Apparatus and method for driving plasma display panels

An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel having a panel capacitor with an address-driving waveform applied thereto, the apparatus comprising:

• a first voltage changer including a first inductor coupled to one terminal of a path coupled to one terminal of the panel capacitor, the first voltage changer storing energy in the first inductor through a current path formed from the first inductor to the one terminal of the panel capacitor while a terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at a first voltage, the first voltage changer changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage using the energy stored in the first inductor and a resonance;
• a second voltage changer including a second inductor coupled to the other terminal of the path, the second voltage changer storing energy in the second inductor through a current path formed from the one terminal of the panel capacitor to the second inductor while the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage, the second voltage changer changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to the first voltage using the energy stored in the second inductor and the resonance;
• and
• a power supply section including first and second power sources, the first power source supplying the first voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage, the second power source supplying the second voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage.

A method for driving a plasma display panel, which includes a panel capacitor, the method comprising:

• storing energy in a first inductor coupled to one terminal of a path coupled to one terminal of the panel capacitor, while a terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at a first voltage;
• changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage using the energy stored in the first inductor and a resonance;
• recovering a current flowing to the first inductor while sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage;
• storing energy in a second inductor coupled to the other terminal of the path, while the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage;
• changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to the first voltage using the energy stored in the second inductor and the resonance;
• and
• recovering a current flowing to the second inductor while sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage.

An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel having a panel capacitor coupled on a lengthwise conductive pattern and an address-driving waveform applied to the panel capacitor, the apparatus comprising:

• a first inductor and a second inductor, each having one terminal thereof coupled to both terminals of the conductive pattern;
• a first current path formed to flow a first current through the first inductor and the conductive pattern;
• a second current path formed to cause a resonance of the first inductor and the panel capacitor while the first current flows, and to change a voltage of the panel capacitor to a first voltage due to the resonance;
• a third current path formed to recover a current remaining in the first inductor while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the first voltage;
• a fourth current path formed to flow a second current through the conductive pattern and the second inductor;
• a fifth current path formed to cause a resonance of the second inductor and the panel capacitor while the second current flows, and to change the voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage due to the resonance;
• and
• a sixth current path formed to recover a current remaining in the second inductor while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage.

A plasma display panel apparatus, comprising:

• a plasma panel having a plurality of address electrodes arranged in columns and a plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes alternately arranged in rows, the address electrodes, scan electrodes and sustain electrodes collectively forming a panel capacitor;
• a scan/sustain driver coupled to the plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes;
• an address drive coupled to the plurality of address electrodes;
• and
• a controller responsive to an external image signal to generate an address drive control signal to the address driver and to generate a sustain discharge signal to the scan/sustain driver, the address driver applying a display data signal for selection of discharge cells to be displayed to individual address electrodes, the scan/sustain driver applying a sustain pulse voltage alternately to the scan and sustain electrodes for a sustain discharge on the selected discharge cells;
• wherein the address driver or the scan/sustain driver includes a power recovery circuit coupled to the address electrodes or scan/sustain electrodes for recovering and reusing reactive power, the power recovery circuit including:
• a first inductor and a second inductor, each having one terminal thereof coupled to both terminals of a path coupled to one terminal of the panel capacitor;
• a first switch and a first capacitor coupled in series between an other terminal of the first inductor and a first power source supplying a first voltage;
• a second switch and a second capacitor coupled in series between an other terminal of the second inductor and the first power source;
• a third switch coupled between a second power source for supplying a second voltage and the one terminal of the first inductor;
• and
• a fourth switch coupled between the one terminal of the second inductor and the first power source,
• wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are charged to a voltage substantially corresponding to half of the second voltage.

A plasma display panel apparatus, comprising:

• a plasma panel having a plurality of address electrodes arranged in columns and a plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes alternately arranged in rows, the address electrodes, scan electrodes and sustain electrodes collectively forming a panel capacitor;
• a scan/sustain driver coupled to the plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes;
• an address drive coupled to the plurality of address electrodes;
• and
• a controller responsive to an external image signal to generate an address drive control signal to the address driver and to generate a sustain discharge signal to the scan/sustain driver, the address driver applying a display data signal for selection of discharge cells to be displayed to individual address electrodes, the scan/sustain driver applying a sustain pulse voltage alternately to the scan and sustain electrodes for a sustain discharge on the selected discharge cells;
• wherein the address driver or the scan/sustain driver includes a power recovery circuit coupled to the address electrodes or scan/sustain electrodes for recovering and reusing reactive power, the power recovery circuit including:
• a first voltage changer including a first inductor coupled to one terminal of a path coupled to one terminal of the panel capacitor, the first voltage changer storing energy in the first inductor through a current path formed from the first inductor to the one terminal of the panel capacitor while a terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at a first voltage, the first voltage changer changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage using the energy stored in the first inductor and a resonance;
• a second voltage changer including a second inductor coupled to the other terminal of the path, the second voltage changer storing energy in the second inductor through a current path formed from the one terminal of the panel capacitor to the second inductor while the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage, the second voltage changer changing the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to the first voltage using the energy stored in the second inductor and the resonance;
• and
• a power supply section including first and second power sources, the first power source supplying the first voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage, the second power source supplying the second voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage.