Abstract:
A surface discharge-type plasma display panel having a glass plate including an X-electrode base that is positioned on the glass plate, a plurality of X-electrodes that are inserted vertically into the glass plate, and Y-electrodes that are each arranged around the corresponding X-electrodes in the shape of a &#34;C&#34; or an &#34;O&#34;. This structure reduces the possibility of a dielectric breakdown.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 140,098, filed on Dec. 31, 1987, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a surface discharge-type plasma display panel, and more particularuly to a plasma display panel with a high resolution. In the plasma display panel, a dielectric plate is formed of a thin glass plate of 1˜2 mm thick, and X and Y-electrodes are formed on the same level of the glass plate, so as to thoroughly prevent the possibility of a dielectric breakdown at the intersecting point of the X and Y-electrodes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown two conventional surface discharge-type plasma display panels. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional two dimensional surface discharge-type plasma display panel comprises a glass plate (1), an X-electrode (2) placed on the glass plate (1), Y-electrodes (4) on a first dielectric (3) that coats the X-electrode (2), a second dielectric (5) that coats the Y-electrodes (4), a MgO-layer (6) that coats the second dielectric (5), and an upper glass plate (8) positioned above the second dielectric (5). A discharging space (7) is formed between the MgO-layer (6) and the upper glass plate (8). However, the thickness of the first dielectric (3), or the intersecting point of the X and Y-electrodes (2,4) is limited to the range of 15˜50 μm, whereby a dielectric breakdown would occur. If the thickness of the first dielectric (3) is made to be more thick, for preventing a dielectric breakdown, then a decrease of the brightness and the misdischarge results. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional three dimensional surface discharge-type plasma display panel comprises a glass plate (11) as a base plate, X-electrodes (12) and Y-electrodes (13) that are positioned on the glass plate (11), a dielectric (14) coated on the X- and Y-electrodes (12, 13), a third electrode, or an electrode (15) that is arranged on the dielectric (14), a MgO-layer (16) formed on the electrode (15), and an upper glass plate positioned above the MgO-layer (16) which provides a discharging space (17) there between. The arrangement of the electrodes in FIG. 2 is similar to that of the electrodes in FIG. 1. If a voltage is applied to the X-electrodes (12), a potential distribution will be formed between the X-electrodes (12) and the electrode (15) by the dielectric (14), as shown by a first dotted line (19) in FIG. 2 (B). Similarly, if an opposite voltage is applied to Y-electrodes (13), then a potential distribution will occur between the Y-electrodes (13) and the X-electrodes (12), as shown by a second dotted line (20) in the FIG. 2 (B). Therefore, the dielectric breakdown may sometimes occur in parts of the dielectrics in the prior art structure of FIG. 2. In addition, a high resolution cannot be obtained due to the parallel arrangement of the X and Y-electrodes (12, 13) that are positioned in the same plane. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a plasma display panel with a high resolution wherein the X and Y-electrodes are arranged in the same plane on a laminated dielectric glass plate, without the use of a dielectric so that the possiblity of a dielectric breakdown is reduced. 
     According to the present invention, the surface discharge-type plasma display panel comprises an X-electrode base formed on a glass plate, a plurality of X-electrodes connected to the said base where each of the X-electrodes penetrate into the glass plate so that the upper and lower ends of the electrodes protrude out of the opposite surfaces of the glass plate, Y-electrodes positioned around the X-electrodes and are respectively connected to each other, a dielectric and a MgO-layer positioned above the glass plate, and an upper glass plate positioned above the MgO-layer for providing a discharging space therebetween. Furthermore, the X-electrodes are all connected to a plurality of X-electrode connectors having lower ends that are also connected to the X-electrode base so that the X-electrodes are finally connected to the base through the connectors. 
     Beneath the surface of each X-electrode connector, a metal selected from a group comprising silver, gold, platinum, etc, coats the surface to improve the electrical connecting effect with the X-electrode base. 
