Abstract:
A plasma display panel including: a first substrate; a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first and second electrodes being disposed in parallel on the first substrate; a first dielectric surrounding the first electrodes and the second electrodes and connecting the first electrodes and the second electrodes; a passivation layer on the first dielectric and on the first electrodes and the second electrodes; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a plurality of third electrodes on the second substrate and crossing the first electrodes and the second electrodes; and a second dielectric on the third electrodes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0000366, filed on Jan. 2, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    A plasma display panel (PDP) is a flat panel display device for displaying characters and/or images by allowing a fluorescent material to emit light with plasma generated when gas is discharged. As compared with a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a field emission display (FED), the plasma display panel has higher brightness and higher light emitting efficiency, and therefore the plasma display panel has been in the limelight as a display device capable of replacing a cathode ray tube (CRT). 
         [0006]    A plasma display panel can be classified as a direct current (DC) type plasma display panel or an alternating current (AC) type plasma display panel according to the structure of its pixels arranged in the form of a matrix and its waves of drive voltages. In the DC type plasma display panel, all electrodes are exposed to a discharge space so that charges can be directly moved between the electrodes. In the AC type plasma display panel, one or more electrodes are surrounded by a dielectric so that charges cannot be directly moved between corresponding electrodes. 
         [0007]    Further, a discharge structure of the plasma display panel can be classified into an opposition discharge structure or a surface discharge structure according to the configuration of electrodes for discharging electricity. In the opposition discharge structure, an address discharge for selecting a pixel and a sustain discharge for sustaining the discharge are generated between a scan electrode (the positive pole) and an address electrode (the negative pole). By contrast, in the surface discharge structure, an address discharge for selecting a pixel is generated between an address electrode and a scan electrode, which cross each other, and a sustain discharge for sustaining the discharge is generated between the scan electrode and a sustain electrode. 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of a conventional plasma display panel and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing a pixel of the plasma display panel of  FIG. 1 . The plasma display panel of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is an electrode surface light emission type. 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plurality of sustain electrodes  12   a  and a plurality of scan electrodes  12   b  covered by a dielectric  15  and a passivation layer  16  are formed in parallel on an upper substrate  11 . The sustain electrodes  12   a  and the scan electrodes  12   b  include transparent electrodes  13   a  and  13   b  formed of indium tin oxide (ITO) and metal electrodes  14   a  and  14   b  for increasing conductivity. 
         [0010]    A plurality of address electrodes  22  covered by a dielectric  23  are formed on a lower substrate  21 . Partition walls  24  are formed on the dielectric  23  between the plurality of address electrodes  22  in parallel to the address electrodes  22  and fluorescent (or phosphorous) layers  25  are formed on both side surfaces of the partition walls  24  and on a surface of the dielectric  23 . 
         [0011]    The upper substrate  11  and the lower substrate  21  are adhered to each other so that the sustain electrodes  12   a  and the address electrodes  22 , and the scan electrodes  12   b  and the address electrodes  22  can be perpendicular to each other. A gas for forming plasma is sealed in closed discharge spaces  30  formed by the partition walls  24  to constitute a plurality of pixels. 
         [0012]    As mentioned above, in the conventional plasma display panel, the transparent electrode, the metal electrode, the dielectric, and the passivation layer are formed by forming individual layers on the upper substrate  11  and the lower substrate  21  and patterning these individual layers. Then, the upper substrate  11  and the lower substrate  21  are assembled. Therefore, the processes for manufacturing the plasma display panel are complex and the manufacturing cost is high due to use of many materials. Further, since the dielectric  15  and the passivation layer  16  are formed on the upper substrate  11  in the discharge spaces  30 , the transmission rate of light emitted from the fluorescent layers  25  is reduced, thereby lowering the light emitting efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Aspects of embodiments of the present invention are directed to a plasma display panel that can simplify its manufacturing process and/or improve its discharge efficiency, and a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel. 
         [0014]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a plasma display panel including: a first substrate; a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first and second electrodes being disposed in parallel on the first substrate; a first dielectric surrounding the first electrodes and the second electrodes and connecting the first electrodes and the second electrodes; a passivation layer on the first dielectric and on the first electrodes and the second electrodes; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a plurality of third electrodes on the second substrate and crossing the first electrodes and the second electrodes; and a second dielectric on the third electrodes. 
         [0015]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel. The method includes: forming a first electrode, a second electrode, and a bridge connecting the first electrode and the second electrode by patterning a metal sheet; forming a dielectric by oxidizing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode to a thickness of the first electrode and the second electrode; bonding the first electrode and the second electrode to a substrate; and forming a passivation layer on the dielectric. 
         [0016]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel. The method includes: pattering a metal sheet to form a first electrode, a second electrode, and a bridge connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; oxidizing the first electrode and the second electrode to a thickness of the first electrode and the second electrode to form a dielectric surrounding the first electrode and the second electrode; bonding the first electrode and the second electrode to a substrate; and forming a passivation layer on the dielectric. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of a conventional plasma display panel; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic view of a portion of the conventional plasma display panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective schematic view of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view of a portion of the plasma display panel of  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are plan schematic views of a sustain electrode and a scan electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D are cross-sectional schematic views for illustrating a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C, and  7 D are cross-sectional schematic views for illustrating a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, when one element is described as being connected to another element, one element may be not only directly connected to another element but instead may be indirectly connected to another element via one or more other elements. Also, in the context of the present application, when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the another element or be indirectly on the another element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Further, some of the elements that are not essential to the complete description of the invention have been omitted for clarity. Also, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective schematic view of a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing a pixel of the plasma display panel of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plurality of sustain electrodes  112   a  and a plurality of scan electrodes  112   b  are formed in parallel on an upper (or first) substrate  111 . The sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b  are surrounded by a dielectric  113  and are connected to each other by the dielectric  113 . A passivation layer  114  is formed on the dielectric  113  on the surfaces of the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b.    
         [0028]    A plurality of address electrodes  212  are formed on a lower (or second) substrate  211  so as to cross the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b , and a dielectric  213  is formed on the address electrodes  212 . Partition walls  214  are formed on the dielectric  213  between the address electrodes  212  in parallel to the address electrodes  212  and fluorescent (or phosphorous) layers  215  are formed on both side surfaces of the partition walls  214  and a surface of the dielectric  213 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the upper substrate  111  and the lower substrate  211  are adhered to each other so that the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the address electrodes  212 , and the scan electrodes  112   b  and the address electrodes  212  can be perpendicular to each other, thereby forming discharge spaces  220  with the partition walls  214 . A gas for forming plasma is sealed in the discharge spaces  220  to constitute a plurality of pixels. Inert mixture gases such as He+Xe, Ne+Xe, and He+Xe+Ne can be used as the gas for forming plasma. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are formed of metal sheet(s)  112  such as aluminum sheet(s) of a thickness that may be predetermined and are connected to each other by a bridge  112   c  of the metal sheet(s)  112 . For example, the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  disposed in parallel at an interval and the bridge  112   c  connecting the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  can be formed by patterning the metal sheet(s)  112  through photographing and etching processes as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0031]    The dielectric  113  can be formed to surround the entire surfaces of the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b  or can be formed on remaining surfaces of the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b  except for surfaces opposing the upper substrate  111 . The dielectric  113  can be formed of an oxide including metal atoms of the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b . For example, if the metal sheet  112  patterned as shown in  FIG. 5A  is oxidized to a thickness that may be predetermined, the surfaces of the sustain electrodes  112   a  and the scan electrodes  112   b  are oxidized as shown in  FIG. 5B  and the dielectric  113  including a metal oxide is formed. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5A , if the widths D 1  of the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are larger than the width D 2  of the bridge  112   c  and the oxidation process is performed so as to completely oxidize the bridge  112   c , the dielectric  113  formed of a metal oxide is formed on the surfaces of the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  as shown in  FIG. 5B  and the bridge is completely changed to an oxide. Therefore, although the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are structurally (or physically) connected to each other by the bridge  112   c , the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are electrically insulated (or separated) from each other because the material forming the bridge  112   c  has been completely changed to an oxide. 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plasma display panel as described above can be manufactured by the following method. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  are cross-sectional schematic views for illustrating a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIGS. 5A and 5B  will be referred to again. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 6A , the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  disposed in parallel at an interval, and the bridge  112   c  connecting the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are formed by patterning the metal sheet  112 . In one embodiment, for example, the metal sheet  112  is an aluminum sheet of a thickness that may be predetermined.  FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A 1 -A 2  of  FIG. 5A . The sustain electrode  112   a , the scan electrode  112   b , and the bridge  112   c  take the form of a sheet and are integrally connected to each other. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 5B and 6B , the surfaces of the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are oxidized to a thickness (that may be predetermined) in an oxidation process to form the dielectric  113  including a metal oxide such as Al 2 O 3 . Then, if the oxidation process is performed so as to completely oxidize the bridge  112   c , the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are structurally connected to each other but are electrically separated from each other.  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A 11 -A 12  of  FIG. 5B . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 6C , the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  in the form of a sheet integrally connected by the bridge  112   c  are bonded to the upper substrate  111  using an adhesive  115 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 6D , the passivation layer  114  is formed on the dielectric  113  using magnesium oxide etc. In one embodiment, the passivation layer  114  is formed on the dielectric  113  and on the sustain and scan electrodes  112   a  and  112   b.    
