Abstract:
A surface-discharge type PDP includes plural electrode pairs formed of first and second sustain electrodes arranged on a first substrate. Each pair extends along a line direction, and the first and second sustain electrodes are in parallel and adjacent to each other. Plural address electrodes arranged on a second substrate opposing the first substrate via a discharge space, each extending along a row direction, a matrix corresponding to a screen to be displayed is formed with the main electrodes and address electrodes, the address electrodes are orthogonal to the main electrodes, each of the address electrode is divided into, for example two partial address electrodes separated from each other by a border line located between adjacent main electrode pairs, whereby the screen is divided into two partial screens, wherein a first clearance between the partial address electrodes is substantially larger than a second clearance between main electrode pair adjacent across the border line. The arrangement order of the first and second sustain electrodes may preferably be such that first sustain electrodes of the first and second partial screens face each other via the border line, and the partial address electrodes may not cross over the first sustain electrodes nearest to the border line.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/320,731, filed Dec. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,495,636 now allowed, which is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 10/453,488, filed Jun. 4, 2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,012 on Apr. 11, 2006, which is a Reissue Application of application Ser. No. 09/951,749, filed Sep. 14, 2001, and issued as US RE38,819 on Oct. 11, 2005, which is the child of application Ser. No. 08/823,487, filed on Mar. 25, 1997, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,783 on Sep. 14, 1999 and claims priority to Japanese Application No. 8-81421 filed Apr. 3, 1996. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an AC type plasma display panel, referred to hereinafter as a PDP, of matrix formation, particularly to a PDP having a screen which is divided into a plurality of sub-screens. 
     2. Description of the Related Arts 
     A prior art surface discharge type PDP is hereinafter described with reference to  FIG. 1  schematically illustrating a plan view of the electrode configuration, and  FIG. 2  schematically illustrating a decomposition perspective view of the internal structure. 
     Prior art PDP  80  includes a plurality of electrode pairs  12   j  of first and second sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj in parallel with each other and extending straight, both of which may be called main electrodes, and a plurality of address electrodes Aj in straight and orthogonal to first and second sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj. Each electrode pair  12   j  corresponds to a single line of the matrix formation, and each address electrode Aj corresponds to a single row. That is, an area E 1  where the sustain electrodes and the address electrodes intersect each other is a displaying area, referred to hereinafter as a screen. In the periphery of the screen is provided a non-lighting area E 2  of a predetermined width in order to be free from an effect of a gas degased from sealant to seal the two glass substrates  11   j  and  21   j.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a prior art PDP  80  is constituted with a front glass substrate  11   j , first and second sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj, a dielectric layer  17   j  for an AC drive, a protection layer  18   j , a back glass substrate  21   j , address electrodes Aj, separator walls  29   j  and fluorescent material layers  28   j  for a full-color display. A discharge space  30   j  therein is divided into each subpixel EU along a line direction, that is, a direction along which sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj extend, by separator wall  29   j , which also determines a gap between the substrates. 
     First and second sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj are arranged on an inner surface of back glass substrate  21   j , and each of which is formed of a wide transparent electrically conductive film  41   j  and a metal film  42   j  thereon for securing a good electrical conductivity. Transparent electrically conductive film  41   j  is patterned belt-like wider than metal film  42   j  so that a surface discharge may expand. 
     Fluorescent material layer  28   j  is coated between each separator wall  29   j  on back glass substrate  21   j  in order to reduce an ion bombardment, and emits a light by a local excitation of ultraviolet rays generated in the surface discharge. Among the visible radiations emitted from the surface of fluorescent layer  28   j , i.e. the surface to face the discharge space, the light which can penetrate through glass substrate  11   j  becomes a display light. 
     Pixel, i.e. picture element, EG of the screen matrix includes three sub-pixels EU which line up along the line direction, where the lighting colors of the three sub-pixels EU are mutually different as denoted with R, G and B, so that each color to be displayed of a single pixel is determined by the combination of the basic R, G and B. The pattern arrangement of separator walls  29   j  is so-called a stripe pattern, where the part which corresponds to each row in discharge space  30  extends in the row direction continuously to cross over all the lines. The emitting color of sub-pixels EU in each row is identical. 
     Second sustain electrode Yj of the electrode pair  12   j  and address electrode Aj are used for selecting, i.e. addressing, a pixel EU to light or not to light. That is, a screen scanning is performed sequentially line by line by applying a scan pulse onto sequential one of n second sustain electrodes Yj, where n indicates the quantity of the lines, and a predetermined electrically charged state is formed in the selected cell of each row by an opposing discharge, i.e. an address discharge, generated between the second sustain electrode Yj and an address electrode Aj selected in accordance with the contents to be displayed. After the addressing operation is thus performed, upon an application of the sustain pulses of a predetermined peak value alternately onto first and second sustain electrodes Xj &amp; Yj a surface discharge, i.e. a sustain discharge, takes place in the cell in which wall charges of a predetermined amount; remaining at the end of the addressing operation. 
