Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-045166, filed on Feb. 20, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a drive circuit and a method for driving a flat panel display device, and in particular, to these suitable for use in a plasma display device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there are two-electrode type plasma display panels (PDPs) which perform selective discharge (address discharge) and a sustain discharge between two electrodes, and three-electrode type PDPs performing address discharge using the third electrode as plasma display devices such as AC drive type PDPs, which are one of matrix type flat panel display devices. Further, in the three-electrode type, the third electrode can be formed on a substrate on which a first electrode and a second electrode performing the sustain discharge are disposed, or the third electrode can be formed on the other opposing substrate. 
     Since any of the above-described respective type PDP devices have the same operational principle, a configuration example of the PDP device in which the first and second electrodes performing sustain discharge are provided on the first substrate and at the same time, aside from this, the third electrode is provided on the second substrate opposing the first substrate will be explained hereinafter. 
       FIG. 12  is a view showing an entire configuration of the AC drive type PDP device. 
     In  FIG. 12 , the AC drive type PDP device  1  is provided with scanning electrodes Y 1  to Yn parallel to each other and common electrodes X on the first substrate, and at the same time, address electrodes A 1  to Am are provided on the second substrate opposing to the first substrate in the direction perpendicular to these electrodes Y 1  to Yn, and X. The common electrodes X are provided in correspondence with the respective scanning electrodes Y 1  to Yn close to these, and the electrodes are connected to each other at one end in common. 
     A display panel P of the AC drive type PDP device  1  is provided with a plurality of cells disposed in a two-dimensional matrix of m columns and n rows. Each cell Cij is formed by an intersection point of an scanning electrode Yi and an address electrode Aj, and the common electrode X adjacent in correspondence with the intersection point. This cell Cij corresponds to a pixel of a display image, so that the display panel P can display a two-dimensional image. 
     A common end of the common electrodes X is connected to an output end of an X-side circuit  2 , and the respective scanning electrodes Y 1  to Yn are connected to output ends of a Y-side circuit  3 . The address electrodes A 1  to Am are connected to output ends of an address side circuit  4 . The X-side circuit  2  is composed of a circuit to repeat discharging, and the Y-side circuit  3  is composed of a circuit to scan linear sequentially and a circuit to repeat discharge. The address side circuit  4  is composed of a circuit to select rows to be displayed. 
     The X-side circuit  2 , the Y-side circuit  3  and the address side circuit  4  are controlled by control signals supplied from a control circuit  5 . In other words, display operation of the PDP device is performed by determining a cell to be lit with a circuit scanning linear sequentially in the Y-side circuit  3  and the address side circuit  4 , and repeating discharge with the X-side circuit  2  and the Y-side circuit  3 . 
     The control circuit  5  generates the control signals based on display data D, a clock CLK indicating a timing at which the display data D is read, a flat panel synchronizing signal HS, and a vertical synchronizing signal VS which are supplied from outside, and supplies these control signals to the X-side circuit  2 , the Y-side circuit  3 , and the address side circuit  4 . 
       FIG. 13A  is a view showing a cross sectional configuration of a cell Cij in column i, row j, which is a pixel. In  FIG. 13A , the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Yi are formed on a front glass substrate  11 . A dielectric layer  12  to insulate from a discharge space  17  is coated over these electrodes and further over it, an MgO (magnesium oxide) protection film  13  is coated. 
     Meanwhile, the address electrode Aj is formed on a rear glass substrate  14  disposed facing to the front glass substrate  11 . A dielectric layer  15  is coated over it and phosphor  18  is coated further over it. Ne+Xe Penning gas or the like is filled in the discharge space  17  between the MgO protection film  13  and the dielectric layer  15 . 
       FIG. 13B  is a view for explaining a capacity Cp of the AC drive type PDP device. As shown in  FIG. 13B , in respective cells of the AC drive type PDP device, capacity components Ca, Cb and Cc exist in the discharge space  17 , between the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Yi, and the front glass substrate  11  respectively, and the capacity Cpcell per one cell is determined according to the total of these capacity components (Cp cell=Ca+Cb+Cc). The total sum of the capacity of all cells is the panel capacity Cp. 
       FIG. 13C  is a view for explaining luminescence of the AC drive type PDP device. As shown in  FIG. 13C , the phosphor  18  in red, blue and green is put in order and coated inside a rib  16  in a strip-shape so that the phosphor  18  is excited and emits light by discharging between the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Yi. 
     As described above, in the AC drive type PDP device, since discharging (sustain discharge) is performed between the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Yi in a cell to emit light, the X-side circuit  2  and the Y-side circuit  3  (hereinafter referred to as “drive circuit” also) serve as circuits to output a high voltage signal to discharge in the cell. Accordingly, respective elements composing the drive circuit are required a high withstand voltage, which results in a factor to push up the manufacturing cost of the AC drive type PDP device. Therefore, a technology to lower the withstand voltage of the respective elements composing the drive circuit to realize reduction of the manufacturing cost is proposed. For instance, a drive circuit to perform discharge between electrodes by applying positive voltage to one electrode and negative voltage to the other electrode to create potential difference between electrodes to cause discharge is proposed (see Patent Document 1, and Non-Patent Document 1). 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing a configuration of the drive circuit in the AC drive type PDP device disclosed the Patent Document 1. 