     The Y-electrodes are respectively positioned around the X-electrodes in a shape of &#34;C&#34; or &#34;O&#34;. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure taken in conjunction with FIG. 3 to FIG. 8, wherein preferred constructions of two embodiments of the invention are set forth by way of example. 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the conventional two dimensional surface discharge-type plasma display panel; 
     FIG. 2(A) is a sectional view of the conventional three dimensional surface discharge-type display panel; 
     FIG. 2(B) is a top view showing the arrangement of the electrodes of FIG. 2(A); 
     FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the surface discharge-type plasma display panel; 
     FIG. 4(A) is a top view of a glass plate; 
     FIG. 4(B) is a top view of another glass plate; 
     FIG. 5(A) is a top view showing the arrangement of the electrodes; 
     FIG. 5(B) is a sectional view of FIG. 5(A); 
     FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the panel; 
     FIG. 7(A) is a top view showing the arrangement of electrodes; 
     FIG. 7(B) is a sectional view of FIG. 7(A); and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the base of the glass plate. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, a surface discharge-type plasma display panel according to the first embodiment is shown having an X-electrode base (32) that is mounted on the glass plate (31), and a dielectric glass plate (33) is placed on the surface of the glass plate (31). 
     Each of the X-electrodes (34) penetrates into the corresponding openings that are punched in the dielectric glass plate (33), and the X-electrodes (34) are arranged such that all of their lower ends contact the X-electrode base (32). Next, Y-electrodes (35) are mounted on the plate (33). A dielectric (36) and a MgO-layer (37) coat the dielectric glass plate (33), and an upper glass plate (39) is positioned above the MgO-layer (37) for providing a discharging space (38) therebetween. 
     According to the first embodiment, the X-electrodes (34) and the Y-electrodes (35) are all eventually positioned in the same plane of the glass plate (33) and a potential distribution therebetween is also produced in the same plane, the dielectric breakdown of the dielectric (36) can thereby be prevented. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the relative arrangement of the X-electrodes (34) and the Y-electrodes (35) are positioned in the same plane respectively and the Y-electrodes (35) are positioned around the X-electrodes (34) in the shape of &#34;C&#34;, with the Y-electrodes (35) being connected to each other. Therefore, in such an arrangement, because the Y-electrodes (35) are connected to each other but are not arranged in parallel, a, mis-operation that may result from the discharge between the adjacent electrodes can be prevented, thereby the resoluting power can be maximized. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, there are two embodiments for forming the X-electrode base (32) on the glass plate (31). The two embodiments are similar to each other except for the fact that the contacting surface of the base (32) in FIG. 4 (B) is larger than that of FIG. 4(A). 
     As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 which disclose another embodiment of the display panel, the present embodiment is similar to the previous embodiments by the fact that the X-electrode base (32) is positioned on the glass plate (31), and a glass plate (33) is positioned the X-electrode base (32). 
     A plurality of small openings are punched in the glass plate (33), and plurality of X-electrodes (34) are inserted into the corresponding openings, respectively, so that the opposite ends of the electrodes (34) protrude out of the openings. The lower ends of the X-electrodes (34) are all finally connected to X-electrode connectors (40). In order to improve the connecting effect to the X-electrode base (32), a metal such as silver, gold, or platinum, etc. is coated on the lower surface of the connector (40). 
     Accordingly, the X-electrode construction comprises an X-electrode base (32), plurality of X-electrodes, and X-electrode connectors (40). On the glass plate (33), Y-electrodes (35), dielectric (36), MgO-layer (37) and an upper glass plate (39) are arranged in order. A discharging space (38) is formed between the upper glass plate (39) and the MgO-layer (37). 
     According to the present embodiment, X-electrodes (34) and Y-electrodes (35) are all positioned in the same plane of the glass plate (33), and the potential distribution between the X and Y-electrodes (34,35) is also produced in the same plane, so that the dielectric breakdown of the dielectric (36) can be prevented. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the relative arrangement of the X and Y-electrodes (34, 35) in the same plane of the glass plate (33) is shown. The Y-electrodes (35) are circularly arranged around the X-electrodes (34) respectively, and are connected to each other. Such an arrangement can maximize the resoluting power, because the Y-electrodes (37) are not positioned in parallel, but the Y-electrodes are connected to each other. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the arrangement of the X-electrode connectors (40) under the glass plate (33) is shown. The X-electrode connectors (40) are coated with precious metals such as silver, gold or platinum to improve the electrical connecting effect. 
     According to the present embodiment, the panel may not have a dielectric (36) and a MgO-layer (37). Instead, the surface of the electrodes can be coated with a metal such as nickel, platinum, gold, etc. for use as a direct current surface discharge-type plasma display in which the X-electrode is a cathode and the Y-electrode is an anode. 
     While only certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed.