KR100811523B1 - Plasma display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus, and has an effect of preventing the occurrence of a screen step by reducing the number of data signals according to the same gradation when a line load is relatively large in consideration of a line load.

The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and an address electrode crossing the scan electrode, and a discharge cell formed at a point where the scan electrode and the address electrode cross each other. A data signal is supplied to the discharge cells through the address electrodes in the address period of the address period and the number of data signals in accordance with the video data of the same gray level is set between the discharge cells arranged on the two scan electrodes having different line loads It is preferable to include a driving unit that is different.

Description

[0001] Plasma Display Apparatus [0002]

1 is a view for explaining an example of an image displayed on a screen in a conventional plasma display device.

2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a screen step generated in a conventional plasma display apparatus.

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

4A to 4B are views for explaining an example of a structure of a plasma display device included in the plasma display device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a frame for implementing gradation of an image in the plasma display device of the present invention. FIG.

6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the plasma display device of the present invention in detail;

7 is a view for explaining a method of supplying a data signal in consideration of a line load in the plasma display device of the present invention.

8A to 8B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the present invention in a case where a difference between line loads is relatively small.

9A to 9B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the present invention in a case where a difference between line loads is relatively large.

10 is a diagram illustrating a first method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

11 is a view for explaining a second method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

12 is a view for explaining a third method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

13A to 13B are diagrams for explaining how the method of omitting data signals is different for each scan electrode group.

Description of the Related Art

200: plasma display panel 210:

The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus.

The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel having electrodes formed thereon, and a driver for supplying a predetermined driving signal to the electrodes of the plasma display panel.

In general, a plasma display panel includes a plurality of electrodes, for example, a scan electrode Y, a sustain electrode Z, and an address electrode X, in which a phosphor layer is formed in a discharge cell partitioned by barrier ribs. .

The driving unit applies a driving signal to the discharge cell through the electrode.

Then, in the discharge cell, a discharge is generated by the applied driving voltage. Here, when a discharge is caused by the driving voltage in the discharge cell, the discharge gas filled in the discharge cell generates vacuum ultraviolet rays, and this vacuum ultraviolet ray emits the phosphor formed in the discharge cell to emit visible light . An image is displayed on the screen of the plasma display panel by the visible light.

Hereinafter, an example of an image displayed on a screen in a conventional plasma display device will be described with reference to FIG.

1 is a view for explaining an example of an image displayed on a screen in a conventional plasma display device.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image of a window pattern 110 may be displayed on a screen 100 of a conventional plasma display apparatus. Such an image can be displayed by turning off a portion of the window pattern 110 on the screen 100. [

In the case where such an image is displayed, a step of an image occurs on the screen of the conventional plasma display device. 2A and 2B, the following will be described.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining screen steps generated in a conventional plasma display apparatus.

2A, the line load values of the Y1 scan electrodes passing through the window pattern 110 on the screen 100 of the conventional plasma display apparatus and the Y1 scan electrodes not passing the window pattern 110 are different from each other .

In the case of FIG. 2A, the line load value of the Y1 scan electrode is larger than the line load value of the Ya scan electrode.

Accordingly, even if the same driving signal is supplied to the Ya scan electrode and the Y1 scan electrode, the intensity of the discharge generated by the Ya scan electrode and the discharge intensity generated by the Y1 scan electrode are different. For example, even if the same voltage of 100 V is applied to the scan electrode Y1 and the scan electrode Y1, the intensity of the discharge generated by the Ya scan electrode is 100 and the intensity of the discharge generated by the Y1 scan electrode may be 90 .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, in the region 220 where the line load is relatively small, a relatively bright image, that is, a bright image is displayed. In the regions 200 and 210 where the line load is relatively large, Images can be displayed. Accordingly, a screen step is generated on the screen.

As a result, the image quality of the image displayed on the screen of the conventional plasma display device deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plasma display device that reduces the brightness of an image in a region where a line load is relatively small in consideration of a line load, There is a purpose.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plasma display apparatus including a plasma display panel including a scan electrode, an address electrode crossing the scan electrode, and a discharge cell formed at a crossing point of the scan electrode and the address electrode; A data signal is supplied to a discharge cell through the address electrode in an address period of a subfield and a discharge cell arranged on two scan electrodes having different line loads And a driving unit for causing the number of data signals to be different from each other.

The scan electrode may include a first scan electrode and a second scan electrode having a smaller line load value than the first scan electrode. A first discharge cell may be disposed on the first scan electrode, A second discharge cell corresponding to image data having the same gray scale as the first discharge cell is disposed on the electrode and the driving unit supplies a smaller number of data signals to the second discharge cell than the first discharge cell do.

