Abstract:
A plasma display panel adapted to minimize noise/vibration as well as a heat generated therefrom. In the plasma display panel, a display panel displays a picture while a porous pad is provided behind the display panel to prevent the transfer of noise/vibration to an associated heat proof panel. When the PDP is mounted within a case, a second porous pad can be provided on an inner surface of the case opposite the display panel and adjacent to an associated printed circuit board for additional noise/vibration damping.

Description:
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/639,432 filed on Dec. 15, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,653 and Ser. No. 10/612,874 filed on Jul. 7, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,922 which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-0039179 filed in Korea on Jul. 6, 2002, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a plasma display panel and, more particularly, to a plasma display panel that is adaptive for minimizing noise/vibration and heat generated therefrom. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, various flat panel devices have been developed that reduce weight and bulk, which are drawbacks of the cathode ray tube (CRT). Such flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP) and an electro-luminescence display (ELD), etc. 
     The PDP of these flat panel display devices allows an ultraviolet ray, generated upon discharge of an inactive mixed gas, such as He+Xe, Ne+Xe or He+Xe+Ne, etc., to radiate a phosphorous material to thereby display a picture. The PDP has been used for high-resolution television, monitors and as an internal or external advertising display because it has a rapid response speed and is suitable for displaying a large-area picture. 
       FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  show the internal structure of the conventional plasma display panel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the conventional PDP includes a display panel  2 , a frame (or heatproof panel)  8 , and a printed circuit board  16 . 
     The display panel  2  includes a front substrate  6  and a rear substrate  4 . The rear substrate  4  is coated with a phosphorous material (not shown). The front substrate  6  transmits light generated from the phosphorous material to thereby display a desired picture. 
     The rear substrate  4  of the display panel  2  is adhered with a double-faced tape  12  having high heat conductivity, by which the display panel  2  is joined with the frame  8 . The double-faced tape  12  acts to transfer heat generated upon driving of the display panel  2  into the frame  8 . Since such a double-faced tape  12  has high density and hardness to facilitate a high heat-conductivity function, it rapidly transfers heat generated upon driving of the display panel  2  into the frame  8 . Accordingly, the frame  8  not only supports the display panel, but also discharges heat. 
     The printed circuit board  16  is attached to the frame  8  to supply the display panel  2  with a desired driving signal. To this end, the printed circuit board  16  and the display panel  2  are connected to a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown). Further, the printed circuit board  16  and the frame  8  are engaged with a plurality of screws  10 . To this end, the frame  8  includes a plurality of protrusions  14  into which the screws  10  can be inserted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , such a conventional PDP is provided with a set case  20  to enclose the PDP when it is produced. The set case  20  includes a filter glass  18  and a back cover  17 . The filter glass  18  controls transmittivity of the light emitted from the display panel  2 , while the back cover  17  protects the PDP from external impact. 
     In the conventional PDP, heat generated upon driving of the display panel  2  as well as vibration and resulting noise are transferred, via the double-faced tape  12 , to the frame  8 . In other words, the noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  2  are caused, at least partly, by physical factors within the display panel  2  itself. More specifically, ions generated from the rear substrate  4  and the front substrate  6  are opposed with each other, having barrier ribs therebetween which, upon plasma discharge, are bombarded along with the front substrate  6 . In this case, when the height of the barrier ribs is not uniform, causing a stepped coverage between the barrier ribs and the front substrate  6 , vibration is generated between the stepped barrier ribs and the front substrate  6  by the collision force of the ions. Due to the vibration of the barrier ribs within the discharge cells and the front substrate  6 , noise/vibration is generated throughout the entire display panel  2 . 
     As described above, heat generated upon driving of the display panel  2  is discharged, via the double-faced tape  12 , to the frame  8 , whereas noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  2  superposes with noise/vibration generated from electronic components mounted onto the printed circuit board  16 . In other words, noise/vibration generated from the display panel  2  is easily propagated, via the double-faced, high-density tape  12 , into the frame  8  to superpose with noise/vibration generated from the printed circuit board  16 . As a result, rear noise/vibration of the PDP is greatly increased in comparison with noise/vibration generated from the printed circuit board  16  itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma display panel that is adaptive for minimizing noise/vibration generated therefrom. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a plasma display panel that is adaptive for minimizing heat generated therefrom. 
     In order to achieve these and other objects of the invention, a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel for displaying a picture; and a porous pad provided at the display panel. 
     Herein, the porous pad is made of a material that absorbs noise/vibration and conducts heat. 
     The plasma display panel further includes a printed circuit board mounted with a plurality of integrated circuits for applying driving signals to the display panel; and a heatproof panel arranged between the porous pad and the printed circuit board. 