     In performing the addressing operation according to the above-described line-scanning, if the quantity of the lines are increased so as to meet a requirement to enhance the screen size or to accomplish a higher resolution, the period required for the addressing operation becomes longer. However, a single frame, that is a period for displaying a single picture, is unalterable. Accordingly, the longer the addressing period becomes, the shorter the time length allocatable to the sustain period becomes, resulting in inadequate brightness of the display. Moreover, the gradation display by dividing the frame become difficult. 
     Therefore, it has been measured to divide screen E 1  along the row direction, that is, along upper and lower direction of  FIG. 1  into plural partial screens in each of which the addressing operation is concurrently performed. Then, address electrodes Aj are divided into each partial screen too. Dividing of the display screen into two partial screens allows the period required for the addressing operation to reduce to a half. 
     However, in dividing all the sustain electrode pairs simply into two partial screens, there is a problem in that an erroneous discharge may take place across the border line where the second sustain electrode Y of the first sub-screen E 11  faces the first sustain electrodes of the next line of the next partial screen E 12 . 
     This problem is hereinafter described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the electrode structure cut along b-b of  FIG. 3A . Display screen E 1  is divided into two partial screens E 11  and E 12 . In each of partial screens E 11  and E 12  are provided partial address electrodes A 1   j  and A 2   j , respectively, symmetric with respect to the border line DL. However, in practically sealing the two glass substrates the symmetry may be somewhat deviated. Clearance Dj between two partial address electrodes A 1   j  and A 2   j  respectively of first and second partial screens E 11  and E 12  is chosen narrower than the electrode clearance d between two lines. This is in order to keep properly the positional relation between second sustain electrode Y and partial address electrode A, even in the case where the symmetry is deteriorated due to a miss-alignment of the facing two glass substrates during the sealing operation, that is, the end of first partial address electrode A 1  can always cross over the last second sustain electrode Yn, so that an address discharge can certainly take place between first partial address electrode A 1  and the last second sustain electrode Yn of the first partial screen. 
     However, in the case where addressing operation is performed concurrently for two partial screens E 11  and E 12 , when addressing discharge is generated only in one of the partial screens there is generated a potential different between two partial address electrodes A 1   jn  and A 2   jn . Accordingly, the narrower the clearance Dj is, the more likely an erroneous discharge, or an interference, generates between two partial address electrodes A 1   j  and A 2   j  or between a second sustain electrode Yjn and a second partial address electrode A 2   jn+ 1 of second partial screen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the invention to prevent an erroneous discharge, i.e. an interference, across a border line of the divided screens in attempting a high speed addressing operation by dividing a screen. 
     A surface-discharge type plasma display panel includes: a plurality of main electrode pairs formed of first and second sustain electrodes arranged upon a first substrate, each extending along a line direction, the first and second sustain electrodes are in parallel and adjacent to each other. The display panel further includes a plurality of address electrodes arranged upon a second substrate opposing the first substrate via a discharge space, each extending along a row direction, a matrix corresponding to a screen to be displayed is formed with the main electrodes and address electrodes, the address electrodes are orthogonal to the main electrodes, each of the address electrode is divided into, for example two partial address electrodes separated from each other by a border line located between adjacent main electrode pairs, whereby the screen is divided into two partial screens, wherein a first clearance between the partial address electrodes is substantially larger than a second clearance between main electrode pair adjacent across the border line. The arrangement order of the first and second sustain electrodes may preferably be such that first sustain electrodes of the first and second partial screens face each other via the border line, and the partial address electrodes may not cross over the first sustain electrodes nearest may not cross over the first sustain electrodes nearest to the border line. 
     The above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention, together with other objects and advantages, which will become apparent, will be more fully described hereinafter, with references being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an electrode configuration of a prior art PDP; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a decomposition perspective view of the prior art PDP; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically illustrate an electrode configuration and a cross-sectional view of the electrode structure of the prior art PDP having two partial screens; 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an electrode configuration of the electrode structure of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, having two partial screens; 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the electrode structure of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a timing chart of voltages applied to the PDP of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the electrode structure of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to  FIG. 4  schematically illustrating electrode configuration of a PDP, and  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional cut view of a PDP of the present invention. 