The difference between the number of data signals supplied to the second discharge cells and the number of data signals supplied to the first discharge cells is variable.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plasma display apparatus including a scan electrode and an address electrode intersecting the scan electrode, wherein the plasma is formed at a point where the scan electrode intersects with the address electrode, A plasma display panel (PDP), comprising: a display panel; a line load circuit for supplying data signals to the discharge cells through the address electrodes in an address period of a subfield, And a plurality of discharge cells arranged on two different scan electrode groups, each of the plurality of scan electrodes being different in the number of data signals corresponding to the same gray scale image data.

The line load of the scan electrode group is an average line load of the scan electrodes included in the scan electrode group.

The scan electrode group includes a first scan electrode group and a second scan electrode group having a smaller line load value than the first scan electrode group. A first discharge cell is disposed on the first scan electrode group A second discharge cell corresponding to image data having the same gray scale level as the first discharge cell is arranged on the second scan electrode group and the driving unit supplies a second number of data signals to the second discharge cell, Is supplied.

The difference between the number of data signals supplied to the second discharge cells and the number of data signals supplied to the first discharge cells is variable.

The plurality of scan electrode groups may include the same number of scan electrodes or may include at least one of different numbers of scan electrodes.

Hereinafter, the plasma display device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Referring to FIG. 3, the plasma display apparatus of the present invention includes a plasma display panel 300 and a driving unit 310.

Here, the plasma display panel 300 includes a scan electrode Y and an address electrode X crossing the scan electrode Y. In addition, the plasma display panel 300 may further include a sustain electrode (Z). A discharge cell is formed at a point where the scan electrode Y and the address electrode X intersect.

The driving unit 310 supplies driving signals to the discharge cells of the plasma display panel 300 in a plurality of subfields included in the frame.

In particular, the driving unit 310 supplies data signals to the discharge cells through the address electrodes X of the plasma display panel 300 in the address period of the subfield, and supplies the data signals to the two scan electrodes The number of data signals in accordance with the video data of the same gradation is different between the discharge cells arranged on the display electrodes Y and Y.

The driving unit 310, which is a main feature of the plasma display apparatus of the present invention, will be clarified through the following description.

Hereinafter, an example of the structure of the plasma display panel 300 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4B.

4A and 4B are views for explaining an example of a structure of a plasma display device included in the plasma display device of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the plasma display panel of the present invention includes a front panel 401 including a front substrate 401 on which an electrode, preferably a scan electrode 402 and a sustain electrode 403, and a sustain electrode Z are formed. And a rear substrate 411 on which electrodes, preferably address electrodes 413, X, intersecting the scan electrodes 402, Y and the sustain electrodes 403, (410) are bonded together.

The electrodes formed on the front substrate 401, preferably the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes 403 and Z, generate a discharge in a discharge space, i.e., a discharge cell, The discharge is maintained.

The upper surface of the front substrate 401 on which the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes Z are formed is covered with a dielectric layer to cover the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and Z, An upper dielectric layer 404 is formed.

The upper dielectric layer 404 limits the discharge current of the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes 403 and Z and isolates the sustain electrodes 403 and Z from the scan electrodes 402 and Y.

On the upper surface of the upper dielectric layer 404, a protective layer 405 is formed to facilitate discharge conditions. The protective layer 405 is formed by depositing a material such as magnesium oxide (MgO) on the upper dielectric layer 404 or the like.

Meanwhile, the electrodes formed on the rear substrate 411, preferably the address electrodes 413, X, are electrodes for supplying data signals to the discharge cells.

A dielectric layer, preferably a lower dielectric layer 415, is formed on the rear substrate 411 on which the address electrodes 413, X are formed to cover the address electrodes 413,

The lower dielectric layer 415 isolates the address electrodes 413 (X).

A barrier rib 412 such as a stripe type or a well type for partitioning a discharge space, that is, a discharge cell, is formed on the lower dielectric layer 415. Accordingly, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) discharge cells are formed between the front substrate 401 and the rear substrate 411.

Here, a predetermined discharge gas is filled in the discharge cells partitioned by the barrier ribs 412.

In addition, in the discharge cells partitioned by the barrier ribs 412, a phosphor layer 414 that emits visible light for image display upon address discharge is formed. For example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) phosphor layers may be formed.

