Abstract:
A plasma display panel capable of minimizing power consumption and maximizing a brightness is provided. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate and a rear substrate arranged to face each other, a plurality of horizontal ribs defining a discharge space between the front and rear substrates, the horizontal ribs comprising single barrier ribs and double barrier ribs, a plurality of vertical ribs arranged perpendicularly to the horizontal ribs to define the discharge space into a plurality of discharge cells, and a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes to which a voltage is applied so that a discharge is generated within the discharge cells.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0005444, filed on Jan. 17, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present embodiments relate to a plasma display panel including single barrier ribs and double barrier ribs. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general plasma display panels, barrier ribs are arranged between a front panel and a rear panel define a plurality of discharge cells. Also, a phosphor material is coated on the barrier ribs and each of the discharge cells is filled with a main discharge gas, such as Ne, He, or a mixture of Ne and He, and an inert gas including a small amount of xenon (Xe). Such plasma display panels display images by applying a high frequency voltage to the discharge cells to generate vacuum ultraviolet rays from an inert gas and exciting a phosphor material with the vacuum ultraviolet rays. Such plasma display panels are spotlighted as next-generation display devices because they can be manufactured to be thin and light. 
         [0006]    Brightness, which is an important evaluating factor of plasma display panels, represents the brightness of a screen. The brightness is classified into a full white brightness that represents the brightness of an entirely white screen, and a 1% peak brightness that represents the brightness of a 1%-white screen. 
         [0007]    The full white brightness is closely related to power consumption. More specifically, the greater the full white brightness is, the smaller the power consumption is. Therefore, in order to improve the brightness while minimizing power consumption, a plasma display panel with both an improved 1% peak brightness and an improved full white brightness would be advantageous. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present embodiments provide a plasma display panel capable of maximizing brightness by improving both 1% peak brightness and full white brightness and of minimizing power consumption. 
         [0009]    According to an aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided a plasma display panel including a front substrate and a rear substrate arranged to face each other, a plurality of horizontal ribs defining a discharge space between the front and rear substrates, the horizontal ribs including single barrier ribs and double barrier ribs, a plurality of vertical ribs arranged perpendicularly to the horizontal ribs to define the discharge space into a plurality of discharge cells, and a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes to which a voltage is applied so that a discharge is generated within the discharge cells. 
         [0010]    The discharge cells may include first discharge cells and second discharge cells wider than the first discharge cells. The first discharge cells may be defined by the double barrier ribs, and the second discharge cells may be defined by the single barrier ribs, so that the discharge cells may have different widths. 
         [0011]    The horizontal ribs may be parallel to one another. At least one of the horizontal ribs may include both double barrier ribs and single barrier ribs. 
         [0012]    The discharge cells may include first discharge cells and second discharge cells that have higher brightness than the first discharge cells. The first discharge cells may be defined by the double barrier ribs, and the second discharge cells may be defined by the single barrier ribs, so that the second discharge cells having higher brightness are wider than the first discharge cells having lower brightness. Thus, the brightness of the plasma display panel is increased. 
         [0013]    The discharge cells include red discharge cells, green discharge cells, and blue discharge cells according to the type of a phosphor material. Generally, since the green discharge cells have higher brightness than the other discharge cells, the green discharge cells are formed to be wider than the other discharge cells. In other words, the green discharge cells may be defined by the single barrier ribs. 
         [0014]    The discharge electrodes may include transparent electrodes and bus electrodes. The bus electrodes are arranged over the double barrier ribs, such that the aperture ratio of the plasma display panel can be increased. 
         [0015]    The bus electrodes are straight lines, so that only the double barrier ribs but the single barrier ribs may be covered with the bus electrodes. 
         [0016]    The discharge cells may include the red discharge cells, the green discharge cells, and the blue discharge cells. Generally, since the green discharge cells have higher rightness than the other discharge cells, the green discharge cells are formed to be wider than the other discharge cells. Accordingly, the green discharge cells are defined by the single barrier ribs. The bus electrodes have straight-line shapes, such that they may be arranged over the double barrier ribs and the green discharge cells. 
