Patent Abstract:
A plasma display panel includes a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate coupled to each other by a sealing material coated at edges of the front and rear glass substrates, first and second electrodes disposed perpendicular to each other on opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates facing each other, a dielectric layer formed on each of the opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates to cover the first and second electrodes, partitions formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer of the rear glass substrate, red, green and blue fluorescent substances coated between the partitions, and a non-light emitting zone filling portion formed by filling a non-light emitting zone existing between the outermost one of the partitions and the sealing material with a material used for one of the partitions.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of and claims, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/449,029, filed Jun. 2, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,142, which is expressly incorporated fully herein by reference and which is a continuation of and claims, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/840,290, filed Apr. 24, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,731, which is expressly incorporated fully herein by reference, and which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 00-62873 and 00-21645, filed respectively on Oct. 25, 2000 and Apr. 24, 2000, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of manufacturing partitions thereof, and more particularly, to a plasma display panel in which neon light emission due to mis-discharge in a non-light emitting zone is fundamentally removed, and to a method of manufacturing partitions thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A typical plasma display device for displaying an image by using a gas discharge phenomenon is widely noted for its superior display capabilities (display capacity, brightness, contrast, afterimage, and a viewing angle) so as to replace a cathode ray tube (“CRT”). In the plasma display device, discharge is generated between electrodes in a gas by direct current or alternating current applied to the electrodes. Then, a fluorescent substance is excited by an ultraviolet ray radiated as the discharge is generated, and a light is emitted. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a panel of a typical alternating current type plasma display device. Referring to the drawing, a first electrode  13   a,  which is a transparent display electrode, and a second electrode  13   b,  which is an address electrode, are formed between a front glass substrate  11  and a rear glass substrate  12 . The first electrode  13   a  includes an X electrode and a Y electrode. A sustaining discharge is generated between a pair of the first electrodes  13   a  during operation of the panel. The first and second electrodes  13   a  and  13   b  are formed in strips, facing to each other, on the inner surfaces of the front glass substrate  11  and the rear glass substrate  12 , respectively. When the front and rear glass substrates  11  and  12  are coupled to each other, the first and second electrodes  13   a  and  13   b  cross each other. A dielectric layer  14  and a protective layer  15  are stacked in order on the inner surface of the front glass substrate  11 . Partitions  17  are formed on the upper surface of a dielectric layer  14 ′ formed on the rear glass substrate  12 . A cell  19  is formed by the partitions  17  and is filled with an inert gas such as neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe). A fluorescent substance  18  is coated on a predetermined portion of the inside of each cell  19 . A bus electrode  13   c  is formed on the surface of the first electrode  13   a  to prevent line resistance, which increases as the length of the first electrode  13   a  increases. 
     In the operation of the plasma display device having the above structure, first, a high voltage (a trigger voltage) is applied to generate a discharge between the X electrode of the first electrode  13   a  and the second electrode  13   b.  When anions are accumulated in the dielectric layer  14  by the trigger voltage, the discharge is generated. When the trigger voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, the discharge gas in the cell  19  becomes a plasma state by the discharge. Thus, a stable discharge state can be maintained between pairs of the first electrodes  13   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). In this sustaining discharge state, of the discharge lights generated, light in a range of an ultraviolet area collides with the fluorescent substance  18  and emits another light. Accordingly, each pixel formed by a unit of the cell  19  can display an image. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing the assembled plasma display panel of  FIG. 1  by cutting the partitions in a widthwise direction. The same reference numerals are used for the same elements shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Referring to the drawing, the front glass substrate  11  and the rear glass substrate  12  are coupled to each other with the partitions  17  interposed therebetween. Such coupling is made by a sealing material having similar properties to those of a substrate material such as a frit glass  22  coated between the front and rear glass substrates  11  and  12 . The frit glass  22  is coated on the inner surfaces of the front and rear substrates  11  and  12  along the edge thereof. The frit glass  22  is heated and melted in a state in which the front and rear substrates  11  and  12  are pressed against each other, and then is solidified so that the substrates  11  and  12  can be combined by being attached to each other. 
