Abstract:
A plasma display panel that is adaptive for utilizing a radio frequency discharge. In the panel, a data is applied to a data electrode, and a scanning electrode is arranged perpendicularly to the data electrode. The scanning electrode causes an address discharge along with the data electrode by applying a scanning pulse. A radio frequency signal is applied to a radio frequency electrode, and a radio frequency reference electrode causes a radio frequency discharge along with the radio frequency electrode by applying a reference voltage of the radio frequency signal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a plasma display device, and more particularly to a plasma display panel that is adapted to make use of a radio frequency discharge. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, a plasma display panel (PDP) feasible to the fabrication of large-scale panel has been available for a flat panel display device. The PDP controls a discharge interval of each pixel to display a picture. Such a PDP typically includes a PDP of alternating current (AC) system having three electrodes and driven with an AC voltage as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 1 shows the conventional AC system PDP having discharge cells arranged in a matrix pattern. The discharge cell includes a sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B formed on an upper substrate  10  sequentially, an upper plate having an upper dielectric layer  14  and a protective film  16 , and a lower plate having an address electrode  20 , a lower dielectric layer  22 , a barrier rib  24  and a fluorescent layer  26 . The upper substrate  10  and the lower substrate  18  are spaced, in parallel, by the barrier rib  24 . The sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B consists of a scanning/sustaining electrode and a sustaining electrode. A scanning signal for a panel scanning and a sustaining signal for a discharge sustaining are applied to the scanning/sustaining electrode  12 A while a sustaining signal is applied to the sustaining electrode  12 B. An electric charge is accumulated into the upper dielectric layer  14  and the lower dielectric layer  22 . The protective film  16  prevents a damage of the upper dielectric layer  14  due to the sputtering, thereby prolonging a life of PDP as well as improving an emissive efficiency of secondary electrons. Usually, MgO is used as the protective film  16 . The address electrode  20  is crossed with the sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B. A data signal is applied to the address electrode  20 . The barrier rib  24  is formed in parallel to the address electrode  20 . The barrier  24  prevents an ultraviolet ray produced by a discharge from being leaked into the adjacent cell. The fluorescent layer  26  is coated on the surface of the lower dielectric layer  22  and the barrier rib  24  to generate any one of a red, green, and blue visible lights. An inactive gas for a gas discharge is injected into an inner discharge space. 
     The PDP cell having the structure as described above sustains a discharge by a surface discharge between the sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B after being selected by an opposite discharge between the address electrode  20  and the scanning/sustaining electrode  12 A. In the discharge cell, the fluorescent body  26  is radiated by an ultraviolet ray generated during the sustaining discharge to emit a visible light into the exterior of the discharge cell. 
     Such a PDP controls a discharge-sustaining interval, that is, a sustaining discharge frequency of the discharge cell to implement a gray scale required for an image display. Accordingly, the sustaining discharge frequency becomes an important factor for determining the brightness and a discharge efficiency of the PDP. For the purpose of performing such a sustaining discharge, a sustaining pulse having a duty ratio of 1, a frequency of 200 to 300 kHz and a width of about 10 to 20 μs is alternately applied to the sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B. The sustaining discharge is generated only once at an extremely short instant per the sustaining pulse by responding to the sustaining pulse. Charged particles generated by the sustaining discharge are moved along a discharge path formed between the sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B in accordance with the polarity of the sustaining electrode pair  12 A and  12 B and accumulated in the upper dielectric layer to be left into a wall charge. This wall charge lowers a driving voltage during the next sustaining discharge, but reduces an electric field in the discharge space during the corresponding sustaining discharge. Accordingly, when a wall charge is formed during the sustaining discharge, a discharge is interrupted. As described above, the sustaining discharge is generated only once at an extremely shorter instant than a width of the sustaining pulse, and it is consumed for a formation step of wall charge and a preparation step of the next sustaining discharge. Due to this, in the conventional PDP, a real discharge interval becomes very short in comparison to the entire discharge interval to have a low brightness and discharge efficiency. 
     In order to solve such a problem of low brightness and discharge efficiency, we has suggested a method of utilizing a radio frequency discharge using a radio frequency signal of tens of to hundreds of MHz. In the case of the radio frequency discharge, electrons perform an oscillating motion by the radio frequency signal to sustain the display discharge during a time interval when the radio frequency signal is applied. More specifically, when a radio frequency voltage signal having an alternately inverted polarity is applied to any one of the two opposed electrodes, electrons within the discharge space are moved toward one electrode or the other electrode depending on the polarity of the voltage signal. In the case where electrons are moved into any one electrode, if the polarity of a radio frequency voltage signal having been applied to the electrode before the electrons arrive at the electrode is changed, then a movement speed of the electrons is decelerated gradually and hence a movement direction thereof is changed toward the other opposed electrode. The polarity of the radio frequency voltage signal is changed before the electrons within the discharge space arrive at the electrode in this manner, so that the electrons do an oscillating motion between the two electrodes. Accordingly, when the radio frequency voltage signal is being applied, ionization, an excitation and a transition of gas particles are continuously generated without an extinction of electrons. The display discharge is sustained during most discharge time to thereby improve the brightness and a discharge efficiency of the PDP. Such a radio frequency discharge has the same physical characteristic as a positive column in a glow discharge structure. 
     The conventional PDP having the cell structure shown in FIG. 1 is unsuitable for making use of the above-mentioned radio frequency discharge. In other words, in order to utilize the radio frequency discharge as the display discharge, a distance between the two electrodes must be assured sufficiently. However, in the AC system PDP of FIG. 1, since the scanning/sustaining electrode  12 A and the sustaining electrode  12 B are spaced in a very short distance on the same plane, a radio frequency discharge is not caused as long as a frequency of the radio frequency signal is very high. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide a PDP having a structure suitable for making use of the radio frequency discharge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma display panel that is adaptive for utilizing a radio frequency discharge. 
     Further object of the present invention is to provide a PDP driving method and apparatus that is adaptive for driving the PDP utilizing a radio frequency. 
     In order to achieve these and other objects of the invention, a radio frequency plasma display panel according to one aspect of the present invention includes a data electrode to which a data is applied; a scanning electrode for causing an address discharge along with the data electrode by applying a scanning pulse, said scanning electrode being arranged perpendicularly to the data electrode; a radio frequency electrode to which a radio frequency signal is applied; and a radio frequency reference electrode for causing a radio frequency discharge along with the radio frequency electrode by applying a reference voltage of the radio frequency signal. 
     A driving method for a radio frequency plasma display panel according to another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of applying a voltage to each of a data electrode and a scanning electrode included in the display panel; and applying a radio frequency signal and a reference voltage of the radio frequency signal to the radio frequency electrode and the radio frequency reference electrode included in the display panel, respectively, in such a manner that electrons within the discharge cell do an oscillating motion, thereby causing a radio frequency discharge. 
     A driving method for a radio frequency plasma display panel according to still another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of applying a voltage to each of a data electrode and a scanning electrode included in the display panel to produce electrons within a discharge cell; and applying phase-inverted radio frequency signals to each of the first and second radio frequency electrodes included in the display panel in such a manner that the electrons within the discharge cell do an oscillating motion, thereby causing a radio frequency discharge. 
     A driving apparatus for a radio frequency plasma display panel according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a display panel having a data electrode supplied with a data, a scanning electrode for causing an address discharge along with the data electrode, a radio frequency electrode applied with a radio frequency signal, and a radio frequency reference electrode for causing a radio frequency discharge along with the radio frequency electrode; an address driver for causing an address discharge by applying the data and a scanning pulse to the data electrode and the scanning electrode, respectively; and a radio frequency driver for causing a radio frequency discharge by applying a radio frequency signal and a reference voltage of the radio frequency signal to the radio frequency electrode and the radio frequency reference electrode, respectively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a discharge cell of the conventional three-electrode AC-system PDP; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the discharge cell structure of a radio frequency PDP cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the discharge cell structure of a radio frequency PDP cell according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 4A to  4 D are sectional views for representing a discharge mechanism of the PDP cell shown in FIG. 2 step by step; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an electrode arrangement of the discharge cell in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is waveform diagrams of driving voltages according to an embodiment of the present invention for driving the discharge cell of the radio frequency PDP shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is waveform diagrams of driving voltages according to another embodiment of the present invention for driving the discharge cell of the radio frequency PDP shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is waveform diagrams of driving voltages according to still another embodiment of the present invention for driving the discharge cell of the radio frequency PDP shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 9 is waveform diagrams of driving voltages according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention for driving the discharge cell of the radio frequency PDP shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving apparatus for the radio frequency PDP according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving apparatus for the radio frequency PDP according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a discharge cell of a radio frequency PDP cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. The discharge cell includes an upper substrate  30  provided with a first radio frequency electrode  32 , a lower substrate  40  provided with an address electrode  42 , a scanning electrode  44  and a second radio frequency electrode  46 , and a barrier rib  50  formed perpendicularly between the upper substrate  30  and the lower substrate  40 . A discharge gases is injected into a discharge space  54  provided by the upper substrate  30 , the lower substrate  40  and the barrier rib  50 . It is desirable to use a Xe gas having a relatively low exciting energy level or use a mixture gas in which He and Ne, etc. Are mixed with a Xe gas so as to improve the efficiency. This is caused by a fact that a penning effect is largely used in the general alternating current (AC) PDP or direct current (DC) PDP while positive ions are almost in a stationary state and oscillating electrons largely excite a gas atom. Meanwhile, since an orange color generating at Ne is produced when an energy level of electrons at the time of radio frequency discharge concentrates on the excitation energy of Xe, the color purity is improved. 
     The first radio frequency electrode  32  is formed of a transparent material on the upper substrate  30  in a direction perpendicular to the address electrode  42 . The second radio frequency electrode  46  is formed oppositely on the lower substrate  40  in a direction parallel to the first radio frequency electrode  32 . The first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  cause a radio frequency discharge by a radio frequency signal applied in a sustaining interval. The second radio frequency electrode  46  may be applied with an additional radio frequency signal as a reference electrode of the first radio frequency electrode  32  and applied with a ground voltage GND or a specific level of direct current voltage. The first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  is formed in a shape of line electrode in FIG. 2, but may be formed in a shape of leaf electrode. A first dielectric layer  48 A is fully deposited on the second radio frequency electrode  46  and the lower substrate  40 . The first dielectric layer  48 A plays a role to electrically insulate the second radio frequency electrode  46  and the scanning electrode  44 . The scanning electrode  44  is formed on the first dielectric layer  48 A in a direction parallel to the second radio frequency electrode  46 . A second dielectric layer  48 B is fully deposited on the scanning electrode  44  and the first dielectric layer  48 A. The second dielectric layer  48 B is responsible for electrically insulating the scanning electrode  44  and the address electrode  34 . The address electrode  42  is formed on the second dielectric layer  48 B in a direction perpendicular to the scanning electrode  44 . The scanning electrode  44  and the address electrode  42  causes an address discharge by a scanning pulse applied in the addressing interval and a video data. Meanwhile, since the scanning electrode  44  and the address electrode  42  is opposed adjacently with intervening the second dielectric layer  48 B, a voltage level for causing an address discharge can be lowered to that extent. Otherwise, the scanning electrode  44  and the address electrode  42  may be formed on the upper substrate  30  and the lower substrate  40 , respectively, in such a manner to be opposed with intervening a discharge space  54 . 
     The barrier rib  50  prevents an optical interference between the adjacent discharge cells and provides a movement path of electrons at the time of radio frequency discharge. A fluorescent body  52  for emitting an inherent color of visible light by a vacuum ultraviolet generated during the radio frequency discharge is coated on the surfaces of the barrier rib  50  and a third dielectric layer  48 C. 
     On the other hand, the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  are installed oppositely in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 2, but may be installed oppositely in the horizontal direction. In this case, the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  have advantages in that they can be the surface or the interior of the barrier rib  50  and that they can lower a height of the barrier rib  50  because electrons do an oscillating motion in the horizontal direction. Also, the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  may be installed oppositely in a diagonal direction as shown in FIG.  3 . Referring to FIG. 3, the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  are installed at the opposed edges of the upper substrate  30  and the lower substrate  40 , respectively. If the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  are installed oppositely along the diagonal line as described above, then electrons do an oscillating motion on the diagonal line along an arrow within the discharge space  54  at the time of radio frequency discharge. As described above, since a discharge distance is lengthened when the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  are opposed in the horizontal direction and opposed on the diagonal line, a frequency of the radio frequency signal can be lowered to that extent. 
