Abstract: A display panel includes a plurality of unit light emission areas (light emission elements) arranged in a matrix. Each unit light emission area is defined by a first discharge cell and a second discharge cell. The second discharge cell has a light-absorbing layer. When the display panel is driven to express an image having a plurality of gradation levels, address discharge is selectively caused in the second discharge cells in accordance with an input image signal. Light leaks to the first discharge cell from the second discharge cell upon the address discharge. This light is used to express the gradation of low luminance. Since luminance difference between gradation levels of a low luminance image is reduced, it is possible to display a high quality, low luminance image.

Abstract: An optical recording medium for accurately deriving the address information or the disc rotation control information despite narrow track pitch and for recording signals to a high density, and a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing such optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has a wobbled groove and pits formed at a pre-set interval in an area between turns of the wobbled groove. The recording/reproducing method includes controlling rotation of the optical recording medium by a wobbled signal from the groove and detecting the position on the optical recording medium of a recording signal by pit signals detected from the pits. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detection device for detecting the wobbled signal from the groove and a detection device for detecting pit signals from the pits.

Abstract: A method for driving a display panel with which the dark contrast can be improved is provided. Each of at least two successive sub-fields including a leading sub-field includes a selective write addressing step for setting the discharge cells to a lighted discharge cell mode by selectively causing a writing discharge in the discharge cells in accordance with the video signal. The sub-fields following at least two sub-fields include a selective erasure addressing step for setting the discharge cells to an unlighted discharge cell mode by selectively causing an erasing discharge in the discharge cells in accordance with the video signal and an emission sustain step for repeatedly causing a sustain discharge corresponding to a weighting of that sub-field only in the discharge cells that are in the lighted discharge cell mode.

Abstract: In a surface-discharge-type alternating-current plasma display panel, a discharge cell is divided into two cells: a display discharge cell C1 providing for a sustaining discharge between transparent electrodes Xa, Ya of row electrodes X, Y; and an addressing discharge cell C2 which is opposite a bus electrode Yb of the row electrode Y, giving rise to an addressing discharge in association with a column electrode D, to provide for the addressing discharge between the bus electrode Yb of the row electrode Y and a column electrode D. The display discharge cells C1 and the addressing discharge cells C2 of the discharge cells are interposed in alternate positions in the column direction so as to arrange the addressing discharge cells C2 in a back-to-back position in the column direction.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprises a plurality of row electrode pairs (X, Y) provided on a front glass substrate 10, a plurality of column electrodes D provided on a back glass substrate 13 and each intersecting the row electrode pairs, and discharge cells C which are defined in a discharge space S to correspond to the respective intersections. The row electrode Y of each row electrode pair (X, Y) has transparent electrodes Ya each constructed by a leading member Ya1 and a base member Ya2. The column electrode D is provided with enlargement members Da, having a width in a row direction larger than that of the base member Ya2, in a position opposite to the leading member Ya1.

Abstract: A recessed groove h is formed in a portion of an inner surface of a front glass substrate 10 facing a non-display area between adjacent discharge cells C in a column direction. Each of adjacent bus electrodes Xb and Yb of the respective row electrodes X and Y positioned back to back in between the adjacent row electrode pairs (X, Y) is formed to extend along the corresponding side face of the two side faces of the recessed groove h in such a way as to raise the bus electrode in relation to the corresponding transparent electrode Xa or Ya in a thickness direction of the front glass substrate 10.

Abstract: A display panel drive device is provided with: a parallel-to-serial converter for conducting parallel-to-serial conversion on an input signal and outputting a serial signal; a transmission section for converting the serial signal output from the parallel-to-serial converter to a signal complying with a differential serial transmission system and transferring a signal via a transmission line; a reception section for receiving the signal transferred via the transmission line; a serial-to-parallel converter for conducting serial-to-parallel conversion on the signal received by the reception section and outputting a parallel signal; and a drive pulse output section for generating a drive pulse to drive a display panel based on the parallel signal output by the serial-to-parallel converter.

Abstract: A display panel device includes a plurality of row electrode pairs and a plurality of column electrodes. Each row electrode pair includes a first and second electrodes. Unit light emission areas are formed at intersections of the row electrode pairs and the column electrodes. Each unit light emission area includes a first discharge cell and a second discharge cell. The second discharge cell includes a light-absorbing layer and secondary electron emission material layer. When driving the display panel device, sustain discharge responsible for light emission governing the display image is induced in the first discharge cells, whereas reset discharge and address discharge accompanied by light emission not contributing to the display image is induced in the second discharge cells.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a display panel driver with which power consumption can be reduced. The display panel driver includes a pixel data pulse generation circuit which generates pixel data pulses by connecting the column electrodes and a power source line in accordance with the pixel data to apply the pixel data pulses to the column electrodes, and a resonance pulse power circuit which generates a resonance pulse power source voltage to apply the resonance pulse power source voltage to the power source line, the resonance pulse power circuit changing the resonance amplitude of the resonance pulse power source voltage while keeping a maximum voltage of the resonance pulse power source voltage in accordance with a pattern of a pulse sequence of the pixel data pulses.

