U.S. patent number 3,886,403 [Application Number 05/319,941] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-27 for brightness modulation system for a plasma display device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fujitsu Limited. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Furuta, Tadatsugu Hirose, Kenichi Owaki, Michihiro Shimuzi, Shozo Umeda.
United States Patent |
3,886,403 |
Owaki , et al. |
May 27, 1975 |
Brightness modulation system for a plasma display device
Abstract
A brightness modulation system for a plasma display panel device
in which one picture element is made up of a plurality of discharge
cells, the brightness levels of the plurality of discharge cells
are made different from each other by impression of voltages of
different phases or repetitive frequencies and the discharge cells
are selectively combined, thereby to achieve a display composed of
a plurality of graded tones.
Inventors: |
Owaki; Kenichi (Kobe,
JA), Umeda; Shozo (Kakogawa, JA), Furuta;
Hiroshi (Akashi, JA), Hirose; Tadatsugu (Akashi,
JA), Shimuzi; Michihiro (Akashi, JA) |
Assignee: |
Fujitsu Limited
(JA)
|
Family
ID: |
11502170 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/319,941 |
Filed: |
December 29, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 30, 1971 [JA] |
|
|
47-1464 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/63;
348/E3.014; 345/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G
3/2074 (20130101); G09G 3/2922 (20130101); G09G
3/282 (20130101); H04N 3/125 (20130101); G09G
3/293 (20130101); G09G 3/296 (20130101); G09G
3/294 (20130101); G09G 2310/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
3/28 (20060101); H04N 3/10 (20060101); H04N
3/12 (20060101); H05b 037/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;315/169TV |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kaufman; Nathan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brightness modulation system for producing an image display
with selectively controlled brightness level gradations on a plasma
display device, said plasma display device having a plurality of X
electrodes and a plurality of Y electrodes disposed to intersect
each other with a discharge gas spaced therebetween whereby a
plurality of discharge cells is formed at the intersections of the
X and Y electrodes, the successive, adjacent electrodes of at least
one of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes being arranged in
groups and the electrodes of each such group defining corresponding
combinations of discharge cells at the intersections thereof with
the electrodes of the other of said pluralities of X and Y
electrodes, each said combination of discharge cells comprising a
display element of the said image display, the corresponding cells
of each said combination being selectively and individually
controllable to undergo respective, different and predetermined
rates of discharge to produce corresponding, different individual
brightness levels thereby to provide selective gradations of the
brightness level of the display element formed by each such
combination of discharge cells, said brightness modulation system
comprising:
means for providing a number of different sustain signals
corresponding to the number of discharge cells in each said
combination thereof and of respectively different repetition
rates,
means for supplying said number of different sustain signals to the
electrodes of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes corresponding
to each said combination of discharge cells, thereby to sustain
predetermined, different rates of discharges in the respectively
corresponding cells of said combinations of cells,
means for indicating the brightness level gradation to be displayed
in each display element of the image display.
means responsive to said indicating means for selecting the cells
of the combination thereof corresponding to each display element
which, in combination, provide the brightness level gradation for
that corresponding display element as indicated by said indicating
means,
means for selectively establishing discharges in the cells selected
by said selecting means of each said combination thereof, and
said sustaining means sustaining discharges in those cells of each
said combination in which discharges are selectively established by
said means for selectively establishing discharges in accordance
with the said predetermined different rates of discharges sustained
by the respective, different sustain signals, thereby to sustain
the gradation of brightness level for each said display element as
indicated by said indicating means.
2. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the
successive, adjacent electrodes of each of said pluralities of X
and Y electrodes are arranged in groups, the intersections of the
electrodes of a group of one of said pluralities of X and Y
electrodes with the electrodes of a group of the other of said
pluralities of X and Y electrodes defining a corresponding
combination of discharge cells comprising a display element of the
said image display.
