Abstract: A plasma display device is realized which has a high set-luminous-efficacy (i.e. provides a high-brightness display image at a low power consumption) and a high light-room contrast. The luminous efficacy hs and the display discharge voltage Vs are increased by increasing the product pd in discharge, or increasing the Xe proportion aXe of the discharge. As a result the display-discharge region area ratio Ad and the display region reflectance ? can be reduced by reducing the display-electrode area Sse approximately in inverse proportion to Vs2, and thereby the set-luminous efficacy hs and the set luminance Bpons and the light-room contrast Cb are increased.

Abstract: A plasma display includes a display panel and a driving circuit for driving the display panel. A space for at least one color, of spaces between barrier ribs for defining discharge spaces for red, green and blue colors of the display panel is different from the spaces for other colors.

Abstract: There is provided a plasma display device capable of high luminous efficacy and stable driving for displaying images at various image display load factors. The plasma display device performs the sustain discharge for a light-emission display, and is configured to apply a sustain pulse voltage between a sustain electrode pair in a respective one of the plural discharge cells to generate a sustain discharge in a respective one of the following operating modes selected based upon use of the plasma display device: (a) generating a pre-discharge and then a main discharge; (b) generating a main discharge without a pre-discharge preceding the main discharge; and (c) switching between the mode (a) and the mode (b). The sustain voltage waveforms are used which compensate for an increase in voltage drop due to an increase in discharge current when the image display load factor is excessively increased.

Abstract: There are provided a plasma display panel and an imaging device which realize a high luminous efficiency, guaranteed long lifetime and stable driving. The plasma display panel uses a discharge-gas mixture containing at least Xe, Ne and He. A Xe proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 2% to 20%, a He proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 15% to 50%, the He proportion is greater than the Xe proportion, and a total pressure of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 400 Torr to 550 Torr. A width of a voltage pulse to be applied to an address electrode is 2 &mgr;s or less.

Abstract: A steering wheel having partially applied wooden outer covers, which can be produced without having the wooden outer covers scratched, and the like, and can be produced with high working efficiency, and a method for manufacturing the steering wheel are provided. Raw materials, from which wood members are formed, are attached at a rim portion of a core metal, and cores are formed in this state. Thereafter, the wood members are shaped from the raw materials. Further, resin pieces are attached in spaces between the wood members and the cores to limit displacement of the wood members. Then, the cores and the resin pieces are covered with covering portions. As described above, spaces are formed, and the cores are formed in a state in which the raw materials of the wood members are attached. This allows shaping of the wood members after formation of the cores.

Abstract: A discharge type display apparatus for displaying images through discharges in a discharge gas enclosed in discharge spaces of the apparatus. The discharge gas is a mixed gas including at least Xe, He and Ne. A mixed ratio of He to Ne in the gas mixture is set approximately for 50% in volume at most.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus enabling a user to know whether a data item for display is the latest updated one or has old contents, thereby allowing him/her to confidently drive according to a guidance route provided by navigation. The vehicle navigation apparatus is adapted to update a database by receiving difference data. The navigation apparatus displays not only the data item for display but also freshness information on the data, based on the difference data and storage contents in the pre-update database. The freshness information may indicate whether the freshness of the data item for display is guaranteed or not, and may be displayed in a manner according to the freshness of the data item.

Abstract: A plasma display device includes plural discharge cells each defined by a pair of first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes and an address electrode intersecting therewith. A driving method thereof includes period for addressing the discharge cells and thereby inducing address-discharge therein, and light-emission period for applying repetitive pulse voltages to at least one of the first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes such that the addressed ones of the discharge cells start and sustain main discharge depending upon the presence of the address-discharge to generate light. Second repetitive pulse voltages are applied to the address electrodes to generate pre-discharge, and rise in portions of the light-emission period during which an absolute value of a voltage difference between the first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes does not exceed 0.

Abstract: In order to provide a steering wheel in which the strength of a wooden member is enhanced and the appearance of the wooden member is improved, a steering wheel comprising: a substantially annular metal core; and a wooden member comprising a plurality of wooden pieces, the wooden pieces being formed from a pure wooden material and bonded together to surround a part or the whole of the metal core when mounted on the metal core; wherein the wooden pieces are formed from a single pure wooden material, and the wooden pieces that are bonded together are formed from adjacent sites of the single pure wooden material, is provided.

Abstract: A plasma display device includes a plasma display panel having a pair of opposing base plates and plural discharge cells formed between the base plates, and a driving circuit for driving the discharge cells. Each discharge cell has a pair of discharge sustain electrodes disposed on one of the base plates and an address electrode disposed on another of the base plates. At least one of the pair of discharge sustain electrodes is supplied with a pulse drive voltage within a period of light emission of a corresponding one of the plural discharge cells, and an address electrode of at least one of the plural discharge cells is supplied with a driving voltage within the period of light emission, and the drive voltage has a waveform where an absolute value of the voltage level Vb is not greater than an absolute value of half the voltage level Va.