Abstract: In a plasma display panel, a partition wall 15 surrounds each of discharge cells to define the discharge cells. Each of the discharge cells is divided by a second transverse wall 15B into a display discharge cell C1 which is opposite transparent electrodes Xa, Ya of paired row electrodes X, Y to provide for a sustaining discharge; and an addressing discharge cell C2 which is opposite a bus electrode Yb of the row electrode Y to provide for an addressing discharge caused between the bus electrode Yb and a column electrode D. A clearance r is provided between the discharge cell C1 and the addressing discharge cell C2 for communication between the cells C1 and C2.

Abstract: A first positioning mark is formed at four corners of the outer side of the display area of a front substrate at the same step as the step of forming transparent electrodes. The first positioning marks are made of the same material as the material of transparent conductive films and formed in the same layer as a layer in which the transparent electrodes are formed. A second positioning mark is formed at four corners of the outer side of the display area of a back substrate at the same step as the step of forming partition walls. The second positioning marks are made of the same material as the material of glass layers containing white pigments and formed in the same layer as a layer in which the partition walls are formed. The positioning of the transparent display electrodes as well as the partition walls are directly carried out.

Abstract: A display device that is capable of displaying either one of a video signal whose aspect ratio coincides with that of a display screen and a video signal whose aspect ratio differs includes a boundary-position detector 5 for detecting a boundary position between a signal of a picture portion of the video signal whose aspect ratio differs and a signal of a non-picture portion on the basis of the video signal and a synchronizing signal which are inputted to the boundary-position detector 5, a masking-control-signal generator 15 for generating a masking control signal for masking the non-picture portion and an end portion of the picture, and a masking section 6 for replacing the signals of the non-picture portion and the end of the picture portion with a predetermined substitute video.

Abstract: There is provided a flat panel type display apparatus which is superior in heat radiation, withstand voltage characteristic, and the like. A flexible substrate having driving devices for driving a display body mounted thereon is provided on the back surface of a metal chassis which supports the display body at the back surface thereof. The back surfaces of substrates of the driving devices which are semiconductor integrated circuit devices are polished to remove unnecessary oxide films therefrom, and formed of metal films on the back surfaces. The driving devices are disposed on the flexible substrate with the metal films facing upward, a solder paste is coated on the surfaces of the metal films and the surfaces of grounding wiring patterns formed on the flexible substrate, and a metal plate is disposed on both members through the solder paste.

Abstract: An optical recording medium for accurately deriving the address information or the disc rotation control information despite narrow track pitch and for recording signals to a high density, and a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing such optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has a wobbled groove and pits formed at a pre-set interval in an area between turns of the wobbled groove. The recording/reproducing method includes controlling rotation of the optical recording medium by a wobbled signal from the groove and detecting the position on the optical recording medium of a recording signal by pit signals detected from the pits. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detection device for detecting the wobbled signal from the groove and a detection device for detecting pit signals from the pits.

Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a front glass substrate 1 having the back surface on which a plurality of pairs of row electrodes X1, Y1 are formed, a back glass substrate 4 on which column electrodes D are formed, and partition walls 6 made of dielectric materials and defining individual discharge cells C, in which at least either of the row electrodes X1 and Y1 is placed at a position shifted relatively in the column direction toward decreasing the overlapping of the row electrode and the partition wall in reference to the partition wall 6.

Abstract: A plasma display panel (10) includes a front glass substrate (11) having the inner face on which row electrode pairs (X, Y) each opposing each other through a discharge gap (g) and a dielectric layer (13) overlaying the row electrode pairs (X, Y) relative to a discharge space (S). In such plasma display panel (10), a low dielectric constant layer (12) having a relative dielectric constant lower than that of the front glass substrate (11) is provided between the front glass substrate (11) and the row electrode pair (X, Y).

Abstract: A display apparatus, in which an image shown by an input image signal is divided into a plurality of blocks, an average luminance level of the image signal in each block is detected, adjacent blocks having a relation such that a difference of the average luminance levels is equal to or larger than a predetermined level are detected from the plurality of blocks on the basis of the average luminance level of each of the plurality of blocks, a luminance restriction command signal is generated when it is detected that the adjacent blocks have continued the state where the difference of the average luminance levels is equal to or larger than the predetermined level for a predetermined time, and the image corresponding to the image signal is displayed while restricting the luminance level of the image signal in response to the luminance restriction command signal.