Patent Publication Number: US-2007108906-A1

Title: Plasma display panel (PDP) and plasma display apparatus including the PDP

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0108297, filed on Nov. 12, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present embodiments relate to a plasma display panel (PDP) and a plasma display apparatus including the PDP, more particularly, to a PDP that displays an image using a plasma discharge and a plasma display apparatus including the PDP.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Plasma display panels (PDP) which have replaced conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices display desired images using visible rays generated by sealing discharge gas and applying discharge voltage between two substrates on which a plurality of electrodes are formed to generate vacuum ultraviolet rays and exciting phosphor on which the vacuum ultraviolet rays are formed in a predetermined pattern.  
       FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional PDP  100 . The PDP  100  includes a front substrate  101 , a plurality of pairs of sustain electrodes including scan electrodes  106  and sustain electrodes  107  arranged on the front substrate  101 , a front dielectric layer  109  formed on the plurality of pairs of sustain electrodes  106  and  107 , a protective layer  111  formed on the front dielectric layer  109 , a rear substrate  115  facing the front substrate  101 , address electrodes  117  arranged in the rear substrate  115 , a rear dielectric layer  113  formed on the address electrodes  117 , barrier ribs  114  formed on the rear dielectric layer  113 , and phosphor layers  110  formed on the upper surface of the rear dielectric layer  113  and sidewalls of the barrier ribs  114 .  
      In general, the front substrate  101  and the rear substrate  115  can be formed of a glass material such as PD-200 or soda-lime. However, each of the front substrate  101  and the rear substrate  115  of the PDP  100  are formed of a glass material with a thickness of several millimeters. The glass substrate is heavy and expensive. Nevertheless, the front substrate  101  and the rear substrate  115 , on which the pairs of sustain electrodes  106  and  107  and the address electrodes  117  are formed, respectively, must be formed of the glass material.  
      Also, the PDP  100  has high temperature discharge spaces due to a high voltage, so that charged particles are excessively produced in the discharge spaces. The charged particles collide with a phosphor substance, resulting in a deterioration of the phosphor substance and causing an afterimage on a screen. Therefore, it is necessary to externally dissipate heat generated by the pairs of sustain electrodes  106  and  107 . However, the glass materials used to form the front substrate  101  do not have a good thermal conductivity, thus causing afterimages on the screen.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present embodiments provide a plasma display panel (PDP) having a reduced cost and weight.  
      The present embodiments also provide a PDP for preventing a temperature of the PDP from increasing.  
      The present embodiments also provide a PDP having a simple manufacturing process.  
      The present embodiments also provide a PDP for improving a discharge area and brightness.  
      The present embodiments also provide a plasma display apparatus including the PDP.  
      According to an aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided a plasma display panel (PDP) comprising: a substrate through which visible rays displaying an image are transmitted; a plurality of electrode buried walls arranged below the substrate and defining discharge cells; a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes in the electrode buried walls and performing a discharge in the discharge cells; a sealing member arranged below the electrode buried walls, sealing a discharge gas together with the substrate, and formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate; and phosphor layers arranged in the discharge cells.  
      The sealing member may have a thermal conductivity equal to or higher than that of the electrode buried walls.  
      The sealing member may comprise a substance selected from the group consisting of aluminous materials, Si 3 N 4 , and BeO.  
      The sealing member may comprise from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % of the substance.  
      The sealing member may comprise an e-GRAF material.  
      The sealing member may comprise the same material as that of the electrode buried walls.  
      The sealing member and the electrode buried walls may be integrally formed with each other in a body.  
      Each of the pairs of discharge electrodes may comprise a first discharge electrode and a second discharge electrode that cross each other.  
      The PDP may further comprise: address electrodes crossing the pairs of discharge electrodes that comprise first discharge electrodes and second discharge electrodes that extend in a predetermined direction.  
      The address electrodes may be spaced apart from the first and second discharge electrodes by a predetermined distance and are arranged in the electrode buried walls.  
      The PDP may further comprise: protective layers covering the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls corresponding to the discharge cells and the upper surface of the sealing member.  
      Grooves having a specific depth are formed in the transparent substrate in each of the discharge cells, and the phosphor layers are arranged inside the grooves.  
      The PDP may further comprise: protective layers covering the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls.  
      According to an aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided a PDP comprising: a substrate through which visible rays displaying an image are transmitted; a plurality of electrode buried walls arranged below the substrate and defining discharge cells; a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes in the electrode buried walls and performing a discharge in the discharge cells; a sealing member arranged below the electrode buried walls, sealing a discharge gas together with the substrate, and formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate; a dielectric layer formed between the sealing member and the electrode buried walls; address electrodes buried in the dielectric layer, and crossing the pairs of discharge electrodes; and phosphor layers arranged in the discharge cells.  
      The sealing member may have a thermal conductivity equal to or higher than that of the dielectric layer.  
      The dielectric layer may comprise the same material as that of the electrode buried walls.  
      The PDP may further comprise: protective layers covering the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls and the upper surface of the dielectric layer.  
      According to an aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided a plasma display apparatus comprising: a PDP comprising a substrate through which visible rays displaying an image are transmitted transmit; a plurality of electrode buried walls arranged below the substrate and defining discharge cells; a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes in the electrode buried walls and performing a discharge in the discharge cells; a sealing member arranged below the electrode buried walls, sealing a discharge gas together with the substrate, and formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate; and phosphor layers arranged in the discharge cells; and a chassis on a surface of the sealing member opposite to a surface of a sealing member on which the electrode buried walls are disposed and supporting the PDP.  
      In another embodiment, the plasma display apparatus comprises a combination member combining a sealing member and a chassis which is interposed between the sealing member and the chassis.  
      Another embodiment relates to a plasma display apparatus comprising a PDP comprising a substrate through which visible rays displaying an image are transmitted transmit; a plurality of electrode buried walls arranged below the substrate and defining discharge cells; a plurality of pairs of discharge electrodes in the electrode buried walls and performing a discharge in the discharge cells; a sealing member arranged below the electrode buried walls, sealing a discharge gas together with the substrate, and formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate; phosphor layers arranged in the discharge cells; and a chassis on a surface of the sealing member opposite to a surface of a sealing member on which the electrode buried walls are disposed and supporting the PDP.  
      In another embodiment, the plasma display apparatus comprises a thermal conductive sheet interposed between the sealing member and the chassis in a region where the combination member is not arranged. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      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:  
       FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional plasma display panel (PDP);  
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of a PDP according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the PDP of  FIG. 2  taken along a line III-III in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  schematically illustrates discharge cells and first and second discharge electrodes illustrated in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing the PDP illustrated in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a 3D electrode type PDP according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  schematically illustrates discharge cells, first and second discharge electrodes, and address electrodes illustrated in  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 8  is a partially exploded perspective view of a PDP according to another embodiment;  
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the PDP of  FIG. 8  taken along a line IX-IX in  FIG. 8  according to an embodiment; and  
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a plasma display apparatus according to an embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown.  
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of a PDP  200  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the PDP of  FIG. 2  taken along a line III-III in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 4  schematically illustrates discharge cells  230  and first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  illustrated in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the PDP  200  comprises a transparent substrate  210 , a sealing member  220 , electrode buried walls  214 , pairs of discharge electrodes  260  and  270 , and phosphor layers  225 .  
      Visible light for displaying an image is transmitted through the transparent substrate  210 . Therefore, the transparent substrate  210  is formed of a high transparent material such as glass. The transparent substrate  210  can be colored in order to increase a bright room contrast by reducing a reflective brightness.  
      The sealing member  220  is spaced apart from the transparent substrate  210 . A discharge gas is sealed between the sealing member  220  and the transparent substrate  210 .  
      The electrode buried walls  214  are interposed between the transparent substrate  210  and the sealing member  220 , define discharge cells  230 , and prevent electrical and optical crosstalk between adjacent discharge cells  230 . When a pulse voltage is applied to electrodes formed in the electrode buried walls  214 , the electrode buried walls  214  induce charged particles and wall charges participating in a discharge, thereby operating the PDP  200  via a memory effect and preventing the PDP  200  from being damaged due to collisions of accelerating charged particles when the electrodes perform the discharge.  
      The electrode buried walls  214  can be formed of a glass material containing for example, an element such as Pb, B, Si, Al, O and mixtures thereof, and of a dielectric substance containing a filler such as, for example, ZrO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  and mixtures thereof, and a pigment such as, for example, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, TiO 2  and mixtures thereof.  