     An outermost partition  23  is positioned at the edge of the substrates  11  and  12  and defines a non-light emitting zone  21  with the frit glass  22 . That is, the non-light emitting zone  21  is defined between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass  22 . Since the second electrode  13   b  is not formed in the non-light emitting zone  21 , and since the fluorescent substance  18  is not coated thereon, theoretically, no discharge is generated. The non-light emitting zone  21  is also called a dummy and margin zone, and is formed at the outskirts of a display where an image is displayed. Within the dummy and margin zone  21 , the dummy zone prevents an edge effect that may occur in discharge cells  19  at the outermost area of the display, and the margin zone compensates for a limit in accuracy of the manufacturing processes. The dummy and margin zone  21  is designed considering a property of each of the layers of a plasma display panel. However, since the non-light emission zone  21  is actually filled with the discharge gas filled in the discharge cell  19 , when the sustaining discharge is generated between a pair of first electrodes  13   a,  discharge is generated in the non-light emitting zone  21 . Such a mis-discharge phenomenon causes light emission by the discharge gas itself. In particular, a light emission phenomenon of an orange color occurs. Thus, the overall color purity of a display is lowered due to the presence of the non-light emitting zone  21 . 
     To prevent such a phenomenon, a dummy electrode is used in the conventional technology. For example, a plurality of dummy electrodes is formed parallel to an address electrode at a portion corresponding to the outermost portion of a display area. The dummy electrodes are electrically connected to one another to be connected in common with an external connection terminal. Also, a dummy electrode is formed parallel to an address electrode at a portion corresponding to the outermost portion of a display area. The outermost address electrode and the dummy electrode are electrically connected to each other. Further, a plurality of dummy electrodes is formed parallel to an address electrode at a portion corresponding to the outermost portion of a display area. The outermost address electrode and the dummy electrode are electrically connected to each other. A predetermined voltage is applied to the outermost address electrode during a priming discharge period, an address discharge period, and a sustain discharge period. However, since the above conventional technologies require an additional dummy electrode, the structures thereof become complicated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma display panel which can prevent a mis-discharge phenomenon in a non-light emitting zone. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing partitions of the plasma display panel to prevent a mis-discharge phenomenon in the non-light emitting zone. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     Accordingly, to achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate coupled to each other by a sealing material coated at edges of the front and rear glass substrates, first and second electrodes respectively formed to cross each other on opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates, a dielectric layer formed on each of the opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates to cover the first and second electrodes, respective partitions formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer of the rear glass substrate; red, green and blue fluorescent substances coated between the partitions, and a non-light emitting zone filling portion formed by filling a non-light emitting zone between an outermost partition among the partitions and the sealing material with a material for the partition. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, the outermost partition and the non-light emitting zone filling portion are substantially formed integrally. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the non-light emitting zone filling portion completely fills a space between the sealing material and the outermost partition. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the non-light emitting zone filling portion covers end portions of the first electrodes formed on the front glass substrate. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, a gas exhaust hole is formed at an upper surface of the non-light emitting zone filling portion parallel to a lengthwise direction of the partition. 
     According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, a depth of the gas exhaust hole is within a range of 10 μm through 160 μm. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a plasma display panel comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate coupled to each other by a sealing material coated at the edges of both substrates, first and second electrodes respectively formed to cross each other on opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates, a dielectric layer formed on each of the opposing inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates to cover the first and second electrodes, partitions formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer of the rear glass substrate, red, green and blue fluorescent substances coated between the respective partitions, and a non-light emitting zone filling portion formed by filling a non-light emitting zone between an outermost partition among the partitions and the sealing material to be close to the outermost partition using the material for the partition, thereby forming an empty space between the sealing material and the non-light emitting zone filling portion and covering end portions of the electrodes formed on the front glass substrate. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion is equal to a length of end portions of the first electrodes on the front glass substrate which extend past the outermost partition. 
     According to a yet another aspect of the present invention, the width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion is greater than a length of end portions of the first electrodes on the front glass substrate which extend past the outermost partition. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, the sum (W 3 ) of a width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion and a width of the outermost partition is 1.0 mm, and a length of the end portion of each of the first electrodes on the front glass substrate covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion and the outermost partition is 0.3 mm. 
     According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, the first electrodes on the front glass substrate extend past the non-light emitting zone filing portion under the condition that the width of the empty space is less than 50 μm. 