     The plasma display panel further includes a double-faced tape having a heat-conducting function and provided between the display panel and the porous pad. 
     The plasma display panel further includes a filter glass provided at the front side of the display panel to control transmittivity of light emitted from the display panel; and a back cover for covering the printed circuit board. 
     The plasma display panel further includes a second porous pad provided between the printed circuit board and the back cover. 
     Herein, the porous pad is formed from a mixture of a silicon material and a foam agent. 
     Herein, the foam agent contains an urethane foam. 
     The plasma display panel further includes an adhesive coated onto the porous pad. 
     Herein, the adhesive is made from an acrylic material. 
     Herein, the porous pad is formed from a mixture containing approximately 89% silicon, approximately 10% foam agent and approximately 1% adhesive. 
     Herein, the second porous pad is made of a material that absorbs noise/vibration. 
     A plasma display panel according to another aspect of the present invention includes a display panel for displaying a picture; a frame adjacent a rear surface of said display panel; a printed circuit board adjacent a rear surface of said frame and connected thereto by fastening elements; and a porous pad positioned between said display panel and said frame, said porous pad absorbing noise/vibration generated upon driving of said display panel to minimize noise/vibration transferred to said frame. 
     Herein, said porous pad is made of a heat-conducting material that, in addition to absorbing noise/vibration, also enables said pad to transfer heat from said display panel to said frame. 
     Herein, said porous pad is made of a mixture of silicon and urethane. 
     Herein, said porous pad has an outer adhesive layer and is adhered to said display panel and to said frame by said layer. 
     Herein, said porous pad is made of approximately 89% silicon, 10% foam agent, and 1% adhesive. 
     The plasma display panel further includes an outer casing surrounding said plasma display panel, said outer casing having a back cover and a front cover, said back cover including a second porous pad adhered to an inner surface thereof adjacent said printed circuit board, said second porous pad absorbing noise/vibration generated as a result of said printed circuit board applying driving signals to said display panel. 
     The plasma display panel further includes an outer casing surrounding said plasma display panel, said outer casing having a back cover and a front cover, said back cover including a second porous pad adhered to an inner surface thereof adjacent said printed circuit board, said second porous pad absorbing noise/vibration generated as a result of said printed circuit board applying driving signals to said display panel. 
     Herein, said porous pad is made of a mixture of silicon and urethane that, in addition to absorbing noise/vibration, also enables said pad to transfer heat from said display panel to said frame. 
     Herein, said porous pad has an outer layer of acrylic adhesive by which said pad is adhered to said display panel and to said frame, said porous pad being approximately 89% silicon, 10% foam agent, and 1% adhesive. 
    
    
     
       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. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  illustrate an internal structure of a conventional plasma display panel; 
         FIG. 2  shows the conventional display panel of  FIG. 1B  installed within a set case; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view representing an internal structure of a plasma display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a section view representing the internal structure of a plasma display panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a section view of the display panel shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the porous pad shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view showing the plasma display panel of  FIG. 3B  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as installed within a set case; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view representing an internal structure of a plasma display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a section view representing an internal structure of a plasma display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , a plasma display panel (PDP) according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel  22  for displaying a picture, a frame (or heat-proof panel)  28 , a porous pad  32  for preventing noise/vibration generated from the display panel  22  from being transferred to the frame  28 ; and a printed circuit board  36 . 
     The display panel  22  includes a front substrate  26  and a rear substrate  24 . The rear substrate  24  is coated with a phosphorous material  29 . The front substrate  26  transmits light generated from the phosphorous material to thereby display a desired picture. 
     The rear substrate  24  of the display panel  22  is adhered with a porous pad  32 , by which the display panel  22  is joined with the frame  28 . Since the porous pad  32  has a function of absorbing noise and vibration, it absorbs and shields against propagation of noise/vibration, generated upon driving of the display panel  22 , to the frame. Also, since the porous pad  32  has a heat conducting function, it transfers heat, generated upon driving of the display panel  22 , to the frame  28 . Herein, the noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  22  are caused by physical factors within the display panel  22 . More specifically, ions generated from the rear substrate  24  and the front substrate  26  are opposed with each other, having barrier ribs  27  therebetween which, upon plasma discharge, are bombarded along with the front substrate  26 . In this case, when the height of the barrier ribs is not uniform, causing a stepped coverage between the barrier ribs and the front substrate  26 , vibration is generated between the stepped barrier ribs and the front substrate  26  by the collision force of the ions. Due to the vibration of the barrier ribs within the discharge cells and the front substrate  26 , noise/vibration is generated throughout the entire display panel  22 . Accordingly, the porous pad  32 , formed from a porous type material having a low density and a low hardness, is provided for absorbing noise/vibration generated from the display panel  22   
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the porous pad  32  is made by mixing silicon  46  with a foam agent  48  to prepare a pad and then coating an adhesive  50  onto the front surface and the rear surface of the prepared pad. At this moment, the foam agent  48  contains urethane foam. Accordingly, porous materials are formed at the interior of the silicon  46  of the pad by the urethane foam included in the foam agent  48 . An acrylic material is used as the adhesive  50  coated on the front surface and the rear surface of the pad. In this case, the porous pad  32  contains approximately 89% silicon, approximately 10% foam agent  48  and approximately 1% adhesive. The porous material formed by the foam agent  48  contained in the porous pad  32  absorbs noise/vibration propagated from the display panel  22 . Further, heat generated upon driving of the display panel  22  is transferred, via the silicon  46  contained in the porous pad  32 , to the frame  28  to thereby discharge the heat generated from the display panel. Moreover, the porous pad  32  absorbs any external impact by its porous materials. 