Abstract: There are provided a plasma display panel and an imaging device which realize a high luminous efficiency, guaranteed long lifetime and stable driving. The plasma display panel uses a discharge-gas mixture containing at least Xe, Ne and He. A Xe proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 2% to 20%, a He proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 15% to 50%, the He proportion is greater than the Xe proportion, and a total pressure of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 400 Torr to 550 Torr. A width of a voltage pulse to be applied to an address electrode is 2 &mgr;s or less.

Abstract: The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel 101 having a plurality of discharge cells each having a pair of sustained discharge electrodes 102 and 103 and an address electrode 104. A voltage is applied to at least one of the sustained discharge electrodes and the address electrode in a sustained discharge period. A sustained discharge voltage is repeatedly applied to the sustained discharge electrodes 102 and 103. The sustained discharge voltage has a voltage waveform with a rise period (Tr) from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, a sustained period (Tsus) for maintaining the second voltage level, a fall period (Tf) from the second voltage level to the first voltage level and a sustained period (Tg) for maintaining the first voltage level.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprises a transparent front panel plate including a display electrode and a protective layer covering at least the display electrode, a back panel plate, a discharge space formed by adhering the transparent front panel plate and the back panel plate to each other, and a phosphor layer formed to be exposed to the inside of the discharge space. The protective layer is made of a first metal oxide layer formed to cover the display electrode, and a second metal oxide layer formed to cover the first metal oxide layer. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of the second metal oxide layer is larger than that of the first metal oxide layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AC-type plasma display apparatus, an object of the invention is to provide the AC-type plasma display apparatus improved a quality of a picture of a display image by realizing a multi-sub-field arrangement and a high gray scale arrangement, after by being realized an address discharge at high speed. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an address discharge is constituted so as to be driven at high speed by applying preset pulses 105 of a narrow width prior to time of application of a scanning pulse 106 exceeding a value of a discharge breakdown voltage, and by carrying out growth (growing process of Townsent) of a space charge by the preset pulses 105.

Abstract: A plasma display device of high luminous efficiency is provided. In a plasma display device for performing driving including at least an address period and a sustain-discharge period for emission display, the sustain-discharge period includes a pulse application period and an open period, a voltage of an electrode to which a relatively positive voltage is applied in a sustain-discharge electrode pair in a pulse application period immediately before the open period is set as Vsp, and the voltage of the other electrode is set as Vsn, Vsp−Vsn has a significantly negative value in the open period, and light is emitted by a discharge in the open period.

Abstract: A discharge is initiated in a cell in which an address discharge is conducted at a first timing T1 in a charge adjustment period. Next, at a second timing T2, a discharge is initiated for adjusting a wall charge in a cell where a charge remains therein because the address discharge does not occurred. Thus, some negative charges are formed in an X electrode and a Y electrode, thus preventing a false discharge from occurring in an unselected cell.

Abstract: A plasma display device includes plural discharge cells each defined by a pair of first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes and an address electrode intersecting therewith. A driving method thereof includes period for addressing the discharge cells and thereby inducing address-discharge therein, and light-emission period for applying repetitive pulse voltages to at least one of the first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes such that the addressed ones of the discharge cells start and sustain main discharge depending upon the presence of the address-discharge to generate light. Second repetitive pulse voltages are applied to the address electrodes to generate pre-discharge, and rise in portions of the light-emission period during which an absolute value of a voltage difference between the first and second discharge-sustaining electrodes does not exceed 0.

Abstract: In order to provide a steering wheel that can prevent chattering of a wooden member with respect to a metal core, a steering wheel comprising: an annular metal core, the metal core connecting to a vehicle; and a wooden member, the wooden member curving in a substantial arc corresponding to the metal core and having a passing hole formed therein, with the metal core passing through the passing hole; wherein a space is formed at, at least a portion of boundary between the metal core and an inner wall, forming the passing hole, of the wooden member, the space being for absorbing relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma display panel comprising a transparent front panel plate comprising a display electrode and a metal oxide layer covering at least the display electrode, a back panel plate, a discharge space formed by adhering the transparent front panel plate and the back panel plate to each other, and a phosphor layer formed to be exposed to the inside of the discharge space. The metal oxide layer is made of a first metal oxide layer formed to cover the display electrode, and a second metal oxide layer formed to cover the first metal oxide layer, and the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the second metal oxide layer is larger than that of the first metal oxide layer. Using this metal oxide layer having the bi-layered structure as a protective layer for the display electrode, a plasma display panel capable of displaying highly minute images can be produced at low costs.

Abstract: The data of the same musical pieces are stored in the same order in each of a plurality of music playback apparatuses. When one music playback apparatus is instructed to finish musical-piece playback, it generates musical-piece playback information indicating the playback order of the musical piece being played at that time, and sends the musical-piece playback information to a mobile telephone. The mobile telephone receives the musical-piece playback information and stores it in its internal memory. When the mobile telephone is moved to a position around another of the music playback apparatuses, the mobile telephone sends the musical-piece playback information to the other music playback apparatus. When the other music playback apparatus is instructed to start musical-piece playback, it selects the musical piece to be played back next, according to the musical-piece playback information sent from the mobile telephone, reads the data of the selected musical piece, and starts playing back the musical piece.