         [0017]    The discharge electrodes include X electrodes and Y electrodes to which voltages are alternately applied. The X electrodes includes X transparent electrodes and X bus electrodes. The Y electrodes include Y transparent electrodes and Y bus electrodes. The Y electrodes can apply different voltages to the discharge cells, whereas the X electrodes can apply a common voltage to the discharges. Accordingly, the X electrodes may be integrally formed, and may be arranged over the double barrier ribs and single barrier ribs of the horizontal ribs in order to improve the aperture ratio of the plasma display panel. 
         [0018]    Particularly, the X bus electrodes may be arranged over the double barrier ribs and the single barrier ribs of the horizontal ribs but not over non-discharge areas defined by the double barrier ribs. Accordingly, the X bus electrodes may be formed in the same pattern as that of the horizontal ribs. 
         [0019]    The X electrodes may be arranged over the double barrier ribs and single barrier ribs of the horizontal ribs and the non-discharge areas defined by the double barrier ribs. Accordingly, the X bus electrodes may have dumbbell shapes that have first areas arranged over the single barrier ribs and second areas arranged over the double barrier ribs and the non-discharge areas so as to have a greater width than the first areas. 
         [0020]    The plasma display panel further includes upper dielectric layer formed on the front substrate to prevent the discharge electrodes from being damaged by charge particles and to induce charges. 
         [0021]    The upper dielectric layer includes first upper dielectric layers and second upper dielectric layers that have different dielectric constants. The second upper dielectric layers have a higher dielectric constant than the first upper dielectric layers and are arranged over discharge cells that are relatively wide. In other words, the second upper dielectric layers are arranged over the second discharge cells defined by the single barrier ribs. 
         [0022]    The discharge cells include the red discharge cells, the green discharge cells, and the blue discharge cells. In this case, since the green discharge cells have higher rightness than the other discharge cells, the green discharge cells are defined by the single barrier ribs and thus formed to be wider than the other discharge cells. Accordingly, the second upper dielectric layers have a higher dielectric constant than the first upper dielectric layers, and the second upper dielectric layers are arranged over the green discharge cells. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The above and other features and advantages of the present embodiments will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a lower panel of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the lower panel of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 1  over which discharge electrodes are arranged; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a lower panel of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment over which discharge electrodes are arranged; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a lower panel of a plasma display panel over which discharge electrodes are arranged, according to another embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The present embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of a bottom panel  160  of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the plasma display panel includes an upper panel  150  and a lower panel  160 . 
         [0034]    The upper panel  150  includes an upper substrate  111 , a plurality of discharge electrodes  120  arranged parallel to one another on the upper substrate  111 , and an upper dielectric layer  113  formed on the upper substrate  111  and covering the discharge electrodes  120 . A protection layer  115  is formed on the upper dielectric layer  113 . 
         [0035]    The upper substrate  111  may be formed of a highly optical transmissive material, such as glass, as a main component. 
         [0036]    The discharge electrodes  120  include wide transparent electrodes  123  that transmit light, and bus electrodes  121  having high electrical conductivity. 
         [0037]    The upper dielectric layer  113  prevents the discharge electrodes  120  from being damaged by charged particles, and induces charges to thereby facilitate the generation of discharge. 
         [0038]    The protection layer  115  prevents the upper dielectric layer  113  from being damaged by charged particles, and increases the secondary electron emission efficiency. The protection layer  115  may be formed of, for example, magnesium oxide (MgO). 
         [0039]    To form the lower panel  160 , a plurality of address electrodes  175  are arranged on a lower substrate  171  intersecting the discharge electrodes  120 . A lower dielectric layer  173  is formed on the lower substrate  171  and covers the address electrodes  175 . A barrier structure  180  defining a plurality of discharge cells is formed on the lower dielectric layer  173 . 
