JPH08248917A - Driving method for gas discharge display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To ensure the pulse width of the constant voltage pulse applied to the reset cathode even if the number of display cathodes is large. An auxiliary cell that performs an auxiliary discharge that generates priming particles that serves as a starter of a display discharge that is performed by the display cell, and a reset cell that performs a reset discharge that generates priming particles to stabilize the auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell are provided. And a method for driving a gas discharge display device. The auxiliary cell resistance is connected in series to the auxiliary cell and the reset cell resistance is connected in series to the reset cell. Auxiliary discharge of at least some of the auxiliary cells is performed during the discharge period of the reset discharge. That is, while the constant voltage pulse having the pulse width _τΦR is being applied to the reset cathode RC, the constant voltage pulse is also applied to the auxiliary cathodes C _{nm to} C _n .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of driving a gas discharge type display device, and more particularly, to an auxiliary cell for performing an auxiliary discharge for generating priming particles which serves as a starter for a display discharge performed by a display cell, and for generating priming particles. The present invention relates to a driving method of a gas discharge type display device including a reset cell for performing a reset discharge for stabilizing an auxiliary discharge of an auxiliary cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows a conventional gas discharge type display device having a direct current type auxiliary discharge mechanism and each display cell having a resistor.

In FIG. 12, 10 is a front plate and 12 is a back plate, and a black grid 14 is provided on the front plate 10.
A white background 16 made of an insulating layer and a fluorescent body 18 are provided on the back plate 12, and the fluorescent body 18 is excited by ultraviolet rays at the time of discharge to emit light. The space between the front plate 10 and the rear plate 12 is partitioned into a large number of cells by partition walls 20. Further, in FIG. 12, 22 is a display anode bus bar, 24
Is a display anode, 26 is an auxiliary anode, 28 is a display cathode, 30 is an auxiliary cathode, 31 is a cathode bus, and a display cell 32 is constituted by the display anode 24 and the display cathode 28, and the auxiliary anode 26 and the auxiliary cathode 30. Auxiliary cell 34 is constituted by and. The auxiliary cell 34 is for generating priming particles (separate fire) to start up the write discharge performed by the display cell 32 in a short time of about 1 μs, and the auxiliary discharge by the auxiliary cell 34 is performed almost simultaneously with the write pulse. Is set. The partition wall 20 is provided with a priming slit 36 for introducing the priming particles generated by the auxiliary cell 34 into the display cell 32.

In FIG. 12, 38 is a reset anode, 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes a reset cathode. A constant voltage pulse having a sufficiently long pulse width is applied to the reset anode 38 before the first auxiliary discharge is started, and the reset discharge is generated between the reset anode 38 and the reset cathode 40. Is performed, and priming particles such as ions and electrons that serve as starters are generated. A reset cell 42 is constituted by the reset anode 38 and the reset cathode 40. Auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell 34 is stably performed by the priming particles from the reset cell 42, and high-speed writing to the display cell 32 becomes possible. The reset cell 42 is an auxiliary cell 34 that performs the first auxiliary discharge.
Are provided adjacent to each other, and there is no barrier between the reset cell 42 and each auxiliary cell 34.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 44 is a display cell resistance provided in each of the display anodes 24, and the display cell resistance 44 realizes pulse memory driving of the display cell 32 with a low current. When the gas pressure is increased to prolong the life of the gas discharge type display device, the VI characteristic becomes flat, so that the discharge current is limited by the display cell resistance 44 to drive the gas discharge type display device. It is stabilizing.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 shows a pulse waveform when the gas discharge type display device is driven by the pulse memory driving method. ing. In FIG. 13, D _{11 to} D
₃₃ is the display cell 32, A _{11 to} A ₃₃ are the auxiliary cells 34, R
_{1 to} R ₃ are reset cells 42, DA _{1 to} DA ₃ are display anode buses 22, and SA _{1 to} SA ₃ are auxiliary anode buses 26.
, RC indicates the reset cathode 40, and C _{1 to} C ₃ indicate the cathode bus lines 31, respectively. In FIG. 12, 2
One auxiliary cell 34 corresponds to one display cell 32, and in FIG. 13, one auxiliary cell A _{11 to} A ₃₃ corresponds to one display cell D _{11 to} D ₃₃ . There is no essential difference in behavior regarding points. A constant current source is used to drive the auxiliary anode 26, but in FIG. 13, a high resistance 46 is used instead.

In the waveform shown in FIG. 14, the sustain pulse period T is 4 μs, the sustain pulse width τ _sp is 1 μs, the write pulse width τ _w is 2 μs, and the scanning cathode pulse width τ.
_k is 2 to 3 μs, and the reset cathode pulse width τ _ΦR is 30.
μs or more is required.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention As shown in FIG.
In order to stabilize the reset discharge performed by the reset cell, the pulse width of the constant voltage pulse applied to the reset cathode RC is lengthened.

However, as the number of display cathodes increases and the size of the gas discharge display device increases, the conventional driving method limits the pulse width _τΦR of the constant voltage pulse applied to the reset cathode RC. I will end up. When the discharge period of the reset cell is Tr, the number of display cathodes is Cn, and the address time of each row (cathode) is Ta, (Tr + (Cn × Ta)) time is required to display one screen. For example, in pulse memory driving for displaying a moving image of 256 gradations, scanning discharge is performed eight times within one field, and therefore the period allowed for one scanning is (1 / (60 ×
8)) seconds. 5 if the address time is 4 μs
With 12 display cathodes, a reset cell discharge period of about 30 μs can be secured, but when the number of display cathodes exceeds 520, the reset cell discharge period cannot be secured.

Therefore, even if the number of display cathodes increases, in order to secure the discharge period of the reset cell, the scanning speed of the gas discharge display device is increased (address time is shortened), or the number of subfields is decreased. Then, a measure such as reducing the number of gradations can be considered.

However, if such measures are taken, the discharge period of the reset cell can be secured, but there is a problem that the display image quality deteriorates.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to sufficiently secure the pulse width of the constant voltage pulse applied to the reset cathode even if the number of display cathodes is large.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention secures a discharge period of a reset cell by performing an auxiliary discharge of at least a part of the auxiliary cells during the discharge period of the reset cells. It is a thing.

Specifically, the means for solving the problems of the present invention are: an auxiliary cell that performs an auxiliary discharge that generates priming particles that serve as a starter of display discharge that is performed by a display cell; and an auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell that generates priming particles. A method of driving a gas discharge type display device having a reset cell for performing a reset discharge for stabilizing the reset cell is provided, wherein an auxiliary cell resistance is connected in series to the auxiliary cell and a reset cell resistance is connected in series to the reset cell. By connecting them, the auxiliary discharge of at least a part of the auxiliary cells is performed during the discharge period of the reset discharge.

[0015]

With the above structure, the auxiliary discharge of at least a part of the auxiliary cells is performed during the discharge period of the reset discharge.
For example, if the auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell is performed during the entire reset period, the time for displaying one screen is C
n × Ta (number of display cathodes × address time of each row). That is, the discharge time of the reset cell is substantially equal to disappearing. In this case, since the auxiliary cell resistance is connected in series to the auxiliary cell and the reset cell resistance is connected in series to the reset cell, the auxiliary anode bus can be driven by the constant voltage source, so that the reset cell is discharged. The voltage applied to the auxiliary cell does not change.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method of driving a gas discharge display device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a gas discharge display device used in the driving method will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a gas discharge type display device used in each embodiment of the present invention.

A front plate 10, a back plate 12, a black lattice 14, a white back 16, a fluorescent body 18, a partition wall 20, a display anode bus bar 22,
Regarding the display anode 24, auxiliary anode 26, display cathode 28, auxiliary cathode 30, cathode bus bar 31, display cell 32, auxiliary cell 34, priming slit 36, reset anode 38, reset cathode 40, reset cell 42 and display cell resistance 44, Since it is the same as the conventional gas discharge type display device described with reference to FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as in FIG.

In the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG. 1, the priming slit 36 is provided on the rear plate 12 side, but it may be provided on the front plate 10 side.
The auxiliary cathode 30 and the reset cathode 40 are arranged on the front plate 10 side in FIG. In addition, in the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.
However, one auxiliary cell 34 may correspond to one display cell 32, but one auxiliary cell 34 may correspond to one display cell 32.

In FIG. 1, 50 is an auxiliary anode bus bar, and 52 is
Is an auxiliary cell resistance, the display anode bus 22 and the auxiliary anode bus 50 are arranged in parallel with each other, and the auxiliary cell resistance 52
And the display cell resistance 44 corresponds to the auxiliary cell 34 and the display cell 3.
2 are provided in series.

Regarding the structure of the gas discharge type display device, in addition to the structure shown in FIG. 1, any structure can be used as long as it has an auxiliary discharge mechanism and resistance is added to the auxiliary cell and the reset cell. It may be.

2 to 6 show a structure for providing the auxiliary cell resistance 52 in the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the auxiliary anode bus bar 50 and the auxiliary anode 26 are connected to each other on the back plate 12 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The auxiliary cell resistance 52 is formed on the insulating layer 13 (in FIGS. 2 and 3, the auxiliary cell bus 52 and the auxiliary cell resistance 52 are shown by a chain line for convenience of illustration and in the peripheral portion of the auxiliary electrode 26. It is insulated from the discharge space by being covered by the solid line.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first insulating layer 56 is provided so as to cover the auxiliary anode bus bar 50 formed on the back plate 12, and the first insulating layer 56 is provided on the first insulating layer 56. An auxiliary cell resistance 52 is formed so as to connect the auxiliary anode bus 50 to the auxiliary anode 26, and a second insulating layer 58 is provided so as to cover the auxiliary cell resistance 52. In this case, auxiliary anode bus 50 and auxiliary cell resistor 52 are connected by contact hole 59. Further, the auxiliary anode bus 50 and the auxiliary cell resistor 52 are insulated by the first insulating layer 56, and the auxiliary cell resistor 52 and the discharge space are insulated by the second insulating layer 58. By doing so, the auxiliary cell resistance 52 can be provided without expanding the area of the auxiliary cell 34.

In any of the structures shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the auxiliary anode bus 50 and the auxiliary anode 26 are made of a conductor.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the auxiliary cell resistance 52 is formed so as to connect the cathode bus 31 and the auxiliary cathode 30. In the structure shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, auxiliary cell resistor 52 is connected in series with auxiliary anode bus 50, and in the structure shown in FIG. 6, auxiliary cell resistor 52 is connected in series with cathode bus 31. The structures shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 can be applied to the reset cell resistance. In addition, the auxiliary cell resistance 52 is the display cell resistance 54 which is conventionally known.
Of course, it may be provided in the same structure as.
In order to obtain the necessary resistance values as the reset cell resistance and the auxiliary cell resistance 52, a known method such as adjusting the width or film thickness of the resistance layer can be applied.

As described above, when the auxiliary cell resistance 52 is provided in series with the auxiliary cell 34, the auxiliary discharge current can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case. Therefore, the auxiliary discharge is stabilized by the pulse memory driving by the constant voltage. Can be done.

FIG. 7 shows the basic structure of the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 shows the pulse waveform when driving the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, D _{11 to} D _n3 are display cells 32, A _{11 to} A _n3 are auxiliary cells 34, R _{1 to} R ₃ are reset cells 42, and RC.
Is the reset cathode 40, DA _{1 to} DA ₃ are the display anode buses 22, SA _{1 to} SA ₃ are the auxiliary anode buses 50, RC is the reset cathode 40, and C _{1 to} C _n are the cathode buses 31. There is. In the conventional gas discharge display device shown in FIG. 13, the resistance (display cell resistance 44) is added only to the display cell 32, but in the gas discharge display device used in the present invention, the auxiliary cell 34 and Reset cell 4
Resistances (auxiliary cell resistances AR _{11 to} AR _n3 and reset cell resistances r _{1 to} r ₃ ) are also added to _{No. 2} .

