Apparatus, method, and system for driving flat panel display devices

An apparatus, method, and system for driving a display device, the display device having a first plurality and second plurality of row electrodes, with the first plurality being further grouped into a first set and a second set, such that undesired gas discharge and dielectric breakdown will not occur between the electrodes within the PDP, and dissipation of energy is reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system for driving a display device. In particular, the present invention is directed to an apparatus, method and system for driving a plasma display panel (hereinafter “PDP”), such that undesired gas discharge and dielectric breakdown do not occur between the electrodes within the PDP, and dissipation of energy is reduced.

2. Related Art

FIG. 1illustrates a top view showing a portion of a conventional PDP10having a conventional electrode structure. The PDP10is a matrix device having individual cells defined by the intersection of row electrodes X1, Y1, X2, Y2. . . Xn, Yn, and column electrodes A1, A2, A3. . . An. The row electrodes X1, Y1, X2, Y2. . . Xn, Yn, are arranged horizontally along the PDP10and the column electrodes A1, A2, A3. . . An are arranged vertically along the PDP10. As such, the horizontal and vertical electrodes form a basic grid with cells.

The row electrodes include electrodes such as common or sustain electrodes X1, X2. . . Xn, and electrodes such as scan electrodes Y1, Y2. . . Yn. The column electrodes includes electrodes such as address electrodes A1, A2, A3. . . An.

FIGS. 2 and 3show a conventional interlaced driving method for the PDP10having the electrode structure ofFIG. 1. According to the conventional interlaced driving method ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the phase difference of the sustain pulses between the electrodes X1, Y1, X2, Y2. . . Xn, Yn is controlled to determine which cell(s) is to emit visible light.

FIG. 2shows a conventional driving method for driving the odd-numbered fields of the PDP10. Based on the conventional odd field driving method ofFIG. 2, alternating sustain pulses are applied between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc. Pursuant to the above method of applying the alternate sustain pulses, gas discharge will occur between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4. Consequently, the driving method provides no voltage difference between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc. As such, no gas discharge occurs between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc.

In addition,FIG. 3shows a conventional driving method for driving the even-numbered fields of the PDP10. Based on the conventional even field driving method ofFIG. 3, alternating sustain pulses are applied between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc. According to the above method of applying the alternate sustain pulses, gas discharge will occur between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc. Consequently, the driving method provides no voltage difference between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc. As such, no gas discharge occurs between the odd-numbered X electrodes X1, X3, X5, etc. and the odd-numbered Y electrodes Y1, Y3, Y5, etc.; and between the even-numbered X electrodes X2, X4, etc. and the even-numbered Y electrodes Y2, Y4, etc. The conventional interlaced driving method ofFIGS. 2 and 3is only for driving conventional PDP having an electrode structure as shown inFIG. 1. However, the conventional interlaced driving method is not suitable for driving other PDP having an improved electrode structure different from that which is shown inFIG. 1. Accordingly, there is a need to have an apparatus, system and/or method of driving a PDP with an alternative electrode structure in order to prevent undesired gas discharge and dielectric breakdown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and system for driving a display device, the display device having a first plurality and second plurality of row electrodes, with the first plurality being further grouped into a first set and a second set.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved techniques for driving a display device, which prevent undesired gas discharge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved techniques for driving a display device, which prevent dielectric breakdown.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide new and improved techniques for driving a display device, which reduce energy loss and thereby improve the efficiency of the display device.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus, system and method for driving a display device such as a plasma display device.

FIGS. 5(A) through 5(C)illustrate an exemplary driving method of the present invention. Specifically,FIG. 5(A)illustrates an exemplary “X-Y-X” electrode structure of a PDP having odd display lines O1, O2, . . . ON disposed between Xa electrodes and Y electrodes and even display lines E1, E2, . . . EN disposed between Xb electrodes and Y electrodes.

In odd-numbered fields, odd display lines O1, O2, . . . ON is active to display image. Alternant sustain pulses are applied to Xa electrodes and Y electrodes to cause gas discharge while Xb are set to be floating. Since capacitance exists between electrodes, the voltage on the floating electrodes Xb will change in response to the sustain pulses applied to Xa and Y electrodes.

In even-numbered fields, even display lines E1, E2, . . . EN is active to display image. Alternant sustain pulses are applied to Xb electrodes and Y electrodes to cause gas discharge while Xa are set to be floating. Since capacitance exists between electrodes, the voltage on the floating electrodes Xa will change in response to the sustain pulses applied to Xb and Y electrodes.

In the method of the present invention, the voltage difference between Xa and Xb in the sustain period is lower and there is no undesired gas discharge and dielectric breakdown between Xa and Xb. In addition, since the driving circuit does not apply sustain pulses to the floating electrodes, energy loss is also reduced.

In operation, Xa waveform generation circuit61, Xb waveform generation circuit62, Y waveform generation circuit64and address IC board65apply waveforms to Xa, Xb, Y, and A electrodes, respectively. In the sustain period, in order to display odd-numbered fields, the switches in the Xb waveform generation circuit62are all turned off and the Xb electrodes are set to be floating. Similarly, in order to display even-numbered fields, the switches in Xa waveform generation circuit61are all turned off and the Xa electrodes are set to be floating.

FIG. 7illustrates another example of driving apparatus70of the present invention. Apparatus70includes X waveform generation circuit71. Additionally, apparatus70has scan IC board72with Y waveform generation circuit73. X waveform generation circuit72is connected to both the Xa electrodes and the Xb electrodes of PDP10, via switches SWA and SWB, respectively. Further, apparatus70has address IC board74to drive electrodes A1, A2, . . . AN.

In operation, X waveform generation circuit71, Y waveform generation circuit73and address IC board74apply waveforms to Xa, Xb, Y and A electrodes, respectively. In the sustain period, in order to display odd-numbered fields, the switch SWB is turned off and the switch SWA is turned on. That is, Xb electrodes are disconnected from X waveform generation circuit71and X waveform generation circuit71only applies sustain pulses to the Xa electrodes. While displaying even-numbered fields, the switch SWA is turned off and the switch SWB is turned. That is, the Xa electrodes are disconnected from X waveform generation circuit71and X waveform generation circuit71only applies sustain pulses to the Xb electrodes. Since only one X waveform generation circuit71is needed, circuit cost is reduced.

According to the exemplary embodiments described herein, the voltage difference between the Xa electrodes and the Xb electrodes in the sustain period will be lower than that of conventional techniques, resulting in no undesired gas discharge and dielectric breakdown between Xa and Xb. Additionally, the driving apparatus will not apply sustain pulses to the floating electrodes, hence energy loss is also reduced.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the techniques of the present application may be utilized in any of the operational periods of a PDP, in particular, they may be utilized in the sustain, reset, and scan periods.