Patent ID: 6900598
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
1. A drive circuit that drives a gas discharge panel including (1) first and second substrates placed in parallel opposition with a space in between, (2)first and second electrode groups, each formed from a plurality of electrode lines and covered with a dielectric layer, electrode lines from the first and second electrode groups being arranged alternately in parallel on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and (3) a third electrode group, formed from a plurality of electrode lines and covered with a dielectric layer, arranged in parallel on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate in a direction at right angles to the first electrode group, the space between the substrates being divided by a barrier rib group; and a phosphorous material arranged between the barrier ribs, the drive circuit including (a) a set-up unit for performing set-up by applying a voltage between the first electrode group and the third electrode group, (b) an address unit for writing an image by applying a voltage to electrode lines selected from the third electrode group, while applying a voltage sequentially to each of the electrode lines in the first electrode group, and (c) a discharge sustain unit for sustaining a discharge by applying a voltage between the first electrode group and the second electrode group, and then erasing a wall charge remaining inside discharge cells, wherein a waveform for the voltage applied between the first electrode group and the third electrode group by the set-up unit includes, in the following order: