eighth voltage Vc, which is a negative auxiliary voltage, to the auxiliary electrode lines C1, ..., Cn before address discharge is performed. will be. That is, the eighth voltage Vc of the negative polarity is instantaneously applied to the auxiliary electrode lines C1,..., And Cn immediately before the sixth voltage Vscl1 is applied to the scan pulses applied to the scan electrode lines. It is. When the negative eighth voltage Vc is applied to the auxiliary electrode (212 of FIG. 6) formed with the protrusion inside the discharge cell and surrounded by the electron emission layer (213 of FIG. 6, typically CNT), the electron emitting layer Electrons are emitted at. The address discharge with improved discharge efficiency is performed when electrons are previously discharged into the discharge cell, and the seventh voltage Va1 having a smaller magnitude than the driving voltage applied in FIG. 5 to drive the conventional plasma display panel and Discharge can be performed at the sixth voltage Vscl1 to enable low voltage driving. On the other hand, the eighth voltage Vc preferably has a size to emit electrons from the electron emission layer 213 of FIG. 6.

In the sustain period PS, a sustain pulse is applied to perform a sustain discharge according to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell. The sustain pulse has a positive first voltage (Vs) and a negative first voltage (-Vs). In order to reduce power consumption due to a sudden voltage change, the sustain pulse may further have a ground voltage Vg, which is an intermediate voltage, between the first positive voltage Vs and the first negative voltage −Vs. The sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn, and the ground voltage Vg is applied to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am. When the first positive voltage Vs is applied among the sustain pulses, the positive wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode, the negative wall charges accumulated near the address electrode, and the first positive polarity applied to the scan electrode are applied. The discharge is started due to the voltage Vs and the ground voltage Vg applied to the address electrode. The discharge causes negative wall charges to accumulate in the vicinity of the scan electrode, and positive wall charges accumulate in the vicinity of the address electrode. When the negative first voltage (-Vs) is applied among the sustain pulses, the negative wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode, the positive wall charges accumulated near the address electrode, and the negative polarity applied to the scan electrode are applied. The discharge is started due to the first voltage (-Vs) and the ground voltage Vg applied to the address electrode. The discharge causes positive wall charges to accumulate in the vicinity of the scan electrode and negative wall charges to accumulate in the vicinity of the address electrode. As described above, in the sustain period, the sustain pulse is applied according to the gray scale weight for each subfield to perform the sustain discharge.

On the other hand, the main feature of the driving method of the present invention is the eighth voltage (Vc) that is an auxiliary pulse, that is, a negative auxiliary voltage on the auxiliary electrode lines C1, ..., Cn before the first sustain discharge is performed during the sustain discharge. ) Is authorized. In other words, immediately before the first first voltage is applied to the scan electrode lines S1,..., Sn, the eighth voltage Vc of the negative polarity is applied to the auxiliary electrode lines C1,. Is to apply. When the negative eighth voltage Vc is applied to the auxiliary electrode (212 of FIG. 6) formed with the protrusion inside the discharge cell and surrounded by the electron emission layer (213 of FIG. 6, typically CNT), the electron emitting layer Electrons are emitted at. When the electrons are previously discharged into the discharge cells, the discharge efficiency and luminance are improved when the actual sustain discharge is performed, and the seventh voltage Va1 and the sixth voltage smaller than the driving voltage applied in FIG. 5 to drive the conventional plasma display panel are provided. Discharge is possible by the voltage Vscl1, so that low voltage driving is possible.

Meanwhile, in the driving signal illustrated in FIG. 12, the magnitude of the negative fourth voltage Vnf1 or the sixth negative voltage Vscl1 is greater than the magnitude of the negative first voltage −Vs. In the two-electrode structure of the present invention, in order to reach the discharge start voltage by the driving signal applied to the two electrodes, the magnitudes of the negative fourth voltage Vnf1 and the negative sixth voltage Vscl1 are negative. It is preferable that the polarity is larger than the magnitude of the first voltage (-Vs), and thus, the driving signal applied to the address electrode is simplified. In addition, the size of the fourth voltage Vnf and the sixth voltage Vscl may be the same for simplifying a power supply level.

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrating another embodiment of a drive signal for driving the plasma display panel of FIG. 6. The driving signal of FIG. 13 is similar to the driving signal of FIG. 12, but there is a difference in the applied power level.