3. A brightness modulation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein
each said group of X electrodes and each said group of Y electrodes
includes n electrodes, defining thereby n discharge cells in the
corresponding combination of discharge cells defined by the
intersections of the electrodes of each said group of X electrodes
with the electrodes of each said group of Y electrodes, whereby the
number of brightness level gradations of each display element is
2.sup.n.
4. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 2 wherein
said sustain signal providing means provides sustain signals of
different repetitive frequencies to the electrodes of each of said
group of X electrodes and said group of Y electrodes associated
with a given combination of discharge cells, for all said
combinations, whereby each discharge cell of each said combination
defined by each group of one of said X and Y electrodes with a
group of the other of said X and Y electrodes sustains a discharge
at a different rate than the other discharge cells of that said
combination.
5. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 2, wherein
said sustain signal providing means provides sustain signals of
different pulse intervals to electrodes of each group of one of
said pluralities of X and Y electrodes and provides sustain signals
of a common repetition rate, but out of phase from one another,
respectively, to the electrodes of each group of the other of said
X and Y electrodes, whereby each discharge cell of each combination
of discharge cells defined by the intersections of the electrodes
of each group of one of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes with
the electrodes of each group of the other of said pluralities of X
and Y electrodes sustains a discharge a different number of times
within a given time interval.
6. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 2 wherein
said brightness level gradation indicating means comprises:
means for receiving an analog picture signal to be displayed and
converting the analog amplitude levels thereof representing the
brightness of the picture to be displayed, to digital amplitude
levels for the respectively corresponding display elements, and
said selecting means is responsive to said digital signals for
selectively establishing discharges in the cells of each said
combination thereof in accordance with the brightness level
gradations indicated by the digital signals for the respectively
corresponding image display element.
7. A brightness modulation system as claimed in claim 2 for use
with a television receiver receiving transmitted video signals and
providing a corresponding analog picture signal defining brightness
levels of a picture to be displayed, wherein said brightness level
gradation indicating means comprises analog-to-digital converter
means for converting the amplitude levels of said analog picture
signal into corresponding digital signals, and said selecting means
is responsive to said digital picture signals for selectively
establishing discharges in the cells of each said combination
thereof corresponding to each display element of the picture to be
displayed, whereby an image display with brightness level
gradations is provided.
8. A brightness modulation system for producing an image display
with selectively controlled brightness level gradations on a plasma
display device, said display device having a plurality of X
electrodes and a plurality of Y electrodes disposed to intersect
each other with a discharge gas spaced therebetween whereby a
plurality of discharge cells is formed at the intersections of the
X and Y electrodes, the successive, adjacent electrodes of each of
said pluralities of X and Y electrodes being arranged in groups,
and the intersections of the electrodes of each such group of one
of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes with the electrodes of
each such group of the other of said pluralities of X and Y
electrodes defining corresponding combinations of discharge cells,
each said combination of discharge cells comprising a display
element of the said image display, the cells of each said
combination being selectively and individually controllable to
undergo respective, different and predetermined rates of discharge
to produce corresponding, different and predetermined brightness
levels thereby to provide selective gradations of the brightness
level of the display element formed by each such combination of
display cells, said brightness modulation system comprising:
means for providing a first set of energizing signals of a common
repetition rate but displaced in phase, said first set including a
number of energizing signals equal in number to the number of
electrodes of each said group of one of said pluralities of X and Y
electrodes,
means providing at least a second set of energizing signals of
respectively different repetition rates, the signals of said second
set being in phase with the signals of said first set, and being
equal in number to the number of electrodes of each of said group
of electrodes of the other of said pluralities of X and Y
electrodes.
means for applying the said number of energizing signals of said
first set to respectively corresponding electrodes of each said
group of said one of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes,
means for indicating the brightness level gradation to be displayed
in each display element of the image display, and
means responsive to the indicated brightness level gradation for
each display element for selectively applying the signals of said
second set to respectively corresponding electrodes of each group
of said other of said pluralities of X and Y electrodes
corresponding to each said display element, thereby selectively to
establish discharges in the cells of each said combination as to
which the energizing signals applied to the corresponding X and Y
electrodes of the groups associated with each said combination are
in phase, and thereby to produce a brightness level gradation for
the said combination of discharge cells in accordance with the
indicated brightness level gradation for the corresponding display
element.
9. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 8 wherein
said providing means provides a third set of energizing signals of
respectively different repetition rates, each signal of said third
set being in phase with one of said signals of said first set,
and
said applying means selects between the signals of said second and
third sets for supply of the selected set of signals to the
electrodes of each group of the other of said pluralities of X and
Y electrodes to establish, selectively, discharges in the
respectively corresponding discharge cells of the corresponding
combinations thereof for producing respectively corresponding
brightness level gradations in the associated picture elements of
the display.
10. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 9 wherein
each of said first, second and third sets of energizing signals
comprises two energizing signals differing as aforesaid, the
signals of said second set being in phase with a first of said
signals of said first set and the signals of said third set being
in phase with the second of said signals of said first set.
11. A brightness modulation system as recited in claim 9 wherein
said applying means is operable to select corresponding first ones
of the signals of said second and third sets for supply to the
electrodes of each said group of said one of said pluralities of X
and Y electrodes and to select the second signals of both of said
second and third sets for supply to the electrodes of each said
group of said other of said X and Y electrodes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brightness modulation system for a
plasma display device in which one picture element is made up of a
plurality of cells and the numbers of the cells energized within a
certain period of time are made different from each other, thereby
to display an image with a plurality of graded tones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For an image display with the plasma display device, the so-called
gray scale display is demanded. To meet the demand, there have
heretofore been proposed various systems such, for example, as (1)
a system in which cells covered with several kinds of screens
having different transmission factors are combined selectively
together; (2) a system in which the number of discharges to emit
radiation is made different dependent upon the relation between
sustain voltage of several voltage values and an initial set level
of a wall voltage; (3) a system in which a plurality of stable
states of the wall voltage level are selected and the number of
discharges to emit radiation is made different dependent upon the
impression voltage pulse width and the timing of the voltage
impression; and (4) a system in which a plurality of plasma display
panels are laminated and discharge radiation of the respective
stages is superimposed. These systems all utilize the memory
function of the plasma display panel and, after once determined,
the brightness level is maintained by the sustain voltage until new
brightness information is applied; so that it is possible to
provide a display with high brightness, as compared with a refresh
system.
However, the system (1) requires screens and encounters a
difficulty in enhancement of resolution. With the systems (2) and
(3), it is possible to set only two to three wall voltage levels,
so that the degree of gradation cannot be raised and, further, the
required sustain voltage circuit is complicated because of using
several kinds of combined voltage waveforms. Moreover, a special
address voltage for writing and erasing is required, and the
required address circuit is also complicated. The system (4)
requires a plurality of panels, and hence is uneconomical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of this invention is to provide a brightness modulation
system with which many gradation degrees can easily be obtained by
a plasma display panel.
Another object of this invention is to provide a brightness
modulation system in which the construction for producing a sustain
voltage for a gradation display is simplified.
To attain the objects, the brightness modulation system of this
invention for a plasma display device having a plurality of
electrodes disposed in a matrix manner in opposing relation to each
other with a discharge gas space therebetween, is characterized in
that each picture element is made up of a plurality of cells formed
at intersecting points of the electrodes; voltages of different
phases or repetitive frequencies are impressed on the cells forming
each picture element to make the numbers of times of their
radiation different. Further, each picture element is graded by the
combination of the cells.
The objects and effects of this invention will become more apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows waveform diagrams, for explaining the operation of one
example of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the electrode arrangement of a
display panel of this invention;
FIGS. 3A to 3E, inclusive, show waveforms for explaining one
example of writing and erasing operations of this invention;
FIGS. 4 and 5 show waveforms for explaining the operation of other
examples of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of this
invention as being applied to a TV receiver;
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a gate circuit incorporated in the
example of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of another gate circuit incorporated in
the example of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 shows timing pulse waveforms;
FIGS. 10 and 11 are circuit diagrams showing examples of circuits
for providing sustain voltages;
FIG. 12 shows waveform diagrams, for explaining the operations of
the circuit of FIGS. 10 and 11;
FIG. 13 is a diagram for showing the electrode arrangement of a
plasma display panel;
FIGS. 14 and 15 are, respectively, illustrative circuit diagrams of
a driver circuit and a mixer circuit connected to the X electrodes
of the panel display of FIG. 6; and
FIGS. 16 and 17 are, respectively, illustrative circuit diagrams of
a driver circuit and a mixer circuit connected to the Y electrodes
of the display panel of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, there are shown waveform diagrams for explaining the
operation of one example of this invention, which corresponds to
the case where the brightness levels of respective cells I to IV,
as depicted in FIG. 2, are selected at 1, 2, 4 and 8. Voltages Vxa
and Vxb are impressed to electrodes xa and xb of a plasma display
panel, respectively, and votages Vya and Vyb are impressed to
electrodes ya and yb, respectively. Accordingly, the cell I is
supplied with a voltage V.sub.I which is the difference between the
voltages Vxa and Vya and the cells II, III and IV are supplied
similarly with voltages V.sub.II, V.sub.III and V.sub.IV,
respectively. When a wall voltage V.sub.Q is set by brightness
information at an instant t=0 as indicated by the dotted lines, a
discharge is caused in the cell I at instants t=0 and t=13, and a
discharge is produced in the cell III at instants t=0, t=13, t=14
and t=15. Namely, discharge radiation is produced at such timing as
indicated by small circles within a period T, that is, discharge
radiation is caused twice in the cell I, four times in the cell
III, eight times in the cell II and 16 times in the cell IV. Since
brightness is proportional to the number of radiation discharges
within the period T, the brightness levels of the cells I to IV are
1, 2, 4 and 8, respectively. Consequently, 16 gradations can be
obtained with combinations of the respective cells.
FIGS. 3A to 3E show a series of waveform diagrams, for explaining
the operation of one example of writing and erasing operations
based on brightness information. Reference character Vx in FIG. 3A
indicates a voltage impressed to the electrodes xa or xb, and Vy in
FIG. 3B refers to a voltage impressed to the electrode ya or yb,
each of which is normally a sustain voltage having a peak value Vs
as indicated by a dotted line and whose pulse interval is such as
depicted in FIG. 1. Those electrodes selected by input information
are supplied with half-selection write-in voltages WXP and WYP,
respectively, and selected cells are supplied with a voltage Vx-Vy,
so that a voltage Vc (see FIG. 3C) is impressed and the level of
the wall voltage V.sub.Q is raised by a write-in pulse WP and
discharge radiation is repeatedly achieved by the subsequent
sustain voltage. Since the half-selection write-in voltages WXP and
WYP are selected at peak values +Vwx and -Vwy (see FIG. 3A) lower
than the peak value Vs of the sustain voltage, voltages Vcx and Vcy
(see FIGS. 3D and 3E) are impressed to half-selection cells and it
does not matter whether the half-selection cells are in their
lighted condition or not. Reference character V.sub.Qa designates a
wall voltage in the case of the half-selected cells being lighted
and V.sub.Qb refers to a wall voltage in the case of the cells
being not lighted.
For erasing, an erasing voltage EXP is impressed to the selected
electrodes xa or xb and an erasing voltage EYP is impressed to the
selected electrode ya or yb, so that an erasing pulse EP shown in
FIG. 3C is impressed to the selected cells, by which the level of
the wall voltage V.sub.Q is reduced as shown, thus achieving
erasing. The half-selected cells in this case are supplied with the
voltage EXP and EYP of the waveforms Vcx and Vcy of FIGS. 3D and
3E. When the cells on the electrodes xa or xb are lighted, their
radiation timing shifts to the timing of the impression of the
voltage EXP and no other influence is exerted on the erasing
operation.
