Abstract: A method of driving a gas discharge tube is provided. Each field of images is divided into three periods for luminescence-rest, luminescence-preparing, and luminescence steps. During the luminescence-rest step, two voltages whose amplitudes are the same and constant are applied to two sustaining electrodes composing each pair, so that the sustaining electrodes rest the discharge. During the luminescence-preparing step, two voltage pulses whose phases are the same are applied to the two sustaining electrodes composing each pair and a voltage to cause a preparatory discharge is applied to an auxiliary electrode. And during the luminescence step, two voltage pulses whose phases are mutually shifted are applied to the two sustaining electrodes composing each pair, so that the sustaining electrodes cause discharges for the luminescence.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gas discharge tube used for the backlight of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like and a drive method for the same. A flat type gas discharge tube comprises two plane glasses, a barrier and at least one electrode group comprised of a plurality of parallel electrodes. Voltages are applied to each electrode group in one discharge period in such a way that discharges of a rare gas dispersed spatially and along the time are allowed to occur. Even when a single gas discharge tube is used for the backlight of an LCD having a large display area, therefore, it does not suffer luminance unevenness and the locations of discharge can be dispersed spatially and along the time, thus ensuring a high emission efficiency. As the backlight does not require a light guide plate or a diffusion sheet, its manufacturing cost becomes lower.

Abstract: A method of driving a gas discharge tube is provided. Each field of images is divided into three periods for luminescence-rest, luminescence-preparing, and luminescence steps. During the luminescence-rest step, two voltages whose amplitudes are the same and constant are applied to two sustaining electrodes composing each pair, so that the sustaining electrodes rest the discharge. During the luminescence-preparing step, two voltage pulses whose phases are the same are applied to the two sustaining electrodes composing each pair and a voltage to cause a preparatory discharge is applied to an auxiliary electrode. And during the luminescence step, two voltage pulses whose phases are mutually shifted are applied to the two sustaining electrodes composing each pair, so that the sustaining electrodes cause discharges for the luminescence.