In the plasma display panel of the present invention described above, at least one of the scan electrode 402, the sustain electrode 403, the sustain electrode Z, and the address electrode 413 is driven by the driving unit 310 of FIG. A discharge is generated in the discharge cells partitioned by the barrier ribs 412. [

Then, a vacuum ultraviolet ray is generated in the discharge gas filled in the discharge cell, and this vacuum ultraviolet ray is applied to the phosphor layer 414 formed in the discharge cell. A predetermined visible light is generated in the phosphor layer 414 and the visible light is emitted to the outside through the front substrate 401 on which the upper dielectric layer 404 is formed, A predetermined image is displayed on the outer surface.

In the description of FIG. 4A, only the case where the scan electrode 402 and the sustain electrode Y and the sustain electrode 403 and the sustain electrode Z are formed as a single layer is shown and described. Alternatively, the scan electrode 402, At least one of the sustain electrodes 403 and Z may be formed of a plurality of layers. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4B.

Referring to FIG. 4B, each of the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes Z may be formed of two layers.

Considering the light transmittance and the electric conductivity, the scan electrode 402 and the sustain electrode 403 and the sustain electrode 403 are formed of opaque silver (Ag Transparent bus electrodes 402b and 403b and transparent electrodes 402a and 403a made of transparent indium tin oxide (ITO).

The reason why the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes 403 include the transparent electrodes 402a and 403a is that when visible light generated in the discharge cells is emitted to the outside of the plasma display panel So as to be effectively discharged.

The reason why the scan electrodes 402 and the sustain electrodes 403 and the sustain electrodes Z include the bus electrodes 402b and 403b is that the scan electrodes 402 and Y and the sustain electrodes 403 and Z are formed on the transparent electrodes 403 and Z, The transparent electrodes 402a and 403a are formed on the transparent electrodes 402a and 403a and the transparent electrodes 402a and 403a are formed on the transparent electrodes 402a and 403a, In order to compensate for the low electrical conductivity.

4A to 4B show only one example of the plasma display panel according to the present invention. It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the plasma display panel having the structure as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4B. For example, although the plasma display panel of FIGS. 4A and 4B only shows a case where the upper dielectric layer 404 and the lower dielectric layer 415 are each a single layer, the upper dielectric layer 404 and At least one of the lower dielectric layers 415 may be formed of a plurality of layers.

An example of the operation of the plasma display apparatus of the present invention including such a plasma display panel will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6 attached hereto.

5 is a diagram for explaining a frame for implementing gradation of an image in the plasma display device of the present invention.

6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the plasma display apparatus of the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIG. 5, a frame for implementing a gray level of an image in the plasma display apparatus of the present invention is divided into several subfields having different emission counts. Although not shown, each subfield includes a reset period for initializing all the discharge cells, an address period for selecting discharge cells to be discharged, and a sustain period for implementing gradation according to the number of discharges Sustain Period).

For example, in the case of displaying an image at 256 gray levels, a frame period (16.67 ms) corresponding to 1/60 second is divided into 8 subfields (SF1 to SF8) as shown in FIG. 5, Each of the subfields SF1 to SF8 is divided into a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period.

On the other hand, the number of sustain pulses supplied in the sustain period may be adjusted to set the gray level weight of the corresponding subfield. That is, it is possible to apply predetermined gradation weighting to each subfield using the sustain period. For example, when the gray scale weight of the first sub-field is set to 2 ⁰ and the gray-scale weight of the second sub-field is set to 2 ¹ , the gray-scale weight of each sub-field is 2 ⁿ , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the subfields. Thus, by adjusting the number of sustain pulses supplied in the sustain period of each subfield according to the gray level weight in each subfield, the gray levels of various images are realized.

The plasma display apparatus of the present invention uses a plurality of frames to display an image of one second. For example, 60 frames are used to display an image of 1 second.

In FIG. 5, only one frame is composed of eight subfields. However, the number of subfields forming one frame can be changed variously. For example, one frame may be composed of 12 sub-fields from the first sub-field to the 12th sub-field, or one frame may be composed of 10 sub-fields.

The image quality of the image implemented by the plasma display device implementing the gradation of the image in the frame may be determined according to the number of the subfields included in the frame. That is, in the case where the number of subfields included in the frame is 12, the gradation of 2 ¹² kinds of images can be expressed, and when there are 8 subfields included in the frame, the gradation of 2 ⁸ kinds of images can be realized.

5, the subfields are arranged according to the order in which the gray level weight increases in one frame. Alternatively, the subfields may be arranged in the order of decreasing the gray level weight in one frame, or alternatively, The subfields may be arranged regardless of the weight.

6, an example of the operation of the plasma display device of the present invention in any one of a plurality of subfields included in the frame as shown in FIG. 5 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the plasma display apparatus of FIG. 3, the driving unit 310 may supply a ramp-up waveform in which the voltage gradually rises in the scan electrode Y in the setup period of the reset period .

Due to such a rising ramp waveform, a weak dark discharge (i.e., setup discharge) occurs in the discharge cell. This set-up discharge accumulates a certain amount of wall charges in the discharge cells.

In a set-down period after the set-up period, a ramp-up waveform is supplied to the scan electrode Y, and then a ramp-down waveform in which the voltage gradually decreases from a predetermined positive voltage lower than the peak voltage of the ramp- The waveform can be supplied.

As a result, a weak erase discharge (i.e., a setdown discharge) occurs in the discharge cell. Due to the set-down discharge, part of the wall charges accumulated in the discharge cells due to the previous set-up discharge are erased, so that the wall charges uniformly remain in the discharge cells such that the address discharge can be stably generated.

In the address period after the reset period including the set-up period and the set-down period, the scan reference voltage Vsc and the voltage -Vy of the negative scan pulse Scan descending from the scan reference voltage Vsc, (Y).

When the voltage (-Vy) of the negative scan pulse of the driver 310 is supplied to the scan electrode Y, the data signal is supplied to the address electrode X correspondingly.

In order to prevent erroneous discharge due to interference of the sustain electrode Z in the address period, the sustain bias voltage Vzb may be supplied to the sustain electrode Z in the address period.

In this address period, when the voltage difference between the voltage (-Vy) of the negative scan pulse and the voltage (Vd) of the data signal and the wall voltage due to the wall charges generated in the reset period are added, the voltage (Vd) An address discharge is generated in the supplied discharge cell.

In the discharge cells selected by the address discharge, a wall charge is formed to such an extent that a discharge can occur when the sustain voltage (Vs) of the sustain pulse is supplied.

In this manner, the sustain pulse (SUS) can be supplied to the scan electrode Y or the sustain electrode Z in the sustain period after the address period.

As a result, the wall voltage in the discharge cell and the sustain voltage (Vs) of the sustain pulse (SUS) are added to the discharge cells selected by the address discharge, so that the scan electrodes Y and the sustain electrodes Z, that is, a display discharge occurs. Accordingly, a predetermined image is realized on the plasma display panel.

Here, when a data signal is supplied to the address electrode X in the address period described above, the method of supplying the data signal in consideration of the line load of the scan electrode Y is different. The details of this are as follows.

7 is a view for explaining a method of supplying a data signal in consideration of a line load in the plasma display device of the present invention.

7, an image such as a window pattern 71 may be displayed on the screen 70 of the plasma display device of the present invention. Such an image can be displayed by turning off the portion of the window pattern 71 on the screen 70 and turning on all the remaining portions. For example, the portion of the window pattern 71 may be full black and the remaining portion may be full white.

The line load values of the Y1 scan electrodes passing through the window pattern 71 and the Y1 scan electrodes not passing the window pattern 71 on the screen 70 are different from each other.

In the case of FIG. 7, the line load value of the Y1 scan electrode is larger than the line load value of the Ya scan electrode.

Between the discharge cells arranged on the two Y1 and Ya scan electrodes having different line loads, that is, between the discharge cells indicated by reference numerals 700 and 720 and the discharge cells indicated by reference numerals 710 and 730, the number of data signals corresponding to the same gray- different. This will be described in more detail as follows.

For example, the discharge cells arranged on the Y1 scan electrodes, that is, the discharge cells arranged on the Ya scan electrodes, that is, the discharge cells of the reference numerals 710 and 730, Assume that a corresponding discharge cell.

More specifically, all of the discharge cells 700, 710, 720, and 730 are discharge cells for displaying full white image data. The discharge cells 700, 710, 720, and 730 have eight subfields Assume that the image is embodied in a frame that includes it.

Here, data signals are supplied to the discharge cells 700 and 720 through the X1 address electrodes and the X2 address electrodes in the address periods of all eight subfields.

On the other hand, among the eight subfields of the 710th and 730th discharge cells, all the subfields except for the fifth subfield SF5, i.e., the address periods of the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, Electrode and the X2 address electrode.