     In  FIG. 14 , a capacitive load (hereinafter, referred to as “load”)  20  is the total sum of capacity of each cell formed between a common electrode X and a scanning electrode Y. In the load  20 , the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Y are formed. Here, the scanning electrode Y is an arbitrary scanning electrode among a plurality of scanning electrodes Y 1  to Yn. 
     The Y-side circuit  3  to drive the scanning electrode Y includes a power supply circuit  22  and a drive circuit  21 . 
     The power supply circuit  22  includes a capacitor CY 1 , three switches SWY 1 , SWY 2  and SWY 3 . The switches SWY 1  and SWY 2  are connected in series between a power supply line of a voltage Vs supplied from the power source and a ground (GND), which is a reference potential. One terminal of the capacitor CY 1  is connected to an interconnection point between two switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and the switch SWY 3  is connected between the other terminal of the capacitor CY 1  and the ground. Note that a signal line connected to the one terminal of the capacitor CY 1  is referred to as a first signal line OUTAY, and a signal line connected to the other terminal is referred to as a second signal line OUTBY. 
     The drive circuit  21  includes two switches SWY 4  and SWY 5 . The switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  are connected in series to both ends of the capacitor CY 1  of the power supply circuit  22 . In other words, the switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  are connected in series between the first and second signal lines OUTAY, OUTBY. The interconnection point of two switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  is connected to the scanning electrode Y of the load  20  via an output line OUTCY. 
     The X-side circuit  2  for driving the common electrode X includes a power supply circuit  24  and a drive circuit  23 . The power supply circuit  24  and the drive circuit  23  correspond to the power supply circuit  22  and the drive circuit  21  in the Y-side circuit  3  respectively. Since the configuration thereof is similar to that of the power supply circuit  22  and the drive circuit  21 , respectively, explanation will be restrained. 
     On the Y side of the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 14 , by turning the switches SWY 1 , SWY 3  and SWY 4  on and the switches SWY 2  and SWY 5  off, an electric charge in accordance with the voltage Vs given by the switches SWY  1  and SWY 3  is stored in the capacitor CY 1  and the voltage Vs of the first signal line OUTAY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Further, in a state that the electric charge in accordance with the voltage Vs is stored in the capacitor CY 1 , by turning the switches SWY 2  and SWY 5  on, and switches SWY 1 , SWY 3  and SWY 4  off, a voltage of the second signal line OUTBY becomes (−Vs) and the voltage (−Vs) is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Thus, a positive voltage Vs and a negative voltage (−Vs) are alternately applied to the scanning electrode Y of the load  20 . Similarly, by performing similar switching control to the common electrode X of the load  20 , the positive voltage Vs and the negative voltage (−Vs) are alternately applied. At this time, the voltages (±Vs) applied to the scanning electrode Y and the common electrode X are controlled in such a manner that their phases are in an opposite relation to each other. In other words, when a positive voltage Vs is applied to the scanning electrode Y, a negative voltage (−Vs) is applied to the common electrode X, thereby enabling the creation of a potential difference which makes a discharge between the scanning electrode Y and the common electrode X possible. 
       FIG. 15  is a waveform diagram showing an operation of the AC drive type PDP device shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 15  shows a waveform example of a voltage applied to the common electrode X, the scanning electrode Y and the address electrode for a sub-field among a-plurality of sub-fields constituting one frame. One sub-field is divided into a reset period composed of an entire writing period and entire erasing period, and an address period and a sustain discharge period. 
     In the reset period, first, the voltage applied to the common electrode X is reduced from the ground potential level, reference potential, to (−Vs). On the other hand, the voltage applied to the scanning electrode Y is gradually increased with time, and a final voltage obtained by combining the writing voltage Vw and the voltage Vs is applied to the scanning electrode Y. 
     Thus the potential difference between the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Y becomes (2 Vs+Vw), in spite of being still in a display state as before, discharge is performed in all cells of whole display lines, so that a wall electric charge is formed.(entire writing). 
     Next, after the voltage of the scanning electrode Y is returned to Vs, the voltage to the common electrode X is increased from (−Vs) to Vs, and at the same time an impressed voltage to the scanning electrode Y is reduced to (−Vs). Thereby, a discharge is started because the voltage of the wall electric charge itself exceeds the discharge start voltage over all cells, so that the stored wall electric charge is erased (entire erasing). 
     Next, during the address period, in order to perform ON/OFF of the respective cells according to display data, the address discharge is performed linear sequentially. At this time, the voltage Vs is applied to the common electrode X. When a voltage is applied to the scanning electrode Y corresponding to a certain display line, a scan pulse at (−Vs) level is applied to the scanning electrode Y selected linear sequentially, and the voltage at a ground potential level is applied to a not-selected scanning electrode Y. 
     At this time, an address pulse at a voltage Va is selectively applied to an address electrode Aj corresponding to a cell causing the sustain discharge, that is a cell to be lit, among respective address electrodes Al to Am. As a result, discharge is taken place between the address electrode Aj of the cell to be lit and the scanning electrode Y selected linear sequentially, and a certain amount of the wall electric charge required for next sustain discharge is stored on an MgO protection film surface over the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Y, using the above discharge as a priming (pilot flame). 
     It should be noted that though  FIG. 15  shows an example in which the address period is divided into a first half address period (for instance, sequential scan pulses are applied to the scanning electrodes Y in odd-numbered lines) and the second half address period (for instance, sequential scan pulses are applied to the scanning electrodes Y in even-numbered lines), it is also acceptable to apply the sequential scan pulse to the scanning electrode Y without dividing the address period. 
     Thereafter, during the sustain discharge period, sustain discharge is performed by alternately applying voltages (+Vs and −Vs) different in polarity from each other to the common electrodes X and the scanning electrodes Y of respective display lines by the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 14 , and an image of one sub-field is displayed. Incidentally, an operation of alternately applying voltages different in polarity from each other is called a sustain operation, and a pulse at the voltages (+Vs and −Vs) during the sustain operation is called a sustain pulse. 
     Note that the voltage (Vs+Vx) is applied only when a high voltage is applied first to the scanning electrode Y during the sustain discharge period. This voltage Vx is that to be added for generating a voltage necessary to the sustain discharge by adding to the voltage of the wall electric charge generated during the address period. 
     (Patent Document 1) 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-62844 
     (non-Patent Document 1) 
     “A new Driving Technology for PDPs with Cost Effective Sustain Circuit”, SID 01 DIGEST, pp. 1236 to pp. 1239, in 2001, Kishi et al. 
     Here, in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 14 , only three electric potentials, ie. Vs, ground potential level and (−Vs) can be applied to the load  20 . However, when the AC drive type PDP device  1  shown in  FIG. 12  is operated, the use of a potential larger in potential difference than the potential Vs and (−Vs) is sometimes required for the ground potential level which is a reference potential. 
     For instance, when address discharge is performed during the address period, the larger the potential difference between the voltage (−Vs) of the scan pulse and the voltage Va of the address pulse, the more the voltage margin related to the scan pulse is increased, so that a stable address discharge can be performed. However, since the range capable of increasing the voltage Va of the address pulse is limited, it is required to set the voltage of the scan pulse lower, in order to make the potential difference between the voltage of the scan pulse and that of the address pulse large. 
     As a method of lowering the voltage of the scan pulse, as shown in  FIG. 16 , a drive circuit is conceivable, which is configured to directly apply a voltage (−Vy′) lower than the voltage (−Vs) to the load  20 . Incidentally, in  FIG. 16 , only the Y-side circuit is shown and the same symbols and numerals are attached to the components having the same functions as those of the components shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     In  FIG. 16 , a numeral  25  designates a negative potential supply circuit. The negative potential supply circuit  25  includes a switch SWY 11  connected between a power supply line of the voltage (−Vy′) supplied from the power source and the output line OUTCY. By configuring like this and controlling the switch SWY 11 , it becomes possible to apply the voltage (−Vy′) which is lower than (−Vs) to the load  20 . 
     However, in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 16 , there is a problem in that a negative potential must be supplied to every output end (output line OUTCY) for the load  20 . Furthermore, since a voltage of (Vs+Vy′) is exerted on the switch SWY 4  in the drive circuit  21  and the switch SWY 11  in the negative potential supply circuit  25 , material for the switches SWY 4  and SWY 11  must be high in withstand voltage leading to increased manufacturing costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to apply voltage having a potential difference larger than was previously possible in relation to a reference potential to a capacitive load without making a withstand voltage required for respective components composing the drive circuit high. 
     The drive circuit of the present invention includes:an output line connected to one end of the capacitive load; a first signal line for supplying a first potential higher in potential than the reference potential to the end of the capacitive load; a second signal line for supplying a second potential lower in potential than the reference potential and a third potential lower in potential than the second potential to the end of the capacitive load; a capacitor connected between the first signal line and the second signal line; and a potential supply circuit connected to the first signal line, and for supplying a fourth potential lower than the reference potential to the first signal line. 
