Plasma display device and method of driving the same

A plasma display device includes a first electrode from which sustain discharge occurs; a second electrode from which sustain discharge occur to the first electrode, a distance from the second electrode to the first electrode continuously varying in one discharge space; and a driving circuit which generates a sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages, with an application time of a second-stage voltage being longer than an application time of a first-stage voltage, to apply the sustain discharge pulse between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sustain discharge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-006478, filed on Jan. 13, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plasma display device and a method of driving the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 4-267293 describes a gas discharge display element which utilizes an ultraviolet light generated by gas discharge to excite phosphors, thereby obtaining color light emission. This gas discharge display element has a pair of electrodes with two discharge gaps in one discharge space. In a first discharge gap, discharge having a stable memory function occurs, and in a second discharge gap, discharge by a short pulse voltage occurs, using the discharge in the first discharge gap as a trigger. To obtain such discharge, the short pulse voltage is superposed on a waveform and a voltage pulse with this waveform is applied.

However, there unavoidably occurs manufacturing variation in the first and second discharge gaps, resulting in variation in the first and second discharge gaps among electrode pairs even in the same gas discharge element. Due to the variation in the first discharge gap, the discharge having the stable memory function is not feasible in the first discharge gap. Further, due to the variation in the second discharge gap, the stable discharge in the second discharge gap using the discharge in the first discharge gap as the trigger is not feasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma display device and a method of driving the same which realize stable discharge to improve light emission efficiency.

According to the present invention, provided is a plasma display device including: a first electrode from which sustain discharge occurs; a second electrode from which sustain discharge occurs to the first electrode, a distance from the second electrode to the first electrode continuously varying in one discharge space; and a driving circuit which generates a sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages, with an application time of a second-stage voltage being longer than an application time of a first-stage voltage, to apply the sustain discharge pulse between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sustain discharge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a view showing a structural example of a plasma display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reference numeral16denotes a plasma display panel, the reference numeral17an X driving circuit, the reference numeral18a Y driving circuit, the reference numeral19an address driving circuit, and the reference numeral20a control circuit, respectively.

The control circuit20controls the X driving circuit17, the Y driving circuit18, and the address driving circuit19. The X driving circuit17supplies a predetermined voltage to a plurality of X electrodes X1, X2, . . . . Hereinafter, an X electrode Xi is used to represent each of the X electrodes X1, X2, . . . or to collectively represent them. “i” is a suffix. The Y driving circuit18supplies a predetermined voltage to a plurality of Y electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . . Hereinafter, a Y electrode Yi is used to represent each of the Y electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , or to collectively represent them. “i” is a suffix. The address driving circuit19supplies a predetermined voltage to a plurality of address electrodes A1, A2, . . . . Hereinafter, an address electrode Aj is used to represent each of the address electrodes A1, A2, . . . or to collectively represent them. “j” is a suffix.

In the panel16, the Y electrodes Yi and the X electrodes Xi form rows extending in parallel in a horizontal direction, and the address electrodes Aj form columns extending in a vertical direction. The Y electrodes Yi and the X electrodes Xi are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. The Y electrodes Yi and the address electrodes Aj form a two-dimensional matrix of i-rows and j-columns. Each of display cells Cij is formed by an intersection of the Y electrode Yi and the address electrode Aj and the corresponding X electrode Xi adjacent thereto. This display cell Cij corresponds to a pixel, and the panel16can display a two-dimensional image.

FIG. 2is an exploded partial perspective view showing a structural example of the panel16according to this embodiment, andFIG. 3is a partial plane view showing the structural example of the panel16according to this embodiment. The reference numerals6and7denote ribs, the reference numeral8a first dielectric layer, the reference numeral9a protective layer, the reference numeral10a front glass substrate, the reference numeral11a rear glass substrate, the reference numeral12a second dielectric layer, the reference numerals13,14,15phosphors, respectively.