         [0040]    Like the upper substrate  111 , the lower substrate  171  may be formed of a highly optical transmissive material, such as glass as a main component, and may be colored to improve a bright room contrast. 
         [0041]    The barrier structure  180  includes vertical ribs  182  substantially parallel to the address electrodes  175 , and horizontal ribs  185  intersecting the vertical ribs  182 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the horizontal ribs  185  include single barrier ribs  184  and double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Discharge cells are defined on both sides of each single barrier rib  184 . Each double barrier rib includes a first double barrier rib  186  and a second double barrier rib  188 . Discharge cells are defined on outer sides of the first and second double barrier ribs  186  and  188 , and non-discharge areas are formed between inner sides of the first and second double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . The non-discharge areas are used as the path of an exhaust gas, so that the exhaust gas can be effectively discharged. 
         [0043]    The single barrier ribs  184  define green discharge cells  190 G, and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  define red discharge cells  190 R and blue discharge cells  190 B. Accordingly, the green discharge cells  190 G have wider discharge spaces than the red discharge cells  190 G and the blue discharge cells  190 B. Generally, the green discharge cells  190 G provide high brightness, and thus, when the green discharge cells  190 G are wide, the entire brightness can increase. 
         [0044]    As described above, the horizontal ribs  185  including the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  may be formed by attaching a pre-patterned sheet to the lower dielectric layer  173  or by using an etching method. 
         [0045]    Phosphor layers are formed on the barrier ribs  180 . The vertical ribs  182  and the single barrier ribs  184  of the horizontal ribs  185  have phosphor layers coated on both sides thereof, whereas the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  have phosphor layers coated on only one side thereof. In the present embodiment, green phosphor layers  177 G are coated on both sides of the single barrier ribs  184 , and red phosphor layers  177 R or blue phosphor layers  177 B are coated on one side of the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Since the green discharge cells  190 G defined by the single barrier ribs  184  are wider than the red discharge cells  190 R and the blue discharge cells  190 B, the green phosphor layers  177 G are wider than the red and blue phosphor layers  177 R and  177 B. 
         [0046]    An inert mixed gas, such as, for example, He gas and Xe gas, Ne gas and Xe gas, or He gas, Ne gas and Xe gas, is injected into the discharge cells  190 R,  190 G, and  190 B defined by the barrier structure  180 . 
         [0047]    An experiment for measuring a 1% peak brightness and a full white brightness was conducted, in which the plasma display panel according to the present embodiment having the horizontal ribs  185  made up of both the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  was used as an experimental group, a plasma display panel having horizontal ribs made up only of single barrier ribs was used as Comparative Group 1, and a plasma display panel having horizontal ribs made up only of double barrier ribs was used as Comparative Group 2. The plasma display panels corresponding to Comparative Groups 1 and 2 have a matrix-type barrier structure as the plasma display panel according to the present embodiment. 
         [0048]    1% peak brightnesses are the brightnesses obtained and measured when the plasma display panels are driven such that a center portion of the screen corresponding to only 1% of the entire area of the screen is represented with white and the other area is represented with a dark color. 
         [0049]    Full white brightnesses are brightnesses obtained and measured when the plasma display panels are driven such that the entire screen is represented with white. 
         [0050]    Referring to Table 1 below, the 1% peak brightness of Comparative Group 1 including only single barrier ribs is 1176 cd/m 2 , which is higher than that (i.e., 1054 cd/m 2 ) of Comparative Group 2. The full white brightness of Comparative Group 1 is 147 cd/m 2 , which is lower than that (i.e., 165 cd/m 2 ) of Comparative Group 2. Hence, Comparative Group 1 having only single barrier ribs has a relatively high 1% peak brightness but a relatively low full white brightness, leading to high power consumption. Comparative Group 2 having only double barrier ribs has a higher full white brightness and thus consumes small power, but has a lower 1% peak brightness leading to a low overall brightness. 