         [0038]    As mentioned above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b , and the bridge connecting the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  are formed by patterning the metal sheet  112 . Further, after the dielectric  113  is formed by oxidizing the surfaces of the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b  connected to each other by the bridge  112   c , it is bonded to the upper substrate  111  using an adhesive. In this case, since the dielectric  113  surrounds all the surfaces of the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b , the dielectric  113  is interposed between the upper substrate  111  and the sustain electrode  112   a  and the scan electrode  112   b.    
         [0039]      FIGS. 7A to 7D  are cross-sectional views for illustrating a plasma display panel formed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , a sustain electrode  312   a  and a scan electrode  312   b  disposed in parallel at an interval, and a bridge  312   c  connecting the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  are formed by patterning a metal sheet  312 . In one embodiment, the metal sheet  312  is an aluminum sheet of a thickness that may be predetermined. The sustain electrode  312   a , the scan electrode  312   b , and the bridge  312   c  take the form of a sheet and are integrally connected to each other. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  in the form of a sheet integrally connected by the bridge  312   c  are bonded to an upper substrate  311  using an adhesive  315 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 7C , the surfaces of the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  are oxidized to a thickness that may be predetermined in an oxidation process that may be predetermined to form a dielectric  313  including a metal oxide such as Al 2 O 3 . Then, if the oxidation process is performed so as to completely oxidize the bridge  312   c , the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  are structurally connected to each other but are electrically separated from each other. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 7D , the passivation layer  314  is formed on the dielectric  313  using magnesium oxide (MgO), etc. In one embodiment, the passivation layer  314  is formed on the dielectric  313  and on the sustain and scan electrodes  312   a  and  312   b.    
         [0044]    As mentioned above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, after the sustain electrode  312   a , the scan electrode  312   b  and the bridge  312   c  connecting the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  are formed by patterning the metal sheet  312 , the electrodes are then bonded to the upper substrate  311  using an adhesive. Further, the dielectric  313  including a metal oxide is formed on the surfaces of the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b  by performing the oxidation process so that the bridge  312   c  can be completely oxidized. In this case, since the dielectric  313  is formed only on the remaining surfaces of the sustain and scan electrodes  312   a  and  312   b  except for surfaces opposing the upper substrate  311 , the dielectric is not interposed between the upper substrate  311  and the sustain electrode  312   a  and the scan electrode  312   b.    
         [0045]    In a plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image of a desired gradation is displayed by dividing a unit frame into a plurality of sub-fields and sequentially performing an initialization process, an address process, and a sustain and discharge process in the sub-fields. In the initialization process, the address process, and the sustain and discharge process, drive signals having voltage waves (or predetermined voltage waves) are applied to the sustain electrode, the scan electrode, and the address electrode. 
         [0046]    As mentioned above, an embodiment of the present invention forms a scan electrode and a sustain electrode connected by a bridge using a metal sheet, in which a dielectric of a metal oxide is formed on the surfaces thereof. Here, the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in the form of a sheet are bonded to an upper substrate. 
         [0047]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the number of processes for manufacturing the scan electrode, the sustain electrode, and/or the dielectric is reduced, and the scan electrode and the sustain electrode can be easily assembled; the manufacturing cost can be effectively reduced. Further, in one embodiment, the discharge voltage Vs can be reduced by increasing the opposing surfaces of the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. In addition, the light emitting area can be sufficiently increased (or secured) by increasing the distance between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode. Furthermore, the transmission rate of light is increased by further exposing a substrate of the discharge space, thereby improving discharge efficiency. 
         [0048]    While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.