First, in the reset period PR, a reset pulse consisting of a rising ramp pulse and a falling ramp pulse is applied to the scan electrode lines S1, ... Sn. The rising ramp pulse rises from the first voltage Vs by the second voltage Vset to reach the third voltage Vset + Vs, and falls from the first voltage Vs to reach the fourth voltage Vnf2. do. On the other hand, the magnitude of the fourth voltage (Vnf2) is the same as the magnitude of the negative first voltage (-Vs) to simplify the power supply level, and compensates for the reduced magnitude of the fourth voltage (Vnf2) compared to FIG. In order to do this, the ninth voltage Vx, which is a positive bias voltage, is applied to the address electrode lines A1, ..., Am from when the falling ramp is applied. Due to the application of the rising ramp pulse, negative wall charges accumulate near the scan electrodes in the discharge cells, positive wall charges accumulate near the address electrodes, and weak discharges occur, and accumulate near the scan electrodes due to the application of the falling ramp pulses. The negative wall charges thus removed are erased, and the positive wall charges are erased near the address electrode to generate a weak discharge. As a result, a small amount of negative wall charges accumulates near the scan electrode, and a small amount of positive wall charges accumulates near the address electrode.

In the address period PA, scan pulses having a fifth voltage Vsch2 and sequentially having a sixth negative voltage Vscl2 are applied to the scan electrode lines S1,..., Sn. The display data signal having the seventh voltage Va2 of the positive polarity is applied to the lines A1 to Am to select a cell to be turned on. The negative wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode, the positive wall charges accumulated near the address electrode, the negative sixth voltage Vscl2 applied to the scan electrode, and the positive seventh voltage applied to the address electrode ( Due to Va2), the address discharge is performed, positive wall charges accumulate near the scan electrodes and negative wall charges accumulate near the address electrodes after the address discharge ends. Unlike in FIG. 12, the sixth voltage Vscl2 has the same magnitude as that of the negative first voltage -Vs, and the sixth voltage Vscl2 is reduced to compensate for the reduced magnitude of the sixth voltage Vscl2 compared to FIG. 12. The magnitude of the seven voltage Va2 can be made larger than that in FIG.

Meanwhile, a main feature of the driving method of the present invention is the eighth voltage Vc which is an auxiliary pulse, i.e., a negative auxiliary voltage, to the auxiliary electrode lines before performing the address discharge, that is, immediately before the sixth voltage Vscl2 is applied to the scan pulse. ) Is instantaneously applied. As a result, electrons are discharged in the discharge cell in advance before performing the address discharge, so that the discharge is easily performed by increasing the space charge, and the discharge is performed even at a low voltage.

In the sustain period PS, a sustain pulse alternately having the first positive voltage Vs and the first negative voltage -Vs is applied to the scan electrode lines S1, ..., Sn. The sustain pulse causes the positive wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode in the discharge cell, the negative wall charges accumulated near the address electrode and the scan electrodes to be applied to the scan electrode once the positive first voltage Vs is applied. Discharge starts due to the first voltage Vs and the ground voltage Vg applied to the address electrode, whereby negative wall charges accumulate near the scan electrode, and positive wall charges accumulate near the address electrode. When the negative first voltage is applied (-Vs), the negative wall charges accumulated near the scan electrode in the discharge cell, the positive wall charges accumulated near the address electrode, and the negative first voltage applied to the scan electrode ( Discharge is initiated by -Vs) and the ground voltage Vg applied to the address electrode, and positive wall charges accumulate near the scan electrode, and negative wall charges accumulate near the address electrode. The number of sustain discharges is determined according to the gray scale weight for each subfield, and the sustain pulse is continuously applied.

On the other hand, the main feature of the driving method of the present invention, before the first sustain discharge of the sustain discharge, to the auxiliary electrode lines (C1, ..., Cn) the auxiliary pulse, that is, the eighth voltage (Vc) of the negative auxiliary voltage It is authorized. Due to the application of the negative eighth voltage Vc, electrons are discharged from the electron-emitting layer into the discharge cell, and then a sustain pulse is applied, thereby improving discharge efficiency and luminance by increasing the space charge in the discharge cell. Discharge can also be initiated with a voltage, thereby enabling low voltage driving.