      In the current embodiment, the electrode buried walls  214  define the discharge cells  230  to have a circular cross-section. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, the electrode buried walls  214  can define the discharge cells  230  having a variety of patterns. For example, the cross-sections of the discharge cells  230  can be polygonal such as hexagonal, octagonal, or oval, etc. Also, the electrode buried walls  214  can define the discharge cells  230  to have the shape of a delta or a waffle.  
      The pairs of discharge electrodes  260  and  270  are formed in the electrode buried walls  214  between each of the discharge cells  230 . The pairs of discharge electrodes  260  and  270  can include first discharge electrodes  260  and second discharge electrodes  270  and perform the discharge.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the first discharge electrodes  260  includes a first loop  260   a  surrounding each of the discharge cells  230  and a first loop connector  260   b  connecting the first loop  260   a . Also, each of the second discharge electrodes  270  includes a second loop  270   a  surrounding each of the discharge cells  230  and a second loop connector  270   b  connecting the second loop  270   a.    
      The first and second loops  260   a  and  270   a  are in the shape of a circular ring. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto. The first and second loops  260   a  and  270   a  may have a variety of shapes such as a tetragon and may have the same shape as the cross-sections of the discharge cells  230 .  
      The PDP  200  of the current embodiment can have a 2D structure. That is, either of the first discharge electrodes  260  or the second discharge electrodes  270  may serve as scan and sustain electrodes, and the others may serve as address and sustain electrodes.  
      In this case, the first loops  260   a  of the first discharge electrodes  260  extend in a first direction (a Y direction). The second discharge electrodes  270  surround the discharge cells  230  formed in a second direction (an X direction) crossing the first direction (the Y direction). The first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  can be spaced apart from each other vertically (a Z direction) in the electrode buried walls  214 , and perpendicular to the transparent substrate  210 . According to an embodiment, the second discharge electrodes  270  are formed closer to the transparent substrate  210  than the first discharge electrodes  260 . However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto.  
      While the PDP  200  can have a 2D electrode (the first discharge electrode  260  and the second discharge electrode  270 ) structure according to the present embodiments, the present embodiments are not limited thereto and may also have a 3D electrode structure. This will be described in detail later.  
      Since the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  are not formed to directly reduce a transmittance ratio of the visible light, they can be formed of a conductive metal such as Al, Cu, etc. Therefore, a voltage drop is small, thereby delivering a stable signal.  
      The transparent substrate  210  does not include the pairs of sustain electrodes  106  and  107 , the front dielectric layer  109 , and the protective layer  111 , formed in the front substrate  101  of the conventional PDP  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  so that a forward transmittance ratio of the visible light can be increased. Therefore, when the PDP  200  displays an image having a conventional brightness, it can operate the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  at a relatively low voltage.  
      The first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  are buried in the electrode buried walls  214 . Therefore, the electrode buried walls  214  may be formed of a dielectric substance to prevent the adjacent first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  from directly conducting between them and from being damaged due to collisions between electrons and the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  so as to induce charges and accumulate wall charges.  
      The sealing member  220  has a better thermal conductivity than the transparent substrate  210 . That is, the transparent substrate  210  is formed of a glass material such as SiO 2 , PbO, Bi 2 O 3 , etc. Therefore, the sealing member  220  is formed of a higher thermal conductivity than the glass material such as SiO 2 , PbO, Bi 2 O 3 , etc.  
      By doing so, heat generated by the pairs of discharge electrodes  260  and  270  dissipates via the electrode buried walls  214  and the sealing member  220  which has a higher thermal conductivity than the rear substrate  115  of the conventional PDP  100  formed of the same material as the transparent substrate  210 , thereby decreasing the temperature of the discharge cells  230 , so that the image sticking produced due to the high temperature of the discharge cells  230  does not occur or is reduced.  
      According to an embodiment, the sealing member  220  may be formed of a dielectric substance having at least one of a group consisting of aluminous materials, Si 3 N 4 , and BeO because Si 3 N 4 , and BeO have a higher thermal conductivity than the glass materials as indicated in Table  1 . The aluminous materials include Al-containing materials such as Al 2 O 3 , AlN, etc.  