FIG. 8 shows a driving method of the gas discharge type display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
C drive waveform, cathode busbar C ₁ when the number of cathodes is n
To C _n drive waveform, auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ drive waveform, current flowing in reset cell R ₁ and auxiliary discharge cells A _{11 to} A
_The currents flowing in _1n are shown. Reset cathode R
A constant voltage pulse having a pulse width _τΦR is applied to C, and a constant voltage pulse synchronized with the pulses applied to the cathode buses C _{1 to} C _n is applied to the auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ . In FIG. 8, V _SA1 represents the amplitude of the auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ ,
_R indicates the amplitude of the reset cathode RC.

In the gas discharge display device having a structure in which the auxiliary cell resistance and the reset cell resistance are added to the auxiliary cell 34 and the reset cell 42, the auxiliary anode buses SA _{1 to} SA are used.
₃ can also be driven by a constant voltage source, so reset cell 42
The voltage applied to the auxiliary cell 34 does not change even during discharge. Therefore, when the voltage having the drive waveform shown in FIG. 8 is applied, the cathode bus lines C _nm to C _n can be addressed even during the reset discharge period. That is, writing to the display cell 32 is possible even during the reset period. Thus, it is a feature of the present invention that a part of the auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell 34 is performed during the reset discharge period.

For example, with He-Xe 10%, 350 Tor
In a gas discharge display device having a filled gas pressure of r,
When the auxiliary cathode made of Al is used, the resistance value of the reset cell resistance is about 2.5 MΩ, and the amplitude of the auxiliary anode bus bar V _SA1 =
Stable scanning discharge can be obtained by setting 110 V, the reset cathode amplitude V _R = −240, and the reset cathode pulse width τ _ΦR = 150 μs.

FIG. 9A shows a driving method of the gas discharge type display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the driving waveform of the reset cathode RC, the driving waveforms of the cathode buses C _{1 and} C ₂ and The drive waveforms of the auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ are shown respectively. As shown in FIG. 9A, the reset cathode RC may be driven by a DC constant voltage source. Normally, a keep-alive electrode for direct-current discharge is arranged in the peripheral portion of the gas discharge type display device, but if the reset cathode RC is operated by direct current or a long pulse width, the keep-alive electrode becomes unnecessary.

FIG. 9B shows a driving method of the gas discharge type display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The driving waveform of the reset cathode RC, the driving waveforms of the cathode buses C _{1 and} C ₂ and The drive waveforms of the auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ are shown respectively. As shown in FIG. 9B, the reset cathode RC may be driven by a pulse having a step synchronized with the driving pulse of the auxiliary anode bus SA ₁ . By doing so, erroneous discharge between the display anode bus bar and the reset cathode RC can be prevented.

FIG. 10 shows a driving method of a gas discharge type display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The driving waveform of the reset cathode RC, the driving waveforms of the cathode buses C _{1 to} C ₃ and the auxiliary anode bus. The drive waveform and reset current of SA ₁ are shown respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, the potential −V _RS may be applied to the reset cathode RC constantly or intermittently, and the potential −V _R may be applied once every several subframes. In this case, -V _R is a potential that can initiate discharge in a state in which the charged particles are not in the reset cells, -V _RS
Is a necessary and sufficient potential for sustaining discharge.

FIG. 11 shows a driving method of a gas discharge type display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing a drive waveform of the reset cathode RC, a drive waveform of the cathode bus C ₁ and a reset current, respectively. There is. As shown in FIG. 11, the potential of −V _RS may be constantly applied to the reset electrode RC, and the potential of −V _R may be applied once per frame. −
The potential level of V _R and -V _RS are the same as in the fourth embodiment. Since the potential of −V _RS is always applied to the reset cell, the potential of −V _R may be applied once per frame instead of once every several subframes.

