Patent ID: 7439942

Claim:
A plasma display panel driving apparatus for applying a voltage to an electrode of the plasma display panel, comprising: a first voltage switching unit comprising a first diode having an anode coupled with a first voltage source, a first switching element coupled with a cathode of the first diode to apply a first voltage to the electrode, and a second switching element coupled with a ground to apply a ground voltage to the electrode; a second voltage switching unit comprising a third switching element coupled with a second voltage source to apply a second voltage to the electrode, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage; and an energy recovery circuit comprising an inductor coupled between the first switching element and the second switching element, and an over-voltage clamping preventing unit to maintain a connection node, which is coupled with the electrode through the inductor, in a voltage range from the first voltage to the ground voltage, wherein the over-voltage clamping preventing unit comprises a second diode coupled with the connection node, a third diode coupled with the connection node, and a fourth switching element having a first terminal coupled with a cathode of the second diode and a second terminal coupled with the first voltage source, and wherein an anode of the third diode is coupled with the ground.