                           TABLE 1                                   Thermal Conductivity   Manufacturing           (W/mK)   Temperature (° C.)                                                Al 2 O 3     25   1500       Si 3 N 4     33   1500       AiN   230   1900       BeO   290   2000       Borosilicate glass   2   800       Glass-ceramic   5   950                  
 
      According to an embodiment, the sealing member  220  may be formed of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % of at least one of the group consisting of aluminous materials, Si 3 N 4 , and BeO.  
      Otherwise, the sealing member  220  can be formed of a dielectric substance containing an eGRAF® (GrafTech International Ltd., Parma, Ohio) material.  
      The sealing member  220  may have the same thermal conductivity as the electrode buried walls  214 , or a higher thermal conductivity than the electrode buried walls  214 . The electrode buried walls  214  can be formed of a glass material containing an element such as, for example, Pb, B, Si, Al, O and mixtures thereof, and a dielectric substance containing a filler such as, for example, ZrO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3  and mixtures thereof, and a pigment such as, for example, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, TiO 2  and mixtures thereof. The sealing member  220  may be formed of a material having the same thermal conductivity as the materials or a higher thermal conductivity than the materials.  
      The sealing member  220  can be formed of a material having the same thermal conductivity as the electrode buried walls  214 , so that the sealing member  220  and the electrode buried walls  214  can be integrally formed with each other in a body, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process.  
      Meanwhile, the protective layers  215  can be formed on the sealing member  220  and the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls  214  that are exposed to the discharge cells  230 . The protective layers  215  that are formed via a sputtering of plasma particles prevent the electrode buried walls  214  and the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  from being damaged, and emit secondary electrons and reduce a discharge voltage. The protective layers  215  formed to have a specific thickness of magnesium oxide (MgO) are formed in portions of the side surfaces of the electrode buried walls  214 .  
      First grooves  210   a  having a specific depth are formed on the transparent substrate  210  facing each of the discharge cells  230 . The first grooves  210   a  are irregularly formed in each of the discharge cells  230 . The phosphor layers  225  are arranged in the first grooves  210   a . However, the arrangement of the phosphor layers  225  of the present embodiments is not limited thereto. For example, the phosphor layers  225  can be arranged on the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls  214  in which the protective layers  215  are not formed.  
      The phosphor layers  225  have a component generating visible rays with ultraviolet rays. That is, a phosphor layer formed in a red light emitting a discharge cell has a phosphor such as Y(V,P)O 4 :Eu, a phosphor layer formed in a green light emitting a discharge cell has a phosphor such as Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn, YBO 3 :Tb, and a phosphor layer formed in a blue light emitting discharge cell has a phosphor such as BAM:Eu.  
      A discharge gas such as, for example, Ne, Xe, or a mixture thereof is filled into the discharge cells  230 . In the current embodiment, a discharge area is increased and a discharge region is expanded due to the first grooves  210 , which increases the amount of plasma, and thereby the PDP  200  can be operated at a low voltage. Therefore, although a gas Xe having a high density can be used as the discharge gas, the PDP  200  can be operated at a low voltage, thereby considerably increasing luminous efficiency.  
      A method of manufacturing the PDP  200  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram for illustrating a method of manufacturing the PDP  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a substantially flat transparent substrate  210  is formed using etching or sand blasting and first grooves  210   a  are formed in the transparent substrate  210 . Phosphor layer pastes are coated in the first grooves  210   a  and dried and baked to form the phosphor layers  225 .  
      Sheets for a sealing member  220  and electrode buried walls  214  are formed simultaneously with the above process. The sheets for the electrode buried walls  214  include the electrode buried walls  214 , the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270 , and a protective layer  215 .  
      A second dielectric sheet L 2  is formed and stacked on the sheet L 1  for the sealing member  220  to form the electrode buried walls  214 . A third dielectric sheet L 3  in which the first discharge electrodes  260  are patterned is formed on the second dielectric sheet L 2 . A fourth dielectric sheet L 4  is formed on the third dielectric sheet L 3 . A fifth dielectric sheet L 5  in which the second discharge electrodes  270  are patterned is formed on the fourth dielectric sheet L 4 . The sixth dielectric sheet L 6  is formed on the fifth dielectric sheet L 5 . After the second through sixth dielectric sheets L 2 ˜L 6  are formed on the first dielectric sheet L 1 , the discharge cells  230  for discharge spaces are formed by punching or drilling process. The first through sixth dielectric sheets L 1 ˜L 6  are arranged to form the electrode buried walls  214  and the sealing member  220  via a drying and baking process.  