     According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing partitions of a plasma display panel comprising coating a material for partitions on the upper surface of a dielectric layer on a glass substrate also having electrodes in a predetermined pattern so as to form a cured pattern of dry film resist to shield the partitions and portions corresponding to a non-light emitting zone between an outermost partition and a sealing material by coating a dry film resist on the upper surface of the coated partition material, exposing the dry film resist, and developing the exposed dry film resist, and partially removing the partition material by ejecting abrasion particles at a high speed using the cured pattern as a mask. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional plasma display panel; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the conventional plasma display panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4E  are sectional views showing a method of manufacturing partitions of the plasma display panel of  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing the structure of a rear glass substrate of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 7  are a sectional view of the rear glass substrate and a bottom view of a front glass substrate of the plasma display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a sectional view of a rear glass substrate of a plasma display panel according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a plasma display panel according to still yet another embodiment of the present invention corresponding to a circled portion of  FIG. 7  indicated by reference character A. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross section in a widthwise direction across partitions  17  of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. The same elements as the plasma display panel of  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first electrode  13   a,  a third electrode (not shown), the dielectric layer  14 , and the protective layer  15  are formed in order on the front glass substrate  11 . The second electrode  13   b,  the dielectric layer  14 ′, and the partitions  17  are formed in order on the rear glass substrate  12 . The front and rear glass substrates  11  and  12  are combined with each other by a sealing material such as the frit glass  22 . The frit glass  22  is coated on the inner surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates  11  and  12  along the edge thereof, as described above. The frit glass  22  is heated to a melting point and solidified so that the substrates  11  and  12  can be combined by being attached to each other. 
     A non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  is formed integrally with the outermost partitions  33  in the non-light emitting zone (shown as element  21  in  FIG. 2 ) formed between the outermost partition and the frit glass  22 . The non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  completely fills the space in the non-light emitting zone  21  to prevent the non-light emitting zone  21  from being filled with a discharge gas. That is, as can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  is formed by filling the non-light emitting zone  21  defined between the outermost partition  33  and the frit glass  22  (as indicated by a dotted line) with the same material as used for the partitions  33 , where the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  having the same height as the partitions  33 . 
     The non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  can be understood as one being formed by extending the outermost partition  33  to the inner surface of the frit glass  22 . However, it is understood that the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  could also be separately manufactured and inserted into the non-light emitting zone  21 . 
     In the structure of the plasma display panel of  FIG. 3 , since the space between the outermost partition  33  and the frit glass  22 , which is otherwise filled with a discharge gas, is completely removed. Thus, there is no possibility of a generation of a mis-discharge, and the color purity of the plasma display panel is improved. 
     The mis-discharge is not generated in the non-light emitting zone  21  in the panel having the structure shown in  FIG. 3  both because there is no space to be filled with the discharge gas, and because the end portions of the electrodes  13   a  formed on the front glass substrate  11  are covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31 . That is, the end portions of the X electrode or the Y electrode of the electrodes  13   a  formed on the front glass substrate  11  are typically extended lengthwise to end between the frit glass  22  and the outermost partition  33 . Since the non-light emission zone filling portion  31  covers the end portions of the first electrodes  13   a,  mis-discharge is not generated. This mechanism will be later described in detail with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 4A through 4E  shows a method of manufacturing partitions of the plasma display panel described above according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the rear glass substrate  12  is provided. The rear glass substrate has the second electrode  13   b  (an address electrode) and the dielectric layer  14 ′ are formed on the rear glass substrate  12  using a conventional method. Next, as shown in  FIG. 4B , a partition material  41  is coated on the entire upper surface of the dielectric layer  14 ′.  FIG. 4C  shows that a dry film resist (DFR) is coated on the surface of the partition material  41  to form a DFR layer  42 . The DFR layer  42  is formed on the entire surface of the partition material  41 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4D , the DFR layer  42  is formed to have a predetermined cured pattern  42 ′, and the partition material  41  is removed by a sand blasting method to have a predetermined pattern. The DFR layer  42  is formed to have a predetermined cured pattern  42 ′ as shown in  FIG. 4D  using an exposure and developing processes. That is, the DFR layer  42  is partially cured by the exposure process, and developed so that the cured pattern  42 ′ remains. As shown, in a portion corresponding to the upper portion of the non-light emitting zone  21  shown in  FIG. 2 , the DFR layer  42  remains in a cured pattern  43 ′. 
