Patent ID: 7129912

Claim:
A display device which, according to pixel data for each pixel based on an input image signal, displays an image corresponding to the input image signal, comprising: a display panel, having a front substrate and rear substrate positioned in opposition such that a discharge space is formed between the front substrate and rear substrate, a plurality of row electrode pairs provided on an inner surface of the front substrate such that each row electrode pair defines a display line, and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on an inner surface of the rear substrate such that the plurality of column electrode intersect the plurality of row electrode pairs and such that a unit light emission area including a first discharge cell and a second discharge cell is formed at each intersecting portion of the plurality of row electrode pairs and the plurality of column electrodes, the second discharge cell having a light-absorbing layer and a secondary electron emission material layer such that the secondary electron emission material layer is formed on or near the rear substrate within each of the second discharge cells; addressing means for applying scan pulses sequentially to one of the row electrodes in each of the row electrode pairs and applying a pixel data pulse derived from the pixel data to each of the column electrodes, for one display line at a time, with the same timing as the scan pulse, to selectively induce address discharge in the second discharge cells, thereby setting the first discharge cells into either a lit state or into an extinguished state; sustain means for repeatedly applying a sustain pulse to each of the row electrode pairs to induce sustain discharge only in those of the first discharge cells which are in the lit state; and reset means for applying a positive-polarity reset pulse to at least one of two row electrodes in each said row electrode pair, prior to the address discharge caused by the addressing means, to induce reset discharge across the column electrode and the row electrode pair in each second discharge cell.