     According to the above-described configuration, by supplying the fourth potential lower than the reference potential to the first signal line from the potential supply circuit, it becomes possible to make an electric potential in the second signal line connected to the first signal line via the capacitor to be a third potential lower than the second potential without applying voltage larger than the potential difference between the reference potential and the first and second potential to respective elements in the drive circuit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration example of a drive circuit according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of a drive waveform during an address period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing an example of a drive waveform during a sustain discharge period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing another example of a drive waveform during the sustain discharge period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing a configuration example of a drive circuit according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing an example of the drive waveform during the address period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of the drive waveform during the sustain discharge period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing another configuration example of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing still another configuration example of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing yet another configuration example of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a waveform diagram showing the operation of an AC drive type PDP device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a view showing an entire structure of the AC drive type PDP device; 
         FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 C are views showing a cross sectional configuration of a cell Cij in column i, row j, which is a pixel in the AC drive type PDP device; 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing a configuration of the drive circuit in the AC drive type PDP device; 
         FIG. 15  is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the AC drive type PDP device shown in  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 16  is a view showing another configuration of the drive circuit in the AC drive type PDP device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     A drive circuit in the embodiments of the present invention can apply a matrix-type flat panel display device using a capacitive load, for instance, an AC drive-type PDP device  1 , of which entire configuration is shown in  FIG. 12 , and of which cell configuration is shown in  FIG. 13 . In the embodiments explained below, explanation will be made for the case of applying it to the AC drive-type PDP device  1  shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  as an example. In the respective embodiments, only a Y-side circuit  3  will be explained with reference to the drawing, but an X-side circuit  2  can be configured similarly to the Y-side circuit  3 , or similarly to a drive circuit shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration example of a drive circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a load  20  is total capacity of a cell formed between a common electrode X and a scanning electrode Y which is an arbitrary scanning electrode among a plurality of scanning electrodes Y 1  to Yn. In the load  20 , the common electrode X and the scanning electrodes Y are formed. 
     The Y-side circuit for driving the scanning electrode Y includes a negative potential supply circuit  30 , in addition to a power supply circuit  22  and a drive circuit  21 . 
     The power supply circuit  22  includes a capacitor CY 1 , and three switches SWY 1 , SWY 2 , SWY 3 . The switches SWY 1  and SWY 2  are connected in series between a first power supply line through which a voltage Vs is supplied from a first power source and a ground (GND) which is a reference potential. One of terminals of the capacitor CY 1  is connected to an interconnection point of the two switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and the switch SWY 3  is connected between the other terminal of the capacitor CY 1  and the ground. Note that a signal line connected to one terminal of the capacitor CY 1  is taken for a first signal line OUTAY and a signal line connected to the other terminal is taken for a second signal line OUTBY. 
     Each of three switches SWY 1 , SWY 2  and SWY 3  is usually composed of a MOSFET, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) or the like. But the switch SWY 3  can also be formed with only a diode connecting a cathode thereof to the ground side. 
     The drive circuit  21  are provided with two switches SWY 4  and SWY 5 . The switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  are connected in series to both sides of the capacitor CY 1  of the power supply circuit  22 , namely, between the first and second signal lines OUTAY and OUTBY. An interconnection point of the two switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  is connected to the scanning electrode Y of the load  20  via an output line OUTCY. 
     Here, the drive circuit  21  can be composed of a circuit for conducting a selective operation of the scanning electrode Y for each line by outputting a scan pulse at the time of scanning during an address period for selecting a display cell based on display data D (period to conduct the selective operation of the switches SWY 4  and SWY 5  in sequence), and the circuit for conducting a sustain discharge operation at the scanning electrodes Y of the total lines by outputting sustain pulses during the sustain discharge period for conducting discharge to make a display cell emit light according to the display data D (period for performing charge and discharge to and from the load  20  repeatedly using the switches SWY 4  and SWY 5 ), namely, a line drive circuit. In other words, the drive circuit  21  can be formed by using a scan drive circuit which applies the scan pulse to the scanning electrode Y during the address period and applies the sustain pulse during the sustain discharge period. 
     The negative potential supply circuit  30  is provided with a switch SWY 6 . The switch SWY 6  is connected between an interconnection point (node NA) of the switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and a second power supply line in which a voltage (−Vy) (−Vy≦Vs) is supplied from the second power source. In other words, the switch SWY 6  is connected between the second power source line and the first signal line OUTAY. 
     Next, operation of the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2  is a waveform diagram showing an operation during the address period in a drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , explanation will be made assuming an initial state in which the switches SWY 1 , SWY 3 , SWY 5 , and SWY 6  are off, and the switches SWY 2  and SWY 4  are on, and an electric charge in accordance with the voltage Vs has already been stored in the capacitor CY 1 . At this time, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is at the ground potential level, the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY is (−Vs), and the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is applied to the load  20  (Y electrode) via the output line OUTCY. 