     The cured patterns  42 ′ and  43 ′ of the DFR layer  42  serve as masks with respect to abrasion particles  47  ejected at a high speed. Thus, a portion of the partition material  41  not shielded by the cured patterns  42 ′ and  43 ′ is removed by the abrasion particles  47  using sand blasting. 
       FIG. 4E  shows the completed partitions  17  and  33 . The cured patterns  42 ′ and  43 ′ are removed after the partitions  17  and  33  are completely formed by the sand blasting method. The outermost partition  33  is located at the outermost position. As shown, substantially, the outermost partition  33  and the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  are integrally formed. Reference numeral  45 ′ denotes a space where the frit glass  22  shown in  FIG. 3  is coated. 
     Although the method of manufacturing partitions of a plasma display panel using a sand blasting method is shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4E , it is obvious that other methods can be adopted to form the non-light emitting zone filling portion  31  using the partition material  41  in the non-light emitting zone  21  shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, when the partitions  17  and  33  are formed by a printing method, the partition material  41  is printed onto the non-light emitting zone  21  of  FIG. 2  so that a plasma display panel of the present invention can be manufactured. In the printing method, the partition material  41  can be printed onto the non-light emitting zone  21  of  FIG. 2  by appropriately changing a screen used in the method. 
       FIG. 5  shows the structure of a rear glass substrate of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the basic structure is similar to the structure described above and the same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a non-light emitting zone filling portion  51  is formed between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′, and a gas exhaust hole  52  is formed at an upper surface of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  51 . Thus, end portions of the X electrode and the Y electrode of the electrode  13   a  formed on the front glass substrate (not shown) are partially covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion  51  having the gas exhaust hole  52 . 
     The gas exhaust hole  52  facilitates the exhaustion of gas from inside the panel. The gas exhaust hole  52  extends in a lengthwise direction parallel to the partitions  17 . The depth and width of the gas exhaust hole  52  may be variously formed so that mis-discharge is not generated. When the gas exhaust hole  52  is formed too deep, the amount of a discharge gas filled therein is large. When the width of the gas exhaust hole  52  is formed too wide, the length of an end portion of an electrode exposed in the gas exhaust hole  52  is extended. Typically, when the height of the partition  17  is 160 μm high, the depth of the gas exhaust hole  52  is preferably within a range of 10 μm through 160 μm. Also, the width of one gas exhaust hole  52  is preferably less than 300 μm. 
       FIGS. 6A and 7  are sectional views of a rear glass substrate and a bottom surface of a front glass substrate of a plasma display panel according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The structure shown in  FIG. 6A  is similar to the structure of the plasma display panel described above. The same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 6A , a non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  is formed in a non-light emitting zone  21  shown in  FIG. 2  formed between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′. The non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  does not fill the entire space of the non-light emitting zone  21 , but partially fills only a portion closest to the outermost partition  23 . An empty space  62  is formed between the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  and the frit glass space  45 ′. The empty space  62  facilitates the exhaustion and injection of gas. Preferably, the interval between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′ is 20 mm, and the width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  is less than 10 mm. That is, about half the non-light emitting zone  21  of  FIG. 2  between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′ is filled with the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 , and the remaining empty space  62  is used for exhaustion of gas. 
     The non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  should be formed such that it can cover each of the end portions of the X electrode  73   a  and the Y electrode  73   b  to be formed on the front glass substrate. That is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the X electrode  73   a  and Y electrode  73   b  are formed in pairs parallel to each other on the front glass substrate  11 . One end portion of each of the electrodes  73   a ,  73   b  is a terminal connected to an external circuit that starts at the edge of the front glass substrate  11 . The other end portion ends at a position corresponding to the space between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′. For example, terminals of X electrodes  73   a  are formed at the left edge of the front glass substrate  11  while terminals of Y electrodes  73   b  are formed at the right edge of the front glass substrate  11 . Also, the other end portion of the X electrode  73   a , which is not a terminal, ends at a position corresponding to the space between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′ at the right side of the substrate, while the other end portion of the Y electrode  73   b , which is not a terminal, ends at a position corresponding to the space between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space 45′ at the left side of the substrate. Thus, even when the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  is formed close to positions  77   a  and  77   b  corresponding to the outermost partitions  23 , and the empty space  62  is left between the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  and the frit glass space  45 ′, the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  consequently covers all the end portions of the electrodes  73   a  and  73   b  disposed between a portion  75  where frit glass (not shown) is coated and the positions  77   a  and  77   b  corresponding to the outermost partitions  23 . The above structure can prevent mis-discharge between the electrodes  73   a  and  73   b  located between the frit glass coating position  75  and the positions  77   a  and  77   b  corresponding to the outermost partitions  23 . 