         [0051]    However, the experimental group being the plasma display panel including the horizontal ribs  185  made up of both the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  has a 1% peak brightness almost the same as that of Comparative Group 1 and a full white brightness almost the same as that of Comparative Group 2. That is, the experimental group has a 1% peak brightness and a full white brightness both being nearly equal to the highest brightnesses. Accordingly, the plasma display panel according to the present embodiment minimizes power consumption and maximizes the entire brightness by including the horizontal ribs  185  made up of both the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Comparative 
                 Comparative 
                   
               
               
                 Items 
                 Group 1 
                 Group 2 
                 Experimental Group 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1% peak brightness 
                 1176 
                 1054 
                 1140 
               
               
                 (cd/m 2 ) 
               
               
                 Full white 
                 147 
                 165 
                 160 
               
               
                 brightness (cd/m 2 ) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0052]      FIG. 3  illustrates the lower panel  160  of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 1  over which the discharge electrodes  120  are arranged. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the discharge electrodes  120  are arranged on the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . More specifically, the bus electrodes  121  are arranged on the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . The discharge electrodes  120  include the transparent electrodes  123 , which transmit light and are formed of an electrically conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), and the bus electrodes  121 , which are formed of a highly electrically conductive metal. 
         [0053]    The discharge electrodes  120  are arranged over the discharge cells. However, since the bus electrodes  121  do not transmit light, they may be arranged over the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  in order to improve the aperture ratio. The bus electrodes  121  comprise a plurality of lines that are arranged parallel to one another. Accordingly, the bus electrodes  121  may be arranged over the respective first double barrier ribs  186  and the respective second double barrier ribs  188 . Here, since the bus electrodes  121  are linear, the single barrier ribs  184  are not covered with the bus electrodes  121 . Thus, the bus electrodes  121  are arranged over the first or second double barrier ribs  186  or  188  and over the green discharge cells  190 G defined by the single barrier ribs  184 . 
         [0054]    Portions of the discharge electrodes  120  exposed to the green discharge cells  190 G are wider than those of the discharge electrodes  120  exposed to the red discharge cells  190 R or the blue discharge cells  190 B, so that discharge is generated more easily in the green discharge cells  190 G than the discharge cells  190 R and  190 B. 
         [0055]    The discharge electrodes  120  in the present embodiment may have a XX-YY electrode configuration. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a lower panel of a plasma display panel over which discharge electrodes are arranged, according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, another pattern of discharge electrodes is arranged over the lower panel  160 , shown in  FIG. 3 , of the plasma display panel including the horizontal ribs  185  made up of the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Hence, the lower panel of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in  FIG. 3 , so it will not be described again and differences between the previous and present embodiments will be focused on. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , discharge electrodes  120  include X electrodes  120   x  and Y electrodes  120   y.  The X electrodes  120   x  include X bus electrodes  121   x  and X transparent electrodes  123   x,  and the Y electrodes  120   y  include Y bus electrodes  121   y  and Y transparent electrodes  123   y.    
         [0058]    Adjacent X electrodes  120   x  are integrally formed into a single body so that the adjacent X electrodes  120   x  can apply a common voltage to the discharge cells of a previous discharge cell row and the discharge cells of a current discharge cell row. However, adjacent Y electrodes  120   y  are formed separately from each other so that the adjacent Y electrodes  120   y  can apply different voltages to the discharge cells of a previous discharge cell row and the discharge cells of a current discharge cell row. Hence, the X electrodes  120   x  have the same pattern as the horizontal ribs  185  made up of both the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . However, the Y electrodes  120   y  are arranged in line shapes over the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  so that the single barrier ribs  184  are exposed between the Y electrodes  120   y.  In other words, the Y electrodes  120   y  have the same shape as the discharge electrodes  120  of the previous embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0059]    The X bus electrodes  121   x  are arranged over the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 , and not over the non-discharge areas defined by the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Accordingly, each of the X bus electrodes  121   x  can have the shape of an array of tuning forks. 
