Abstract: A plasma display panel sustain driver that has a decreased flywheel current.

Abstract: A plasma display has a first power recovery unit including a first inductor having a first end coupled to a second electrode and a second power recovery unit including a second inductor having a first end coupled to the second electrode, the second inductor having an inductance different from that of the first inductor and alternately supplying a second voltage that is greater than a first voltage and a third voltage that is less than the first voltage to the second electrode, while the first voltage is supplied to the first electrode, during a sustain period. A first path between the first inductor and second electrode has a different length from that of a second path between the second inductor and the second electrode, and an inductor on a longer path among the first and second paths has a smaller inductance than that of an inductor on a shorter path among the first and second paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver for a plasma display panel. According to the invention, in order to reduce the current loops during the sustain of the display cells, a novel driver architecture is proposed. The switches of the sustain circuit, together with the switches, are disposed next to one another on the circuit board. In addition, the connectors accessing the display electrodes are placed, at the periphery of the board, on the same edge.

Abstract: A PDP address data processor, a method thereof, and a recording medium for storing a program used to perform the method. The address data processor generates subfield data corresponding to RGB input video data, divides them into two sets of subfield data, and stores them in a frame memory using rising and falling edges of a reference clock signal of a frame memory. The address data processor reads and arranges the stored subfield data using the rising and falling edges to generate address data for representing gray on the PDP. The address data processor uses an RGB mixing algorithm for selecting two different video data from among the RGB input video data to select video data, and generates the subfield data corresponding to the selected video data.

Abstract: Provided is a PDP driving apparatus for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated during operation of a PDP. The PDP driving apparatus drives a PDP with X electrodes and Y electrodes arranged parallel to each other, and Address electrodes arranged to cross with the X electrodes and the Y electrodes to form discharge cells. The PDP driving apparatus includes a frequency lowering unit coupled between an X electrode and a ground terminal or between a Y electrode and a ground terminal. The frequency lowering unit includes a capacitor with capacitance between about 1 nF and about 2 nF, and lowers a resonance frequency caused by parasitic capacitance and inductance components of the PDP driving apparatus.

Abstract: A plasma display apparatus is provided. The plasma display apparatus comprises an energy recovery unit and a sustain driver for applying a voltage recovered from the energy recovery unit to sustain electrodes as a bias voltage in an address period. The voltage recovered to a source capacitor is applied as the bias voltage in the address period so that it is possible to apply the bias voltage that varies in accordance with the sustain voltage of a plasma display panel without an additional external power source. As a result, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing expenses of the plasma display apparatus.

Abstract: A plasma display device and a method of driving a plasma display panel are provided for improving the contrast without degrading the image quality. Each of display cells formed on the plasma display panel has a magnesium oxide layer containing magnesium oxide crystals. The magnesium oxide crystals are excited by an electron beam irradiated thereto and emit cathode luminescence light having a peak in a wavelength range of 200 to 300 nm. In order to trigger a rest discharge in all the display cells, each row electrode pair of the plasma display panel is applied with a reset pulse which has a particular pulse waveform. The voltage value of this reset pulse slowly changes over time to reach a peak voltage value.

Abstract: There is disclosed visual artifact reduction methods for a display comprising the use of gamma corrections, error diffusion, dithering, and/or center of light. The invention is described with reference to an AC gas discharge display (PDP), but may be practiced with other display technologies. The methods of this invention are disclosed for use with a number of PDP structures and PDP electronic addressing architectures including ADS, SAS, and ALIS. In one preferred embodiment, a center of light timing method is used to reduce artifacts between different sections of a PDP being addressed with SAS architecture.

Abstract: A plasma display panel driving apparatus for applying a voltage to an electrode of the plasma display panel. The apparatus includes a first voltage applying unit to apply a first voltage and a third voltage to the electrode, and a second voltage applying unit to apply a second voltage to the electrode. The second voltage is higher than the first voltage. An energy recovery circuit includes an inductor and an over-voltage clamping preventing unit, which maintains a connection node in a voltage range from the first voltage to the third voltage. The over-voltage clamping preventing unit comprises a second diode coupled with the connection node, a third diode coupled with the connection node, and a fourth switching element coupled with the second diode and a first voltage source that supplies the first voltage.