     While not shown, it is understood that mis-discharge can also be prevented without having the outermost partition  23  and the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  be of the same height. For instance, if the height difference is less than 20 μm, mis-discharge is prevented where the width of the empty space  62  is less than 50 μm. Even if the width of the empty space  62  is not less than 50 μm, the probability of mis-discharge is low. 
     However, when the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  does not cover all end portions of the electrodes  73   a  and  73   b,  mis-discharge between the electrodes  73   a  and  73   b  can be prevented under a predetermined condition. That is, when the end portions, which are not the terminals for external connection of the X or Y electrodes  73   a  and  73   b,  are not completely covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 , and are extended above the empty space  62  past the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 , mis-discharge is not generated if the width of the empty space  62  is less than 50 μm. 
       FIG. 6B  shows a plasma display panel according to still yet another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment may be understood as one combining the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6A . Referring to  FIG. 6B , in a non-light emitting zone  21  of  FIG. 2  formed between the outermost partition  23  and the frit glass space  45 ′, a non-light emitting zone filling portion  63  is formed closer to the outermost partition  23 , so that an empty space  62  is formed between the non-light emitting zone filling portion  63  and the frit glass space  45 ′. A gas exhaust hole  64  is formed at an upper surface of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  63 . The gas exhaust hole  64  extends in a lengthwise direction of the partition, and may be formed in multiple numbers and parallel to one another. The non-light emitting zone filling portion  63  where the gas exhaust hole  64  is formed covers the end portion of the electrode  13   a  (not shown). 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing a plasma display panel according to still yet another embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to a circled portion of  FIG. 7  indicated by reference letter A. The overall structure of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 8  is similar to that of the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 7 , and the same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. End portions of the X and Y electrodes  81  and  82  formed on the front glass substrate  11  are extended to cross a part of the width of a non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′. The non-light emitting zone filling portion  61  of  FIG. 6A  formed at each of the left and right sides of the front glass substrate  11  is indicated by reference numeral  61 ′ in  FIG. 8 , and the outer most partition  23  of  FIG. 6A  is indicated by reference numeral  79 . 
     An area  83  corresponds to a length of an extended end portion of the electrode  81  from the outermost partition  79  into the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′. W 1  denotes a width of the outermost partition  79 , W 2  denotes a length of the electrode  81  extending above the upper surface of the outermost partition  79 , and W 3  denotes the sum of the width W 1  and a width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′. Here, the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′ is an area corresponding to the width of W 3  excluding W 1 . Typically, W 1  is about 0.1 mm and W 3  is about 1.0 mm. The area  83  is about 0.2 mm. Thus, W 2 , which is the length of an end portion of the electrode  81  covered by the outermost partition  79  and the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′ corresponds to about 0.3 mm. That is, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the end portions of the electrodes  73   a  and  73   b  extend throughout the entire width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′ while, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the end portion of the electrode  81  extends over a part of the width of the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′. The length of the extended end portion of the electrodes covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′ and the outermost partition  79  is about 0.3 mm as described above. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , even when the end portions of the electrodes  81  and  82  are extended as the substrate is contracted or expanded, they do not protrude from the non-light emitting zone filling portion  61 ′ into the empty space  62 . 
     As described above, in the plasma display panel according to the present invention, since the end portions of the electrodes are covered by the non-light emitting zone filling portion, mis-discharge caused by mis-alignment of the substrates and an undesired positioning of an end portion of the electrode in a discharge cell as the substrate contracts or expands due to thermal deformation can be prevented. That is, by completely covering the end portion of the electrode with the non-light emitting zone filling portion, if dispersion of process occurs, mis-discharge is prevented since no discharge space is present. 
     In addition, since the non-light emitting zone is filled with a material used for the partition, intrusion of a discharge gas thereto is fundamentally prevented. Thus, lowering of color purity due to mis-discharge can be prevented. 
     It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above, and it is apparent that variations and modifications by those skilled in the art can be effected within the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7