X light-transmissive electrodes1are connected to X bus electrodes3. The X light-transmissive electrodes1and the X bus electrodes3correspond to the X electrodes Xi inFIG. 1. Y light-transmissive electrodes2are connected to Y bus electrodes4. The Y light-transmissive electrodes2and the Y bus electrodes4correspond to the Y electrodes Yi inFIG. 1. In all the display cells in the panel16, a distance between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2continuously varies within a range from a minimum value d1to a maximum value d2in one discharge space (one display cell). Address electrodes5correspond to the address electrodes Aj inFIG. 1.

The X electrodes1,3and the Y electrodes2,4are formed on the front glass substrate10and are covered with the first dielectric layer8for insulation from the discharge space. The MgO (magnesium oxide) protective layer9is further disposed thereon. The address electrodes5are formed on the rear glass substrate11facing the front glass substrate10and are covered with the second dielectric layer12. Further, the phosphors13to15are disposed thereon. Inner surfaces of the ribs6,7are coated with the phosphors13to15in red, blue, and green arranged in stripes. The phosphors13to15are excited by sustain discharge between the X electrodes1and the Y electrode2to emit lights in the respective colors. The discharge space between the front glass substrate10and the rear glass substrate11is filled with Ne+Xe penning gas (discharge gas) or the like.

FIG. 4is a waveform chart showing examples of voltages applied to the X electrodes Xi, the Y electrodes Yi, and the address electrode Aj. In a reset period Tr, predetermined voltages are applied to the X electrodes Xi and the Y electrodes Yi to initialize the display cells Cij.

In an address period Ta, the Y electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . are sequentially scanned to be impressed with a scan pulse, and an address pulse corresponding to the scan pulse is applied to the address electrode Aj, so that a display pixel is selected. If the address pulse to the address electrode Aj is generated in response to the scan pulse to the Y electrode Yi, the display cell corresponding to the Y electrode Yi and X electrode Xi is selected. If the address pulse to the address electrode Aj is not generated in response to the scan pulse to the Y electrode Yi, the display cell corresponding to these Y electrode Yi and X electrode Xi is not selected. When the address pulse is generated in response to the scan pulse, address discharge occurs between the address electrode Aj and the Y electrode Yi, which triggers the occurrence of the discharge between the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi, so that the vicinity of the X electrode Xi is negatively charged and the vicinity of the Y electrode Yi is positively charged.

In a sustain (sustain discharge) period Ts, sustain discharge pulses in reversed phases are applied to the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi, which causes sustain discharge between the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi corresponding to the selected display cell to cause light emission. The application of the plural sustain discharge pulses causes a plurality of times of the discharges, which become the sustain discharge.

In an erase period Te, predetermined voltages are applied to the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi to erase the charges in the vicinity of the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi.

FIG. 5is a graph showing the correlation between a pd product and a discharge start voltage. The horizontal axis shows the pd product and the vertical axis shows the discharge start voltage between the X electrode and the Y electrode. Here, d is a distance between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2, and p is pressure of the discharge gas.

First, a case where the distance d between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2inFIG. 3is supposed to be a constant value will be described. According to the Paschen's law, there exists a point of the pd product where the discharge start voltage becomes an extremely small value (minimum value). This point MIN is the minimum value of the Paschen's law and is called a Paschen minimum. The operation at this Paschen minimum MIN achieves the highest light emission efficiency.

If the distance d is a constant value, a design value of the pd product is the same in all the display cells Cij. However, as a plasma display comes to have a larger screen and a higher definition, manufacturing variation in the distance d becomes larger. Accordingly, the discharge start voltage dependent on the pd product varies among the display cells Cij. Further, due to this variation in the distance d, the pd product is set to a value at which the discharge start voltage is higher than the Paschen minimum MIN. This results in the discharge at a voltage higher than the Paschen minimum MIN, which reduces an effect of improving the light emission efficiency. Moreover, due to the variation in the distance d among the display cells Cij in a surface of the plasma display panel16, stable discharge between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2is not feasible.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the distance d between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2continuously varies within the range from d1to d2in one discharge space. As a result, as for the pd product, a predetermined range R1near the Paschen minimum MIN becomes an operation range. Consequently, even if the pd product varies among the display cells Cij due to the manufacturing variation in the distance d, the variation can be absorbed, which allows stable discharge between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2.