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

First, in the present invention, since the first discharge electrode and the second discharge electrode are formed to surround the partition wall, the discharge volume during discharge is increased than the three-electrode surface discharge structure, and the space charge in the discharge cell, which is not well used in the past, also contributes to light emission. Discharge efficiency is increased.

Second, in the present invention, a protrusion is provided inside the discharge cell, and an auxiliary electrode and an electron emission layer intersect the discharge cell, and a negative voltage is applied to the auxiliary electrode immediately before address discharge and sustain discharge are discharged. Emission of electrons inside the cell is facilitated, and discharge efficiency and brightness are improved compared with the prior art.

Third, the discharge can be performed even at a lower voltage than the conventional one by the auxiliary electrode and the electron emission layer, thereby enabling low voltage driving.

Fourth, the configuration of the driving device and the power supply device is simpler than before, and thus manufacturing cost can be reduced.                     

Fifth, since the dielectric layer and the electrode are not disposed on the first substrate, the transmittance of visible light is remarkably improved.

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 (16)

A first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face each other; A partition wall disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining discharge cells together with the first substrate and the second substrate; First discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cell; Second discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cell and spaced apart from the first discharge electrodes toward the first substrate or the second substrate; Auxiliary electrodes crossing the discharge cells and having protrusions protruding into the discharge cells; An electron emission layer surrounding the protrusions of the auxiliary electrodes; A phosphor layer disposed in the discharge cell; And And a discharge gas in the discharge cell. The method of claim 1, The electron emission layer is plasma display panel, characterized in that formed of carbon nanotubes (CNT). The method of claim 1, And the partition wall is a dielectric. The method of claim 1, And the first discharge electrodes extend in one direction, and the second discharge electrodes extend to intersect the first discharge electrodes. The method of claim 4, wherein And the auxiliary electrodes extend in a direction in which the first discharge electrodes extend. The method of claim 4, wherein And the auxiliary electrodes are disposed on the second substrate. The method of claim 6, And a dielectric layer covering portions of the auxiliary electrodes other than the protrusions. The method of claim 1, And a protective layer disposed on at least part of a side surface of the partition wall. A first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face each other; A partition wall disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining discharge cells together with the first substrate and the second substrate; First discharge electrodes disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cells and extending in one direction; A second discharge electrode disposed in the partition wall to surround the discharge cell, spaced apart from the first discharge electrodes toward the first substrate or the second substrate, and extended to cross the extending direction of the first discharge electrodes; With; Auxiliary electrodes crossing the discharge cells and having protrusions protruding into the discharge cells, the auxiliary electrodes extending in a direction in which the first discharge electrodes extend; An electron emission layer surrounding the protrusions of the auxiliary electrodes; A phosphor layer disposed in the discharge cell; And a discharge gas in the discharge cell. For gradation display, the unit frame is divided into a plurality of subfields having respective gradation weights, and each subfield is a reset period for initializing discharge cells and an address period for performing address discharge to select discharge cells to be turned on. And a sustain period in which a sustain discharge is performed in response to the gray scale weight in the selected discharge cell. And an auxiliary pulse for emitting electrons to the auxiliary electrodes immediately before the address discharge and before the first one of the sustain discharges. The method of claim 9, A reset pulse having a rising ramp pulse and a falling ramp pulse is applied to the first discharge electrodes, a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to the address period, and a sustain pulse is applied to the sustain period. And a display data signal for selecting a cell to be turned on in accordance with the scan pulse in the address period. The method of claim 10, The rising ramp pulse rises from the first voltage by a second voltage to finally reach a third voltage, The falling ramp pulse descends from the first voltage and finally reaches a fourth voltage, The scan pulse has a fifth voltage and has a sixth voltage smaller than the fifth voltage, The display data signal has a positive seventh voltage in accordance with the scanning pulse; And the sustain pulse alternately has the first positive voltage and the first negative voltage. The method of claim 11, And the sustain pulse further has a ground voltage having an intermediate voltage between the first voltage and the first voltage of the negative polarity. The method of claim 12, And the auxiliary pulses have a negative eighth voltage. The method of claim 13, The magnitude of the fourth voltage or the sixth voltage is larger than the magnitude of the first voltage. The method of claim 13, The magnitude of the fourth voltage or the sixth voltage is the same as the magnitude of the first voltage. The method of claim 15, And a positive ninth voltage is further applied to the second discharge electrodes while the falling ramp pulse is applied.

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