     FIGS. 4A to  4 D represents a discharge mechanism of the discharge cell shown in FIG.  2 . Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an address discharge is caused by a voltage difference between a video data and a scanning pulse applied to the address electrode  42  and the scanning electrode  44 , respectively. Electric charged particles are produced at the discharge space  54  by the address discharge. Most of the charged particles produced at the discharge space are accumulated on the third dielectric layer  48 C to become a wall charge. If a wall charge accumulated on the surface of the third dielectric layer  48 C is formed, then a discharge is interrupted because an electric field within the discharge space  54  by the wall charge. If a radio frequency signal is applied to the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  in the discharge cell accumulated with a wall charge, electrons very lighter than a proton are derived onto a space. Herein, an amplitude of the radio frequency signal can be lowered by the accumulated wall charge, and such a radio frequency signal is added to an electric field within the discharge space  54  caused by the wall charge to be applied to the discharge  54  above a discharge initiation voltage. Even when the polarity of such a radio frequency signal is inverted, electrons retrogresses the movement path as shown in FIG. 4D to do an oscillating motion upward and downward, whereas protons keep an almost stationary state because they have a very larger mass than electrons. The electrons doing an oscillating motion ionize and excite a discharge gas continuously, and the excited atom and molecule are transited into a base state to emit a vacuum ultraviolet. The vacuum ultraviolet excites the fluorescent body  52  to allow the fluorescent body  52  to generate a visible light. 
     A relationship of a frequency f of the radio frequency to a distance r between the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  for causing the radio frequency discharge is given by the following formula:              r   =     eE     mw            w   2     +     v   m   2                     (   1   )                                
     wherein r represents a distance between the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46 , m does a mass of electron, ω(=2πf) does a frequency, and V m  does a collision frequency. 
     It can be seen from the formula (1) that a distance r between the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  is inversively proportional to a frequency f of the radio frequency signal. As described above, the frequency f of the radio frequency signal and the distance r between the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46  is determined. Also, a height of the barrier rib  50  is determined depending on the distance r between the first and second radio frequency electrodes  32  and  46 . 
     Meanwhile, a triggering signal besides a radio frequency signal is applied to the opposed electrodes prior to the radio frequency discharge interval, thereby deriving electrons into the discharge space  54  and producing more electrons as shown in FIG.  4 C. An amplitude of the radio frequency signal can be more lowered by the triggering signal, and the radio frequency discharge is stabilized to improve the discharge efficiency as well as the luminescence efficiency. For instance, a negative polarity of triggering signal can be applied to the address electrode  42  and the scanning electrode  44 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a discharge cell  60  formed at intersections among m scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym, n address electrode lines X 1  to Xn, and first and second radio frequency electrode lines RF 1  and RF 2 . FIG. 6 shows waveforms of driving voltages of the radio frequency PDP in FIG.  2 . 
     Referring to FIG.  5  and FIG. 6, a desired frequency of radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the first radio frequency electrode line RF 1 , and a direct current bias voltage of the radio frequency signal VRF, that is, a direct current voltage Vdc for providing a reference voltage is applied to the second radio frequency electrode line RF 2 . The radio frequency signal VRF and the direct current bias voltage Vdc are sustained from an addressing interval until an erasing interval. During the addressing interval, a negative polarity of scanning pulse −Vs is sequentially applied to the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym, and a video data Vd is synchronized with a scanning pulse −Vs to be applied to the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn. By a voltage difference between the scanning pulse −Vs and the video data Vd, an address discharge is generated between the scanning electrode liens Y 1  to Ym applied with the scanning pulse −Vs and the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn. In a sustaining interval following the addressing interval, Electrons in the charged particles and the wall charge produced within the discharge space  54  by the address discharge do an oscillating motion within the discharge space  54  in accordance with the radio frequency signal VRF. The electrons doing an oscillating motion ionize and excite a discharge gas to generate a vacuum ultraviolet, which radiates the fluorescent body  52 . Accordingly, red, green, and blue visible lights are generated depending on the fluorescent body  52  in the sustaining interval. Herein, the radio frequency signal VRF can cause a radio frequency discharge even when an amplitude, that is, a peak value is lowered to that extent by an electric field within the discharge space caused by the charged particles and the wall charge generated in the addressing interval. In an erasing interval following the sustaining interval, a positive polarity of erasing pulse Ve is simultaneously applied to all the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym. Since a tension exerts on the electrons within the discharge space  54  toward the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym by the erasing pulse Ve, electrons are restrained into the bottom side of the discharge space  54 . Accordingly, the radio frequency discharge and the luminescence are interrupted by the erasing pulse Ve. An application time of the erasing pulse Ve is determined depending on a brightness value, that is, a gray scale value of the video data. 
     A triggering interval for activating electrons within the discharge space may be included between the addressing interval and the sustaining interval as shown in FIG.  7 . In FIG. 7, a positive polarity of triggering pulse Vt is simultaneously applied to all the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym in the triggering interval. A discharge is generated between the first radio frequency electrode line RF 1  and the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym by a voltage difference between the triggering pulse Vt and the radio frequency signal VRF. By this discharge, wall charges are derived into the discharge space  54  and more electrons are produced within the discharge space  54 . 
     FIG. 8 shows driving waveforms for the radio frequency PDP according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.  5  and FIG. 8, a desired frequency of first radio frequency signal VRF 1  is applied to a first radio frequency electrode line RF 1  from an addressing interval until an erasing interval. A second radio frequency signal VRF 2  having an inverse phase with respect to the first radio frequency signal VRF 1  is applied to a second radio frequency electrode line RF 2  in an sustaining interval. The second radio frequency signal VRF 2  has the same frequency and amplitude as the first radio frequency signal VRF 1 , and applied to the second radio frequency electrode lines RF 1  and RF 2  in a phase identical to the first radio frequency signal VRF 1  in an interval except for the sustaining interval. During the addressing interval, the first and second radio frequency signals VRF 1  and VRF 2  having the same phase are applied to the first and second radio frequency electrode lines RF 1  and RF 2 , respectively. Accordingly, since a voltage difference that can cause a discharge does not emerges between the first and second radio frequency signals RF 1  and RF 2 , a discharge is not generated. In this interval, a video data is applied to the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn, and a negative polarity of scanning pulse −Vs synchronized with the video data Vd is sequentially applied to the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym. Thus, an address discharge is generated between the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym applied with the scanning pulse −Vs and the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn. In a sustaining interval following the addressing interval, a phase of the second radio frequency signal VRF 2  is inverted. Since the first and second radio frequency signals VRF 1  and VRF 2  has an inverse phase with respect to each other, they becomes above a voltage difference causing a discharge. Thus, the first and second radio frequency electrode lines RF 1  and RF 2  cause a sustaining discharge in the sustaining interval. At this time, electrons within the discharge space do an oscillating motion by the sustaining discharge. In the erasing interval, the second radio frequency signal VRF 2  is again phase-inverted to have the same phase as the first radio frequency signal VRF 1 . At this time, since more electric fields are not applied to electrons within the discharge space  54 , electrons doing an oscillating motion keep an inertia to be collided with the upper substrate  30  or the lower substrate  40 . Accordingly, the sustaining discharge is erased by the first and second radio frequency signals VRFl and VRF 2 , and a brightness value of a picture is determined depending on an initiation time of the erasing interval, that is, a phase-inverted time of the second radio frequency signal VRF 2 . A priming pulse or a reset pulse can be applied to the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn and the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym prior to the addressing interval, and a triggering pulse can be applied prior to the sustaining interval. 