     PDP  4  is a surface discharge type PDP in which a single line is formed of a pair of first and second sustain electrodes X and Y, each in parallel and straight. The screen E 1  is divided into two partial screens, that is first partial screen E 11  and a second partial screen E 12 , in the row direction. The quantity of lines of the entire screen E 1  is 2n, where the quantity of lines of each partial screen E 11  and E 12  is n. On each row of first partial screen E 11  is provided with a first partial address electrode A 1 , and on each row of second partial screen E 12  is provided with a second partial address electrode A 1 . A single pair of first and second address electrodes A 1  and A 2  aligned along a single row forms a single address electrode A which corresponds to the single row. First address electrodes A 1  are led out to a first side at first ends of the address electrodes, and second address electrodes A 2  are led out to a second side, opposite from the first side, at second ends of the address electrodes. First sustain electrodes X are led out to a first side of first glass substrate  11  at first ends of the lines, and second sustain electrodes Y are led out to a second side opposite from the first side. 
     Totally 2n first sustain electrodes X and totally 2n second sustain electrodes Y are arranged along the row direction symmetrically with respect to the border line DL of first partial screen E 11  and second partial screen E 12  so that Xn-th and Xn+1 the first sustain electrodes Xn and Xn+1 are facing each other across the border line DL. In other words, in the first partial screen E 11  are alternately arranged second and first sustain electrodes Y and X from the top of the first partial screen to the border line in the order of Y 1 , X 1  . . . Xn−1, Yn−1, Xn; while in the second partial screen E 12  are alternately arranged first and second sustain electrodes X and Y from the border line DL to the bottom of the second partial screen in the order of Xn+1, Yn+1 . . . X 2   n  and Y 2   n , where the order is opposite to that in the first partial screen E 1 . Each of first address electrodes A 1  in first partial screen E 11  crosses over all of n second sustain electrodes Y 1 -Yn and all of (n−1), first sustain electrodes X 1 -Xn−1 excluding the last one Xn adjacent to the border line DL. In the similar way, each of second address electrodes A 2  in second partial screen E 12  cross over all of n second sustain electrodes Yn+1-Y 2   n  and all of (n−1) first sustain electrodes Xn+2-X 2   n  excluding the first one Xn+1 adjacent to the border line DL. 
     First and second sustain electrodes X and Y are arranged on an inner surface of front glass substrate  11 , and respectively formed of a transparent electrically conductive film  41  and a metal film  42  thereon as shown in  FIG. 5 . Upon a dielectric layer  17  covering first and second sustain electrodes X and Y is vapor-deposited a protection layer  18  formed of MgO, magnesium oxide. First and second partial address electrodes A 1  and A 2  are arranged on an inner surface of back glass substrate  21  and is coated with an insulating layer  24 . Upon insulating layer  24  are provided separator walls, which is not shown in the figure, and a fluorescent material layer  28 . Each separator wall separates discharge space  30  into each subpixel along the line direction, and also acts to keep the height of the discharge space  30  uniform. The separator wall structure and the layout pattern of the fluorescent material layer of PDP 1 are identical to those of the prior art structure shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In performing the display, the addressing operation is first carried out by generating a discharge in a direction along the thickness of the glass substrates, referred to hereinafter as an opposing discharge, between second sustain electrode Y and first partial address electrode A 1  in first partial screen E 11 , and between second sustain electrode Y 2  and second partial address electrode A in second partial screen E 12 . 
     A clearance D between first partial address electrode A 1  of first partial screen E 11  and second partial address electrode A 2  of second partial screen E 12  is chosen longer than the sum of twice of the width w of first sustain electrode X and a clearance d, typically 430 .mu.m, between two first sustain electrodes Xn &amp; Xn+1 across the border line DL, and shorter than a clearance dy between two nearest second sustain electrodes Yn &amp; Yn+1 across the border line DL, that is 2w+d&lt;D&lt;2w+d+2g=dy, where g indicates a clearance between the paired first and second sustain electrodes X and Y. These dimensional conditions are such that clearance D between address electrodes A 1  &amp; A 2 , respectively of the first and second partial screens, allow the address electrodes to cover second sustain electrodes Yn and Yn+1 to which the address discharge has to certainly performed, however, not to cross over the first sustain electrodes Xn and Xn+1 to which no discharge be generated from the address electrodes A. Thus, the clearance D between address electrodes A 1  &amp; A 2  is adequately wide to keep address electrode An &amp; An+1 away from the second sustain electrode Yn+1 &amp; Yn of the opposite partial screen. Therefore, in PDP of the present invention more hardly takes place the erroneous discharge occurs less frequently than in the prior art PDP, that is, there is no interference between two partial screens. 
     A typical driving method of PDP 1 is hereinafter described.  FIG. 6  schematically illustrates waveforms of the applied voltages. A single field corresponds to a single frame. However, in reproducing a screen, i.e. a scene, scanned by an interface format, such as of a television, two fields are used in displaying a single screen. 