FIG. 6is a waveform chart of a two-stage sustain discharge pulse according to this embodiment. This sustain discharge pulse is a pulse applied between the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi in the sustain period Ts inFIG. 4. The Y electrode Yi is maintained at ground GND. The voltage of the Y electrode Yi is not limited to the ground GND but may be a constant voltage such as a negative voltage.

A two-stage sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages is applied to the X electrode Xi. At a time t1, the voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the ground GND to a voltage V1and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V1. Next, at a time t2, the voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the voltage V1to a voltage V2and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V2. Here, the voltage V2is a voltage higher than the voltage V1. Next, at a time t3, the voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V2to the ground GND and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the ground GND. This sustain discharge pulse rises in two stages. An application time T1of a first-stage voltage is a period of time between the time t1at which the pulse makes the first-stage rise and the time t2at which the maintenance of the voltage V1ends. An application time T2of a second-stage voltage is a period of time between the time t2at which the pulse makes the second-stage rise and the time t3at which the maintenance of the voltage V2ends. The application time T2of the second-stage voltage is longer than the application time T1of the first-stage voltage. The application T1of the first-stage voltage is preferably within 0.5 μs.

A discharge current corresponds to light intensity. The first-stage voltage V1of the sustain discharge pulse causes weak discharge I1and the second-stage voltage V2causes main discharge I2. The two-stage sustain discharge pulse improves light emission efficiency, which makes it possible to reduce streaking. Specifically, dividing the discharge into the two stages results in a reduced discharge peak. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce saturation of ultraviolet light emission and the phosphors to improve the light emission efficiency. Moreover, owing to the low discharge peak, voltage drop of an electrode resistor becomes small, so that it is possible to reduce streaking ascribable to a voltage drop difference among the display cells.

The streaking will be described. When the number of pixels that are lighted simultaneously in one line is large, the voltage drop by the resistors becomes large, so that light emission of the lighted pixels becomes dark. On the other hand, when the number of pixels that are lighted simultaneously in one line is small, the light emission of the lighted pixels becomes relatively bright. Thus, even in the display with the same tone value, brightness differs depending on each line. The larger this difference is, the larger % display of the streaking is, which is not preferable. This is a problem of the streaking.

Incidentally, when the two-stage sustain discharge pulse is applied to the X electrode Xi while the voltage of the Y electrode Yi is maintained at the ground GND, the discharge occurs between the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi. Thereafter, when, conversely, the two-stage sustain discharge pulse is applied to the Y electrode Yi while the voltage of the X electrode Xi is maintained at the ground GND, the discharge can occur between the electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi. By repeating these operations, it is possible to cause the sustain discharge between the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi.

First, a case where the distance d between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2inFIG. 3is supposed to be a constant value will be described. As shown in the Paschen's law inFIG. 5, the discharge start voltage differs depending on each display cell Cij in the same plasma display panel due to the manufacturing variation in the distance d. As a result, in the display cell Cij where the distance d is large, the first-stage voltage V1does not cause the discharge to start and the discharge peak of the discharge at the second-voltage V2becomes high. Conversely, in the display cell Cij where the distance d is small, the first-stage voltage Vi causes too large discharge, so that sufficient discharge cannot be caused by the second-stage voltage V2. Therefore, the effects of improving the light emission efficiency and reducing the streaking cannot be obtained.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the distance d between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2continuously varies within the range from d1to d2in one discharge space, which allows the operation in the range R1near the Paschen minimum MIN inFIG. 5. Consequently, even if the pd product varies among the display cells Cij due to the manufacturing variation in the distance d, the variation can be absorbed, which allows stable two-stage discharge between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2. That is, owing to the usability in the discharge start voltage range R1where dependency on the distance d is small, the variation among the display cells Cij is absorbed, allowing the stable first-stage weak discharge I1of the two-stage discharge and similarly allowing the stable second-stage main discharge I2. In addition, a lower voltage suffices for causing the two-stage discharge. At this time, the application time T2of the second-stage voltage is made longer than the application time T1of the first-stage voltage, so that the polarity of wall charges of the X electrode1and the Y electrode2can be stably inverted at the time of the sustain discharge, resulting in an improved operation margin.