     First, at a time t 1 , the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is reduced to (−Vy) by turning the switch SWY 2  off and the switch SWY 6  on, and the voltage is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. The voltage of the second signal line OUTBY becomes lower than that of the first signal line OUTAY by the voltage Vs in accordance with the electric charge stored in the capacitor CY 1 , that is, (−Vs−Vy). 
     Next, at a time t 2  when the address pulse at the voltage Va is applied to the address electrode similarly to the conventional manner, the switch SWY 4  is turned off, and the switch SWY 5  is turned on. Thereby, the voltage (−Vs−Vy) of the second signal line OUTBY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. Thereafter, at a time t 3 , the voltage (−Vy) of the first signal line OUTAY is again applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY by turning the switch SWY 5  off and the switch SWY 4  on. 
     Next, at a time t 4 , the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY increases to the ground potential level by turning the switch SWY 6  off and the switch SWY 2  on. Thereby, the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY becomes (−Vs). 
     As described above, by controlling the switches SWY 1  to SWY 6 , a scan pulse having lower potential (−Vs−Vy) than the conventional potential (−Vs), that is, the potential difference between the ground potential level and the reference potential is large, can be applied to the load  20  (Y electrode). 
       FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram showing an operation of the sustain discharge period by the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , explanation will be made assuming an initial state in which the switches SWY 1 , SWY 3 , SWY 5 , and SWY 6  are off, and the switches SWY 2  and SWY 4  are on. At this time, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is at the ground potential level, the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY is (−Vs), and the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     At a time t 11 , the switch SWY 2  is turned off and at the same time the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  are turned on. Thereby, the voltage in the first signal line OUTAY increases to Vs and the voltage in the second signal line OUTBY goes to the ground potential level. Further, the voltage Vs in the first signal line OUTAY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. At this time, the electric charge corresponding to the voltage Vs which is given by the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  is stored in the capacitor CY 1 . 
     Next, at a time t 12 , the voltage in the first signal line OUTAY is reduced to the ground potential level by turning the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  off, and the switch SWY 2  on, which is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. Further, the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY becomes lower than that of the first signal line OUTAY by the voltage Vs which corresponds to the electric charge stored in the capacitor CY 1 , namely, the voltage (−Vs). 
     Next, at a time t 13 , the switches SWY 2  and SWY 4  are turned off, and the switches SWY 5  and SWY 6  are turned on. Thereby, the voltage (−Vy) of the first signal line OUTAY is reduced further, which leads the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY to (−Vs−Vy). Further, since the switch SWY 4  is turned off, and the switch SWY 5  is turned on, the voltage (−Vs−Vy) of the second signal line OUTBY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Thereafter, at a time t 14 , by turning the switches SWY 5  and SWY 6  off, and the switches SWY 2  and SWY 4  on, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY increases to the ground potential level, and the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY becomes (−Vs). Further, since the switch SWY 4  is turned on again, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Next, at a time t 15 , the switch SWY 2  is turned off and at the same time the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  are turned on in a similar manner to that at the time t 11 . 
     Hereinafter, operations described above are repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     As described above, by controlling the switches SWY 1  to SWY 6 , the sustain pulse having a potential (−Vs−Vy) lower than the conventional (−Vs) can be applied to the load  20 . 
       FIG. 4  is a waveform diagram showing another example of the operation during the sustain discharge period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 1 . In the operation during the sustain discharge period showing the waveform diagram thereof in  FIG. 3 , the voltage applied to the load  20  is directly changed between the ground potential level and the voltage (−Vs−Vy), but the operation during the sustain discharge period shown in  FIG. 4  is intended to change once between the ground potential level and the voltage (−Vs−Vy) via the voltage (−Vs). 
     Since operations by a time t 22  are similar to operations by the time t 12  shown in  FIG. 3 , the explanation thereof will be restrained. At a time t 23 , the switch SWY 4  is turned off, and the switch SWY 5  is turned on. Thereby, the voltage (−Vs) of the second signal line OUTBY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Next, at a time t 24 , by turning the switches SWY 2  off, and SWY 6  on, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is further reduced to (−Vy), which leads a voltage of the second signal line OUTBY to reach (−Vs−Vy). Then, a voltage applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY becomes (−Vs−Vy). 
     Thereafter, at a time t 25 , by turning the switch SWY 6  off, and the switch SWY 2  on, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY increases to the ground potential level, and the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY reaches (−Vs). Accordingly, the voltage applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY becomes (−Vs). 
     Then, at a time t 26 , the switch SWY 5  is turned off and the switch SWY 4  is turned on. Through this operation, the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     Next, at a time t 27 , the switch SWY 2  is turned off, and the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  are turned on. 
     Hereinafter, operations described above are similarly repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     As described above, by controlling the switches SWY 1  to SWY 6 , the sustain pulse having a potential of (−Vs−Vy) can be applied to the load  20  similarly to the operation showing the wave diagram thereof in  FIG. 3 . 
     As explained above, according to the first embodiment, a negative potential (−Vy) is supplied from the negative potential supply circuit  30  to the first signal line OUTAY in a state that electric charge in accordance with the voltage Vs is stored in the capacitor CY 1 . Thereby, a voltage of the second signal line OUTBY is made to (−Vs−Vy) lower than (−Vs) so that this voltage can be applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. Further, even when the negative potential (−Vy) is supplied from the negative potential supply circuit  30  to the first signal line OUTAY, the voltages applied to the respective switches SWY 1  to SWY 6  including the switches SWY 4  and SWY 6  in the drive circuit are Vs at maximum. Accordingly, the voltage larger than was previously possible can be applied to the load  20  without enhancing the withstand voltage of the respective switches SWY 1  to SWY 6  in the drive circuit. 
     Besides, for instance, when a voltage of the scan pulse applied during the address period as shown in  FIG. 2  is made to be (−Vs−Vy) which is lower than the conventional value of (−Vs), it becomes possible to make the potential difference between the scan pulse and the address pulse large, in other words, becomes possible to obtain a large selection potential. Then, a voltage margin relating to addressing can be increased to perform a stable address discharge. 
     Further, for instance, when the voltage of the sustain pulse applied during the sustain discharge period as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is made (−Vs−Vy) lower than the conventional (−Vs), it becomes possible to make the potential difference between the scanning electrode Y and the common electrode X due to the sustain pulse is made large so that the brightness per one sustain pulse can be made large, which results in improvement in display quality. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     The second embodiment explained below further includes a coil circuit for realizing an electric power recovery function in the drive circuit according to the first embodiment described above. 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of configuration of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , the same symbols and numerals are attached to components having the same functions as the components shown in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, overlapping explanation thereof will be restrained. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a coil circuit A is connected between an interconnection point of two switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and a ground, and a coil circuit B is connected between an interconnection point of a switch SWY 3  and a capacitor CY 1 , and the ground. In other words, the coil circuit A is connected between a first signal line OUTAY and the ground, and the coil circuit B is connected between a second signal line OUTBY and the ground. 
     The coil circuit A includes a diode DA, a coil LA, and a switch SWY 7 . A cathode terminal of the diode DA is connected to an interconnection point of the switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and an anode terminal is connected to the ground via the coil LA and the switch SWY 7 . The SWY 7  is provided to prevent current from flowing in from the coil circuit A when the negative potential (−Vy) is supplied from a negative potential supply circuit  30  to the first signal line OUTAY. The coil circuit B includes a diode DB and a coil LB. The anode terminal of the diode DB is connected to the interconnection point of the switch SWY 3  and the capacitor CY 1 , and the cathode terminal is connected to the ground via the coil LB. 
     The coils LA and LB are composed to perform an L-C resonance with a load  20  via the switches SWY 4  and SWY 5 . As shown in forward directions of the diodes DA and DB, the coil circuit A is a charge circuit for supplying an electric charge to the load  20  via the switch SWY 4 , and the coil circuit B is a discharge circuit for releasing an electric charge to the load  20  via the switch SWY 5 . An electric power recovery function to the load  20  is realized by properly controlling timing of a charge process of the charge circuit composing of the coil circuit A, the switch SWY 4 , and the load  20 , and a discharge process of the discharge circuit composing of the coil circuit B, the switch SWY 5  and the load  20 . 
     Incidentally, the coil circuit B shown in  FIG. 5  is configured without including a switch, but it is also acceptable to include a switch similarly to the coil circuit A. 
       FIG. 6  is a waveform diagram showing the operation during the address period in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The operation during the address period represented by the wave diagram in  FIG. 6  is different only in that the switch SWY 7  in the coil circuit A is turned off while the switch SWY 6  is turned on, that is, only while negative potential is supplied to the first signal line OUTAY from the negative potential supply circuit  30  (during the times from t 31  to t 34  in  FIG. 6 ), and is similar to the operation during the address period of the drive circuit in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Times t 31 , t 32 , t 33  and t 34  in  FIG. 6  correspond to times t 1 , t 2 , t 3  and t 4  in  FIG. 2 , respectively. Accordingly, in the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 , it is possible to apply the scan pulse of (−Vs−Vy) lower in potential than was previously possible to the load  20  by controlling the switches SWY 1  to SWY 6  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and turning the switch SWY 7  off during the switch SWY 6  is turned on. 
       FIG. 7  is a waveform diagram showing an operation during the sustain discharge period by the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , explanation will be made assuming an initial state in which the switches SWY 1 , SWY 2 , SWY 3 , SWY 5  and SWY 6  are off, and the switches SWY 4  and SWY 7  are on. At this time, a voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is increasing gradually owing to the function of the coil circuit A, and the voltage of the first signal OUTAY is applied to the load  20  via the output line OUTCY. 