As a result, both the discharge cells 700 and 720 disposed on the Y1 scan electrode and the discharge cells 710 and 730 disposed on the Ya scan electrode are discharge cells for displaying full white image data, The data signals are supplied in all the subfields through the X1 address electrode and the X2 address electrode only to the discharge cells 700 and 720 having relatively large values, while in the discharge cells 710 and 730 having the relatively small load values, The supply of the data signal in the subfield SF5 is omitted.

If the supply of the data signal in the fifth subfield SF5 is omitted in the discharge cells 710 and 730, the intensity of the light generated by the discharge generated by the Ya scan electrode having a relatively small line load is relatively small It weakens.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B of the related art, the occurrence of a screen step caused by a difference in line load is prevented.

In summary, even if the same driving signal is supplied to the Ya scan electrode and the Y1 scan electrode having different line loads, the intensity of the discharge generated by the Ya scan electrode and the discharge generated by the Y1 scan electrode are different, A screen step is generated as shown in FIG. However, in the present invention, the number of data signals supplied to the discharge cells arranged on the Ya scan electrode having a relatively small line load among the Ya scan electrode and the Y1 scan electrode is reduced to prevent the occurrence of a screen step as shown in FIG. 2b.

The method of reducing the number of data signals supplied to the discharge cells in the case where the line load is relatively small can be variously changed. 8A to 8B and FIGS. 9A to 9B, the following will be described.

8A to 8B are views for explaining the operation of the present invention in a case where a difference between line loads is relatively small.

9A to 9B are views for explaining the operation of the present invention in a case where a difference between line loads is relatively large.

8A, when the size of the window pattern 81 displayed on the screen 80 is relatively small, for example, a relatively small area 81 on the screen 80 is turned off The difference between the Ya scan electrode passing through the window pattern 81 having a relatively small area and the line load of the Y1 scan electrode not passing the window pattern 81 is relatively small.

For example, assuming that the line load of the Y1 scan electrode is 100, the line load of the Ya scan electrode is about 95. FIG.

Here, it is assumed that an image is displayed in a frame composed of a total of 8 subfields as shown in FIG. 8B, and that the portion of the window pattern 81 is full black and the remaining portions are full white lets do it.

Then, in the discharge cells 800 and 820 arranged on the Y1 scan electrode as shown in (a) of FIG. 8B, data is transferred through the X1 address electrode and the X2 address electrode in each address period of all the subfields, Signal is supplied.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells 810 and 830 arranged on the Ya scan electrode as shown in FIG. 8B (b), in the address period of the remaining sub-fields excluding the first sub-field SF1 among the total 8 sub- And the data signal is supplied through the X2 address electrode and the X2 address electrode. Here, it is preferable that the first sub-field SF1 in which the supply of the data signal is omitted is a sub-field having a relatively small gray-scale weight as shown in FIG.

In the case of FIG. 8B, the difference between the numbers of data signals of (a) and (b) is one, but the data signal which is omitted in the case of (b) is a data signal corresponding to the first sub- the difference in the number of sustain pulses in the case of (a) and (b) is relatively small.

9A, when the size of the window pattern 91 displayed on the screen 90 is relatively large, for example, the relatively large area 91 on the screen 90 is turned off The difference between the Ya scan electrode passing through the window pattern 91 having a relatively small area and the line load of the Y1 scan electrode not passing the window pattern 91 is relatively large.

For example, assuming that the line load of the Y1 scan electrode is 100, the line load of the Ya scan electrode is about 50. FIG.

Here, it is assumed that an image is displayed in a frame composed of a total of eight subfields as shown in FIG. 9B, and that the portion of the window pattern 91 is full black and all the remaining portions are full white lets do it.

Then, in the discharge cells 900 and 920 arranged on the Y1 scan electrode as shown in (a) of FIG. 9B, data is transferred through the X1 address electrode and the X2 address electrode in all the subfields, Signal is supplied.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells denoted by reference numerals 910 and 930 disposed on the Ya scan electrode as shown in FIG. 9B (b), in the address period of the remaining sub-fields excluding the eighth sub-field SF8 among the total 8 sub- And the data signal is supplied through the X2 address electrode and the X2 address electrode. Here, the eighth sub-field SF8 in which the supply of the data signal is omitted is preferably a sub-field having a relatively large gray-scale weight as in Fig. In addition, the eighth sub-field SF8 in which the supply of the data signal is omitted in Fig. 9B is a sub-field in which the gray scale weight is larger than the first sub-field SF1 in which the supply of the data signal is omitted in the case of Fig. will be.

In the case of FIG. 9B, the difference between the numbers of data signals of (a) and (b) is one, but the data signal which is omitted in the case of (b) is a data signal corresponding to the eighth subfield SF8 the difference in the number of sustain pulses in the case of (a) and (b) is relatively large.

When the difference between the line loads is relatively large as in FIGS. 8A to 8B and FIGS. 9A to 9B, the data signals in the subfields in which the gray scale weights are relatively large are omitted. On the other hand, The data signal in the subfield having a relatively small gray-scale weight is omitted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent all the occurrence of the screen step in the case where the difference between the line loads is relatively large and the difference between the line loads is relatively small.

8A to 8B and FIGS. 9A to 9B, when the difference between the line loads is relatively large, the data signals in the subfields having a relatively large gray scale weight are omitted as in the case of FIGS. 9A to 9B. On the other hand, in a method different from the above method, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a screen step in a case where the difference between the line loads is relatively large and in the case where the difference between the line loads is relatively small.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the difference between the Y1 scan electrode and the Ya scan electrode line load is relatively small, the data signal in the first subfield SF1 having a relatively small gray scale weight is omitted .

In the case of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the data signal may be omitted in the first subfield SF1 and the second subfield SF, respectively.

8A to 8B, one data signal may be omitted if the difference between the line loads is relatively small, and two or three data lines may be used if the difference between the line loads is relatively large as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9B By omitting the data signal or more, it is possible to prevent all the occurrence of the screen step in the case where the difference between the line loads is relatively large and the difference between the line loads is relatively small.

Unlike the above description, the method of omitting the data signal may be different for each screen region, more preferably for each scan electrode group including one or more scan electrodes.

A method of dividing a scan electrode group to facilitate understanding of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 before describing how to omit data signals for each scan electrode group.

10 is a view for explaining a first method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

11 is a view for explaining a second method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

12 is a view for explaining a third method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of the plasma display panel into scan electrode groups.

10, in a first method of dividing a plurality of scan electrodes of a plasma display panel into scan electrode groups, it is assumed that the plasma display panel 1000 includes a total of 100 scan electrodes Y, (Y) is divided into an A scan electrode group 1010 and a B scan electrode group 1020.

For example, the A scan electrode group includes Y ₁ scan electrodes to Y ₅₀ scan electrodes, and the B sustain electrode group includes Y 5 ₁ scan electrodes to Y ₁₀₀ scan electrodes.

Here, it is preferable that all the scan electrodes Y included in one scan electrode group have a continuous scan sequence. In other words, a predetermined number of scan electrodes Y are grouped according to the scan sequence to set the scan electrode group. For example, in the case of FIG. 10, the A scan electrode group includes Y ₁ scan electrodes to Y ₅₀ scan electrodes, where the Y ₁ scan electrodes of the A sustain electrode group are the fastest, and the Y ₂ scan electrodes, In this order, the scan order is Y ₃ ..... Y ₂₄ .Y ₂₅ .Y _{26 ...} Y ₅₀ .

In FIG. 10, a plurality of scan electrodes formed on one plasma display panel is divided into two scan electrode groups. However, it is also possible to make the number of the scan electrode groups different from those of FIG. 10. Respectively.

Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of scan electrodes Y are divided into an A scan electrode group 1110, a B scan electrode group 1120, a C scan electrode group 1130, and a D scan electrode group 1140.

For example, the A scan electrode group 1110 includes scan electrodes from Y ₁ scan electrodes to Y ₂₅ scan electrodes, and the B scan electrode group 1120 includes scan electrodes from Y ₂₆ scan electrodes to Y ₅₀ scan electrodes, The C scan electrode group 1130 includes Y ₅₁ scan electrodes to Y ₇₅ scan electrodes and the D scan electrode group 1140 includes Y ₇₆ scan electrodes to Y ₁₀₀ scan electrodes It is classified. 2? N? (N-1) when the total number of the scan electrodes Y is n, that is, a range in which the number of the scan electrode groups is smaller than the total number of the scan electrodes Y, Can be set between the dogs.

Here, it is preferable that the scan order of all the scan electrodes Y included in one scan electrode group is continuous.

11, the number of the scan electrodes Y included in each of the scan electrode groups 1110, 1120, 1130, and 1140 is the same. However, in at least one of the plurality of scan electrode groups, It is also possible to set the number of scan electrodes Y different from the other scan electrode groups. This will be described below with reference to FIG.

12, a plurality of scan electrodes Y on the plasma display panel 1200 are divided into an A scan electrode group 1210, a B scan electrode group 1220, a C scan electrode group 1230, and a D scan electrode group 1240, and E scan electrode group 1250, respectively.