Abstract: An apparagraph and method of driving a plasma display panel that enables the display of an image wherein contour noise is minimized and that prevents flickering mal-discharge and mis-discharge when the plasma display panel is being driven at high/low temperature is provided. The method includes detecting a drive temperature of a panel, mapping data using a first sub-field pattern mapping when the panel is driven at a low temperature or a high temperature, and mapping the data using a second sub-field pattern mapping different from the first sub-field pattern mapping when the panel is driven at a temperature between the low temperature and the high temperature.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel having first electrodes, second electrodes, and panel capacitors formed between the first and second electrodes. In a reset period: a first voltage corresponding to a voltage applied to the first electrode which is not selected in an address period is applied; a waveform which rises to a second voltage from the first voltage is applied to the first electrode; and the voltage at the first electrode is reduced to a third voltage.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel. A discharge occurs at a selected discharge cell by scan and address pulses to form wall charges in an address period. A setup pulse is applied to a scan electrode in a sustain period. A discharge occurs between sustain and scan electrodes by a wall voltage of the sustain and scan electrodes and a voltage of the setup pulse when the setup pulse is applied. A self discharge occurs between the sustain and scan electrodes when the setup pulse falls, to form space charges. A sustain pulse is applied to the sustain and scan electrodes, and a sustain occurs by the space charges and the sustain pulse.

Abstract: A PDP driving circuit for a stable operation of a ramp pulse. A capacitor having a temperature characteristic opposite to a temperature characteristic of a part coupled to a switch that operates as a constant current source for generation of a ramp pulse is arranged in the driving circuit for generating a ramp pulse. The ramp pulse linearly increases or decreases a panel voltage of the PDP with respect to time. Parts having opposite temperature characteristics are coupled in parallel to control variation of a gradient of the ramp pulse so that values of the parts may not be varied depending on the temperature changes. Thus, stable operation of the ramp pulse is obtained.

Abstract: Scan electrodes are provided separately in addition to sustain electrode pairs generating a sustain discharge. An Address-While-Display drive, in which a scan pulse and a sustain pulse are applied at the same timing, is conducted for each subfield. When scan pulses are applied to the scan electrodes, a wall voltage is generated by a wall charge formed on the dielectric layer located on the scan electrodes. This wall voltage is set higher in the negative voltage direction than the wall voltage generated by a wall charge formed on the dielectric layer located on the sustain electrode pairs. As a result, the display luminance level is increased, increase in the scale of power source circuit can be avoided, and a wide drive margin can be obtained.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for improving the gray-scale linearity of a plasma display. At least two types of gray-scale allocations are mixed for forming the original gray scale, or different gray scales are mixed to derive the original gray scale, so as to obtain the required brightness. Therefore, by using multiple combinations to adjust the original gray scale, the required brightness is obtained, and the gray scale linearity for all the gray scales is improved.

Abstract: In a circuit driving a capacitive load Cp, current passed through a transistor Q3, a diode D1 and a recovering coil L is passed through lines L1, L2, and the inductance components of the lines L1 and L2, and the drain-source capacitances of the transistors Q1 and Q2 generate LC resonance. Capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel to the drain-source regions of the transistors Q1 and Q2 to increase the total drain-source capacitance and reduce the resonance frequency, so that unwanted electromagnetic wave radiation in a frequency band affecting other electronic devices is suppressed.

Abstract: A switching device for a plasma display panel that facilitates operations at a high voltage. The switching device may be formed with more than one insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) coupled in parallel. The switching device may also be formed with an insulated gate bipolar transistor and a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) coupled in parallel. The MOSFET may be used for the switching device in a low current area and the IGBT may be used for the switching device in a high current area.

Abstract: A panel capacitor is formed by a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. The voltage at the panel capacitor is reduced by turning on a transistor coupled between the scan electrode and the capacitor. As a result, the voltage within the panel capacitor exceeds the discharge firing voltage to discharge the panel capacitor. When the gate voltage of the transistor is reduced by an RC circuit, the transistor is turned off, and the scan electrode is floated. A discharge is then steeply quenched, and wall charges are finely controlled. Next, the above-noted operation is repeated by turning on the transistor.

Abstract: A display device having a display matrix (m+2x by n+2x) including an active, e.g., controllable, pixel border located around the edge locations of a frame buffer matrix for improved character viewability. The border can be several pixels wide, e.g., 1<x<5. In one embodiment, the border is two pixels wide and surrounds a liquid crystal display (LCD) matrix area having (m×n) pixels that are controlled by a frame buffer memory. In one embodiment, the pixels of the border are active pixels and each contain a red, a green and a blue subpixel. The pixel border is useful for increasing viewability, e.g., contrast, of characters that are displayed along the edge of the LCD matrix area in a frame buffer region. The invention includes a border attribute register for containing a color attribute and a brightness attribute, in one embodiment.