FIG. 4 shows a series of waveform diagrams, for explaining the
operation of another example of this invention, in which the
brightness levels of the cells I, II, III and IV shown in FIG. 2
are selected to be 1, 8, 4 and 2, respectively. The electrodes ya
and yb are supplied with the voltages Vya and Vyb of different
phases, and the electrodes xa and xb are supplied with the voltages
Vxa and Vxb of different pulse intervals, impressing the voltages
V.sub.I to V.sub.IV to the cells I to IV, respectively. For
example, in the case of selecting the cell I for writing, the
half-selection write-in voltages WYP and WXP are impressed to the
electrodes ya and xa, respectively. As a result of this, the
write-in pulse WP is impressed to the cell I to write therein and
discharge radiation takes place twice within the period T as
indicated by SPI. Further, since the half-selection cell II is
supplied with only the half-selection write-in voltage WXP of the
voltage V.sub.II, the state of the cell II does not change. The
same is true of the half-selection cell III. In the case of
selecting the cell II, the half-selection write-in voltages WYP and
WXP are impressed, respectively, to the electrodes yb and xa at the
same time, so that the write-in pulse WP is applied to the cell II
to produce discharge radiation sixteen times within the period T as
indicated by SPII because such a voltage as indicated V.sub.II is
impressed to the cell II. In the cases of selecting the other
cells, writing can be achieved in a similar manner. Since the cells
I to IV discharge to emit radiation at such times as indicated by
SPI to SPIV, the brightness levels become different from one
another and a display with 16 gradations can be achieved by the
combination of the cells.
FIG. 5 shows a series of waveform diagrams, for explaining the
operation of another example of this invention, in which the
brightness levels of the cells I, II, III and IV, shown in FIG. 2
are 1, 8, 2 and 4, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the electrodes
ya and yb are always supplied with the voltages Vya and Vby of
different phases and the electrodes xa and xb are supplied
selectively with voltages VxaI and VxbIII; VxbIV and VxaII; and
VxbIII, VxbIV, and VxaI, VxaII, respectively, in accordance with
brightness information. In this case, the memory function due to
the wall voltage is not used and discharge radiation is repeated at
such times that a voltage higher than the discharge voltage is
impressed to a selected cell. For example, where the cell I is
selected, the voltage VxaI is applied to the electrode xa, so that
the cell I is supplied with the voltage V.sub.I to cause a
discharge to radiate at the times indicated by SP. Namely, the cell
discharges once in the period T. Impressing the voltage VxbIII to
the electrode xb, its timing coincides with that of the voltage Vya
in the cell III twice in the period T to increase the impressed
voltage, causing a discharge twice. Impressing the voltage VxbIV to
the electrode xb, a discharge is caused in the cell IV four times
in the period T; while impressing the voltage VxaII to the
electrode xa, a discharge is caused in the cell II eight times in
the period T. Consequently, the brightness levels of the cells I,
II, III and IV become 1, 8, 2 and 4, respectively. Further,
impressing the voltages VxbIII and VxbIV shown in combined form at
VxbIII, IV in FIG. 5, to the electrode xb, a discharge is caused in
the cells III and IV twice and four times, respectively, within the
period T and the discharge is effected six times in all, so that
the brightness level becomes 6. In the case of impressing the
voltages VxaI and VxaII to the electrode xa, a discharge is caused
in the cells I and II once and eight times, respectively, within
the period T, that is, nine times in all, so that the brightness
level becomes 9.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of this invention
as being applied to a television receiver, which employs a plasma
display panel 10 capable of the diaplay of 16 graded levels, as
described above.
To the plasma display panel 10 is impressed a sustain voltage of
FIGS. 1 or 4 from a sustain voltage source 12 through mixer
circuits 14 and 16. A television signal is received by a receiver
18 and horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals HSS and VSS
separated from a video signal are applied to a controller 20. In a
counter-decoder 22, the number of the norizontal synchronizing
signals HSS appearing between the vertical synchronizing signals
VSS is counted and where Y electrodes are 512 and no interlace
scanning is achieved, 256 pulses are sequentially provided between
the vertical synchronizing signals VSS at equal intervals.
The controller 20 applies write-in timing pulses TS, TA and TB to a
gate circuit 24 and the write-in timing pulses TA and TB to a gate
circuit 26 with the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals
HSS and VSS. An A/D converter 28 is supplied from the controller 20
with sampling pulses for sampling the video signal of one
horizontal line period, at n instants of equal intervals. In this
case, where there are 512 X electrodes, it follows that n=256.
Thus, the A/D converter 28 converts the brightness level into a
4-bit digital signal, which is stored in a shift register 30. When
the shift register 30 has stored therein the digital signal of one
horizontal line period, its stored content is read-out by the
horizontal synchronizing signal HSS and applied to a buffer
register 32. In accordance with the content, a write-in pulse is
impressed to the X electrodes of the plasma display panel 10
through the gate circuit 24, a driver 34 and the mixing circuit
14.
The output from the counter-decoder 22 is applied to the Y
electrodes of the plasma display panel 10 through the gate circuit
26, a driver 36 and the mixing circuit 16 to effect writing in
discharge cells formed at the intersecting points of the X and Y
electrodes. Namely, the Y electrodes arranged in pairs are supplied
with voltages following the timing pulses TA and TB and are scanned
in accordance with the output from the counter-decoder 22. At the
same time, the X electrodes, also arranged in pairs, are supplied
with a voltage according to the content temporarily stored in the
buffer register 32. The timing pulses TA, TS and TB and the video
signal of one horizontal scanning line is written in parallel to
display a TV picture of 16 gradations.
The aforementioned receiver 18 corresponds to a typical television
receiver including a deflection circuit and the other circuits
required for providing a display on a cathode ray tube. The A/D
converter 28, the shift register 30, the buffer register 32, etc.
may be selected from those types well-known in the art.
The gate circuit 24 is made up of AND gates Gxa11 to Gxbn2 and OR
gates GRa1 to GRbn, as shown in FIG. 7, from which are derived
outputs xa1' to xbn' in accordance with brightness level signals 1,
2, 4 and 8 stored in the buffer register 32 and the timing signals
TS, TA and TB. While the gate circuit 26 is formed with AND gates
Gya1 to Gybm, as depicted in FIG. 8, from which are derived outputs
ya1' to ybm' in accordance with outputs 1 to m from the
counter-decoder 22 and the timing pulses TA and TB.
The timing pulses TS, TA and TB bear a relationship as shown in
FIG. 9 and writing in the discharge cells of the brightness levels
1 and 2 is achieved with the timing pulse TA between instants t1
and t2 and writing in the discharge cells of the brightness levels
4 and 8 is effected with timing pulse TB between the instants t2
and t3.
The sustain voltage source 12 has a construction as illustrated in
FIGS. 10 or 11, and FIG. 12 shows a series of waveform diagrams for
explaining the operation of the sustain voltage source 12. With a
pulse A1, a transistor QX1 is turned on to produce a voltage +Vs in
outputs xa1 to xan, which is applied to the electrodes of the
plasma display panel 10. In the case that no discharge is produced,
capacitors are formed between the opposing electrodes, so that a
transistor QX2 is turned on by a pulse A2 to discharge the
capacitors. Accordingly, the outputs xa1 to xan become of such a
voltage Vxa as depicted in FIG. 12.
Further, transistors QX3 and QX4 are turned on by pulses B1 and B2,
respectively, so that the outputs xb1 to xbn become of such a
voltage Vxb as shown in FIG. 12.