For example, the A scan electrode group 1210 includes scan electrodes from a Y ₁ scan electrode to a Y ₁₀ scan electrode, and the B scan electrode group 1220 includes scan electrodes Y ₁₁ to Y _15, The C scan electrode group 1230 includes Y ₁₆ scan electrodes, the D scan electrode group 1240 includes Y ₁₇ scan electrodes to Y ₆₀ scan electrodes, and the E scan electrode group 1250 includes the scan electrodes from the Y ₆₁ scan electrode to the Y ₁₀₀ scan electrode. The number of the scan electrodes Y included in at least one of the scan electrode groups is different from that of the other scan electrode groups. 12, the number of scan electrodes included in all the scan electrode groups 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240, and 1250 is different.

The C scan electrode group 1230 is a scan electrode group including only one scan electrode, that is, Y ₁₆ scan electrode. In contrast to other scan electrode groups, one scan electrode forms one scan electrode group .

As described above, it is preferable that all the scan electrodes Y included in the scan electrode group have a continuous scan sequence, except that one scan electrode Y forms one scan electrode group.

In this case, each of the scan electrode groups includes a different number of scan electrodes Y. In contrast thereto, a different number of the scan electrodes Y than the other scan electrode groups in the selected number of scan electrode groups among the plurality of scan electrode groups May include. For example, the A scan electrode group includes 10 scan electrodes Y, the B scan electrode group includes another 10 scan electrodes Y, the subsequent C scan electrode group, the D scan electrode group The E scan electrode group, and the F scan electrode group each include 20 scan electrodes.

A method of omitting the data signal for each scan electrode group divided in this manner will be described as follows.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining how to omit a data signal for each scan electrode group.

Referring to FIG. 13A, the image displayed on the screen 1300 has the largest line load of the scan electrodes Y included in the A scan electrode group, that is, the Y ₁ scan electrodes to the Y ₂₅ scan electrodes, the scan electrode (Y), that is Y Y line load of ₅₀ scanning electrodes from the ₂₆ scan electrodes included in the electrode group is smaller than a scan electrode group, and then the scan electrode (Y), that is Y ₅₁ included in the C scan electrode group, since scan electrodes Y ₇₅ load line of the scanning electrodes is smaller than the line load of the scan electrode (Y) included in the B scan electrode group, the next scan that is included in the D scan electrode group of the electrode (Y), that is Y ₇₆ scan electrode Y ₁₀₀ is smaller than the line load of the scan electrode. That is, the relationship of A>B>C> D is established according to the scan electrode group.

The line load of the scan electrode group is an average line load of the scan electrodes Y included in the scan electrode group. For example, A scanning an electrode group Y ₁ scan and includes the Y ₃ scan electrode from the electrode, Y ₁ to load the 100 lines of the scanning electrodes, Y ₂ load, 80 lines of the scan electrodes, Y lines of the _third scan electrode When the load is 90, the line load of the A scan electrode group is 90, which is the average line load of the Y ₁ scan electrode to the Y ₃ scan electrode.

Here, as shown in FIG. 13B, an image is displayed in a frame composed of a total of eight subfields. The bright portion displayed on the screen 1300 is a full-white image, and the remaining portion, .

Then, as shown in FIG. 13B (a), the data signal is supplied to the discharge cells arranged in the A scan electrode group through the address electrodes in each address period of all the subfields, that is, a total of eight subfields.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells arranged in the B scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the A scan group as shown in (b) of FIG. 13B, the first subfield SF1 having a relatively small gray- The data signal is omitted. In the remaining subfields, that is, the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells arranged in the C scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the B scan group as shown in (c) of FIG. 13B, the gray scale weight of the eight subfields is larger than that of the third subfield SF1 The data signal is omitted in the subfield SF3. In the other subfields, that is, the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells arranged in the D scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the C scan group as shown in (d) of FIG. 13B, the gray scale weight of the eight sub- The data signal is omitted in the subfield SF6. In the remaining subfields, that is, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eight subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

In this way, among the plurality of scan electrode groups including one or more scan electrodes Y, the number of data signals corresponding to the same gray level image data is different between the discharge cells arranged on the two scan electrode groups having different line loads .

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a screen step according to a line load difference between the A scan electrode group, the B scan electrode group, the C scan electrode group, and the D scan electrode group.

In the above description of FIGS. 13A to 13B, one data signal is omitted in consideration of the grayscale weight, but it is also possible to vary the number of omitted data signals. The following is a summary of this.