According to the fourth or fifth embodiment, since the weak reset discharge is always maintained in the reset cell, the discharge start voltage of the reset electrode RC can be lowered, and therefore the reset electrode RC is exclusively used. No power supply required. Further, since the discharge start voltage of the reset electrode RC can be lowered and the duty ratio of the discharge start voltage can be reduced, the life of the reset electrode RC can be made as long as the life of the cathode C.

The driving method is shown in FIG. 8, FIG.
There are several methods other than the method shown in (b), FIG. 10 and FIG. For the pulse memory drive, for example, the methods shown in JP-A-5-119740 and JP-A-4-169283 and the method by the direct current mode are known, but the present invention can be applied to any of these drive methods. .

[0038]

According to the method of driving a gas discharge type display device of the present invention, the total time of the reset discharge period and the auxiliary discharge period is reduced by the total time of each auxiliary discharge performed during the discharge period of the reset discharge. Therefore, even if the number of display cathodes is large, the pulse width of the constant voltage pulse applied to the reset cathode can be secured, so that it is possible to drive a large gas discharge type display device in which the number of scanning cathodes is increased, and the number of subfields is increased. The number of display gray scales can be increased by increasing the number of display gradations, and since a long discharge period of the reset cell can be secured, a keep-alive cell as a priming source of the reset cell is not required, and a DC constant voltage source is used to drive the reset cathode. Since it can be applied, it is possible to obtain the effect that the drive circuit can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas discharge type display device used in each embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view showing a structure for providing an auxiliary cell resistance in the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure for providing an auxiliary cell resistance in the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure for providing an auxiliary cell resistance in the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing a structure for providing an auxiliary cell resistance in the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.

6 is a perspective view showing a structure for providing an auxiliary cell resistance in the gas discharge display device shown in FIG.

7 is a circuit diagram showing a basic configuration of the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of the gas discharge display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

9A is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of a gas discharge display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 6B is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of the gas discharge display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of a gas discharge display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of a gas discharge display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a gas discharge display device used in a conventional driving method.

13 is a circuit diagram showing a basic configuration of the gas discharge type display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a pulse waveform diagram showing a driving method of a conventional gas discharge display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Front Plate 12 Back Plate 13 Insulating Layer 14 Black Lattice 16 White Back 18 Fluorescent Material 20 Partition Wall 22 Display Anode Bus 24 Display Anode 26 Auxiliary Anode 28 Display Cathode 30 Auxiliary Cathode 31 Cathode Bus 32 Display Cell 34 Auxiliary Cell 36 Priming Slit 38 Reset Anode 40 Reset Cathode 42 Reset Cell 44 Display Cell Resistance 50 Auxiliary Anode Bus 52 Auxiliary Cell Resistance 56 First Insulating Layer 58 Second Insulating Layer 59 Contact Hole A ₁₁ ~ A _n3 Auxiliary Cell AR ₁₁ ~ AR _n3 Auxiliary Cell Resistance C _{1 to} C _n cathode D _{11 to} D _n3 display cell DA _{1 to} DA ₃ display anode bus R _{1 to} R ₃ reset cell RC reset cathode r _{1 to} r ₃ reset cell resistance SA _{1 to} SA ₃ auxiliary anode bus

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akio Niwa 1-1 Sachimachi Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hajime 1-1 Sachimachi Takatsuki City, Osaka Matsushita Electronics Industry Incorporated (72) Inventor Kazuo Takahashi 1-1 Sachimachi Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An auxiliary cell for performing an auxiliary discharge that generates priming particles that serves as a starter for a display discharge performed by a display cell, and a reset cell that performs a reset discharge for generating priming particles to stabilize the auxiliary discharge of the auxiliary cell. A method of driving a gas discharge type display device comprising: a reset cell resistance connected in series to the reset cell and an auxiliary cell resistance connected in series to the auxiliary cell, and a discharge of the reset discharge. A method of driving a gas discharge display device, characterized in that auxiliary discharge of at least a part of the auxiliary cells is performed during a period.