Abstract: A plasma display device is provided which is capable of expanding an ensured operating temperature range or operating life time even at time of changes of a driving margin induced by a panel temperature or cumulative operating time of the panel. Display is controlled in a scanning period during which writing discharge is made to occur in a cell, in a sustaining period during which a cell having undergone writing discharge is turned ON for displaying, and in an initializing period during which wall charges in a cell and space charges accumulated before the scanning period starts are initialized. A wall charge adjusting period during which a potential difference between scanning electrodes and data electrodes varies gradually is set and a change rate of a potential between scanning electrodes and data electrodes during the wall charge adjusting period is changed according to the panel temperature and/or cumulative operating time of the panel.

Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) and driving method that includes a floating reset process. A number of subfields are generated from input video signals, and subfield data for each subfield are output. A first voltage is applied to the first electrode according to sustain information to cause a discharge in a first discharge space, and the first electrode is floated during a period which corresponds to subfield data of a previous subfield. During this process, the floating time is controlled according to the number of addressed cells called for in previous subfield data.

Abstract: An energy recovering apparatus and method for a plasma display panel wherein a charge time of the plasma display panel can be shortened with the aid of a compulsory resonance to thereby improve a discharge characteristic. In the apparatus, a first path charges an inductor using energy from a source capacitor. A second path is separated from the source capacitor to supply energy of the inductor to the plasma display panel.

Abstract: An energy recovery driving circuit of the present invention has a resonant inductor, a primary coil and at least one secondary coil of a transformer, and an energy recovery unit. The resonant inductor is connected to the load for allowing a charge and/or discharge current to be applied to the load to flow through the resonant inductor. The primary coil is connected to the resonant inductor, and is connected to both the resonant inductor and the load so as to allow the charge and/or discharge current to flow through the primary coil when the charging and/or discharge current flows through the load. The secondary coil is coupled to the primary coil. The energy recovery unit generates a current according to the predetermined number of turns of the secondary coil to allow the current flowing through the secondary coil to be recovered to a supply voltage source.

Abstract: Barrier ribs are disposed on a back substrate so as to separate main discharge cells and priming discharge cells, and the top parts of the barrier ribs are formed so as to abut on a front substrate. In a driving method, in an odd-numbered line writing time period, scan pulse Va is sequentially applied to odd-numbered scan electrode SCp and voltage Vq is applied to even-numbered sustain electrode SUp+1 to cause priming discharge between even-numbered sustain electrode SUp+1 and odd-numbered scan electrode SCp. In an even-numbered line writing time period, scan pulse Va is sequentially applied to even-numbered scan electrode SCp+1 and voltage Vq is applied to odd-numbered sustain electrode SUp to cause priming discharge between odd-numbered sustain electrode SUp and even-numbered scan electrode SCp+1.

Abstract: Barrier ribs are disposed on a back substrate so as to separate main discharge cells formed of a display electrode pair and a data electrode which face each other and priming discharge cells formed of a clearance between two adjacent scan electrodes. The top parts of the barrier ribs are formed so as to abut on a front substrate. In a driving method, in an odd-numbered line writing time period, scan pulse Va is sequentially applied to odd-numbered scan electrode SCp and voltage Vq is applied to even-numbered scan electrode SCp+1 to cause priming discharge between scan electrode SCp+1 and odd-numbered scan electrode SCp. In an even-numbered line writing time period, scan pulse Va is sequentially applied to even-numbered scan electrode SCp+1 and voltage Vq is applied to odd-numbered scan electrode SCp to cause priming discharge between scan electrode SCp and even-numbered scan electrode SCp+1.