FIG. 7Ais a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a clamp circuit for two-stage discharge having a voltage source of two-value voltages, andFIG. 7Bis a timing chart showing its circuit operations. This clamp circuit for two-stage discharge, which corresponds to the X driving circuit17inFIG. 1, has a voltage source of the first voltage V1and the second voltage V2which are different from each other, and supplies the two-stage sustain discharge pulse to the X electrode Xi. The X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi are connected via a panel capacitor. Note that, though the clamp circuit for two-stage discharge in the X driving circuit17will be described as an example, the Y driving circuit18also has a similar clamp circuit for two-stage discharge to supply the two-stage sustain discharge pulse to the Y electrode Yi.

First, the circuit configuration inFIG. 7Awill be described. A switch SW1is connected between the voltage V1and an anode of a diode701. A cathode of the diode701is connected to the X electrode Xi. A switch SW2is connected between the voltage V2and the X electrode Xi. A switch SW3is connected between the ground GND and the X electrode Xi.

Next, operations of generating the two-stage sustain discharge pulse will be described with reference toFIG. 7B. Before a time t1, the switches SW1, SW2are off and the switch SW3is on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi is the ground GND. Next, at the time t1, the switch SW1turns on and the switch SW3turns off. The X electrode Xi is clamped to the voltage V1. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the ground GND to the voltage V1and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V1. Next, at a time t2, the switch SW2turns on. The X electrode Xi is clamped to the voltage V2. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the voltage V1to the voltage V2and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V2. Thereafter, the switch SW1turns off. Next, at a time t3, the switch SW2turns off and the switch SW3turns on. The X electrode Xi is clamped to the ground GND. The voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V2to the ground GND and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the ground GND. This sustain discharge pulse rises in two stages and falls in one stage.

As described above, this clamp circuit for two-stage discharge clamps the voltage to the first voltage V1of the voltage source to generate the first-stage voltage of the sustain discharge pulse, and clamps the voltage to the second voltage V2of the voltage source to generate the second-stage voltage of the sustain discharge pulse.

FIG. 8Ais a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a clamp circuit for two-stage discharge having a voltage source of a one-value voltage, andFIG. 8BandFIG. 8Care timing charts showing its circuit operations. This clamp circuit for two-stage discharge has a voltage source of the one-value voltage V1and replaces the clamp circuit for two-stage discharge inFIG. 7A.

First, the circuit configuration inFIG. 8Awill be described. A switch SW1is connected between the voltage V1and a lower end of a capacitor802. A switch SW2is connected between the voltage V1and an anode of a diode801. A cathode of the diode801is connected to the X electrode Xi. An upper end of a capacitor802is connected to the X electrode Xi. A switch SW3is connected between the ground GND and a lower end of the capacitor802. A switch SW4is connected between the ground GND and the X electrode Xi.

Next, operations of generating the sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages and falls in one stage will be described with reference toFIG. 8B. Before a time t1, the switches SW1, SW2, SW3are off and the switch SW4is on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi is the ground GND. Next, at the time t1, the switches SW2, SW3turn on and the switch SW4turn off. The capacitor802is charged to the voltage V1from the ground GND. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the ground GND to the voltage V1and the X electrode is maintained at the voltage V1. Next, at a time t2, the switch SW1turns on and the switches SW2, SW3turn off. In the capacitor802, the voltage of an upper electrode becomes the voltage V2(=V1+V1) since the voltage of a lower electrode becomes the voltage V1of the voltage source. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the voltage V1to the voltage V2and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V2. Next, at a time t3, the switch SW1turns off and the switch SW4turns on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V2to the ground GND and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the ground GND. This sustain discharge pulse rises in two stages and falls in one stage.