     The printed circuit board  36  is attached to the frame  28  to supply the display panel  22  with a desired driving signal. To this end, the printed circuit board  36  and the display panel  22  are connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown). Further, the printed circuit board  36  and the frame  28  are engaged with a plurality of screws  30 . To this end, the frame  28  includes a plurality of protrusions  34  into which the screws  30  can be inserted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , such a PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with a set case  40  to enclose the PDP when it is produced. The set case  40  includes a filter glass  44  and a back cover  42 . The filter glass  44  controls the transmittivity of light emitted from the display panel  22 . The back cover  42  protects the PDP from external impact. 
     In the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the porous pad  32 , attached between the display panel  22  and the frame  28 , can absorb noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  22  to prevent the transfer of noise/vibration into the frame  28 , thereby minimizing the noise/vibration. Accordingly, noise/vibration at the rear surface of the PDP is limited to that generated by the printed circuit board  36  itself because the noise/vibration from the display panel  22  is damped by the porous pad  32 . 
     Furthermore, the PDP according to the first embodiment of the present invention can discharge heat generated upon driving of the display panel  22  because such heat is transferred, via the porous pad  32 , to the frame  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a plasma display panel (PDP) according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel  52  for displaying a picture, a frame (or heat-proof panel)  58 , a heat-conductive double-faced tape  64  provided between the display panel  52  and the frame  58 , a porous pad  62  provided between the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64  and the frame  58  to prevent noise/vibration generated from the display panel  52  from being transferred to the frame  58 , and a printed circuit board  66 . 
     The display panel  52  includes a front substrate and a rear substrate (not shown). The rear substrate is coated with a phosphorous material (not shown). The front substrate transmits light generated from the phosphorous material to thereby display a desired picture. 
     The rear substrate of the display panel  52  is adhered with the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64 , by which the display panel  52  is joined with the frame  58 . The heat-conductive double-faced tape  64 , made of a material having high density and hardness to rapidly transfer heat, acts to transfer heat, generated upon driving of the display panel  52 , to the frame  58 . Accordingly, the frame  58  not only supports the display panel, but also discharges heat generated upon driving of the display panel  52 . 
     The porous pad  62  joins the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64  with the frame  28 . Since the porous pad  62  has a function of absorbing noise and vibration, it absorbs and shields against propagation of noise/vibration, generated upon driving of the display panel  52 , via the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64 , to the frame  58 . Also, since the porous pad  62  has a heat conducting function, it transfers heat delivered through the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64  to the frame  58 . To this end, the porous pad  62  is formed from a porous type material having a low density and a low hardness. 
     The porous pad  62  is made by mixing silicon  96  with a foam agent  98  to prepare a pad and then coating an adhesive  80  onto the front surface and the rear surface of the prepared pad. At this moment, the foam agent  98  contains urethane foam. Accordingly, porous materials are formed at the interior of the silicon  96  of the pad by the urethane foam included in the foam agent  98 . An acrylic material is used as the adhesive  80  coated on the front surface and the rear surface of the pad. In this case, the porous pad  62  contains approximately 89% silicon  96 , approximately 10% foam agent  98  and approximately 1% adhesive. The porous material formed by the foam agent  78  contained in the porous pad  62  absorbs noise/vibration propagated from the display panel  52 . Further, heat generated upon driving of the display panel  52  is transferred, via the silicon  96  contained in the porous pad  62 , to the frame  58  to thereby discharge the heat generated from the display panel  52 . Moreover, the porous pad  52  absorbs any external impact by its porous materials. 
     The printed circuit board  66  is attached to the frame  58  to supply the display panel  52  with a desired driving signal. To this end, the printed circuit board  66  and the display panel  52  are connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown). Further, the printed circuit board  66  and the frame  58  are engaged with a plurality of screws (not shown). To this end, the frame  58  includes a plurality of protrusions  54  into which the screws can be inserted. 
