Abstract:
A set-up voltage generating circuit for a plasma display panel (PDP) is disclosed. The circuit is capable of generating a set-up voltage by way of a method of charging a predetermined capacitor using a sustain voltage Vs without recourse to a DC/DC converter in forming a set-up voltage necessary for a set-up period of the PDP. As a result, the circuit is simple in its structure and a manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced because there is no need for a DC/DC converter for supplying a set-up voltage.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to an application filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Mar. 9, 2005, and assigned serial No. 10-2005-0019452 (DIS04-356), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This description relates to a set-up voltage generating circuit and a plasma display panel (PDP) driving circuit using same configured to generate a set-up voltage by way of a method of charging a predetermined capacitor using a sustain voltage Vs without recourse to a DC/DC converter in forming a set-up voltage necessary for a set-up period of the PDP.  
         [0003]     Recently, Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) have gained popularity as the next generation flat display devices. The PDPs are applied to various fields such as wall hanging televisions, displays for home theaters and monitors for work stations because they can be excellently implemented with a large dimension screen and a thin profile.  
         [0004]     A driving apparatus for a color three-electrode Alternating Current (AC) surface discharge PDP will be briefly described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0005]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the three-electrode AC surface discharge PDP  11  in the related art includes Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym, Z electrodes Z 1  through Zm, each alternatively arranged one at a time and in parallel. The Y electrodes (Y 1   ˜ Ym) and the Z electrodes (Z 1   ˜ Zm) are respectively referred to as scan electrodes and common electrodes.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, address electrodes A 1  through Ak are arranged, being orthogonal to the respective Y electrodes and the Z electrodes with a predetermined space formed therebetween.  
         [0007]     A cell is formed at every intersection between Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym and the address electrodes A 1  through Ak. Through the structure thus mentioned, a screen is constructed in such a manner that the cells are formed displaying any one of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) at each intersection arranged in a matrix.  
         [0008]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a Y driving unit  12  supplies sustain pulses and scan pulses to each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym, each corresponding to the Y electrodes of the PDP  11 .  
         [0009]     A Z driving unit  13  supplies sustain pulses and scan pulses to each Z electrodes Z 1  through Zm, each corresponding to the Z electrodes of the PDP  11 . An address driving unit  14  supplies writing pulses to each address electrode A 1  through Ak, each corresponding to the address electrodes A 1  through Ak of the PDP  11 .  
         [0010]     A controller  15  serves to digitalize an analog image inputted from outside, outputting a digital image, and generates various control signals in response to control signals inputted from outside including clocks, horizontal synchronous signals (HS) and vertical synchronous signals (VS) to thereby control the Y driving unit  12 , the Z driving unit  13  and the address driving unit  14 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a driving circuit diagram of a Y driving unit according to the prior art and  FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram illustrating each terminal voltage of a PDP.  
         [0012]     Now, a driving circuit  200  of a Y driving unit of the PDP according to the prior art will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 .  
         [0013]     First, a graph Y denotes an output of the Y driving unit  12 , a graph Z represents an output of the Z driving unit  13 , and a graph X shows an output of the address driving unit  14 . The driving circuit  200  is included in the Y driving unit  12 , and description will be centered on the graph Y out of the graphs of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]     Transistor Q 5  and Q 3  are turned on during a setup period (a) in  FIG. 3 , and a sustain voltage Vs is supplied from an energy retrieve circuit  23 .  
         [0015]     The sustain voltage Vs supplied from the energy retrieve circuit  23  is supplied to each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym via an internal diode of the transistor Q 3 , a transistor Q 4  and a transistor Q 9  of a scan integral circuit (IC)  22 . As a result, the voltage of the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym abruptly rises to the sustain voltage Vs, as shown in a setup period (a) of  FIG. 3 . At this time, the scan IC  22  functions to directly apply a wave voltage generated in response to an operation of the driving circuit  200  to any one electrode of the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym of the panel  11 .  
