This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119 from an application for PLASMA DISPLAY PANEL OF MICRO DISCHARGE TYPE, earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on the 7 Sep. 2005 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2005-0083109.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), and more particularly, to a Micro Discharge (MD) PDP, which includes a dielectric layer having a plurality of dielectric-layer perforated holes arranged in a matrix and electrode layers provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the dielectric layer and having a plurality of electrode-layer perforated holes corresponding to the dielectric-layer perforated holes.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) is formed by forming barrier ribs and electrodes on two substrates spaced apart from each other and facing each other, injecting discharge gas therebetween and sealing the two substrates.
In the PDP, numerous pixels are regularly arranged in a matrix. In the PDP, the pixels are driven by supplying voltages to the electrodes without an active element, that is, a passive matrix arrangement. The PDP is classified into a DC PDP and an AC PDP, depending on a voltage signal for driving the electrodes. Alternatively, the PDP is classified into a face discharge PDP and a surface discharge PDP, depending on the arrangement of two electrodes to which a discharge voltage is supplied.
A surface light emitting source using a plasma discharge includes a Micro Discharge (MD) and a Micro Hollow Cathode Discharge (MHCD).
There are various types of MD PDPs, but an open MD PDP has been chosen for illustrative purposes. The MD PDP is composed of three layers: upper and lower electrode layers for receiving a voltage and a dielectric layer for forming a space between the upper and lower electrode layers. A plurality of perforated holes are formed in the upper and lower electrode layers and the dielectric layer. The upper and lower electrode layers are formed in a flat plate shape except for the perforated holes and are integrally formed. If a predetermined voltage is supplied across the upper and lower electrodes, a surface discharge is generated between the two electrode layers in the perforated holes. If the perforated holes are of an adequate size, a stable and efficient plasma discharge can be generated in the perforated holes.
When the discharge is generated, light is emitted from the perforated holes. In general, phosphor layers for increasing emission efficiency are formed in the perforated holes and Micro Discharges (MDs) operate in a specific gas atmosphere. Such an MD is a surface light source and can be used as a backlight source of non-self-luminous display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
However, the MD having the configuration described above has the same shape as that of a typical capacitor having a dielectric inserted between two electrodes. Accordingly, when an AC voltage is supplied across the two electrode layers, power may be unnecessarily consumed due to parasitic capacitance.
Since a stable and efficient plasma discharge can be generated in the perforated holes when the perforated holes are of an adequate size, and the MD described above has a shape similar to that of an initial matrix plasma display, a plasma display using an MD structure may be tried to be manufactured.
An object of the present invention is to provide a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) having a Micro Discharge (MD) structure, which can increase an aperture ratio and a viewing angle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) having a Micro Discharge (MD) structure, which can prevent a phosphor layer from deteriorating while generating a face discharge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) having a Micro Discharge (MD) structure, which can increase nominal contrast.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) is provided including: a dielectric layer having a plurality of dielectric-layer perforated holes arranged in a matrix; upper and lower electrode layers each having electrode-layer perforated holes connected to the dielectric-layer perforated holes and arranged on both surfaces of the dielectric layer, the upper and lower electrode layers being adapted to receive electrical signals; the upper electrode layer includes a plurality of upper electrodes extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of upper electrodes surrounding a group of the electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the first direction and including transparent individual electrodes surrounding the electrode-layer perforated holes and linear connection portions adapted to electrically connect the individual electrodes; and the lower electrode layer includes a plurality of lower electrodes extending in a second direction at an angle with respect to the first direction, each of the plurality of second electrodes surrounding a group of electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the second direction.
The dielectric-layer perforated holes are preferably arranged in either a lattice array or a delta array.
The PDP preferably further includes: upper and lower substrates arranged external to the upper and lower electrode layers, peripheries of the upper and lower substrates adapted to hermetically seal a space between the upper and lower substrates; and a discharge gas contained within the space between the upper and lower substrates.
The PDP preferably further includes a phosphor layer arranged on at least portions of surfaces of the dielectric-layer perforated holes and surfaces of the electrode-layer perforated holes.
A diameter of the dielectric-layer perforated holes is preferably greater than that of the electrode-layer perforated holes such that at least portions of the upper and lower electrode layers protrude from inner surfaces of the dielectric-layer perforated holes toward centers of the dielectric-layer perforated holes.
The PDP preferably further includes a phosphor layer arranged only on inner surfaces of the electrode-layer perforated holes of the lower electrode layers and inner surfaces of the substrates facing the electrode-layer perforated holes.
Each of the connection portions preferably includes a metal and includes looped curves surrounding outer surfaces of individual electrodes and a linear portion adapted to connect the looped curves. Each of the connection portions preferably includes a metal and includes contact portions surrounding left or right semicircles of individual electrodes and a linear portion adapted to connect both ends of the contact portions and to connect individual electrodes.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) is provided including: a dielectric layer having a plurality of dielectric-layer perforated holes arranged in a matrix; upper and lower electrode layers having electrode-layer perforated holes connected to the dielectric-layer perforated holes and arranged on both surfaces of the dielectric layer, the upper and lower electrode layers being adapted to receive electrical signals; the upper electrode layer includes a plurality of upper electrodes extending in a first direction, the plurality of upper electrodes surrounding a group of electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the first direction; the lower electrode layer includes a plurality of lower electrodes extending in a second direction at an angle with respect to the first direction, the plurality of second electrodes surrounding a group of electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the second direction; and a transmissivity adjusting layer is arranged on at least a portion of an outside of the dielectric-layer perforated holes as viewed from an upper side of the PDP.