      MgO is sputtered to form the protective layers  215 . Each of the second through sixth dielectric sheets L 2 ˜L 6  is a single sheet. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto. Each of the second through sixth dielectric sheets L 2 ˜L 6  can be formed of plurality sheets.  
      The transparent substrate  210  and the sealing member  220  are aligned to perform a sealing process using a frit, etc. An exhaust gas and a discharge gas are continuously injected to fabricate the PDP  200 . Thereafter, a variety of post-processes such as aging can be performed.  
      The electrode buried walls  214  and the sealing member  220  of the PDP  200  can be integrally formed with each other in a body, and a similar process can be separately performed, thereby easily manufacturing the PDP  200 .  
      A method of operating the PDP  200  will now be described.  
      An address discharge is performed between the first discharge electrodes  260  and the second discharge electrodes  270  to select one of the discharge cells  230  in which a sustain discharge is performed. A sustain voltage is applied to the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  of the selected discharge cell  230  so that the sustain discharge is performed between the first discharge electrodes  260  and the second discharge electrodes  270 . Thus, an energy level of an excited discharge gas is reduced and ultraviolet rays are emitted. The ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor layers  225  so that an energy level of the excited phosphor layers  225  is reduced to emit visible light. The emitted visible light forms an image.  
      In the conventional PDP  100 , a sustain discharge is perpendicularly performed between the sustain electrodes  106  and  107 , thereby relatively reducing a discharge area. However, the sustain discharge of the PDP  200  is performed with respect to all regions of the discharge cells  230 , thereby relatively increasing the discharge area.  
      The sustain discharge of the PDP  200  forms a closed curve according to the sidewalls of the discharge cells  230  and extends to the center of the discharge cells  230 . Therefore, the area where the sustain discharge is performed is increased and space charges inside the discharge cells  230  which are not used in the conventional PDP  100  assist in emitting light, thereby increasing the luminous efficiency of the PDP  200 . In particular, since the discharge cells  230  of the current embodiment have circular cross-sections, the sustain discharge is uniformly performed with respect to all regions of the discharge cells  230 .  
      Since the sustain discharge is performed in the center of the discharge cells  230 , ion-sputtering of a phosphor substance due to charged particles, which is a problem of the conventional PDP  100 , is prevented, so that a permanent image sticking is not formed although an image is displayed for a long time.  
      High heat generated by applying a voltage to the first and second discharge electrodes  260  and  270  during the sustain discharge can be dissipated via the electrode buried walls  214  and the sealing member  220 , thereby reducing panel temperature and reducing the afterimage.  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a 3D electrode type PDP according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  schematically illustrates discharge cells, first and second discharge electrodes, and address electrodes illustrated in  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. The 3D electrode type PDP includes first discharge electrodes  360 , second discharge electrodes  370 , and address electrodes  350  in electrode buried walls  214 .  
      More specifically, the first discharge electrodes  360  and the second discharge electrodes  370  perform a discharge in the discharge cells  330  and extend in a predetermined direction. Each of the first discharge electrodes  360  includes a first loop  360   a  surrounding each of the discharge cells  330  arranged in a first direction (X direction) and a first loop connector  360   b  connecting the first loop  360   a . Also, each of the second discharge electrodes  370  includes a second loop  370   a  surrounding each of the discharge cells  330  and a second loop connector  370   b  connecting the second loop  370   a.    
      The address electrodes  350  extend to cross the first and second discharge electrodes  360  and  370 . The address electrodes  350  are spaced apart vertically from (z direction) from the first and second discharge electrodes  360  and  370  in the electrode buried walls  214 , and substantially perpendicular to the transparent substrate  210  . Each of the address electrodes  350  includes a third loop  350   a  surrounding each of the discharge cells  330  and a third loop connector  350   b  connecting the third loop  350   a.    
      The second discharge electrodes  370 , the address electrodes  350 , and the first discharge electrodes  360  are sequentially arranged in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transparent substrate  210  in order to reduce an address discharge voltage. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto. The address electrodes  350  can be arranged closest to or farthest from the transparent substrate  210 , or formed on the sealing member  220 .  