     Such a PDP according to the second embodiment of the present invention is provided with a set case  70  to enclose the PDP when it is produced. The set case  70  includes a filter glass  56  and a back cover  68 . The filter glass  56  controls the transmittivity of light emitted from the display panel  52 . The back cover  68  protects the PDP from any external impact. 
     In the PDP according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the porous pad  62  attached between the display panel  52  and the frame  58  can absorb noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  52  to prevent the transfer of noise/vibration into the frame  58 , thereby minimizing the noise/vibration. 
     Accordingly, noise/vibration at the rear side of the PDP is limited to that generated by the printed circuit board  66  itself because the noise/vibration from the display panel  52  is damped by the porous pad  62 . 
     Furthermore, the PDP according to the second embodiment of the present invention can discharge heat generated upon driving of the display panel  52  because such heat is transferred, via the heat-conductive double-faced tape  64  and the porous pad  62 , to the frame  58 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plasma display panel (PDP) according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel  72  for displaying a picture, a frame (or heat-proof panel)  78 , a first porous pad  82  for preventing noise/vibration generated from the display panel  72  from being transferred to the frame  78 , and a printed circuit board  76 . 
     The display panel  72  includes a front substrate and a rear substrate (not shown). The rear substrate is coated with a phosphorous material (not shown). The front substrate transmits light generated from the phosphorous material to thereby display a desired picture. 
     The rear substrate of the display panel  72  is adhered with the first porous pad  82 , by which the display panel  72  is joined with the frame  78 . Since the first porous pad  82  has a function of absorbing noise and vibration, it absorbs and shields against propagation of noise/vibration, generated upon driving of the display panel  72 , to the frame  78 . Also, since the first porous pad  82  has a heat conducting function, it transfers heat generated upon driving of the display panel  72  to the frame  78 . To this end, the first porous pad  82  is formed from a porous type material having a low density and a low hardness. 
     The first porous pad  82  is made by mixing silicon  106  with a foam agent  108  to prepare a pad and then coating an adhesive  100  onto the front surface and the rear surface of the prepared pad. At this moment, the foam agent  108  contains urethane foam. Accordingly, porous materials are formed at the interior of the silicon  106  of the pad by the urethane foam included in the foam agent  108 . An acrylic material is used as the adhesive  100  coated on the front surface and the rear surface of the pad. In this case, the first porous pad  82  contains approximately 89% silicon, approximately 10% foam agent  108  and approximately 1% adhesive. The porous material formed by the foam agent  108  contained in the first porous pad  82  absorbs noise/vibration propagated from the display panel  72 . Further, heat generated upon driving of the display panel  72  is transferred, via the silicon  106  contained in the first porous pad  82 , to the frame  78  to thereby discharge the heat generated from the display panel  72 . Moreover, the first porous pad  82  absorbs any external impact by its porous materials. 
     The printed circuit board  76  is attached to the frame  78  to supply the display panel  72  with a desired driving signal. To this end, the printed circuit board  76  and the display panel  72  are connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown). Further, the printed circuit board  76  and the frame  78  are engaged with a plurality of screws (not shown). To this end, the frame  78  includes a plurality of protrusions  74  into which the screws can be inserted. Due to the driving of electronic elements mounted onto the printed circuit board  76 , noise/vibration is generated at the printed circuit board  76 . 
     Such a PDP according to the third embodiment of the present invention is provided with a set case  90  to enclose the PDP when it is produced. The set case  90  includes a filter glass  94  and a back cover  92 . The filter glass  94  controls the transmittivity of light emitted from the display panel  72 . The back cover  92  protects the PDP from any external impact. 
     Further, a second porous pad  86  for damping noise/vibration generated from the printed circuit board  76  is provided at the inner side of the back cover  92  opposed to the printed circuit board  76 . Since the second porous pad  86  has a function of absorbing noise/vibration, it is identical to the above-mentioned first porous pad  82 , absorbing noise/vibration generated from the printed circuit board  76 . 
     In the PDP according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the first porous pad  82  attached between the display panel  72  and the frame  78  can absorb noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel  72  to prevent the transfer of noise/vibration into the frame  78 , thereby minimizing the noise/vibration. Furthermore, the second porous pad  86 , having the function of absorbing noise/vibration, absorbs noise/vibration generated as a result of the printed circuit board  76  applying driving signals to the display panel  72 . 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the porous pad is provided between the display panel and the frame to thereby absorb and damp noise/vibration generated upon driving of the display panel. Accordingly, it becomes possible to minimize the generation of noise from 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 specific embodiments shown, 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.