         [0060]    The X transparent electrodes  123   x  may be formed in contact with the X bus electrodes  121   x  so as to be wide. More specifically, the X transparent electrodes  123   x  include extensions that contact the X bus electrodes  121   x  and have the same pattern as the X bus electrodes  121   x,  and protrusions that protrude from the extensions toward upper areas of the discharge cells. 
         [0061]    In this embodiment, the extensions of the X transparent electrodes  123   x  have the same pattern as the X bus electrodes  121   x  and the protrusions of the X transparent electrodes  123   x  protrude from the extensions to over the discharge cells. However, the present embodiments are not limited to this structure. For example, the X transparent electrodes  123   x  may be not only arranged over the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  but also arranged over the non-discharge areas, which is different from the arrangement of the X bus electrodes  121   x.    
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a lower panel of a plasma display panel over which discharge electrodes are arranged, according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, another pattern of discharge electrodes is arranged over the lower panel  160  shown in  FIG. 3  of the plasma display panel including the horizontal ribs  185  made up of the single barrier ribs  184  and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Hence, the lower panel of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in  FIG. 3 , so it will not be described again and differences between the previous and present embodiments will be focused on. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the discharge electrodes  120  include, like the discharge electrodes  120  shown in  FIG. 4 , X electrodes  120   x  and Y electrodes  120   y.  The X electrodes  120   x  include X bus electrodes  121   x  and X transparent electrodes  123   x,  and the Y electrodes  120   y  include Y bus electrodes  121   y  and Y transparent electrode  123   y.  Adjacent X electrodes  120   x  are integrally formed into a single body so as to apply a common voltage to the discharge cells of a previous discharge cell row and the discharge cells of a current discharge cell row. However, adjacent Y electrodes  120   y  are formed separately from each other so as to apply different voltages to the discharge cells of a previous discharge cell row and the discharge cells of a current discharge cell row at different times. 
         [0064]    The Y bus electrodes  121   y  are straight lines arranged in parallel over the double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . Extensions of the Y transparent electrodes  123   y  are formed in contact with the Y bus electrodes  121   y  so as to have straight-line shapes, and protrusions of the Y transparent electrodes  123   y  protrude from the extensions toward over the discharge cells. 
         [0065]    The X bus electrodes  121   x  are formed to cover the single barrier ribs  184 , the double barrier ribs  186 ,  188 , and the non-discharge area. Hence, the X bus electrodes  121   x  have hammer shapes in which a first area of the X bus electrode  121   x  that is disposed over the single barrier ribs  184  is narrower than a second area of the X bus electrode  121   x  that is disposed over the double barrier ribs  186 ,  188  and the non-discharge area. Extensions of the X transparent electrodes  123   x  have the same pattern as the X bus electrodes  121   x,  and protrusions of the X transparent electrodes  123   x  protrude from the extensions toward over the discharge cells. 
         [0066]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the plasma display panel includes an upper panel  150  and a lower panel  160 . 
         [0068]    The upper panel  150  includes an upper substrate  111 , a plurality of discharge electrodes  120  arranged parallel to one another on the upper substrate  111 , and an upper dielectric layer  113  formed on the upper substrate  111  and covering the discharge electrodes  120 . A protection layer  115  is formed on the upper dielectric layer  113 . 
         [0069]    The lower panel  160  includes a plurality of address electrodes  175  arranged on a lower substrate  171  and intersecting the discharge electrodes  120 , a lower dielectric layer  173  formed on the lower substrate  171  and covering the address electrodes  175 , and a barrier structure  180  defining a plurality of discharge cells on the lower dielectric layer  173 . Phosphor layers  177 R,  177 G, and  177 B are coated within the discharge cells, and a discharge gas is injected into the discharge cells having the phosphor layers  177 R,  177 G, and  177 B coated therewithin. 
