JPH0773811A - Gas discharge display device and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a gas discharge display device and a driving method thereof in which an image display region is divided into a plurality of blocks and good display is possible even at the boundaries of the blocks. In this gas discharge display device, a plurality of display cathodes 14 are divided into display areas to form a plurality of blocks, and a display anode 16 is divided corresponding to the blocks.
A display cathode 14 is arranged on the rear substrate 12 facing the divided portion of the display anode 16, a display cathode 14 arranged at the boundary B of the block, and two displays having division ends on the display cathode 14. With the anode 16, the block boundary B
A display cell is configured in. This device is driven by selecting two display anodes 1 when selecting a display cell at the boundary B of the block.
A constant voltage or a predetermined current signal is applied to 6 at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas discharge display device, a so-called plasma display, and more particularly to a plasma display which divides a display area into a plurality of blocks to display an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to improve the brightness of a display image of a gas discharge display device, an image display area is provided with a display cathode (first electrode).
A plurality of blocks are divided into a plurality of blocks to form a plurality of blocks, and the blocks are simultaneously selected for image display. (See JP-A-55-29852.) This will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a conventional gas discharge display device, and FIGS. 16 and 17 are examples of drive signal waveforms of the display cathodes C1 to C2n of the gas discharge display device of FIG.

In the figure, CR is a reset cathode and C1 ...
C2n is a display cathode, and one block on the upper side of the display cathodes C1 to Cn is a display cathode Cn +
1 to C2n constitutes one lower block. DA11 to DA1m and DA21 to DA2m are display anodes (second electrodes), and 62 is a display anode of the first block (DA11.
˜DA1m) drive circuit, and 66 a display anode (DA21 to DA2m) drive circuit of the second block. A region where the display anode 56 and the display cathode 54 intersect with each other across the discharge space constitutes a display cell 60, and the display cell 60 has a driving signal applied to the display anode 56 and the display cathode 54 in each intersecting region. Display discharge is performed to display a desired image.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 16, first, a drive signal is applied to the reset electrode CR at the beginning of the first block for a sufficiently long time to cause a discharge at the reset electrode CR portion. Subsequently, by utilizing the induction by the charged particles generated during the discharge of the reset electrode CR portion, the drive signals are sequentially applied to the display cathodes C1 to Cn to sequentially shift the discharge. At the same time, the display cathode Cn + 1 of the second block
The display cells 60 of the first block and the second block are simultaneously selected by sequentially applying the drive signals to C2n to C2n to discharge and display images.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, by adjusting the timing so as to start the discharge at the display cathode Cn + 1 portion of the second block following the discharge at the display cathode Cn portion of the first block, the first The discharge is surely transferred from the block to the second block.

[0006]

However, since the display cells 60 located at the boundary portion of the block have different driving conditions from the display cells 60 in the other areas, the image display is disturbed near the boundary, and the display quality of the image is deteriorated. There was a problem that

This problem will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
8 is an example of a cross-sectional view near a block boundary of a conventional gas discharge display device in which a plurality of display cathodes of a plurality of blocks are simultaneously selected. In the figure, 10 is a front substrate (second substrate), 12 is a rear substrate (first substrate), 56 is a display anode (second electrode), 5
4 indicates a display cathode (first electrode) (Cn-1 to Cn + 2),
The dashed-dotted line B is the boundary of the block, the arrow 33 is the discharge path, 3
Reference numeral 6 indicates a discharge space. Further, 50 is a display anode 56
It is a phosphor for displaying a desired color by ultraviolet rays or the like generated by display discharge between the display cathode 54 and the display cathode 54.

When a predetermined drive signal is applied to the display cathode 54 and the display anode 56, the discharge path 33 in the display cell 60 other than the block boundary B portion is indicated by an arrow on the display cathode Cn-1 in the figure. As described above, the display anode 56 exposed from both sides of the phosphor 50 faces the display cathode 54 (Cn-1). On the other hand, in the display cell 60 at the block boundary B portion, as shown on the display cathode Cn + 1 in the figure, the display anode 56 on the block boundary B side is not sufficiently exposed from the phosphor 50, so that one discharge occurs. The amount of light emission, that is, the display is varied.

Further, even in a gas discharge display device using a so-called trigger method, which uses the third electrode covered with the dielectric layer, the image display varies at the boundary B of the block.

This problem will be described below with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a block boundary portion of the trigger type gas discharge display device, and FIG. 20 is an example of a drive signal waveform of the gas discharge display device of FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 52 is a trigger electrode (third electrode), and 58 is a dielectric layer for separating the trigger electrode 52 from the discharge space 36. The same parts as those in FIG. 18 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, FIG. 20A shows the display anode 1 of FIG.
6, the drive signal waveform of the trigger electrode 52 is shown in (b), and the drive signal waveform of the display cathodes C1 to C2n is shown in (c).

In the operation of the trigger type gas discharge display device, first, during the trigger setting period shown in FIG. 20, a negative voltage is applied to the trigger electrode 52 and the display cathode 64 is displayed.
Positive charges are accumulated on the dielectric layer 58 exposed in the discharge space 36 therebetween.

Next, drive voltages are sequentially applied from the display cathodes C1 and Cn + 1. At the same time, a drive voltage corresponding to each display cathode 64 is also applied to the display anode 56, so that the accumulated charge on the dielectric layer 58 and the display cathode 6 in the desired display cell 60.
A trigger discharge is generated between the four electrodes, and the charged particles generated thereby are used as seeds to start the display discharge between the display anode 50 and the display cathode 54.

At this time, which display cathode 64 the accumulated charge causes discharge is shown by an arrow 35 in FIG. Since the display cathode Cn + 1 located at the boundary B of the block is first selected like the display cathode C1 as shown in the drive signal waveform of FIG. 20, it is triggered between the charge accumulated on both sides thereof. It causes a discharge. Although not shown in the figure, the display cathode C1
Is also the same. Next, when the display cathode Cn + 2 is selected, the accumulated charge on the boundary B side of the block is already discharged when the display cathode Cn + 1 is selected, and therefore the accumulated charge on the other side. And trigger discharge occurs.
When the display cathodes C2 to Cn-1 and Cn + 3 to C2n are selected, it is the same as when the display cathode Cn + 2 is selected.

However, when the display cathode Cn is selected, the accumulated charges on both sides of the display cathode Cn have already been displayed.
Trigger discharge cannot occur because 1 has been discharged when selected. Therefore, since the trigger effect cannot be obtained in the row of the display cathodes Cn, normal discharge does not occur and the image flickers.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and when the image display area of the gas discharge display device is divided into a plurality of blocks for display, a boundary portion between the blocks is displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas discharge display device and a method for driving the same, which can perform excellent display.

[0018]

Claims 1 to 1 according to the present invention
In the gas discharge display device according to 3, the image display region is divided into a plurality of first electrodes to form a plurality of blocks,
The second electrode is divided corresponding to this block, and the second electrode is divided.
The first electrode is arranged so as to face the divided portion of the electrode, and the first electrode is arranged at the boundary of the block, and the two second electrodes having the divided ends on the first electrode block the block. It is characterized in that display cells are formed at the boundaries of.

Further, in selecting a display cell formed at the boundary of a block, a means for applying the same voltage to two second electrodes having a division end in the display cell or a division in the display cell. There is provided means for making the total amount of current injected from the two second electrodes having the ends into the display cell equal to the amount of current per display cell in the region other than the block boundary. It is a thing.

Further, in the gas discharge display device according to claims 4 to 10 of the present invention, the image display region is divided into a plurality of first electrodes to form a plurality of blocks, and the blocks correspond to the blocks. Then, the second electrode is divided, a third electrode is arranged so as to face the divided portion of the second electrode, and the third electrode is electrically separated from the third electrodes in other regions.
In the driving method according to the gas discharge display device, a trigger signal is applied to the third electrode before applying a driving signal for displaying an image to the first electrode, and the trigger signal is applied to the third electrode so as to be adjacent to each other across the boundary of the blocks. While one of the display cells is selected, the third cell arranged on the boundary of the block is displayed.
A charge holding voltage is applied to the electrodes, and a voltage capable of discharging accumulated charges is applied to the third electrode while the other of the display cells is selected.

Another driving method is after selecting the display cell selected first among the display cells adjacent to each other across the block boundary and before selecting the display cell selected later. Alternatively, at the same time, a trigger pulse is applied to the third electrode arranged on the boundary of the block.

Further, in this gas discharge display device,
The third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block has a time constant circuit having at least a capacitor, a resistor, and a diode, and the third electrode arranged outside the boundary of the block via the time constant circuit. Alternatively, it is connected to the drive circuit for the third electrode. The time constant of the time constant circuit is such that the charge holding voltage is applied to the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block while one of the adjacent display cells across the boundary of the block is selected. It is possible to apply the voltage, and while the other one of the display cells is selected, the voltage capable of discharging the accumulated charge is applied to the third electrode.

According to the eleventh to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a gas discharge display device, a first substrate, a plurality of linear first electrodes formed on the first substrate, and the first electrode. Third electrodes alternately arranged on the same surface as the electrodes, and the third electrodes
A dielectric layer formed on the electrode and on an end of the first electrode adjacent to the third electrode, a second substrate facing the first substrate across a discharge space, and on the second substrate A plurality of line-shaped second electrodes formed in a direction orthogonal to the first electrode, and the two electrodes intersect each other across the discharge space by the first electrode and the second electrode. A gas discharge display device in which a display cell is configured in a region to
A plurality of blocks are formed by dividing a display region for each of the plurality of first electrodes, the second electrode is divided corresponding to the blocks, and the first substrate is opposed to the divided portion of the second electrode. The third electrode is disposed on the first dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer covers one end of the two first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode to be wider than the other end of the first electrode. One end of one of the two first electrodes adjacent to the electrode is covered.

[0024]

In the gas discharge display device and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, the amount of light generated by the display discharge is made substantially equal in the display cells located in the boundary portions of the blocks and the display cells located in other regions. The image display is not disturbed at the boundary of the blocks, and a high-quality image without flicker can be displayed on the entire screen.

That is, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention as defined in claims 1 to 3, the second electrode is divided corresponding to a block formed by dividing the image display region into a plurality of first electrodes. The first electrode facing the divided portion of the second electrode.
A display cell is formed at the boundary of the block by the first electrode having electrodes arranged at the boundary of the block and two second electrodes having divided ends on the first electrode.

Therefore, in selecting the display cell at the boundary of this block, the means for applying the same voltage to the two second electrodes having the division end in the display cell or the division end in this display cell is used. Display cells at the boundary of the block are arranged by means for making the total amount of current injected from the two second electrodes into the display cell equal to the amount of current per display cell in the region other than the boundary of the block. In, a display discharge equivalent to that of display cells in other regions can be obtained.

Further, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention as set forth in claims 4 to 10, the third electrode arranged at the boundary between the blocks is driven separately from the third electrodes in other regions,
When a display cell selected later among the display cells adjacent to each other across the block boundary is selected, accumulated charges are formed on the dielectric layer disposed between the first electrodes. Therefore, a good trigger effect can be obtained even at the boundary portion of the block, so that an image display without flicker can be obtained over the entire screen.

Further, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention described in claims 11 to 14, one of the two first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode is wider than the other, or only one of them is a dielectric. Covered with layers. The portion of the surface of the first electrode covered with the dielectric layer has a longer discharge distance than the portion not covered with the dielectric layer, and thus trigger discharge is less likely to occur. Therefore, even if the display cell selected first among the display cells adjacent to each other across the block boundary is selected and the trigger discharge occurs, the accumulated charge formed on both sides of the first electrode of this display cell is used. It will not be done. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a good image display without flicker on the entire screen without special driving at the boundary between blocks.

[0029]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gas discharge display device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view near a block boundary portion of the gas discharge display device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is each part of the gas discharge display device of FIGS. 1 and 2. Is a drive signal waveform of.

In the figure, 10 is a front substrate (second substrate), 12 is a rear substrate (first substrate), and these two substrates face each other across a discharge space 36.
A plurality of line-shaped display cathodes (first electrodes) 14 are formed on the rear substrate 12, and the display cathodes 14 are formed on the front substrate 10.
A plurality of line-shaped display anodes (second electrodes) 16 formed in a direction orthogonal to the above are formed. The display cell 20 is a region where the display cathode 14 and the display anode 16 intersect each other across the discharge space 36. The display cell 20 performs display discharge by a drive signal applied to the display anode 16 and the display cathode 14 in each intersection area, and displays a desired image.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a display cell 2 on the display anode 16.
It is a phosphor formed in a one-to-one correspondence with 0, and emits light such as ultraviolet rays generated by display discharge between the display anode 16 and the display cathode 14 to display a desired color. If red, green, and blue are used as the phosphor 18, multicolor display is possible.

Further, the alternate long and short dash line B indicates the boundary of the block, and the display cathodes C1 to Cn are Cn + in the first block.
2 to C2n are divided into the second blocks, and Cn + 1 is arranged at the boundary between the blocks. The display anode 16 is divided at the boundary B of the block corresponding to this block, and the display cathode Cn + 1 arranged at the boundary B of the block and the two divided end portions on the display cathode Cn + 1 are divided. The display cell 20 is also formed at the block boundary B by the display anode 16 of FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. Note that FIG.
1A shows the display anode drive signal waveform of the first block in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 7B shows the display anode drive signal waveform of the second block in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 7C shows the display cathode C1 to C2n. The drive signal waveform is shown.

First, as shown in FIG. 3C, a drive signal is applied to the starting end C1 of the first block and the starting end Cn + 2 of the second block. In addition, as shown in FIGS.
At the same time, a constant voltage drive signal is applied to the display anode 16 provided for each block by the first block anode drive circuit 30 and the second block anode drive circuit 32.
The display cathodes C1 and Cn + 2 and two rows are simultaneously selected. The state of discharge in the display cell 20 at this time is shown in FIG.
n + 2 Shown above. According to this, the discharge path 33 has the phosphor 1
The exposed portion of the display anode 16 which is not covered with 8 faces the display cathode 14.

Then, C2 and Cn + 3 and C3 and Cn + 4 are sequentially selected. Here, since the number of the display cathodes 14 in the second block is smaller than that in the first block, when the display cathodes Cn are selected, the scanning of all the display cathodes 14 has already been completed in the second block.

Next, the display cathode Cn + 1 arranged at the block boundary B is selected. At the same time, the first block anode drive circuit 30 and the second block anode drive circuit 32 drive a constant voltage on the display anode 16 of the first block and the display anode 16 of the second block facing the display cathode Cn + 1. A signal is applied. Then, as indicated by an arrow 33 on the display cathode Cn + 1 in FIG. 2, from the vicinity of the end portion of each display anode 16 belonging to each block exposed on both sides of the phosphor 18 to the display cathode Cn + 1. A discharge path is formed. Even in the display cell 20 configured on the boundary B of the block as described above, the driving condition, that is, the discharge amount is the same as that of the display cell 20 in other regions (the central portion of each block, etc.).

Therefore, according to this embodiment, problems such as asymmetry and discontinuity of the display discharge at the block boundary B do not occur, and a gas discharge display capable of displaying an image with high display quality without flicker. The device is obtained.

In the present embodiment, the case where the number of blocks is two has been described, but the case where the block is divided into three or more blocks has the same effect as that of the present embodiment. Also,
Also in the embodiment described below, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained even when it is divided into three or more blocks.

(Second Embodiment) Next, another driving example of the gas discharge display device of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a gas discharge display device similar to that of the first embodiment when driven with a constant current, and FIG. 5 is a drive signal waveform thereof. 5A is a drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of the first block of FIG. 4, FIG. 5B is a drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of the second block of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5C is a display cathode C1 ... The drive signal waveform of C2n is shown.

The driving order is the same as in the first embodiment. First, a driving signal is applied to the starting end C1 of the display cathode of the first block and the starting end Cn + 2 of the display cathode of the second block. At the same time, a drive signal of a constant current is applied to the display anode 16 provided for each block, and two rows of the display cathodes C1 and Cn + 2 are simultaneously selected. Then, C2 and Cn + 3, C3 and Cn + 4 are sequentially selected.

Next, the display cathode Cn + 1 arranged at the boundary B of the block is selected. At the same time, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the display anode 16 of the first block and the display anode 1 of the second block facing the display cathode Cn + 1.
6 and the driving currents of one half each of the other display cells 20 are respectively supplied to the first block anode drive circuit 30 and the second block anode drive circuit 30 of FIG.
It is supplied from the block anode drive circuit 32. At this time, the sum of the two amounts of current supplied to the display anode 16 of the first block and the display anode 16 of the second block is supplied to the display cells 20 in other regions (such as the central portion of each block). If it is equal to the amount of current applied, it does not need to be 1/2.

As a result, the total amount of current flowing into the display cathode Cn + 1 and the driving conditions such as the discharge path are the same as those of the display cell 20 in the other regions. can get.

Further, in this embodiment, since the gas discharge display device is driven by the current, no voltage drop occurs due to the wiring resistance of the electrodes, so that the discharge amount of each display cell 20 can be controlled extremely accurately.

(Third Embodiment) Next, an example of a gas discharge display device having a structure different from that of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the gas discharge display device according to this embodiment, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the block boundary of the gas discharge display device of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is the gas discharge display of FIGS. 6 and 7. 3 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the device. In addition, Examples 1, 2
The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as the drawings already described in 1. and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, 10 is a front substrate, 12 is a rear substrate, 1
6 is a display anode, 34 is a display cathode, 20 is a display cell, 24
g and 24b are trigger electrodes (third electrodes), Tg and Tb are external terminals of the trigger electrodes 24g and 24b, 40g is a drive circuit for the trigger electrode 42g, 40b is a drive circuit for the trigger electrode 42b, and 26 is a dielectric layer. . This trigger electrode 24g,
24b and the dielectric layer 26 are formed on the rear substrate 12 in this order, and a plurality of line-shaped display cathodes 34 are formed on the dielectric layer 26 at predetermined intervals.

Here, the feature of the present embodiment is that the trigger electrode 24b is arranged at the boundary B of the block and the trigger electrode 2
4b is electrically separated from the trigger electrode 24g in the other region of the block and is extracted to the outside.
24b are different trigger electrode driving circuits 40g, 40
It is driven by b.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 8A is a drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of FIG.
(B) is a drive signal waveform of the trigger electrode 24b at the external terminal Tb, (c) is the trigger electrode 2 at the external terminal Tg
4g shows a drive signal waveform, and (d) shows a drive signal waveform of the display cathodes C1 to C2n.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, during the trigger setting period, the external electrodes Tg and T are connected to the trigger electrodes 24g and 24b by the trigger electrode driving circuits 40g and 40b.
A negative voltage -Vt is applied via b. At the same time, a positive voltage + Va is applied to the display anode 16 from an anode driving circuit (not shown), and a discharge is generated. This discharge is triggered electrode 2
Since 4g and 24b are covered with the dielectric layer 26, they stop immediately, but at this time, positive charges are accumulated on the dielectric layer 26 exposed between the display cathodes 34.

In the next period, as shown in FIG. 8C, the voltage output to the external terminal Tg of the trigger electrode 24g is returned to 0 to + Va. On the other hand, the block boundary B
The potential output to the external terminal Tb of the trigger electrode 24b arranged in the portion is the dielectric layer 26 as shown in FIG. 8B.
In order to retain the positive charge formed on the surface, once -Vt2
The potential is kept at (0> -Vt2≥-Vt).

Further, drive signals are sequentially applied to the display cathode 34 from the display cathodes C1 and Cn + 1 by a cathode drive circuit (not shown). At this time, a trigger discharge is generated between the accumulated charges on the dielectric layer 26 and the display cathode 34, and the charged particles generated by the trigger discharge are used as seeds to start the display discharge between the display anode 16 and the display cathode 34.

An arrow 35 in FIG. 7 indicates which display cathode 34 the accumulated charge causes discharge when the trigger discharge occurs. Since the display cathode Cn + 1 is selected first, there is a possibility that a trigger discharge will occur between the display cathode Cn + 1 and the accumulated charge formed on the dielectric layer 26 on both sides thereof. However, the display cathode C
When n + 1 is selected, the potential of the external terminal Tb of the trigger electrode 24b arranged at the boundary B of the block is kept at -Vt2 as shown in FIG. 26
The accumulated charge on the upper side is held on the surface of the dielectric layer 26 and cannot cause a trigger discharge.

Then, while the scanning is in progress, the trigger electrode 24b
Of the external terminal Tb of the trigger electrode 24g.
It is returned to the same potential of 0 to + Va as g. Then, when the display cathode Cn is selected, the accumulated charge formed on the dielectric layer 26 covering the trigger electrode 24b is not already held on the surface thereof.
Trigger discharge occurs between n and. Display discharge starts between the display cathode Cn and the corresponding display anode 16 using the charged particles generated by this trigger discharge as seeds.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the trigger discharge can be uniformly generated over the entire surface of the panel of the gas discharge display device, and as a result, the driving is lower than that of the substrate discharge display device of the first and second embodiments. With voltage, an image with extremely high display quality without flicker can be obtained.

If a phosphor is formed at a predetermined place on the substrate as in the first embodiment, arbitrary color display is possible.

The driving method described in this embodiment can also be applied to a gas discharge display device having another trigger electrode structure.

This will be described below with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, a plurality of line-shaped display cathodes 34 and a trigger electrode 42 are provided on the same surface of the rear substrate 12.
g and 42b are alternately arranged, and a block boundary B
A trigger electrode 42b is arranged in the. Trigger electrode 4
Part of the surfaces of 2g, 42b and the two display cathodes 34 adjacent thereto is covered with a dielectric layer 44.

The trigger electrode 42b arranged at the boundary B of the block is electrically separated from the trigger electrodes 42g in other regions. The trigger electrode 42b is led out to the external terminal Tb and formed in another region.
By connecting g in common to the external terminal Tg and driving them by the trigger electrode driving circuits 40b and 40g, the same driving as the gas discharge display device shown in FIG. 7 becomes possible.

(Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, in driving the gas discharge display device having the structure shown in the embodiment 3,
It is an example of a circuit that can obtain two types of trigger electrode drive signal waveforms with a simple drive circuit. This circuit will be described below with reference to FIG.

This circuit has a resistor 48R and a capacitor 48C.
, And the diode 48D, which is a time constant circuit 48, and is the trigger electrodes 24g, 42 of FIGS.
drive signal from the trigger electrode drive circuit 40g is connected to the external terminal Tg of the trigger electrode 24g,
The drive signals for the trigger electrodes 24b and 42b are output to the external terminal Tb of 42b.

The waveform obtained by this time constant circuit 48 is shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 11A is a diagram of FIG.
Drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of FIG.
, The drive signal waveform of the trigger electrode 42b at (c) is the drive signal waveform of the trigger electrode 42g at the external terminal Tg,
(D) shows the drive signal waveforms of the display cathodes C1 to C2n.

First, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the voltage of the external terminal Tg falls during the trigger setting period, the voltage of the external terminal Tb also falls at the same rate via the diode 48D.

In the next period, the voltage of the external terminal Tg is 0 to +
Although it rises to Va, the voltage of the external terminal Tb is
It rises slowly according to the time constant defined by the value of 8R and capacitor 48C. The rising time is longer than the time until the display cathode Cn + 1 is selected and shorter than the time until the display cathode Cn is selected.
By setting the time constant, the waveform of FIG. 11B is obtained, and the same effect as that of the third embodiment is obtained.

That is, when the display cathode Cn + 1 of FIGS. 7 and 9 is selected, the potential of the external terminal Tb of the trigger electrodes 24b and 42b is a value capable of holding the accumulated charge, and therefore the dielectric layer 44 is used. The accumulated charge on the upper side is held on the surface of the dielectric layer 44 and cannot cause a trigger discharge.

Then, while the scanning is in progress, the trigger electrode 24
The potentials of the external terminals Tb of b and 42b are returned to the same potential of 0 to + Va as the external terminal Tg of the trigger electrode 42g.
When the display cathode Cn is selected, the accumulated charge formed on the dielectric layer 26 covering the trigger electrodes 24b and 42b is not already held on the surface thereof, so that the accumulated charge and the display cathode Cn are separated from each other. Trigger discharge occurs.
As a result, even in the present embodiment, it is possible to display a high-quality image without flickering.

In the third embodiment, since the trigger electrodes 24b and 42b formed on the boundary B of the block and the trigger electrodes 24g and 42g formed on the other regions are separately driven, two trigger electrodes are used. Needed a drive circuit. On the other hand, according to the drive circuit of the present embodiment, when driving the two types of trigger electrodes of the gas discharge display device shown in the third embodiment, two types of trigger electrode drive signal waveforms are obtained with a simple configuration. be able to.

(Embodiment 5) This embodiment is an example of driving the gas discharge display device having the structure shown in Embodiment 3 by a driving method different from those of Embodiments 3 and 4.

This will be described below with reference to FIG. 12A is a drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of FIGS. 7 and 9, and FIG. 12B is a trigger electrode 2 at the external terminal Tb.
Drive signal waveforms of 4b and 42b, (c) drive signal waveforms of the trigger electrodes 24g and 42g at the external terminal Tg,
(D) shows the drive signal waveforms of the display cathodes C1 to C2n.

As shown in FIG. 12B, the feature of this embodiment is that before the display cathode Cn is selected for the external terminal Tb, that is, the trigger electrodes 24b and 42b arranged at the boundary B of the block. That is, the second trigger setting signal (trigger setting 2) is applied. As a result, it is possible to replenish the electric charge in the boundary B portion of the block which has been lost once when the display cathode Cn + 1 is selected.

The first trigger setting signal (trigger setting 1) applied to the external terminal Tb is not always necessary and can be omitted.

In the third and fourth embodiments, the block boundary B
Trigger discharge was stably obtained by holding the accumulated charge of a part for a certain period, but it is possible to drive by another method using the trigger electrode extracted from the boundary B of the block as in the present embodiment. it can.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to display a high-quality image without flicker as in the above-mentioned embodiments.

(Embodiment 6) This embodiment is an example of a driving method different from the driving method of the fifth embodiment.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 13A is a drive signal waveform of the display anode 16 of FIGS. 7 and 9, and FIG. 13B is a trigger electrode 24b at the external terminal Tb.
42b shows the drive signal waveform, (c) shows the drive signal waveform of the trigger electrodes 24g and 42g at the external terminal Tg, and (d) shows the drive signal waveform of the display cathodes C1 to C2n.

The feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the display cathode Cn is selected, the external terminal T is simultaneously activated.
The application of a positive auxiliary trigger signal to b.

According to this method, when the display cathode Cn is selected, a sufficient amount of charge is not accumulated in advance and is insufficient, and an auxiliary trigger signal is directly applied to form charge in the discharge space. The electric charge can be used to generate a trigger discharge.

The same effect can be obtained even if the auxiliary trigger signal applied at the same time as the display cathode Cn is a negative pulse.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display a high quality image without flickering. (Embodiment 7) This embodiment is an example of a trigger type gas discharge display device having a configuration different from that of the trigger type gas discharge display device shown in the third embodiment.

This embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the gas discharge display element at the boundary B of the block. This is an improvement of the gas discharge display device having the linear trigger electrode shown in FIG. 9, and the same parts as those in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The characteristic of the gas discharge display device according to the present embodiment is that the dielectric layer 46 formed on the trigger electrode 42 and on the end portions of the two display cathodes 34 adjacent to the trigger electrode 42 is partially formed. One end of the two display cathodes 34 is covered more widely than the other end.

The difference between the coating width of the dielectric layer 46 covering the end of one display cathode 34 and the coating width of the dielectric layer 46 covering the end of the other display cathode 34 is 20 μm or more. It is preferable.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the display cathode 34
The accumulated charge formed on the side which is broadly covered with the dielectric layer 46 and this display cathode 34 have a longer discharge distance therebetween, so that trigger discharge is less likely to occur. In FIG. 14, each display cathode 34 is covered more widely than the right side by a dielectric layer 46 formed on the left side of the display cathode 34. Therefore, when the display cathode 34 scans to the right in the drawing and the display cathode Cn + 1 is selected, the accumulated charge on the dielectric layer 46 formed at the boundary B of the block is the display cathode Cn +. When the display cathode Cn is selected without causing a trigger discharge between 1 and 1, a trigger discharge can be generated between this accumulated charge and the display cathode Cn.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
The trigger electrode 42 arranged at the boundary B of the block can be separated from the trigger electrodes 42 arranged in other regions, and stable trigger discharge can be generated without separate driving.

Further, the dielectric layer 46 is the trigger electrode 42.
It is also possible to cover only one end of the two display cathodes 34 adjacent to each other. Here, it is preferable that the coating width of the dielectric layer 46 that covers the end portion of the display cathode 34 is 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less.

In this structure, discharge concentration may occur at the edge portion of the display cathode 34, but discharge between the display cathode 34 on the side not covered with the dielectric layer 46 and accumulated charge on the dielectric layer 46. This has the effect that the distance becomes the shortest, and the trigger discharge can be stably and reliably performed.

[0088]

As described above, in the gas discharge display device and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, the display cells formed at the boundaries of the blocks and the display cells located in other regions are
The amount of light generated by the display discharge can be made substantially equal, the image display is not disturbed at the boundary portion of the block, and a high-quality image without flicker can be displayed on the entire screen.

That is, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention as defined in claims 1 to 3, the second electrode is divided corresponding to the block formed by dividing the image display region into a plurality of first electrodes. The first electrode facing the divided portion of the second electrode.
The first electrode is disposed on the boundary of the block, where the electrode is disposed.
A display cell is formed at the boundary of the block by the electrode and the two second electrodes having the divided ends on the first electrode.

Therefore, in selecting the display cell at the boundary of this block, means for applying the same voltage to the two second electrodes having the division end portion in the display cell or the division end portion in the display cell. The boundary of the block is displayed by a means for making the total amount of currents injected into the display cell from the two second electrodes having the same value as the amount of current per display cell in the area other than the boundary of the block. In the cell, it is possible to obtain the same display discharge as that of the display cells in the other regions.

Further, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention as set forth in claims 4 to 10, the third electrode arranged at the boundary between the blocks is driven separately from the third electrodes in other regions,
When a display cell selected later among the display cells adjacent to each other across the block boundary is selected, accumulated charges are formed on the dielectric layer disposed between the first electrodes. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a good trigger effect even at the boundary portion of the block, and it is possible to obtain an image display without flicker over the entire screen.

Further, in the gas discharge display device according to the present invention as set forth in claims 11 to 14, one of the two first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode is wider than the other, or only one of them is a dielectric. Covered with layers. Therefore, the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block is separated from the third electrodes arranged in other regions, and a good image display without flicker can be obtained over the entire screen without separate driving. Have.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gas discharge display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a boundary portion of the gas discharge display device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a gas discharge display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a gas discharge display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view near a boundary portion of a gas discharge display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a boundary portion of a gas discharge display device having a configuration different from that of FIG. 7 of Example 3. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a drive circuit of a gas discharge display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a drive signal waveform of each part of the gas discharge display device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view near a boundary portion of a gas discharge display device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a conventional gas discharge display device.

FIG. 16 is a drive signal waveform of each part of a conventional gas discharge display device.

FIG. 17 is a drive signal waveform different from that of FIG. 16 of each part of the conventional gas discharge display device.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a boundary portion of a conventional gas discharge display device.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the boundary of a conventional gas discharge display device different from that of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a drive signal waveform of each part of a conventional gas discharge display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Front Substrate 12 Back Substrate 16 Display Anode 14, 34, 54, 64 Display Cathode 20, 60 Display Cell 18 Phosphor 24b, 24g, 42, 42b, 42g, 52 Trigger Electrode 26, 44, 46, 58 Dielectric Layer

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 8, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0044

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the present embodiment, since the gas discharge display device is driven by the current, no voltage drop due to the wiring resistance of the electrodes occurs, so that the discharge amount of each display cell 20 can be made extremely accurate. You can control.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 14

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 14 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 6, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A first substrate, a plurality of line-shaped first electrodes formed on the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate across a discharge space, and the second substrate. A plurality of line-shaped second electrodes formed in a direction orthogonal to the first electrode on a substrate, and the two electrodes sandwiching the discharge space by the first electrode and the second electrode. In a gas discharge display device in which a display cell is configured in an area where the two intersect, and a plurality of blocks are formed by partitioning the display area for each of the plurality of first electrodes, and the second electrode is the above. The first electrode is divided into blocks, and the first electrode is arranged on the first substrate facing the divided portion of the second electrode. The first electrode is arranged at a boundary of the block; With the two second electrodes having split ends on the electrodes, Gas discharge display device, characterized in that the display cell at the boundary of the serial block is configured. 2. The gas discharge display device according to claim 1, wherein when the display cell formed on the boundary of the block is selected, the first cell arranged on the boundary of the block is selected.
A gas discharge display device comprising means for applying the same voltage to the two second electrodes divided on the electrodes. 3. The gas discharge display device according to claim 1, wherein when selecting the display cell formed on the boundary of the block, the first cell arranged on the boundary of the block is selected.
A means for making the sum of currents injected into the display cell from the two second electrodes divided on the electrode equal to the current per display cell in the region other than the block boundary. Gas discharge display device. 4. A first substrate, a third electrode formed on the first substrate, a plurality of linear first electrodes formed on the third electrode via a dielectric layer, and A second substrate facing the first substrate across a discharge space; and a plurality of linear second electrodes formed on the second substrate in a direction orthogonal to the first electrode, A gas discharge display device in which a display cell is formed in an area where the two electrodes intersect each other across the discharge space by one electrode and the second electrode, wherein a display area is provided for each of the plurality of first electrodes. A plurality of blocks are formed by division, the second electrode is divided corresponding to the blocks, the third electrode is arranged on the first substrate facing the divided portion of the second electrode, The third electrode arranged on the boundary of the block and the third electrode in another region Gas discharge display device, characterized in that it is electrically isolated. 5. A first substrate, a plurality of linear first electrodes formed on the first substrate, third electrodes alternately arranged on the same surface as the first electrodes, and the third electrodes. A dielectric layer formed on at least one end of the three first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode and the first electrode;
A second substrate facing the substrate across the discharge space; and a plurality of linear second electrodes formed on the second substrate in a direction orthogonal to the first electrode, The electrode and the second electrode sandwich the discharge space, and
A gas discharge display device in which a display cell is formed in a region where two electrodes intersect, wherein a plurality of blocks are formed by dividing the display region for each of the plurality of first electrodes, and the second electrode is formed in the block. Correspondingly divided, the third electrode is arranged on the first substrate facing the divided portion of the second electrode, and the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block and the third electrode in the other region. A gas discharge display device characterized by being electrically separated from three electrodes. 6. The method for driving a gas discharge display device according to claim 4, wherein the third electrode is applied to the third electrode prior to applying a signal for displaying an image to the first electrode. A charge holding voltage is applied to the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block while applying a trigger signal and one of the adjacent display cells across the boundary of the block is selected. A method of driving a gas discharge display device, wherein a voltage capable of discharging accumulated charge is applied to the third electrode while the other one of the display cells is selected. 7. The gas discharge display device according to claim 4, wherein the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block has at least a capacitor, a resistor and a diode. A gas discharge display device, characterized in that the gas discharge display device is connected to the third electrode or a drive circuit for the third electrode, which is arranged at a position other than the boundary of the block, via the. 8. The method for driving a gas discharge display device according to claim 7, wherein the time constant of the time constant circuit is such that one of the display cells adjacent to each other across the boundary of the block is selected. Is capable of applying a charge holding voltage to the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block, and a voltage capable of discharging accumulated charge is applied to the third electrode while the other of the display cells is selected. A method for driving a gas discharge display device, which is set to a possible value. 9. The method of driving a gas discharge display device according to claim 4, wherein the display selected first among the display cells adjacent to each other across the block boundary. Driving a gas discharge display device, characterized in that a trigger signal is applied to the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block after selecting a cell and before selecting the display cell to be selected later. Method. 10. The method for driving a gas discharge display device according to claim 4, wherein the display selected first among the display cells adjacent to each other across a boundary of the block. After selection of a cell, and simultaneously with selection of the display cell to be selected later, a trigger pulse is applied to the third electrode arranged at the boundary of the block. Driving method. 11. A first substrate, a plurality of linear first electrodes formed on the first substrate, third electrodes arranged alternately with the first electrodes, and on the third electrode and The third
A dielectric layer formed on an end portion of the first electrode adjacent to an electrode, a second substrate facing the first substrate across a discharge space, and the first electrode on the second substrate. A plurality of line-shaped second electrodes formed in a direction orthogonal to each other, and a display cell is provided in an area where the two electrodes intersect each other across the discharge space by the first electrode and the second electrode. In the gas discharge display device, a display area is divided for each of the plurality of first electrodes to form a plurality of blocks, the second electrodes are divided corresponding to the blocks, and the second electrodes are provided. The third electrode is disposed on the first substrate facing the divided portion of the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer is configured such that one end of the two first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode is connected to the other end. A gas discharge display device, characterized in that it is covered more widely than the end portion. 12. The gas discharge display device according to claim 11, wherein the coating width of the dielectric layer covering one end of the first electrode and the dielectric covering the other end of the first electrode. A gas discharge display device characterized in that the difference from the coating width of the layer is 20 μm or more. 13. A first substrate, a plurality of linear first electrodes formed on the first substrate, third electrodes arranged alternately with the first electrodes, and on the third electrode and The third
A dielectric layer formed on an end portion of the first electrode adjacent to an electrode, a second substrate facing the first substrate across a discharge space, and the first electrode on the second substrate. A plurality of line-shaped second electrodes formed in a direction orthogonal to each other, and a display cell is provided in an area where the two electrodes intersect each other across the discharge space by the first electrode and the second electrode. In the gas discharge display device, a display area is divided for each of the plurality of first electrodes to form a plurality of blocks, the second electrodes are divided corresponding to the blocks, and the second electrodes are provided. The third electrode is disposed on the first substrate facing the divided portion of the first electrode, and the dielectric layer covers one end of the two first electrodes adjacent to the third electrode. A gas discharge display device characterized by: 14. The gas discharge display device according to claim 13, wherein a coating width of the dielectric layer covering the end portion of the first electrode is 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less.