     In order to achieve a gradation display, a single field is divided into a plurality, for example six to eight, a sub-fields. Each sub-field contains a reset period TR, an address period TA and a sustain period TS. Quantity of lightings in the sustain period TS is predetermined so as to appropriately weight the brightness. Accordingly, each sub-field corresponds to a display period of a certain gradation level. 
     Reset period TR is such that in order to be free from an influence of the previous lighting state the wall charges in the first and second partial screen E 11  and E 12  are all erased; i.e. an entire erasing is performed. A writing pulse PW is applied to all of first sustain electrodes X, and concurrently a pulse Paw having the same polarity as the first sustain electrodes X is applied to all of first and second partial address electrodes A 1  &amp; A 2 . In response to the rise of the writing pulse strong surface discharges take place at all the lines so as to once accumulate the wall charges on dielectric layer  17 . However, in response to the fall of the writing pulse a so-called self-discharge by the wall discharges takes place whereby the wall charges on the dielectric layer  17  disappear. The pulse Paw is in order to suppress a discharge between the address electrodes A and the first sustain electrodes X, accordingly, to suppress an accumulation of wall charges on the back glass substrate. 
     Address period TA is a period during which a line-sequential addressing operation is performed. First sustain electrodes X are applied with a potential Vax positive with respect to the earth potential, for example 50 V. All the second sustain electrodes Y are applied with a negative potential Vsc with respect to the earth potential, for instance −70V. 
     Under such a condition, each line in each partial screen E 11  &amp; E 12  is sequentially selected one by one, for example, beginning from each top line by applying thereto a scanning pulse Py of the negative polarity, for instance, −170V. 
     Concurrent to the selection of the line, an address pulse Pa of positive polarity having a peak value Va, for instance, 60V, is applied to specific first &amp; second partial address electrode A 1  &amp; A 2 , associated with a display cell to be lit, respectively. At the display cell on the selected line, and to which address pulse Pa is applied, an address discharge takes place between second sustain electrode Y and first and second partial address electrodes A 1  or A 2 . No discharge takes place between first sustain electrode X and first or second partial address electrodes A 1  or A 2  because thus selected first sustain electrode X is applied with a potential Vax having the polarity of the address pulse Pa so as to keep the potential difference between the first sustain electrode X and address electrode A lower than the discharge firing voltage therebetween. 
     In consideration of avoiding an interference of the discharges between the lines it is preferable to deviate the timing to select the top line, the n+1 th line, of the second screen E 12  from the moment to select the last line, the n-th line, of the first screen E 11 . 
     Sustain period TS is a period during which the quantity of times for a cell to light set in the addressing period is reproduced so as to achieve thus set brightness gradation level. 
     In order to prevent an erroneous opposing discharge, i.e. a discharge across the discharge space, all address electrodes A are applied with a positive potential of, for instance, +Vs/2, and at the beginning a sustain pulse Ps of positive polarity having a peak value Vs, for example 195 V, which is higher than the surface discharge firing voltage between first and second sustain electrodes X and Y in consideration of the effect of the wall charges is applied to all second sustain electrodes Y. 
     Subsequently, the sustain pulse Ps is applied alternately onto first sustain electrodes X and second sustain electrodes Y. Upon each application of sustain pulse Ps, the surface discharges take place in the cells that have accumulated the wall charge during address period TA. 
     A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to  FIG. 7  schematically illustrating a cross-sectional cut view of a PDP 2 wherein functional elements having the same function as  FIG. 5  are denoted with the same numerals. 
     Feature of the structure of PDP 2 is in that a line separator wall  35  is provided on border line DL of first partial screen E 11  and second partial screen E 12 . Line separator wall  35  extends as long as the entire length of the lines of the display screen E 1 , and divides discharge space  30  into two along the row direction. Line separator wall  35  prevents the interference of the discharges between first partial screen E 11  and second partial screen E 12 . Line separator wall  35  is fabricated concurrently [to] at the time when separator wall  29 , to determine each sub-pixel shown in FIG. [ 6 ]  2 , is fabricated. Line separator wall  35  has not always to contact the inner surface of front glass substrate. That is, even if there is a gap between line separator wall  35  and the inner surface of front the front glass substrate, the interference is suppressed. This is because a surface distance between first partial address electrodes A 1  and second partial address electrodes A 2  is increased by the provision of line separator wall  35 , that is, the electrode distance is effectively elongated. 
     As a modification of the above preferred embodiments, first and second partial address electrodes A 1  and A 2  may be arranged so as to cross over only metal film  42  of second sustain electrodes Yn &amp; Yn+1 nearest to border line DL. In this arrangement, clearance D between first and second partial address electrodes A 1  and A 2  becomes further longer. 
     Thus, according to the present invention the interference between adjacent partial screens can be prevented. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the methods which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not detailed to limit the invention and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.