Next, operations of generating a sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages and falls in two stages will be described with reference toFIG. 8C. Before a time t1, the switches SW1, SW2, SW3are off and the switch SW4is on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi is the ground GND. Next, at the time t1, the switches SW2, SW3turn on and the switch SW4turns off. The capacitor802is charged to the voltage V1from the ground GND. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the ground G to the voltage V1and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V1. Next, at a time t2, the switch SW1turns on and the switches SW2, SW3turn off. In the capacitor802, the voltage of the upper electrode becomes the voltage V2(=V1+V1) since the voltage of the lower electrode becomes the voltage V1of the voltage source. The voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the voltage V1to the voltage V2and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V2. Next, at a time t3, the switch SW1turns off and the switch SW3turns on. In the capacitor802, since the voltage of the lower electrode becomes the ground GND, the voltage of the upper electrode becomes the voltage V1. The voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V2to the voltage V1and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the voltage V1. Next, at a time t4, the switch SW3turns off and the switch SW4turns on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V1to the ground GND and the X electrode Xi is maintained at the ground GND. This sustain discharge pulse rises in two stages and falls in two stages.

As described above, this clamp circuit for two-stage discharge has the voltage source of the one-value voltage V1to generate the first-stage rising voltage of the sustain discharge pulse by using the voltage V1of the voltage source and to generate the second-stage rising voltage V2(=V1+V1) by adding the voltage V1of the voltage source to the first-stage voltage V1.

FIG. 9Ais a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a clamp circuit for two-stage discharge utilizing LC resonance.FIG. 9Bis a timing chart showing its circuit operations. This clamp circuit for two-stage discharge replaces the clamp circuits for two-stage discharge inFIG. 7AandFIG. 8A.

First, the circuit configuration inFIG. 9Awill be described. A switch SW2is connected between the voltage V1and the X electrode Xi. A switch SW4is connected between the ground GND and the X electrode Xi. A coil906is connected between an anode of a diode904and the X electrode Xi. A cathode of the diode904is connected to the voltage V1. A diode905is connected to the ground at its anode and connected to the anode of the diode904at its cathode. A cathode of a diode902and an anode of a diode903are connected to the anode of the diode904. A switch SW1is connected between an upper end of a capacitor901and an anode of the diode902. A switch SW3is connected between the upper end of the capacitor901and a cathode of the diode903. A lower end of the capacitor901is connected to the ground GND.

Next, operations of generating a two-stage sustain discharge pulse utilizing the LC resonance will be described with reference toFIG. 9B. Before a time t1, the switches SW1, SW2, SW3are off and the switch4is on. The voltage of the X electrode Xi is the ground GND. Next, at the time t1, the switch SW1turns on and the switch SW4turns off. The capacitor901has been charged to a voltage approximate to the voltage V1, which will be described later. Due to LC resonance of the coil906, the capacitor901, and a panel capacitor, the voltage of the X electrode Xi rises from the ground GND to the voltage approximate to the voltage V1. Next, at a time t2, the switch SW2turns on. The X electrode Xi is clamped to the voltage V1. Thereafter, the switch SW1turns off. Next, at a time t3, the switch SW2turns off and the switch SW3turns on. Due to the LC resonance of the coil906, the capacitor901, and the panel capacitor, the voltage of the X electrode Xi falls from the voltage V1to the voltage approximate to the ground GND. Power of the X electrode Xi is recovered in the capacitor901, so that the capacitor901is charged to the voltage approximate to the voltage V1. Next, at a time t4, the switch SW4turns on. The X electrode Xi is clamped to the ground GND. Thereafter, the switch SW3turns off. This sustain discharge pulse rises in two stages and falls in two stages. The sustain discharge pulse is repeated a plurality of times. Power is recovered in a period from the time t3to the time t4and the recovered power is consumed in a period from the time t1to the time t2in a subsequent cycle, which can reduce power consumption.

As described above, this clamp circuit for two-stage discharge generates the first-stage voltage of the sustain discharge pulse by an LC resonant circuit and generates the second-stage voltage by the clamp circuit.