     The voltage of the first signal line OUTAY turns the switches SWY 1  and SWY 3  on to clamp the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY at Vs at a time t 41 , at which the voltage is near the peak of its rise (before reaching the voltage Vs). 
     Next, the switches SWY 1 , SWY 3 , and SWY 4  are turned off at a time t 42 , and then at a time t 43 , the switch SWY 5  is turned on. Thereby, the second signal line OUTBY and the output line OUTCY are connected electrically. Accordingly, the voltage of the output line OUTCY is gradually decreasing and at the same time, a portion of the electric charge is recovered by the coil circuit B. 
     At a time t 44 , at which the voltage is near the lowest point of its descent (i.e., before reaching the voltage (−Vs), the voltage of the second signal line OUTBY is clamped to (−Vs−Vy) by turning the switch SWY 7  off, and the switch SWY 6  on. 
     Next, after the switches SWY 5  and SWY 6  are turned off, and the switch SWY 7  is turned on at a time t 45 , the switch SWY 4  is turned on at a time t 46 . Thereby, the first signal line OUTAY and the output line OUTCY are electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, the voltage of the first signal line OUTAY is increased by the function of the first coil circuit A (releasing of the electric charge, namely, discharging), and as it increases, the voltage of the output line OUTCY is also gradually increased. 
     Hereinafter, operations described above are similarly repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     As described above, it is possible to apply the sustain pulse having a potential of (−Vs−Vy) lower than the conventional potential of (−Vs) to the load  20  while realizing the electric power recovery function owing to the coil circuits A and B, by controlling the switches SWY 1  to SWY 7 . 
     As explained above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the similar effect to that obtained by the drive circuit of the first embodiment described previously, and at the same time to realize an electric power recovery function by the coil circuit so that power consumption of the AC drive type PDP device can be reduced. 
     It should be noted that in the second embodiment described above, the drive circuit in which the coil circuit A for supplying an electric charge to the load  20  as shown in  FIG. 5  is connected to the fist signal line OUTAY, and the coil circuit B for discharging the electric charge to the load  20  is connected to the second signal line OUTBY, is explained as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. 
     For instance, as shown in  FIG. 8 , it is also possible to apply the present embodiment to a drive circuit in which a coil circuit C provided with a function to supply an electric charge to the load  20  and together with a function to discharge the electric charge to the load  20 , is connected to the second signal line OUTBY. 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing another example of configuration of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment. In this  FIG. 8 , the same symbols and numerals are attached to component and the like having the same functions as the component and the like shown in  FIG. 5 , so that overlapping explanation thereof will be restrained. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the coil circuit C includes diodes DC 1  and DC 2 , coils LC 1  and LC 2 , and switches SWY 8  and SWY 9 . A function to discharge electric charge to the load  20  is realized by the diode DC 1 , the coil LC 1  and the switch SWY 8 . An anode terminal of the diode DC 1  is connected to a second signal line OUTBY, and a cathode terminal of the diode DC 1  is connected to the ground via the coil LC 1  and the switch SWY 8 . Similarly, a function to supply electric charge to the load  20  is realized by the diode DC 2 , the coil LC 2  and the switch SWY 9 . A cathode terminal of the diode DC 2  is connected to the second signal line OUTBY and an anode terminal of the diode DC 2  is connected to the ground via the coil LC 2  and the switch SWY 9 . 
     Further, for instance, as shown in  FIG. 9 , it is also possible to apply the present embodiment to a drive circuit in which a coil circuit A for discharging electric charge to a load  20  is connected to a first signal line OUTAY, and a coil circuit B for supplying electric charge to the load  20  is connected to a second signal line OUTBY. 
       FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are views showing still another examples of the drive circuit according to the second embodiment. In these  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the same symbols and numerals are attached to components having the same functions as the components shown in  FIG. 5 , so that overlapping explanation thereof will be restrained. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the coil circuit A includes a diode DA, a coil LA and a switch SWY 7 . An anode terminal of the diode DA is connecting an interconnection point (a first signal line OUTAY) of switches SWY 1  and SWY 2 , and a cathode terminal is connected to the ground via the coil LA and the switch SWY 7 . Further, the coil circuit B includes a diode DB, a coil LB and a switch SWY 10 . A cathode terminal of the diode DB is connected to an interconnection point (a second signal line OUTBY) of a switch SWY 3  and the other terminal of a capacitor CY 1 , and an anode terminal is connected to the ground via the coil LB and the switch SWY 10 . 
     In  FIG. 10 , a ramp wave generation circuit  40  includes a resistor RY 1  and a switch SWY 11 . The ramp wave generation circuit  40  is a circuit to generate a ramp wave waveform which changes an impressed voltage value according to the time, which can supply a negative potential (−Vy), instead of a negative potential supply circuit  30 , to the first signal line OUTAY more slowly than the negative potential supply circuit  30 . Further, during a reset period, the potential of generated ramp wave can be reduced to (−Vs−Vy) by turning the SWY 11  of the ramp wave generation circuit  40  on. 