         [0016]     Meanwhile, a drain terminal of the transistor Q 5  is applied with a set-up voltage Vsetup. The transistor Q 5  whose channel width is adjusted by a variable resistor VR 1  increases a voltage of a node N 1  to a predetermined slope to raise the voltage to the set-up voltage Vsetup. Consequently, the driving circuit  200  supplies the set-up voltage during the set-up period (a). The set-up voltage is supplied to each Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym via the transistor Q 9  of the scan IC  22  and the transistor Q 4 . The Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym are applied with a rising ramp waveform ramp-up.  
         [0017]     After each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym is applied with a rising ramp waveform ramp-up, the transistor Q 5  is turned off. Once the transistor Q 5  is turned off, only the sustain voltage Vs supplied to the energy retrieve circuit  23  is applied to the node N 1 , and as a result, each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym abruptly falls to the sustain voltage Vs.  
         [0018]     Henceforth, the transistor Q 4  is turned off at a set-down period (b) illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and a transistor Q 6  is simultaneously turned on. The transistor Q 6  is adjusted at a channel width thereof by a variable resistor VR 2  and the voltage of node N 2  falls by a predetermined slope up to a set-down voltage −Vy. At this time, a falling ramp waveform Ramp-down is applied to each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym.  
         [0019]     The transistor Q 4  is disposed with an internal diode having a direction different from that of the transistor Q 3  to prevent the voltage applied to the node N 2  from being supplied to a base potential GND via the internal diode of the transistor Q 3  and the internal diode of a transistor Q 2 .  
         [0020]     Transistors Q 10  and Q 11  supplies a scan reference voltage Vsc to the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym (not scanned in the scan process) in an address period.  
         [0021]     Meanwhile, the set-up voltage Vsetup is generally higher than the sustain voltage Vs. In order to generate the sustain voltage Vs, a DC/DC converter  21  was used with a sustain voltage Vs at the primary side. In other words, the set-up voltage Vsetup is always higher than the sustain voltage Vs, such that the DC/DC converter  21  was used to generate the set-up voltage Vsetup by way of the sustain voltage Vs.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0022]     In one general aspect, a set-up voltage generating circuit and a plasma display panel (PDP) driving circuit using same are provided to generate a set-up voltage by way of a method of charging a predetermined capacitor using a sustain voltage (Vs) without recourse to a DC/DC converter in forming a set-up voltage necessary for a set-up period of the PDP.  
         [0023]     In accordance with one object of the present invention, there is provided a set-up voltage generating circuit. The set-up voltage generating circuit creates a set-up voltage Vsetup and supplies it to a predetermined electrode of the PDP.  
         [0024]     The set-up voltage generating circuit includes a charging unit and a first switch, the charging unit connected in series between a terminal applied with a sustain voltage Vs and a terminal having a predetermined voltage and for charging a voltage corresponding to a difference between the sustain voltage Vs and the predetermined voltage and for supplying the charged voltage to the set-up voltage Vsetup, and the first switch connected in series between the charging unit and the terminal having the predetermined voltage and for controlling the charge of the charging unit in response to a predetermined control signal.  
         [0025]     The predetermined voltage may be a voltage having a negative (−) polarity, or −Vs.  
         [0026]     Preferably, the charging unit comprises a device for preventing the charged voltage from being discharged toward the sustain voltage Vs, and the set-up voltage generating circuit further comprises a second switch for being connected in series to the charging unit to supply to the set-up voltage Vsetup a voltage where the charged voltage and the sustain voltage Vs are added, if the charging unit is charged and the first switch is turned off.  
         [0027]     The predetermined voltage may be a base potential (Ground).  
         [0028]     Preferably, the charging unit may comprise: a diode in which an anode is connected to a terminal applied with the sustain voltage Vs; and a capacitor connected and charged between a cathode of the diode and the first switch.  
         [0029]     The first switch may be a transistor, and the transistor is preferred to be a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device.  
         [0030]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a PDP driving circuit comprises: a set-up voltage generating circuit generating and outputting a set-up voltage Vsetup; and a set-up supplier supplying the set-up voltage Vsetup outputted by the set-up voltage generating circuit to a predetermined electrode of the PDP, wherein the set-up voltage generating circuit comprises: a charger connected in series between a terminal applied with a sustain voltage Vs and a terminal of a predetermined voltage for charging a voltage corresponding to a difference between the sustain voltage Vs and the predetermined voltage and outputting the set-up voltage Vsetup thus generated to the set-up supplier; and a first switch connected in series between the charger and the terminal of the predetermined voltage for controlling the charge of the charger in response to a predetermined control signal.  
         [0031]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a PDP driving circuit may comprise: a scan-up unit outputting a reference voltage Vsc which is a higher level out of two levels of a predetermined scan pulse supplied to a predetermined electrode of the PDP to a predetermined node during a period corresponding to the higher level; a scan-down unit outputting a set-down voltage −Vy which is a lower level of the scan pulse to the node during a period corresponding to the lower level; and a scan Integrated Circuit (IC) providing to the predetermined electrode the scan pulse formed by the reference voltage applied to the node during a predetermined address period and the set-down voltage to the predetermined electrode, and providing to the predetermined electrode a set-up voltage Vsetup outputted from the set-up supplier during a predetermined set-up period.  
         [0032]     The charger may comprise: a diode whose terminal applied with the sustain voltage Vs is connected with an anode; and a capacitor charged by being connected between a cathode of the diode and the first switching device, and the set-up supplier may comprise a third switch adjusting the amount of current flowing between the cathode of the diode and the predetermined electrode to adjust in such a manner that the set-up voltage Vsetup having a predetermined slope can be applied to the predetermined electrode.  
         [0033]     In another general aspect, a display apparatus disposed with a PDP comprises a PDP driving circuit for displaying in such a manner that an image corresponding to a predetermined image signal can be visually recognized. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]     The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a PDP driving apparatus;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a driving circuit diagram of a Y driving unit according to the prior art;  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram illustrating each terminal voltage of a PDP;  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a PDP driving circuit diagram including a set-up voltage generating circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of a set-up voltage generating circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a PDP driving circuit diagram including a set-up voltage driving circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a waveform diagram illustrating a Y terminal voltage at a set-up period according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     Best modes of carrying out the present invention will be described in further detail using various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a driving circuit diagram of a PDP including a set-up voltage generating circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]     The set-up generating circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention may be included in a driving circuit for PDP, or further may be included in the PDP.  
         [0045]     Basically,  FIGS. 1 and 3  are applied in identical conception to the present invention, so that a set-up voltage generating circuit  410  for the PDP according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 .  
         [0046]     The driving circuit  400  according to one embodiment of the present invention may be basically included in a Y driving unit  12  of  FIG. 1  so constructed as to maintain a base potential (GROUND) or a predetermined bias at the Y electrode of a PDP  11 .  
         [0047]     The driving circuit  400  according to one embodiment of the present invention include a set-up voltage generating circuit  410 , an energy retrieval circuit  421 , a scan IC  423 , a set-up supplier  425 , a scan-up unit  427  and a scan-down unit  429 .  
         [0048]     Waveform outputted via the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym by the driving circuit  400  according to the embodiment of the present invention is identical to that of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0049]     Furthermore, the set-up voltage generating circuit  400  according to the embodiment of the present invention may be included in a Z driving unit  13  Z 1  through Zm and may supply a waveform corresponding to a set-up period (a) and a set-up period (b) of graph Y of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0050]     The driving circuit  400  of  FIG. 4  replaces a DC/DC converter including the set-up voltage generating circuit  410  including a capacitor C 1 . The set-up voltage generating circuit  410  includes transistors M 1  and M 2 , a diode D 1  and the capacitor C 1 , and is connected to power source voltages Va and Vb. The size of the power source voltage Va is the same as that of a sustain voltage Vs, and the applied power source voltage Va supplies the sustain voltage Vs to the driving circuit  400  and simultaneously charges the capacitor C 1 .  
         [0051]     The size of the power source voltage Vb may vary relative to that of a set-up voltage Vsetup. The power source voltage Vb is preferred to be a voltage −Vs which has the same size as that of the sustain voltage Vs but is negative.  FIG. 4  illustrates a case where a second power source (not shown) is −Vs.  
         [0052]     The diode D 1  forms a charging route of the capacitor C 1  along with the transistor M 2 .  
         [0053]     Preferably, the transistor M 2  is an MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) device, and the transistor M 2  may be so constructed as to include an internal diode. A source of the transistor M 2  is connected to the second power source (not shown), while a drain thereof is connected to the capacitor C 1  and the transistor M 1 .  
         [0054]     The transistor M 1  is connected in parallel to the capacitor C 1  and the diode D 1  connected in series. The transistor M 1  is not an essential element of the set-up voltage generating circuit  410  according to the embodiment of the present invention, and implements a switching operation at the start of the set-up period (a) for supplying the sustain voltage Vs along with an energy retrieve circuit  421 . However, the transistor M 1  can operate in such a manner that, in supplying a voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  as a set-up voltage Vsetup, the sustain voltage Vs is added to the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  and supplied as the set-up voltage Vsetup.  
         [0055]     Now, the set-up voltage generating circuit will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 5 , where a charging unit including the diode D 1  and the capacitor C 1  will be described.  
         [0056]     Firs of all, the diode D 1  forms a route for charging the capacitor C 1 . Furthermore, the diode D 1  blocks formation of a charging route between the capacitor C 1  and the sustain voltage Vs, in supplying the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  as a set-up voltage Vsetup.  
         [0057]     The capacitor C 1  may be charged through a charging route formed between the sustain voltage Vs and −Vs as the transistor M 2  is turned on. If the transistor M 2  is turned on, the capacitor C 1  is charged up to approximately 2Vs. Consequently, a voltage of node N 5  connected to a cathode of the diode D 1  out of both nodes of the capacitor C 1 , becomes a set-up voltage Vsetup of 2Vs.  
         [0058]     As the node N 5  is connected to a drain of a transistor M 5 , a drain node of the transistor M 5  is supplied with the set-up voltage Vsetup. As a result, the sustain voltage Vs can be appropriately used to supply the set-up voltage Vsetup even if a separate DC/DC converter is not used for supplying the set-up voltage Vsetup.  
         [0059]     If the sustain voltage Vs is approximately 200V, and the transistor M 1  is turned off, the set-up voltage Vsetup reaches approximately 400V.  FIG. 5  illustrates a case where the transistor M 1  is turned off, and at this juncture, a waveform in the set-up period (a) may be different from that of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0060]     Again, description is given preferably with reference to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0061]     If the driving circuit  400  according to the embodiment of the present invention is used, the node N 5  may be supplied with 400V which is the double of the sustain voltage Vs. When the capacitor C 1  is charged, the transistor M 1  is turned off.  
         [0062]     If the capacitor C 1  is charged to 2Vs, and the transistor M 1  is turned on, the set-up voltage Vsetup of the node N 5  may reach approximately 600V, which is triple the sustain voltage Vs. If the capacitor C 1  is charged to 2Vs, the transistor M 2  is turned off and the transistor M 1  is turned on, the node N 5  connected to the capacitor C 1  and the sustain voltage Vs is applied with a set-up voltage of approximately 3Vs. Even if the set-up voltage Vsetup is supplied with 600V, the voltage actually supplied to the Y terminals Y 1  through Ym is adjusted by the transistor M 5 , such that the voltage supplied to the Y terminals Y 1  through Ym reaches approximately 400V. Consequently, the set-up Vsetup can be defined by the following Equations. 
 
Vsetup=( Va−Vb )+ Va , where the transistor  M 1 is turned on.  [Equation 1]
 
         [0063]     As a result, if Va is Vs, Vb is −Vs and the transistor M 1  is turned on, Vsetup reaches 3Vs, and a waveform is identically formed to that of the set-up period (a) of  FIG. 3 . 
 
Vsetup=( Va−Vb ), where the transistor  M 1 is turned off.  [Equation 2]
 
         [0064]     As a result, if Va is Vs, Vb is −Vs, and the transistor M 1  is turned off, the set-up voltage Vsetup is 2Vs. Besides, adjustment of the size of Vb can form various set-up voltages Vsetup.  
         [0065]     The set-up supplier  425 , the scan-up unit  427  and the scan-down unit  429  are blocked for the convenience of explanation, where a same waveform as that of graph Y of  FIG. 3  is outputted to Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym.  
         [0066]     The set-up supplier  425  supplies to the node N 3  the set-up voltage Vsetup supplied to the node N 5  from the set-up voltage generating circuit  410 . At this time, the transistor M 5  is adjusted at its channel by a variable resistor VR 3  and the set-up voltage Vsetup supplied to the node N 3  is to have a predetermined slope.  
         [0067]     The scan-up unit  427  outputs to the scan IC  423  a predetermined scan reference voltage supplied to the Y electrodes Y 1  though Ym of the PDP  11  during the address period. That is, the scan-up unit  427  supplies the scan reference voltage Vsc to the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym not scanned during the scanning process via a transistor M 8 .  
         [0068]     The scan-down unit  429  supplies the set-down voltage −Vy to a node N 4  during a set-down period (b). At this time, a transistor M 6  is adjusted at its channel by a variable resistor VR 4 , and the set-down voltage −Vy supplied to a node N 4  is to have a predetermined slope. Furthermore, the scan-down unit  429  outputs to the scan IC  423  the set-down voltage −Vy supplied to the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym of the PDP during the address period.  
         [0069]     The scan IC  423  provides a route through which the sustain voltage Vs and the set-up voltage Vsetup are supplied to the Y electrodes Y 1  through Ym. Furthermore, the scan IC  423  switches the scan reference voltage Vsc and the set-down voltage −Vy during the address period so that a scan pulse can be supplied to the Y electrode which is a subject to be scanned.  
         [0070]      FIG. 6  is a driving circuit diagram of a PDP including a set-up voltage driving circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0071]     The driving circuit  600  of  FIG. 6  basically operates in the same way as that of the driving circuit  400  of  FIG. 4  except for a set-up voltage generating circuit  610 .  
         [0072]     Transistors M 603  through M 611  of  FIG. 6  correspond to transistors M 3  through M 11  of  FIG. 4  and operate likewise.  
         [0073]     Variable resistors VR 603  and VR 604  of  FIG. 6 , and energy retrieve circuit  621  correspond to variable resistors VR 3  and VR 4 , and energy retrieve circuit  421  and operate likewise. A set-up voltage generating circuit  610  of  FIG. 6  is where the power source voltage Vb is a base potential.  
         [0074]     The set-up voltage supply circuit  610  includes a capacitor C 601 , a transistor M 601  and a diode D 601 . A capacitor  601  is interconnected between a diode D 601  and a transistor M 602 , and is charged to as much as Vs by the sustain voltage Vs. The diode D 1  forms a charging route between the sustain voltage Vs and the capacitor C 601 .  
         [0075]     A transistor M 601  is connected in parallel to the diode D 601  and the capacitor C 601  which are connected in series. The transistor M 601  basically conducts a switching operation for supplying the sustain voltage Vs along with the energy retrieve circuit  621  at the start of the set-up period (a), except that the transistor M 601  is such that the set-up voltage Vsetup can be supplied where the voltage charged at the capacitor C 601  is added to the sustain voltage Vs, in supplying the voltage charged at the capacitor C 601  as the set-up voltage Vsetup. Consequently, a node N 605  is applied with a voltage of 2Vs.  
         [0076]     A transistor M 602  is connected at a drain thereof to the transistor M 601  and the capacitor C 601 , and is connected at a source thereof to a base potential (GROUND) to provide a charging route whereby the capacitor C 601  can be charged by the voltage Vs.  
         [0077]     The transistor M 602 , like the transistor M 2 , is turned off after the capacitor C 601  is charged with the voltage Vs, such that a drain terminal of the transistor M 605  connected to the node N 605  is applied with the set-up voltage Vsetup of 2Vs.  
         [0078]     As described earlier, the voltage Vb of  FIG. 4  may correspond to various voltages including a base potential or negative (−) voltage. If the power source voltage Vb is −Vs, the power source voltage Vb can be easily embodied by making a polarity different from that of the sustain voltage Vs. Furthermore, the size of the set-up voltage Vsetup may be different relative to characteristics of devices comprising a driving circuit or a PDP. If the set-up voltage Vsetup is lower than 2Vs or lower than 3Vs, an appropriate adjustment of the power source voltage Vb can easily form the set-up voltage Vsetup. In this case, the waveform formed to correspond to the set-up period (a) of  FIG. 3  may be different from that of  FIG. 3 , details of which will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 .  
         [0079]      FIG. 7  is a waveform diagram illustrating a Y terminal voltage at a set-up period according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0080]     A waveform ( 1 ) of  FIG. 7  is a case where the transistor M 1  is turned on, and the power source voltage Vb is −Vs. A waveform ( 2 ) is a case where the transistor M 1  is turned on, and the power source voltage Vb is a base potential (GROUND). A waveform ( 3 ) is a case where the transistor M 1  is turned off, and the power source voltage Vb is −Vs.  
         [0081]     The graph ( 3 ) shows a case where, because the transistor M 1  is turned off, the voltage of the node N 3  does not start from the sustain voltage Vs but start from a base potential.  
         [0082]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, if a driving apparatus for a PDP according to the present invention is disposed inside the PDP, an interface capable of adjusting the size of a second power source is installed outside to form an optimal set-up voltage in consideration of each device characteristic of the PDP.  
         [0083]     Henceforth, an entire operation of the driving circuit  400  according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0084]     First, a set-up period (a) starts, and the transistors M 5  and M 3  are turned on. As a result, the sustain voltage Vs stored in the energy retrieve circuit  421  is supplied to Y terminals Y 1  through Ym. The sustain voltage Vs supplied from the energy retrieve circuit  421  is supplied to each scan electrode via the internal diode of the transistor M 3 , the transistor M 4  and the transistor M 9  of the scan IC  423 . Consequently, voltages of each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym abruptly rise to the sustain voltage Vs.  
         [0085]     At this time, if the transistor M 1  is turned off while the transistor M 2  is turned on, the capacitor C 1  is charged with approximately 2Vs as explained before. The voltage (approximately 2Vs) charged in the capacitor C 1  is thus supplied as the set-up voltage Vsetup as the transistor M 2  is turned off.  
         [0086]     As another method, if the capacitor C 1  is charged with approximately 2Vs, the transistor M 1  is turned on, while the transistor M 2  is turned off, an approximately 3Vs is supplied as the set-up voltage Vsetup.  
         [0087]     The set-up voltage Vsetup is supplied to the node N 3  via the transistor M 5 . The transistor M 5  is adjusted at its channel width by the variable resistor VR 3  such that the voltage of node N 3  is so controlled as to have a predetermined slope to rise up to the set-up voltage Vsetup. The voltage of the node N 3  applied with a predetermined slope is supplied to each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym via the transistor M 4  and the transistor M 9  of the scan IC  423 . Consequently, each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym is supplied with a rising ramp waveform ramp-up.  
         [0088]     The transistor M 5  is turned off following the application of the rising ramp waveform ramp-up to each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym. If the transistor M 5  is turned off, only the sustain voltage Vs supplied from the energy retrieve circuit  23  is applied to the node N 1 , whereby the voltage of each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym abruptly falls.  
         [0089]     Thereafter, the transistor M 4  is turned off while, simultaneously the transistor M 5  is turned on in the set-down period. The transistor M 6  is adjusted at its channel width by the variable resistor VR 4  to lower the voltage of the node N 4  to a set-down voltage −Vy at a predetermined slope. Accordingly, each Y electrode Y 1  through Ym is supplied with a falling ramp waveform Ramp-down.  
         [0090]     At this time, the transistor M 4  disposed with a transistor M 3  whose internal diode has a different direction prevents formation of a predetermined route from the node N 4  to the base potential (GROUND) via the internal diode of the transistor M 3  and the energy retrieve circuit  421 . Furthermore, the transistors M 10  and M 11  supply via the transistor M 8  a scan base voltage Vsc to an Y electrode which is not scanned during the scan process.  
         [0091]     According to the present invention, because a predetermined voltage is charged using a sustain voltage Vs and a capacitor, a sustain voltage Vs and a set-up voltage Vsetup of a different level can be generated and supplied to Y electrodes without recourse to a DC/DC converter.  
         [0092]     Furthermore, the set-up voltage generating circuit according to the present invention can simply form an optimal set-up voltage by way of characteristic improvement of devices for the PDP even if the size of the set-up voltage is reduced. As a result, a sustain driving circuit can be manufactured with much ease to thereby enable to lower the price for driving the PDP.  
         [0093]     While the above description has pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, the skilled person will understand that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are embraced within their scope.