The transmissivity adjusting layer preferably includes either a layer adapted to prevent reflection or a layer adapted to absorb or scatter external light. The transmissivity adjusting layer is preferably arranged on at least one of outer and inner surfaces of the upper substrate, inside of the upper substrate, and an upper surface of the dielectric layer not overlapping the upper electrode layer.
At least one of the upper electrodes and the lower electrodes preferably include individual electrodes surrounding the electrode-layer perforated holes and a connection portion adapted to connect the individual electrodes.
The dielectric-layer perforated holes are preferably arranged in either a lattice array or a delta array.
The PDP preferably further includes: upper and lower substrates arranged external to the upper and lower electrode layers, the peripheries of the upper and lower substrates adapted to hermetically seal a space between the upper and lower substrates; and a discharge gas contained within the space between the upper and lower substrates.
The PDP preferably further includes a phosphor layer arranged in at least portions of the perforated holes.
A diameter of the dielectric-layer perforated holes is preferably greater than that of the electrode-layer perforated holes such that at least portions of the upper and lower electrode layers protrude from inner surfaces of the dielectric-layer perforated holes toward centers of the dielectric-layer perforated holes.
The PDP preferably further includes a phosphor layer arranged only on inner surfaces of the electrode-layer perforated holes of at least one of the upper and lower electrode layers and inner surfaces of the substrates facing the electrode-layer perforated holes.
The phosphor layer arranged on the substrate preferably forms a visible screen and preferably includes a transparent phosphor layer.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the present invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:
There are various types of MD PDPs, but
When the discharge is generated, light is emitted from the perforated holes. In general, phosphor layers for increasing emission efficiency are formed in the perforated holes and Micro Discharges (MDs) operate in a specific gas atmosphere. Such an MD is a surface light source and can be used as a backlight source of non-self-luminous display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
However, the MD having the configuration of
Since a stable and efficient plasma discharge can be generated in the perforated holes when the perforated holes are of an adequate size, and the MD of
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
First, in order to reduce parasitic capacitance, electrode portions except for the peripheries of the perforated holes are removed from the MD structure of
As shown in
As shown in
In order to form perforated holes 126 of a dielectric layer 120 in a delta array, each second electrode 138 includes a linear connection portion 134 which extends in a horizontal direction and individual electrodes 132 surrounding the perforated holes 136 which are arranged in a zigzag shape at the upper and lower sides of the linear connection portion 134. The second electrodes 138 extend in the horizontal direction and the electrode-layer perforated-holes 136 formed in the second electrodes are included in a group of perforated holes arranged in the horizontal direction. The second electrodes 138 need not be formed of a transparent material because the second electrodes 138 are positioned on the side for emitting visible light generated by the perforated holes.
The first electrodes 118 are referred to as address electrodes which are connected to the terminals of an address electrode driver, and the second electrodes 138 are referred to as scan electrodes which are connected to the terminals of a scan electrode driver. When a negative voltage is supplied to a first scan electrode located at an uppermost side of
Thereafter, when a voltage is supplied to the address electrodes depending on a display portion while voltages are sequentially supplied to second and third scan electrodes, a discharge is generated in the perforated holes. When all of the perforated holes are scanned in this manner, an image can be displayed by an afterimage effect depending on the discharge of each perforated hole.
In
Referring to
The configurations of upper and lower electrode layers 210 and 230, a dielectric layer 120, perforated holes, and substrates are the same as those of
Referring to
Even in the present embodiment, the upper substrate 180 and the lower substrate 190 are provided in addition to the basic three-layer structure of the MD PDP, such that the PDP has durability. The space between the substrates is hermetically sealed by sealing the peripheries of the substrates, and air containing oxygen in the perforated holes is removed, and a discharge gas is injected into the space.
The ends of perforated holes formed in the dielectric layer 120 and the upper and lower electrodes 210 and 230 are blocked by the substrates 180 and 190 to form a discharge cell space. In the discharge cell of
The emitted externally visible light is mainly emitted from the phosphor layer and the light is emitted through the transparent electrodes. Therefore, as indicated by the arrows, a viewing angle G of the present embodiment is wider than a viewing angle F of PDPs having opaque electrodes.
Although not shown, a phosphor layer can also formed on the upper substrate 180. If the upper substrate forms a visible screen of the display, the light can be emitted well through the phosphor layer laminated on the upper substrate. Therefore, the phosphor covered on the inner surface of the upper substrate is preferably transparent.
When laminating the phosphor, the phosphor is not laminated to the facing surfaces of the upper and lower individual electrodes and thus the phosphor can be prevented from deteriorating when the facing discharge is generated. In addition, it is possible to prevent a discharge voltage from being affected by the characteristics of the phosphor, that is, the permittivity of each color of the phosphor.
In order to form the phosphor having the above-mentioned structure, a method of forming an electrode pattern having perforated holes on the substrate and laminating the phosphor in each perforated hole using a printing method can be considered. In consideration of the stepped structure of the substrate on which the phosphor layer is formed, an inkjet ejecting method can easily apply to the present embodiment, rather than photolithography.
In
In
In the embodiments of
In addition, the connection portions can be of the same shape as those of
The configurations of a lower substrate 290, electrode layers 210 and 230, a dielectric layer 120, and a phosphor layer 270 are the same as those of
The transmissivity adjusting layer serves to prevent external light from being reflected and to allow the light emitted from the PDP to be viewed at the front side thereof.
Accordingly, since the reflected external light except for the light emitted from the discharge space of the PDP can be reduced even when viewing the PDP in a bright environment, it is possible to increase nominal contrast and provide a screen having high-definition and high image quality.
In order to form the structure of
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a PDP having stable characteristics and efficiency of an MD.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reliable PDP having a simple structure.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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