      The address electrodes  350  perform an address discharge in order to facilitate a sustain discharge between the first and second discharge electrodes  360  and  370  and more particularly, to reduce a voltage used to start the sustain discharge. The address discharge is performed between a scan electrode and an address electrode. When the address discharge ends, positive ions are accumulated on the scan electrode, and electrons are accumulated on a common electrode, thereby facilitating the sustain discharge between the scan electrode and the common electrode. In the current embodiment, the first discharge electrodes  360  serve as the scan electrode, and the second discharge electrodes  370  serve as the command electrode. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto.  
       FIG. 8  is a partially exploded perspective view of a PDP  400  according to another embodiment.  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the PDP of  FIG. 8  taken along a line IX-IX in  FIG. 8  according to an embodiment.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the PDP  400  comprises a transparent substrate  410 , a sealing member  420 , electrode buried walls  414 , first discharge electrodes  460 , second discharge electrodes  470 , a dielectric layer  424 , address electrodes  480 , and phosphor layers  425 . The PDP  400  further comprises a protective layer  415 .  
      The PDP  400  of the current embodiment is different from the PDP  200  of the previous embodiment in that the dielectric layer  424  is interposed between the sealing member  420  and the electrode buried walls  414 , and the address electrodes  480  are buried in the dielectric layer  424 .  
      The first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  of the PDP  400  can have the same surface discharge structure as that of the PDP  200 , or can have an opposing discharge structure. Therefore, an opposing discharge type PDP  400  and the dielectric layer  424  will now be described.  
      The transparent substrate  410  is formed of a high transparent material such as glass. The transparent substrate  410  can be colored in order to increase a bright room contrast by reducing a reflective brightness.  
      The electrode buried walls  414  are formed on the transparent substrate  410  to define discharge cells  430 , and prevent electrical and optical crosstalk between adjacent discharge cells  430 . In the current embodiment, the discharge cells  430  are formed to have tetragonal cross-sections. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto.  
      The sealing member  420  is arranged in the below the electrode buried wall  414  to seal the discharge cells  430 . The dielectric layer  424  is interposed between the electrode buried walls  414  and the sealing member  420 . The dielectric layer  424  may contact the lower surface of the electrode buried walls  414 . The dielectric layer  424  can be formed of various materials and may be formed of a dielectric substance. The dielectric layer  424  may be formed of the same material as that of the electrode buried walls  414 .  
      The sealing member  420  has a higher thermal conductivity than the transparent substrate  410 . The sealing member  420  may be formed of a dielectric substance having at least one of a group consisting of aluminous materials, Si 3 N 4 , and BeO. In this case, the sealing member  420  may be formed of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % of at least one of the group consisting of aluminous materials, Si 3 N 4 , and BeO. Otherwise, the sealing member  420  can be formed of a dielectric substance containing an eGRAF® material. The sealing member  420  is the same as the sealing member  220 , and therefore a detailed description thereof is omitted.  
      The sealing member  420  may have the same thermal conductivity as the electrode buried walls  414 , or a higher thermal conductivity than the electrode buried walls  414 , so that heat generated from the pairs of discharge electrodes  460  and  470  and the address electrodes  480  can be easily dissipated via the dielectric layer  424  and the sealing member  420 .  
      The first discharge electrodes  460  and the second discharge electrodes  470  are formed inside the electrode buried walls  414 . The first discharge electrodes  460  and the second discharge electrodes  470  extend in a first direction (the Y direction in  FIG. 8 ), and face each other toward the center thereof of the discharge cells  430 . The first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  have the opposing discharge structure, so that a discharge can be uniformly performed in the discharge cells  430 .  
      The address electrodes  480  extend in a second direction (the X direction in  FIG. 8 ) cross the first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470 . In the current embodiment, the address electrodes  480  are arranged inside the dielectric layer  424  formed of a dielectric substance, thereby preventing discharge damage. The first discharge electrodes  460  serve as scan electrodes, and the second discharge electrodes  470  serve as common electrodes. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto.  
      The first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  are buried in the electrode buried walls  414 . Therefore, the electrode buried walls  414  may be formed of a dielectric substance to prevent the adjacent first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  from directly conducting and from being damaged due to collisions between electrons and the first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  so as to induce charges and accumulate wall charges.  