Abstract: A plasma display panel with a drive circuit that divides a field into a plurality of sub-fields with each sub-field including a write period, a discharge sustain period and an erase period. In the discharge sustain period at least one of a plurality of pulses applied in a later part of the discharge sustain period has a larger pulse width than a pulse applied in an earlier part of the discharge sustain period and in the erase period, a narrow pulse is applied to a pair of electrodes extending across each of a plurality of discharge cells. The narrow pulse has a pulse height lower than a discharge firing voltage of the plurality of discharge cells and a smaller pulse width than the pulses applied in the discharge sustain period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the plasma display panel module that integrates a sustainer board and reduces electromagnetic interference. The plasma display panel module includes a plasma display panel that includes scan electrode lines, sustain electrode lines, and a data electrode lines, an integration driving board that drives scan electrode lines and sustain electrode lines, a first electric current path that is connected between the integration driving board and the scan electrode lines, a second electric current path that is connected between the integration driving board and the sustain electrode lines, and a metal plate to release heat by a plasma display panel, which a penetration hole that the second electric current path penetrates is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a device for supplying an array of electrodes of a plasma display panel, the device including, for each electrode, a driver having a series of switches and a series of diodes, the common points of which are connected to the electrode. The upper terminal of the series of diodes is connected directly to the output of a sustain generator and the lower terminal is connected to the sustain generator via a power switch. One of the terminals of the series of switches is connected to the output of a negative voltage generator. In periods during which the negative voltage generator applies a negative voltage to the electrodes, the power switch is open in order to avoid a short-circuit via the diode of the sustain generator.

Abstract: A method of grayscale-driving a display panel in accordance with pixel data derived from a video signal. The display panel includes a plurality of display lines, with a plurality of pixel cells serving as pixels being arranged on each display line. A display period of a single field of the video signal is divided into a plurality of subfields. The method includes dividing one subfield into M lower subfields. M is an integer greater than one. M groups of display lines are prepared by sequentially taking every M display lines from the display lines. First to Mth address steps are performed in the M lower subfields respectively and sequentially. Each address step sets the pixel cells belonging to the display lines of the display line group concerned, to a drive mode determined by the pixel data. A first light emission step is performed to cause the pixel cells whose drive mode is a lit mode, to emit light directly before or after the address step concerned. Another subfield is divided into N lower subfields.

Abstract: An image data correction method and apparatus for a plasma display panel, and a plasma display panel device having the apparatus. The image data correction method calculates a load factor of video signals fed into a plasma display panel, and determines an automatic power control level corresponding to the calculated load factor. The method further involves generating sustain pulse information and the number of subfields and selecting a correction table corresponding to the number of subfields and the automatic power control level from the memory. Then, the image data is corrected with reference to the correction table. By this image data correction, white chromaticity can be maintained constantly while enhancing the color reproducibility of each subfield.

Abstract: A plasma display panel with an improved sustain electrode structure and capable of enhancing optical efficiency includes: a rear substrate; address electrodes arranged in a predetermined pattern on the rear substrate; a lower dielectric layer arranged to cover the address electrodes; barrier ribs arranged on the lower dielectric layer; phosphors arranged to be applied to internal sections of discharge cells defined by the barrier ribs; a front substrate arranged opposite the rear substrate; sustain electrodes including bus electrodes arranged in a predetermined pattern and transparent electrodes having relatively wider widths than that of the bus electrodes and arranged to extend toward the internal sections of the discharge cells from the bus electrodes, the transparent electrodes including lead-in parts each having a width equal to 0.5 to 1.

Abstract: A PDP address driver circuit includes: an inductor coupled to a conductive pattern. A first current applier applyies a current of a first direction to the inductor and the conductive pattern while sustaining a panel capacitor at an address voltage. A discharger generates a resonance between the inductor and the panel capacitor to discharge the panel capacitor to 0V, while the current of the first direction flows to the inductor and the conductive pattern. A second current applier applyies a current of a second direction to the inductor and the conductive pattern while sustaining the panel capacitor at 0V. A charger generates a resonance between the inductor and the panel capacitor to charge the panel capacitor to the address voltage, while the current of the second direction flows to the inductor and the conductive pattern.

Abstract: A low-cost capacitive load drive circuit, in which a reference voltage, a first voltage, and a second voltage are supplied to a capacitive load, and a plasma display apparatus using it, have been disclosed. The capacitive load drive circuit comprises a reference voltage switch the breakdown voltage of which is properly adjusted, a first switch, a reference voltage phase adjusting circuit, and a first phase adjusting circuit, and malfunctions due to the difference in switching characteristics can be prevented from occurring even when devices of different breakdown voltages are used.

Abstract: In a PDP driving method, an image of each field displayed on the PDP corresponding to an input video signal is divided into sub-fields with different weights, and a combination of the weights is used for gradation. The method includes: determining an automatic power control (APC) level for driving the PDP; determining a pulse width comprising any one of an address pulse width, a sustain pulse width, and a reset pulse width, or a combination of at least two of the three pulse widths for each sub-field using the APC level, the determined pulse width including as an increment a part of a pause period occurring in driving the PDP at the APC level; and performing addressing on the PDP according to the pulse width.

Abstract: The apparatus for displaying plasma display panel (PDP) gray scales includes an automatic power controller for detecting an average signal level (ASL) in each field of video data; first and second frame memories for storing the video data in even and odd frames; a sub-field generator for mapping the video data according to the number of sub-fields, generating gray scale data, and selectively storing them in the frame memories; an address data generator for generating address data and applying them to the PDP; an ASL controller for comparing the numbers of sub-fields in each field with each other, and controlling the number of sub-fields; and a sustain scan pulse generator for receiving the number of sub-fields, generating sustain pulses and scan pulses, and applying them to the PDP.

Abstract: In a plasma display device having a reduced discharge-current-induced voltage fluctuation and an expanded drive margin and being successful in preventing the display characteristics from being degraded, a Y-electrode drive circuit and an X-electrode drive circuit for supplying a drive voltage to the capacitance which represents a display cell are configured using parallel circuits in which first switching elements having a high-speed-switching performance and second switching elements having a low-saturation-voltage performance are connected in parallel, so that the second switching elements having the low-saturation-voltage performance are turned on at least during a period that discharge current flows therebetween.

Abstract: Plasma display panel (PDP), PDP display apparatus, and method for driving the PDP. The PDP is a surface discharge AC PDP having a first substrate and a second substrate arranged to face each other with barrier ribs interposed therebetween. A first electrode and a second electrode are arranged on a facing surface of the first substrate so as to extend parallel to each other, and are covered with a dielectric layer. A third electrode is arranged on a facing surface of the second substrate so as to extend orthogonally to the first and second electrodes. A discharge gas is enclosed within a discharge space defined between the interposed barrier ribs. In the above PDP, the discharge gas is a gas mixture containing xenon. The xenon component comprises at least 5 vol % and less than 100 vol %, and has a partial pressure of at least 2 kPa. Furthermore, the gap between the first and second electrodes in the PDP is greater than a height of the discharge space.

Abstract: A magnetic display panel includes strips of first electrodes arranged in a first direction on an inner surface of a rear plate. Strips of second electrodes are arranged in a second direction, perpendicular to the first electrodes, and insulated from the first electrodes. Pixel electrodes are installed on each of the intersections of the first and second electrodes, and each has a spiral magnetic field producing unit electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. A magnetic film on the pixel electrodes has a magnetic gap through which a magnetic field produced by the pixel electrodes leaks. A magnetic fluid has a predetermined thickness on the inner surface of the rear plate. Such a display panel can provide moving pictures because of its improved responsivity, and, particularly, is easily fabricated at a low cost in large quantities because of its simple structure. Furthermore, the display panel is advantageous in building super-large display devices based on multiple integration.

Abstract: A driving method for a plasma display panel realizes a high quality display at low power consumption while restraining a false contour. After a selective discharge for setting discharge cells to a light-on state or a light-off state is generated in one subfield of N subfields constituting each field, the selective discharge is generated again only in subfields placed at predetermined positions from the beginning of each field.

Abstract: An ALIS system PDP apparatus in which a reduction in the variation in luminance due to ringing has been reduced is disclosed. In an ALIS system PDP apparatus, X (first) electrodes and Y (second) electrodes are arranged in such a way that the X electrodes and the Y electrodes, whose path length, which is the length of each of the signal paths of a sustain discharge pulse from the X and Y electrode to sustain drive circuits, is longer or shorter than that of the peripheral X and Y electrodes, do not exist densely. Specifically, the order of arrangement of the odd and even X sustain drive circuits is reversed to that of odd and even Y sustain drive circuits.

Abstract: An entrance intercom specific color panel module provides higher lumens and more consistent brightness, lower production cost, upgraded image quality, longer service life, summary manufacturing process, easy assembly and fast replacement of parts, comprised of chip on glass (COG) LCD panel adapted with tape automated bonding (TAB) backlight module in direct light design including a reflector, a fluorescent lamp and a light guide plate; the reflector approximately in W-shape section, rectangular plastic sheet provided with a recess to accommodate the lamp; the light guide plate made of transparent acrylic material being adhered to the surface of the reflector, an arc diffuser being provided on the bottom of the light guide plate at where in relation to the area of the light tube; on the top of the light guide plate being bonded to the back of the LCD panel.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel is provided in which a wall voltage at an interelectrode between a display electrode and an address electrode is controlled without increasing contrast in preparation for addressing, so that reliability of addressing is improved. As an operation of initialization for controlling the wall voltage of a cell within a screen as a preparation for the addressing, a first blunt wave application is performed for generating discharge only in a previous non-lighted cell that was not lighted in a previous display, and a second blunt wave application is performed for generating discharge in each of the previous non-lighted cell and a previous lighted cell that was lighted in the previous display.

Abstract: A switching element includes a first electrode 1 and a second electrode 2 provided apart from each other so as to run a discharge current between them, and a third electrode 3 configured to be capable of changing the difference in potential from at least one of the first and second electrodes 1 and 2, and of controlling the magnitude of the discharge current running between the first and second electrodes 1 and 2 by changing this potential difference.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel is provided in which a time necessary for an addressing process is shortened without using any special driving component. The method comprises an addressing process that includes the steps of setting light emission operation of the cells of a display of one screen, starting j-th row selection at a point during (j-1)th row selection, and changing the data electrodes from a control state corresponding to display data of the (j-1)th row to a control state corresponding to display data of the j-th row during a period in which the (j-1)th row selection and the j-th row selection are overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A device for driving capacitive light emitting elements includes a plurality of electrical charge recovery switches that send a current corresponding with an electrical charge, which has accumulated in a capacitor, individually to a plurality of drive electrodes connected to the respective capacitive light emitting elements. The electrical charge recovery switches also supply a current corresponding with the electrical charge that has accumulated in each of the capacitive light emitting elements to the capacitor individually via each of the drive electrodes. The driver device also includes a plurality of output buffers that apply a pixel-data-dependent voltage to the drive electrodes. It is determined, for each drive electrode, whether the voltage of the drive electrode has shifted from a high voltage to a low voltage or from a low voltage to a high voltage on the basis of the pixel data.

Abstract: An image of each field displayed on a plasma display panel corresponding to input image signals is divided into sub-fields of different weights, the sub-fields being divided into two continuous sub-field groups having a different weighting value, and in which the weighting values of the sub-fields combine to display grays. The method includes generating original grays; determining a diffusion filter value; generating final grays by applying the diffusion filter value to the original grays; generating gray data corresponding to the final grays, the gray data being distributed over the two sub-field groups; and displaying an image on the PDP according to the gray data. The disclosed method and system reduce flicker and contour noise and other display problems associated with the display of 50 Hz Phase Alternating by Line image signals.

Abstract: A display panel driving apparatus capable of displaying images of good quality with a limited dither pattern. Each of pixel cells arranged on each display line in a plurality of adjacent display lines is forced to emit light at a different luminance level based on a weighting coefficient assigned to each of the display lines, wherein a weighting coefficient is assigned to each of the display lines such that an offset of luminance difference between pixel cells arranged on each of display lines adjacent to each other is held within a predetermined range across all the adjacent display lines in the display panel.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for a display panel generates a cell data comprising a bit series per each column electrode of a display panel. The cell data indicates light emitting or non-light emitting in each cell on a column electrode in accordance with a picture signal. The apparatus generates a resonating amplitude signal having a specified minimum power source voltage by a function of resonance. The apparatus generates power pulses in sequence having a period corresponding to one bit of the cell data by giving a specified maximum electrical potential during a rising period and a falling period of the resonating amplitude signal. The apparatus provided in each column electrode determines a logic level of the bit series of the cell data in order of the bit series, and supplies the power pulse to a corresponding column electrode as a driving pulse when the bit indicates the logic level of light emitting.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for driving a plasma display panel that provides an improved expression of levels of halftone as well as an improved display quality. In N sub-fields constituting a display period of one field, when a pixel data writing step for setting discharge cells to either one of non-light-emitting cells or light-emitting cells in response to pixel data and a light-emission sustaining step for allowing only the aforementioned light-emitting cells to emit light only during a light-emission period corresponding to weights assigned to the sub-fields respectively are executed, the light-emission period in the light-emission sustaining step of the respective sub-fields is changed field by field or frame by frame. According to another aspect, the invention allows for carrying out selectively a first drive pattern or a second drive pattern.

Abstract: A plasma display device having display electrode pairs and providing improved luminance and light emission efficiency of display discharges with reduced variations of the luminance and light emission efficiency thereof resulting from variations of a display load. A discharge is generated by applying an offset drive voltage that is higher than a sustain voltage applied to the display electrode pair, and applying the sustain voltage for a constant period after dropping the applied voltage from an offset drive voltage to the sustain voltage after generating the display discharge. The drive output state is set to a low impedance state at least during a time period from the start of applying the offset drive voltage until the applied voltage drops to the sustain voltage.