Method for driving a gas-discharge panel

Abstract

When performing the line-sequential addressing for setting the state of each of the cells arranged in rows and columns that constitute a display screen, discharge is generated that has intensity in accordance with display data corresponding to each of all cells belonging to the selected row for each selection of the row. Thus, the priming effect in the following discharge is generated.

1. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel in which line-sequential addressing is performed for setting a state of cells arranged in rows and columns, the method comprising generating a discharge in all cells of a selected row, irrespective of a state to be set in each of the cells for each selection of the row in addressing, an intensity of the discharge in each of the cells of the selected row being set in accordance with state setting data corresponding to each of the cells of the selected row. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intensity is set to either a first intensity for cells to be lit during the line-sequential addressing by applying a voltage in the cells to be lit to achieve restart of a discharge in a light sustaining operation or a second intensity for cells not to be lit during the line-sequential addressing by applying a voltage in the cells not to be lit to prohibit restart of a discharge in the light sustaining operation. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas-discharge panel includes scanning electrodes for selecting respective rows and data electrodes for selecting respective columns crossing the rows at respective cells, the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes being covered with a dielectric layer for providing wall voltage, a discharge space being continuous over an entire length of each of the columns, the method further comprising:
 applying a preparation pulse to the cells of the selected row before performing the addressing to set a wall voltage of each cell to a predetermined level to perform an addressing preparation;  
 generating the discharge in a first intensity for cells to be lit during the line-sequential addressing by applying a voltage in the cells to be lit to increase a wall charge level set after the applied preparation pulse to achieve restart of the discharge in a light sustaining operation; and  
 generating the discharge in a second intensity for cells not to be lit during the line-sequential addressing by applying a voltage in the cells not to be lit to decrease a wall charge level set after the applied preparation pulse to prohibit restart of the discharge in the light sustaining operation.  
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 biasing each of the data electrodes to a first potential or a second potential in accordance with the state setting data of one row synchronizing with a row selection by an independent potential control with respect to each of the scanning electrodes.  
 
     
     
       5. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel in which line-sequential addressing is performed for setting a state of cells arranged in rows and columns so as to constitute a display screen, the method comprising generating a discharge in all cells of a selected row, irrespective of a state to be set in each of the cells for each selection of the row in addressing, an intensity of the discharge in each of the cells of the selected row being set in accordance with state setting data corresponding to each of the cells of the selected row. 
     
     
       6. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel having a display screen including cells arranged in rows and columns, a scanning electrode for selecting a corresponding row and a data electrode for selecting a corresponding column crossing at a corresponding cell, one of the scanning electrode and the data electrode being covered with a dielectric layer for providing wall voltage, a discharge space being continuous over an entire length of each of the columns, the method comprising:
 performing line-sequential addressing to control the wall voltage of all cells of the screen in accordance with binary display data and sustaining by applying an alternating voltage to all cells of a selected row, repeatedly; and  
 generating a discharge having either a first or a second intensity depending on the display data corresponding to each of the cells of the selected row for each selection of the row in the addressing.  
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 applying a preparation pulse to the cells of the selected row before performing the addressing so as to perform an addressing preparation for setting the wall voltage of each cell to a predetermined level;  
 generating the discharge having a first intensity for cells to be lit in the addressing so as to make a level of the wall voltage set in the addressing preparation increase to a sufficient level to regenerate a discharge in a light sustaining operation; and  
 generating the discharge having a second intensity for cells not to be lit in the addressing so as to make the level of the wall voltage set in the addressing preparation decrease to a level such that a discharge cannot restart in the sustaining operation.  
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 biasing each of the data electrodes to a first potential or a second potential in accordance with the display data of one row synchronizing with the row selection by an independent potential control with respect to each of the scanning electrodes.  
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 applying a voltage to an electrode gap of the cells generating a discharge in the addressing, in the addressing preparation the voltage increasing from a first set value to a second set value, so as to adjust the wall voltage of the electrode gap by generating plural discharges or a continuous discharge in a rising period of the voltage.  
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 applying a preparation pulse to the cells of the selected row before performing the addressing so as to perform an addressing preparation for setting the wall voltage of each cell to a predetermined level;  
 generating the discharge having a first intensity for cells to be lit in the addressing so as to make a level of the wall voltage set in the addressing preparation maintain a sufficient level to regenerate a discharge in a light sustaining operation; and  
 generating the discharge having a second intensity for cells not to be lit in the addressing so as to make the level of the wall voltage set in the addressing preparation decrease to a level such that a discharge cannot restart in the sustaining operation.  
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 biasing each of the data electrodes to a first potential or a second potential in accordance with the display data of one row synchronizing with the row selection by an independent potential control with respect to each of the scanning electrodes.  
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 applying a voltage to an electrode gap of the cells generating a discharge in the addressing, in the addressing preparation the voltage increasing from a first set value to a second set value, so as to adjust the wall voltage of the electrode gap by generating plural discharges or a continuous discharge in a rising period of the voltage.  
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 biasing each of the data electrodes to a first potential or a second potential in accordance with the display data of one row synchronizing with the row selection by an independent potential control with respect to each of the scanning electrodes.  
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge is generated one time in the cells of the selected row in the addressing. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the row selection is performed in a order such that in a second row selection and after the second row selection the discharge in a former row selection become effective as a priming discharge. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 dividing the rows of the screen into a group of odd rows and a group of even rows;  
 addressing each group by time sharing; and  
 applying a voltage to all cells of the latter group between the addressing of the former group and the addressing of the latter group, so as to generate a priming discharge.  
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 disposing one or more auxiliary electrodes that are similar to the scanning electrode at the outside of the screen in a row direction; and  
 applying a voltage to the one or more auxiliary electrodes in the addressing for generating a priming discharge before a first row selection.  
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 dividing the rows of the screen into a group of odd rows and a group of even rows; addressing each group by time sharing; and  
 applying a voltage to the one or more auxiliary electrodes close to the row that is selected first in the latter group between the addressing of the former group and the addressing of the latter group, so as to generate the priming discharge.  
 
     
     
       19. A display device comprising:
 a gas-discharge panel having a display screen including cells arranged in rows and columns, and having a structure in which a scanning electrode for selecting a corresponding row and a data electrode for selecting a corresponding column cross each other at a corresponding cell, at least one of the scanning electrode and data electrode is covered with a dielectric layer for providing a wall voltage, and a discharge space is continuous over an entire length of each of the columns;  
 a drive circuit performing line-sequential addressing to control the wall voltage of all cells of the display screen in accordance with binary display data, and sustaining by applying the alternating voltage to all cells of a selected row, wherein the drive circuit generates a discharge having either a first intensity or a second intensity depending on the display data corresponding to each of the cells of the selected row for each selection of the row as the addressing.  
 
     
     
       20. The display device according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a drive circuit that applies a voltage to an electrode gap of the cells generating a discharge in the addressing, in an addressing preparation, the voltage increasing from a first set value to a second set value, the drive circuit adjusting the wall voltage of the electrode gap by generating plural discharges or a continuous discharge in a rising period of the voltage as the addressing preparation.  
 
     
     
       21. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel in which point-sequential addressing is performed for setting a state of cells arranged in rows and columns, the method comprising:
 generating a discharge in a selected cell, irrespective of a state to be set in the cell for each selection in the addressing, an intensity of the discharge in the cell being set in accordance with state setting data corresponding to the cell.  
 
     
     
       22. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel in which a plurality of discharge cells each having a memory function produced by a wall charge are arranged in a matrix, the method comprising:
 applying a predetermined preparation pulse to all of the discharge cells arranged in the matrix, simultaneously, so as to set a wall charge of each of the discharge cells to a predetermined level;  
 addressing to make the discharge cells of the matrix forming the wall charge perform line-sequential addressing discharges;  
 displaying by applying a predetermined sustain pulse to the discharge cells arranged in the matrix, so as to make the addressed discharge cells perform sustain discharges; and  
 the addressing including generating a discharge in the discharge cells of the matrix, wherein a discharge of a first intensity is generated in the discharge cells to be addressed by applying a voltage producing a discharges having a level sufficient to store sufficient wall charge for restarting the discharges in the displaying, while a discharge of a second intensity is generated in the discharge cells not to be addressed, the second intensity lowering a level of the wall charge set in the applying to a level that disables restarting the discharge in the displaying.  
 
     
     
       23. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel in which a plurality of discharge cells, each having a memory function produced by a wall charge, are arranged in a matrix, the method comprising:
 applying a preparation pulse, simultaneously to all of the discharge cells arranged in the matrix to set a wall charge of each of the discharge cells to a first level; and  
 addressing the discharge cells to perform line-sequential addressing discharges, the addressing including generating a first intensity discharge or a second intensity discharge in the discharge cells of the matrix, wherein a first intensity discharge is generated in the discharge cells to be lit by applying a voltage in the discharge cells to be lit to increase the wall charge level to a second level greater than the first level set after the applied preparation pulse to achieve restart of a discharge in a light sustaining operation and a second intensity discharge is generated in the discharge cells not to be lit by applying a voltage in the discharge cells not to be lit to lower a wall charge level to a third level less than the first level set after the applied preparation pulse to prohibit restart of a discharge in the light sustaining operation.  
 
     
     
       24. A method for driving a gas-discharge panel having a display screen including cells arranged in rows and columns, a scanning electrode for selecting a corresponding row and a data electrode for selecting a corresponding column crossing at a corresponding cell, the scanning electrode making a main electrode pair with a third electrode at respective corresponding cells, at least two of the two electrodes making the main electrode pair and the data electrode being covered with a dielectric layer for providing wall voltage, the method comprising:
 performing an addressing preparation to initialize the wall voltage of all cells of the screen, performing line-sequential addressing to control the wall voltage of all cells of the screen in accordance with binary display data and sustaining by applying an alternating voltage to all cells of a selected row, repeatedly;  
 applying a voltage to at least one of electrode gaps of the cells generating a discharge in the addressing, in the addressing preparation the voltage increasing from a first set value to a second set value, so as to adjust the wall voltage of the electrode gap by generating plural discharges or a continuous discharge in a rising period of the voltage; and  
 setting the voltage to be applied to the electrode gap to which the increasing voltage is applied higher than the second set value irrespective of a value of display data, when a scanning pulse for selecting a corresponding row is applied to the scanning electrode in the addressing.  
 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the electrode gap to which the increasing voltage is applied is the electrode gap of the main electrode pair. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein a discharge space of the gas-discharge panel is continuous over an entire length of each of the columns. 
     
     
       27. A method for driving a gas- discharge panel having a plurality of pairs of main electrodes forming a plurality of display cells arranged in a plurality of rows, and displaying a frame which includes a plurality of subfields, at least one of the subfields having an addressing preparation period, an addressing period and a sustain period, the method comprising:      adjusting a charge in the respective display cells in the addressing preparation period;        setting the state of each cell, to be lit or not to be lit, in the addressing period;        generating sustain discharges of cells set to be lit in the addressing period;        wherein in the addressing preparation period, applying a pulse of a voltage changing with time to at least one electrode of each pair of main electrodes, as a scan electrode, so that a voltage difference between the pair of main electrodes changes from a first set value to a second set value; and        wherein in the addressing period, applying a scanning pulse, having a same polarity as a polarity of the pulse applied to the scan electrode during the addressing preparation period, to the scan electrode so that a voltage difference between the pair of main electrodes is set to be larger than the second set value.     
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the pulse applied in the addressing preparation period changes simply from the first set value to the second set value. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the addressing period includes at least a first period and a second period and a plurality of rows is scanned in each of the first period and the second period. 
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising a period supplying a priming particle, between the first period and the second period. 
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising a further period, between the first period and the second period, for supplying a pulse which is different from pulses applied in the first and second periods. 
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the pulse, applied between the first and second periods, generates a discharge. 
     
     
       33. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of rows are divided into a group of odd rows and a group of even rows, and the group of odd rows or the group of even rows is scanned in each of the first period and the second period. 
     
     
       34. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein:
   one of the pair of main electrodes is selected for use as a scan electrode;        in the addressing preparation period, a pulse applied to one of the scan electrodes for adjusting a wall voltage thereof has a ramp waveform which changes to a negative direction; and        in the addressing period, the voltage of the scan pulse applied to the scan electrodes is set to be lower than the attained voltage of the ramp waveform applied to the scan electrode.     
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising a plurality of data electrodes which are arranged perpendicular to the main electrodes, wherein:
   in the addressing preparation period, a continuous discharge for adjusting the wall voltage in each cell is generated by the voltage of the ramp waveform applied between a pair of main electrodes; and        in the addressing period, an addressing discharge for setting a selected cell in a selected row to a state to be lit is generated by a voltage difference between a negative scan pulse applied to the selected scan electrode and a positive addressing pulse applied to a selected data electrode, a priming discharge being generated between main electrodes in an unselected cell in the selected row by the voltage difference between the scan pulse and a positive pulse applied to the other main electrode.     
     
     
       36. A drive circuit for a gas- discharge panel having a plurality of pairs of main electrodes forming a plurality of display cells arranged in a plurality of rows, and displaying a frame which includes a plurality of subfields, at least one of the subfields having an addressing preparation period, an addressing period and a sustain period, the drive circuit comprising:      a unit adjusting a charge in the respective display cells in the addressing preparation period;        a unit setting the state of each cell, to be lit or not to be lit, in the addressing period;        a unit generating sustain discharges of cells set to be lit in the addressing period,        a controller, operative in the addressing preparation period, to apply a pulse of a voltage changing with time, from a first set value to a second set value, to at least one electrode of each pair of main electrodes, which is used as a scan electrode and, operative in the addressing period, to apply a scanning pulse, having a same polarity as a polarity of the pulse applied to the scan electrode during the addressing preparation period, to the scan electrode so that an absolute value of voltage of the scanning pulse is set to be larger than an absolute value of the second set value.