In FIG. 11, transistors QY1 and QY2 are turned on by pulses C1 and
C2, respectively, and outputs ya1 to yam become of such a voltage
Vya as depicted in FIG. 12, and transistors QY3 and QY4 are turned
on by pulses D1 and D2, respectively, so that outputs yb1 to ybm
become of such a voltage Vyb as shown in FIG. 12. Namely, the
sustain voltage described previously with regard to FIG. 1 is
obtained.
FIG. 13 is a diagram, for explaining one example of the plasma
display panel 10, in which electrodes x11 to xn2 and y11 to ym2
form pairs and four discharge cells formed at the intersecting
points of two pairs of the electrodes constitute one picture
element 40. Numerals 1, 2, 4 and 8 in circles represent the
brightness levels of the respective discharge cells.
The driver 34 is formed of transistors Qxa1 to Qxbm, as illustrated
in FIG. 14, and the outputs xa1' to xbn' from the gate circuit 24
are applied to the bases of the transistors Qxa1 to Qxbn to provide
outputs Dxa1 to Dxbn of a voltage +VW. The outputs Dxa1 to Dxbn are
applied to the mixing circuit 14 together with the signals xa1 to
xbn from the sustain voltage source 12. The mixing circuit 14 has a
construction as shown in FIG. 15, comprised of a plurality of
resistive elements R1 to Rn and its output is applied to the
electrodes x11 to xn2 of the plasma display panel 10.
The driver 36 comprises transistors Qya1 to Qybm as depicted in
FIG. 16, and the outputs ya1' to ybm' from the gate circuit 26 are
impressed to the bases of the transistors Qya1 to Qybm to provide
outputs Dya1 to Dybm of a voltage -VW. The outputs Dya1 to Dybm are
applied to the mixing circuit 16 together with those signals ya1 to
ybm from the sustain voltage source 12. The mixing circuit 16 is of
such a construction as shown in FIG. 17 comprising resistors R'1 to
R'm, and its output is applied to the electrodes y11 to ym2 of the
plasma display panel 10.
Accordingly, in the plasma display panel 10, the sustain voltage is
impressed to the discharge cells forming picture elements so that
their brightness levels may be different from one another and the
discharge cells are selected in accordance with the video signal
and writing is achieved, thus displaying a TV picture having tone
gradations. In the foregoing, the electrodes (y11, y12), (y21,
y22), . . . (ym1, ym2) are scanned sequentially for writing. It is
also possible to improve picture quality by effecting the first
scanning in the manner described above and subsequently scanning
the electrodes (y12, y21), (y22, y31), . . . y(m-1)2, (ym1) in
pairs. Further, in the case of simultaneously writing the signal of
one horizontal scanning line, the capacity of the buffer register
increases, so that by dividing the horizontal scanning line into a
plurality of sections, the capacity of the buffer register can be
reduced down to a fraction of the number of the divided
sections.
With the brightness modulation system of this invention, one
picture element is formed with a plurality of cells, the numbers of
times of discharge radiation of the respective cells are made
different from one another to make the brightness levels of the
cells different from one another and a plurality of gradations can
be obtained by the combination of the respective cells, as has been
described in the foregoing. It is also possible that the peak
values and pulse widths of the impression voltages therefor are
made equal to one another only by selecting them in different
phases and at different repetitive frequencies and that only their
phases and pulse widths are selected different from one another.
Therefore, the sustain voltage circuit can be simplified. Further,
if no memory function due to the wall voltage is employed, the
impression voltages can be regularly displaced apart in-phase. In
the foregoing examples, 16 gradations are obtained with four cells,
but if each picture element is made up of six, eight or more cells,
32, 64 or more gradations can be obtained, respectively.
The cell herein mentioned is a single discharge region formed at
each intersecting point of the electrodes and adjoining discharge
regions need not be mechanically isolated from each other.
It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may be
effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of
this invention.
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