Method for driving a plasma display panel

Claim 2

Apparatus for selectively displaying and storing information, said apparatus comprising: a plasma display panel comprising a plurality of energizable radiation emitted elements disposed in an array, each of said emitting elements having first and second electrodes defining a discharge region therebetween for receiving a discharge gas and wall covering for storing wall charges, said emitting elements having a characteristic firing voltage; first means for applying a preparatory converting voltage to the first electrode of a selected emitting element of sufficient magnitude to convert the voltage of the wall charges of the selected emitting cell to a changed voltage; and second means for applying a converting voltage to the second electrode of the selected emitting cell of a selected pulse width sufficient to covert the state of the selected emitting cell from its display-state to its erase-state, the potential difference between the converting voltage and the changed voltage of the wall charges of the emitting cell being not less than the firing voltage of the selected emitting element.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included means for applying a sustaining voltage to each emitting element, and wherein said first means provides the preparatory converting voltage of a waveform substantially similar to that of the sustaining voltage.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first means provides the converting voltage of a peak value substantially equal to that of the sustaining voltage and the pulse width of the converting voltage is not greater than the pulse width of the symmetric sustaining voltage.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sustaining voltage signal is symmetric, said first voltage signal is substantially similar in waveform to that of the symmetric sustaining voltage signals, said second voltage pulse having a peak value approximately equal to that of the sustaining voltage signals and a pulse width smaller than that of the symmetric sustaining voltage signal.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sustaining voltage signals are non-symmetric and have high and low peak values, said first voltage signal is substantially similar in waveform with respect to that of the non-symmetric sustaining voltage signals of low peak value, and said second voltage signal having a peak value intermediate between the high and low peak values of the non-symmetric sustaining voltage signals and a pulse width smaller than that of the non-symmetric sustaining voltage signals of high peak value.

Claim 9

Apparatus for selectively displaying and storing information comprising: a plasma display panel including a plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes each defining therebetween a discharge space filled with a discharge gas and coated with a dielectric layer for forming thereon a wall voltage disposable in first and second states; first means for applying a periodic sustaining voltage signal to said electrode pairs to effect a discharge between said electrodes whereby the wall voltage is disposed from its first to its second state; second means for applying a first voltage signal to one electrode of a selected electrode pairs during one cycle of said sustaining voltage signal, said first voltage signal having a potential difference with respect to said sustaining voltage signal and a pulse width of sufficient magnitudes to produce a discharge to convert the wall voltage; and third means for applying a second voltage signal of opposite polarity to said first voltage signal to the other electrode of said selected electrode pair during said one cycle of the sustaining voltage signal, said second voltage signal having a potential difference with respect to that wall voltage produced by said first voltage signal and a pulse width of sufficient magnitudes to effect a discharge to convert the wall voltage to its second state.

Claim 10

Apparatus for selectively displaying and storing information comprising: a plasma display panel including a plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes each defining therebetween a discharge space filled with a discharge gas and coated with a dielectric layer for forming thereon a wall voltage disposable in first and second states; first means for applying a periodic sustaining voltage signal to said electrode pairs to effect a discharge between said electrodes whereby the wall voltage is disposed from its first to its second state; second means for applying a first voltage signal to one electrode of a selected electrode pairs during one cycle of said sustaining voltage signal, said first voltage signal having a potential difference with respect to said sustaining voltage signal and a pulse width of sufficient magnitudes to produce a discharge to convert the wall voltage; and third means for applying a second voltage signal of opposite polarity to said first voltage signal to the other electrode of said selected electrode pair during said one cycle of the sustaining voltage signal, said second voltage signal having a potential difference with respect to that wall voltage produced by said first voltage signal and a pulse width of sufficient magnitudes to effect a discharge to convert the wall voltage to its second state.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means provides a symmetric sustaining voltage signal, said first voltage signal being substantially similar in waveform to that of said symmetric sustaining voltage signal, and said second voltage signal has a peak value approximately equal to that of said symmetric sustaining voltage signal and a pulse width smaller than that of said symmetric sustaining voltage signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means provides non-symmetric sustaining voltage signals of high and low peak values, said first voltage signal being substantiAlly similar in waveform to that of said non-symmetric sustaining voltage of low peak value, and said second voltage signal having a peak value intermediate of said high and low peak values of said non-symmetric sustaining voltage signals and a pulse width smaller than that of said non-symmetric voltage signal of a high peak value.