For example, in a discharge cell arranged in the scan electrode group of Fig. 13A, a data signal is supplied to all of the subfields, i.e., a total of eight subfields, through the address electrodes in each address period.

On the other hand, in the discharge cell arranged in the B scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the A scan group, the data signal is omitted in the first subfield SF1 having a relatively small gray scale weight among the eight subfields. In the remaining subfields, i.e., the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells arranged in the C scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the B scan group, the first subfield SF1 and the first subfield SF1, in which the gray scale weights of the eight subfields are relatively small, The data signal is omitted in the second sub-field SF2 in which the gray-scale weight is larger. In the remaining subfields, that is, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

On the other hand, in the discharge cells arranged in the D scan electrode group having a relatively smaller line load than the C scan group, the gray scale weight of the eight subfields is divided into the first subfield SF1 and the second subfield SF2, The data signal is omitted in the third subfield SF3 in which the gradation weight is larger than the subfield SF1 and the second subfield SF2. In the remaining subfields, that is, the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight subfields, a data signal is supplied through the address electrode X.

By changing the number of data signals to be omitted in this way, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a screen step according to a line load difference between the A scan electrode group, the B scan electrode group, the C scan electrode group, and the D scan electrode group.

As described above, it is to be understood that the technical structure of the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are intended to be illustrative and non-restrictive in all aspects, and that the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, And all changes or modifications derived from equivalents thereof should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

As described in detail above, the plasma display apparatus of the present invention has the effect of preventing the occurrence of a screen step by reducing the number of data signals according to the same gradation when the line load is relatively large in consideration of the line load.

Claims (8)

A plasma display apparatus comprising: a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and an address electrode intersecting the scan electrode, the discharge cell being formed at a point where the scan electrode and the address electrode intersect; A data signal is supplied to a discharge cell through the address electrode in an address period of a subfield and a discharge cell arranged on two scan electrodes having different line loads A driving unit for making the number of data signals different Lt; / RTI > Wherein the scan electrode includes a first scan electrode and a second scan electrode having a smaller line load value than the first scan electrode, A first discharge cell is disposed on the first scan electrode, a second discharge cell corresponding to image data having the same gray scale as the first discharge cell is disposed on the second scan electrode, Wherein the driving unit supplies a smaller number of data signals to the second discharge cells than the first discharge cells. The method according to claim 1, A subfield in which a data signal is supplied to the first discharge cell among a plurality of subfields of an arbitrary frame is referred to as an On subfield and a subfield in which a data signal is not supplied to the first discharge cell When it is an Off subfield, A data signal is not supplied to the second discharge cell in the On subfield of at least one of the Off subfield and the On subfield, And a data signal is supplied to the discharge cells. The method according to claim 1, Wherein a difference between a data signal supplied to the second discharge cell and a data signal supplied to the first discharge cell is variable. A plasma display apparatus comprising: a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and an address electrode intersecting the scan electrode, the discharge cell being formed at a point where the scan electrode and the address electrode intersect; A data signal is supplied to the discharge cells through the address electrodes in an address period of a subfield and a line load of the plurality of scan electrode groups including one or more scan electrodes is divided into two A plurality of discharge cells arranged on the scan electrode group have different numbers of data signals corresponding to video data of the same gradation, Lt; / RTI > Wherein the scan electrode group includes a first scan electrode group and a second scan electrode group having a smaller line load value than the first scan electrode group, Wherein a first discharge cell is disposed on the first scan electrode group, a second discharge cell corresponding to image data having the same gray scale as the first discharge cell is disposed on the second scan electrode group, Wherein the driving unit supplies a smaller number of data signals to the second discharge cells than the first discharge cells. 5. The method of claim 4, The line load of the scan electrode group And the average line load of the scan electrodes included in the scan electrode group is an average line load of the scan electrodes included in the scan electrode group. 5. The method of claim 4, A subfield in which a data signal is supplied to the first discharge cell among a plurality of subfields of an arbitrary frame is referred to as an On subfield and a subfield in which a data signal is not supplied to the first discharge cell When it is an Off subfield, A data signal is not supplied to the second discharge cell in the On subfield of at least one of the Off subfield and the On subfield, And a data signal is supplied to the discharge cells. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein a difference between a data signal supplied to the second discharge cell and a data signal supplied to the first discharge cell is variable. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the plurality of scan electrode groups include the same number of scan electrodes or at least one of the plurality of scan electrode groups includes a different number of scan electrodes.

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