     It is also possible to obtain an effect similar to that of the drive circuit shown in  FIG. 5 , with the drive circuit according to the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11  is a waveform diagram showing the operation of an AC drive type PDP device  1  in the embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 11  shows an example of the waveform of the voltage applied to a common electrode X, a scanning electrode Y and an address electrode in a sub-field portion of a plurality of sub-fields which form one frame. One sub-field is divided into the reset period composing of the entire writing period and the entire erasing period, the address period and the sustain discharge period. Incidentally, the waveform diagram shown in  FIG. 11  shows the case of the drive circuit having the negative potential supply circuit  30  and the ramp wave generation circuit  40  described above on the Y side drive circuit. 
     During the reset period, the voltage applied to the common electrode X is first reduced from the ground potential level, the reference potential, to (−Vs). On the other hand, the voltage applied to the scanning electrode Y is gradually increased with time and a final voltage obtained by combining the writing voltage Vw and the voltage Vs is applied to the scanning electrode Y. 
     Thus, the potential difference between the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Y becomes (2 Vs+Vw) in spite of being still in a display state as before, discharge is performed in all cells of whole display lines, so that a wall electric charge is formed. (entire writing). 
     Next, after the voltage of the scanning electrode Y is restored to Vs, the voltage applied to the common electrode X is gradually increased from (−Vs) to Vs, and at the same time, the impressed voltage to the scanning electrode Y is gradually reduced from the voltage Vs as time passes. On the scanning electrode Y side, a final voltage (−Vs−Vy) is applied to the scanning electrode Y by turning the switch SWY 11  of the ramp wave generation circuit  40  on. Thereby, a discharge is started because the voltage of the wall electric charge itself exceeds the discharge start voltage over all cells, so that the stored wall electric charge is erased (entire erasing). 
     Next, during the address period, in order to perform ON/OFF of respective cells according to display data, the address discharge is performed linear sequentially. At this time, the voltage Vs is applied to the common electrode X. By controlling the respective switches SWY 1  to SWY 6  on the scanning electrode Y side as shown in  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 6 , a scan pulse at (−Vs−Vy) level is applied to the scanning electrode Y selected linear sequentially, and the voltage (−Vy) is applied to a not-selected scanning electrode Y, when a voltage is applied to a scanning electrode Y corresponding to a certain display line. 
     At this time, the address pulse at a voltage Va is selectively applied to an address electrode Aj corresponding to a cell causing the sustain discharge, that is a cell to be lit, among respective address electrodes A 1  to Am. As a result, discharge is taken place between the address electrode Aj of the cell to be lit and the scanning electrode Y selected linear sequentially, and a certain amount of wall electric charge required for next sustain discharge is stored on an MgO protection film surface over the common electrode X and the scanning electrode Y, using the above discharge as a priming (pilot frame). 
     It should be noted that though  Fig.11  shows an example in which the address period is divided into a first half address period (for instance, sequential scan pulses are applied to the scanning electrodes Y in odd numbered lines) and the second half address period (for instance, sequential scan pulses are applied to scanning electrodes Y in even-numbered lines), it is also acceptable to apply the sequential scan pulse to the scanning electrode Y without dividing the address period. 
     Thereafter, during the sustain discharge period, sustain discharge is performed by applying a predetermined voltage (sustain pulse) in a manner that the phases are in a reverse relation to each other to the common electrode X and the scanning electrodes Y of respective display lines, so that an image of one sub-field is displayed. At this time, as a sustain pulse, voltages (+Vs, −Vs) are alternately applied to the common electrode X. And as shown in  FIG. 3 , by controlling the respective switches SWY  1  to SWY  6 , voltages (+Vs, −Vs−Vy) are alternately applied as a sustain pulse to the scanning electrode Y. Note that the switch control is not limited to that shown in  FIG. 3  above, it is acceptable to apply voltages (+Vs, −Vs−Vy) alternately to the scanning electrode Y by controlling the switches as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7  described above. 
     Note that the voltage (Vs+Vx) is applied only when a high voltage is applied first to the scanning electrode Y during the sustain discharge period. This voltage Vx is that to be added for generating a voltage necessary to the sustain discharge by adding to the voltage of the wall electric charge generated during the address period. 
     The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and no restrictive, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. 
     According to the present invention, by supplying a potential lower than the reference potential to the first signal line from the potential supply circuit, the potential of the second signal line connected to the first signal line via the capacitor is made to be a third potential lower than the second potential so that the third potential is applied to the capacitive load from the second signal line. Accordingly, since no voltage larger than the potential difference between the reference potential and the first and second potential is applied to the respective elements in the drive circuit, a voltage having a potential difference larger than was previously possible in relation to the reference potential can be applied to the capacitive load without increasing withstand voltage of the respective elements.

Technology Category: g