     FIG. 9 shows driving waveforms of a radio frequency PDP according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, a desired frequency of radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the first radio frequency electrode line RF 1 , and a direct bias voltage Vdc of the radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the second radio frequency line RF 2 . The radio frequency signal VRF is turned off in an interval except for the radio frequency electrode to be converted into a direct current voltage. In other words, the radio frequency signal VRF is switched in accordance with the radio frequency discharge. During the address interval, a negative polarity of the scanning pulse −Vs is sequentially applied to the radio frequency signal VRF, and a video data Vd is applied to the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn with being synchronized with a scanning pulse −Vs. By a voltage difference between the scanning pulse −Vs and the video data Vd, an address interval is caused between the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym applied with the scanning pulse −Vs and the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn. In a sustaining interval following the address interval, a positive polarity of triggering pulse Vt is applied to the scanning electrode lines Y 1  to Ym and the address electrode lines X 1  to Xn. Electrons produced in the addressing interval by the triggering pulse Vt are derived into the discharge space  54 , and more electrons are generated within the discharge space  54 . Also, since the radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the first radio frequency electrode line RF 1  in the sustaining interval, electrons within the discharge space  54  do an oscillating motion by the radio frequency signal VRF. In the erasing interval, a radio frequency signal VRF is turned off to be converted into a ground level of direct current voltage. Accordingly, since electrons do not any longer move, a luminescence is interrupted. A brightness value of a picture is determined depending on an off time of the radio frequency signal VRF 1 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a driving apparatus for a radio frequency PDP according to an embodiment of the present invention. The driving apparatus includes a radio frequency signal source  80  for generating a radio frequency signal VRF, a data/scanning signal generator  86  for generating a video data Vd and a scanning pulse Vs, and an impedance matcher  84  and an amplifier  82  connected, in series, between a first radio frequency input terminal  71  in a PDP  70  and the radio frequency signal source  80 . The amplifier  82  amplifies the radio frequency signal VRF from the radio frequency signal source  80  by its gain value and applies the same to the impedance matcher  84 . The impedance matcher  84  matches an impedance value at the radio frequency signal source  80  and the amplifier  82  with an impedance value at the PDP  70 . By such an impedance matching, a maximum power of the radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the PDP  70 . A ground voltage GND of the radio frequency signal VRF is applied to the radio frequency input terminal  72 . The data/scanning signal generator  86  is connected to a data input terminal  73  and a scanning pulse input terminal  74  in the PDP  70  to apply the video data Vd and the scanning pulse Vs to the data input terminal  73  and the scanning pulse input terminal  74 , respectively. Also, the data/scanning signal generator  86  applies a priming pulse, a reset pulse and a triggering pulse to each of the data input terminal  73  and the scanning pulse input terminal  74 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, a second radio frequency signal VRF 2  may be applied to the second radio frequency input terminal  72  in the PDP  70  by a radio frequency signal inverter  88 . The radio frequency signal inverter  88  is connected between an output terminal of the radio frequency signal source  80  and the second radio frequency input terminal  72  to apply a radio frequency signal from the radio frequency signal source  80  to the second radio frequency input terminal  72  in a time interval except for the sustaining interval, whereas it phase-inverts a radio frequency signal from the radio frequency signal source  80  in the sustaining interval and applies the same to the second radio frequency input terminal  72 . 
     As described above, in the radio frequency PDP according to the present invention, an address electrode for an address discharge and a data electrode are installed adjacently and the first and second radio frequency electrodes for a radio frequency discharge are installed in parallel. A distance between the first and second radio frequency electrodes is sufficiently assured such that an oscillating motion of electrons does not undergo an interference. Accordingly, the radio frequency PDP according to the present invention has a structure suitable for an alternating current discharge used for the address discharge as well as for a radio frequency discharge used for the sustaining discharge. The driving method and apparatus for the radio frequency PDP according to the present invention causes an address discharge by a pulse signal having a control easiness and causes a radio frequency discharge by a radio frequency signal and a triggering pulse for activating the radio frequency discharge or causes a radio frequency discharge by switching the radio frequency signal, so that it is suitable for driving the radio frequency PDP. Moreover, the driving method and apparatus for the radio frequency PDP according to the present invention matches an impedance of the PDP with that of the radio frequency signal source such that a maximum power of the radio frequency signal can be applied to the PDP. 
     Although the present invention has been explained by the embodiments shown in the drawings described above, it should be understood to the ordinary skilled person in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but rather that various changes or modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.