         [0070]    The barrier structure  180  includes vertical ribs  182  parallel to the address electrodes  175 , and horizontal ribs  185  intersecting the vertical ribs  182 . The horizontal ribs  185  include single barrier ribs  184  and double barrier ribs  186  and  188 . 
         [0071]    The discharge cells are defined by the barrier structure  180 . The single barrier ribs  184  define green discharge cells  190 G, and the double barrier ribs  186  and  188  define red discharge cells  190 R and blue discharge cells  190 B. Accordingly, the green discharge cells  190 G have wider discharge spaces than the red discharge cells  190 G and the blue discharge cells  190 B, and areas of the discharge electrodes that are exposed over the green discharge cells  190 G are wider than those of the discharge electrodes that are exposed over the red and blue discharge cells  190 R and  190 B. 
         [0072]    As the exposed areas of the discharge electrodes over the discharge cells increase, it becomes easier to induce wall charges. In addition, a wide discharge space is ensured, leading to a decrease in the distortion of a discharge field. Thus, a discharge initiation voltage is reduced, and discharge can be made relatively more easily. Furthermore, a discharge voltage is also decreased, leading to non-uniformity between discharges generated in discharge cells. 
         [0073]    In the present embodiment, the upper dielectric layer  113  includes first upper dielectric layers  113   a  and second upper dielectric layers  113   b  that have different dielectric constants. To prevent the discharge non-uniformity between discharge cells, the second upper dielectric layers  113   b  having a higher dielectric constant are arranged over the relatively wide green discharge cells  190 G, and the first upper dielectric layers  113   a  having a lower dielectric constant are arranged over the red and blue discharge cells  190 R and  190 B. 
         [0074]    A dielectric layer can serve as a capacitive load. Accordingly, when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is increased according to Equation 1, the capacitance increases and accordingly the load increases, thereby preventing discharge: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   C 
                   = 
                   
                     ɛ 
                      
                     
                       A 
                       d 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    wherein C denotes a capacitance, ε denotes a dielectric constant, A denotes the size of an electrode, and d denotes a distance between electrodes. 
         [0075]    Therefore, discharge is more easily generated within the green discharge cells  190 G defined by the single barrier ribs  184  than within the other discharge cells. This discharge non-uniformity between discharge cells can be prevented by increasing the dielectric constant of the second upper dielectric layers  113   b  over the green discharge cells  190 G to increase the capacitive load. 
         [0076]    The upper substrate  111 , the discharge electrodes  120 , the protection layer  115 , the lower substrate  171 , the address electrodes  175 , and the lower dielectric layer  173  are the same as those described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , so a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0077]    As described above, a plasma display panel including barrier ribs in which single barrier ribs are mixed with double barrier ribs, according to the present embodiments, increases a 1% peak brightness and a full white brightness, thereby minimizing the power consumption and maximizing the brightness. 
         [0078]    In addition, bus electrodes are formed on the barrier ribs in which the single barrier ribs and the double barrier ribs are mixed, so that the aperture ratio of the plasma display panel can be increased. Thus, the plasma display panel provides improved luminous efficiency. 
         [0079]    Moreover, since the plasma display panel according to the present embodiments includes barrier ribs in which the single barrier ribs are mixed with the double barrier ribs, the discharge spaces of the discharge cells defined by the single barrier ribs are wide compared with those of the discharge cells of a conventional plasma display panel, and areas of the discharge electrodes that are exposed to the discharge cells increase compared with the conventional plasma display panel. Thus, a discharge is more easily generated. Also, in the plasma display panel according to the present embodiments, upper dielectric layers having a high dielectric constant are arranged on the discharge cells defined by the single barrier ribs, so that the capacitive load of the upper dielectric layers is increased. Thus, discharge non-uniformity between discharge cells can be prevented. 
         [0080]    While the present embodiments have been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present embodiments as defined by the following claims.