      The protective layers  415  can be formed on the dielectric layer  424  that is exposed to the sidewalls of the electrode buried walls  414  and the discharge cells  430 . The protective layers  415  can be formed of MgO on portions of the surfaces of the electrode buried walls  414  corresponding to the discharge cells  430  and on portions of the surfaces of the dielectric layers  424  corresponding to the discharge cells. The protective layers  415  are formed to have a specific thickness and of MgO.  
      First grooves  410   a  having a specific depth are formed in portions of a bottom surface of the transparent substrate  410  facing each of the discharge cells  430 . The first grooves  410   a  are irregularly formed in each of the discharge cells  430 . The phosphor layers  425  are arranged in the first grooves  410   a . The phosphor layers  425  were described in detail in the previous embodiment and thus a description thereof will be omitted.  
      A discharge gas such as, for example, Ne, Xe, or a mixture thereof is filled into the discharge cells  430 .  
      The method of manufacturing the PDP  400  is similar to the method of manufacturing the PDP  200  and thus a description thereof will be omitted.  
      A method of operating the PDP  400  will now be described.  
      An address discharge is performed between the first discharge electrodes  460  and the address electrodes  480  to select one of the discharge cells  430  in which a sustain discharge is performed. A sustain voltage is applied to the first and second discharge electrodes  460  and  470  of the selected discharge cell  430  so that the sustain discharge is performed between the first discharge electrodes  460  and the second discharge electrodes  470 . Thus, an energy level of an excited discharge gas is reduced and emits ultraviolet rays are emitted. The ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor layers  425  so that an energy level of the excited phosphor layers  425  is reduced to emit visible light. The emitted visible light forms an image.  
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a plasma display apparatus  1000  according to another embodiment. The plasma display apparatus  1000  includes a chassis  500  formed on the bottom surface of a sealing member  220 , similar to the sealing members  220  and  420  of the PDPs  200  and  400 , respectively.  
      For descriptive convenience, the plasma display apparatus  1000  will now be described with reference to the PDP  200  and the chassis  500 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , the chassis  500  dissipates heat generated in the PDP  200  and supports the PDP  200 . Driving portions (not shown) for operating the PDP  200  can be arranged at one side of the chassis  500 .  
      Unlike conventional plasma display apparatuses, the plasma display apparatus  1000  does not need a rear substrate, so that the weight and manufacturing cost of the plasma display apparatus  1000  can be reduced. Also, it is easy to manufacture the plasma display apparatus  1000 .  
      In the current embodiment, the PDP  200  and the chassis  500  do not contact each other. However, the present embodiments are not limited thereto. In detail, a thermal conductive sheet can be interposed between the sealing member  220  and the chassis  500  in order to dissipate the heat generated from the PDP  200  or transfer the heat to the chassis  500 . Also, a adherence member such as double-sided tape can be interposed between the chassis  500  and the sealing member  220  in order to increase the mechanical fixing force between the PDP  200  and the chassis  500 .  
      The effect of the present embodiments having the above design will now be described.  
      Electrodes that are conventionally arranged in a light path along which visible light passes are formed inside electrode buried walls, thereby reducing the number of constituents formed in a front substrate, considerably improving a transmittance rate of the visible light and increasing the brightness, and increasing a bright room contrast by preventing the external light from being reflected outwards.  
      Electrodes are formed of a material other than ITO, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of the electrodes, and easily increasing an area of a PDP. Also, since ITO does not need to be used, the manufacturing costs of the PDP can be reduced.  
      A discharge is performed in all discharge cells, the distance between a front discharge electrode and a rear discharge electrode is increased, and an operating voltage is reduced, thereby performing a lot of discharge at a low voltage. Therefore, an integrated circuit chip is operated at a low voltage, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the PDP.  
      Heat generated in pairs of discharge electrodes or address electrodes is externally dissipated, so that the temperature of the discharge cells is reduced, and image sticking does not occur or is reduced.  
      The PDP does not include a rear substrate, thereby reducing the weight and cost of the PDP.  
      Barrier ribs and a sealing member of the PDP can be integrally formed with each other in a body, thereby facilitating a manufacturing process of the PDP.  
      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.