FIG. 10is an exploded partial perspective view showing a structural example of an ALIS panel16, andFIG. 11is a partial plane view showing the structural example of the ALIS panel16. This embodiment is also applicable to the ALIS panel. Differences between the panel shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3and the panel shown inFIG. 10andFIG. 11will be described.

First, the progressive panel inFIG. 2andFIG. 3will be described. The X light-transmissive electrode1is connected only to a lower side inFIG. 3of the X pulse electrode3, and the Y light-transmissive electrode2is connected only to an upper side inFIG. 3of the Y bus electrode4. The distance between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2continuously varies within the range from the minimum value d1to the maximum value d2in one discharge space. Specifically, the plural sets of the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi are provided, and the X electrodes Xi and the Y electrodes Yi are alternately arranged. The sustain discharge from each of the Y electrodes Yi can occur only to the adjacent X electrode Xi on one side, and the sustain discharge from each of the X electrodes Xi can occur only to the adjacent Y electrode Yi on one side.

Next, the ALIS panel inFIG. 10andFIG. 11will be described. An X light-transmissive electrode1is connected both to an upper side and a lower side inFIG. 11of an X bus electrode3, and a Y light-transmissive electrode2is connected both to an upper side and a lower side inFIG. 11of a Y bus electrode4. On both the upper and lower sides, a distance between the X electrode1and the Y electrode2continuously varies within a range from a minimum value d1to a maximum value d2in one discharge space. Specifically, the plural sets of the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Yi are provided, and the X electrodes Xi and the Y electrodes Yi are alternately arranged. Distances from the Y electrode Yi to the adjacent X electrodes Xi on both sides continuously vary in one discharge space, and the sustain discharge from each of the Y electrodes Yi can occur to the adjacent X electrodes Xi on both sides. Similarly, distances from the X electrode Xi from the adjacent Y electrodes Yi on both sides continuously vary in one discharge space, and the sustain discharge from the X electrode Xi can occur to the adjacent Y electrodes Yi on both sides. Note that the sustain discharge from the X electrode Xi occurs to the adjacent Y electrode Yi on one side in a first field, and the sustain discharge therefrom occurs to the adjacent Y electrode Yi on the other side in a second field different from the first field in terms of time.

As described above, according to this embodiment, supposing that one of the X electrode Xi and the Y electrode Y1is defined as a first electrode and the other is defined as a second electrode, the distance (a slit width) between the first and second electrodes continuously varies in one discharge space, and the sustain discharge is caused between the first and second electrodes. When the sustain discharge pulse that rises in two stages is to be applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the sustain discharge, the sustain discharge pulse in which the application time of the second-stage voltage is longer than the application time of the first-stage voltage is generated.

Consequently, even if there exists variation in the pd product among the display cells Cij due to the manufacturing variation in the distance d between the first and second electrodes, the variation can be absorbed, which allows stable two-stage discharge between the first and second electrodes. Specifically, owing to the usability in the discharge start voltage range R1where dependency on the distance d is small, the variation among the display cells Cij can be absorbed to allow the stable first-stage weak discharge I1of the two-stage discharge, and similarly, to allow the stable second-stage main discharge I2. This can improve light emission efficiency. Further, a lower voltage suffices for causing the second-stage discharge, so that the voltage of the sustain discharge pulse can be lowered. At this time, the application time T2of the second-stage voltage is made longer than the application time T1of the first-stage voltage, so that the polarity of the wall charges of the first and second electrodes can be stably inverted at the time of the sustain discharge, resulting in an improved operation margin.

Since the distance between the first and second electrodes continuously varies in one discharge space, even if there exists manufacturing variation in the distance between the first and second electrodes among the display cells, it is possible to absorb the variation at the time of the discharge between the first and second electrodes, allowing stable two-stage discharge between the first and second electrodes. Consequently, light emission efficiency can be improved, which makes it possible to lower the voltage of the sustain discharge pulse. Further, since the application time of the second-stage voltage of the sustain discharge pulse is longer than the application time of the first-stage voltage of the sustain discharge pulse, the polarity of the wall charges of the first and second electrodes can be stably inverted at the time of the sustain discharge, realizing an improved operation margin.

The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and no restrictive, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.