US 4,072,937 A · MOS transistor driver circuits for plasma panels and similar matrix display devices

Abstract

Driver circuits for plasma panels and similar matrix display devices are disclosed. Each driver circuit includes a single MOS transistor for coupling sustain signals to an associated row or column conductor of the panel. The drain of the transistor is connected to the associated conductor. For a first polarity of sustain signal, the transistor is operated in a conventional manner. For the second polarity of sustain signal, the transistor is operated in an unconventional manner in which the junction between the drain and the semiconductor layer in which the transistor is disposed is forward-biased. The second polarity of sustain signal is thereby extended through the transistor by way of a forward-biased diode path rather than by way of its channel. Write and erase signal waveforms are continuously applied to each driver circuit. Additional MOS circuitry in each driver circuit is responsive to an applied address signal to couple the write and erase signals through to the associated conductor.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Driver circuitry for extending signals to first and second coordinate conductors associated with a predetermined cell of a matrix display device comprising

first and second MOS transistors each comprised of first conductivity type semiconductor layer and second conductivity type drain and source regions disposed in said layer and defining a channel region therein,
means for connecting the drain regions of said first and second transistors to said first and second conductors, respectively, and
means for concurrently coupling respective signals at first and second potentials to the source region of said first transistor and the semiconductor layer of said second transistor, respectively, and for thereafter concurrently coupling said signals to the source region of said second transistor and the semiconductor layer of said first transistor, respectively.

A display system comprising,

a display device having an array of crosspoint cells defined by respective row and column conductors,
a plurality of individual row and column drivers each including an MOS sustain transistor having first conductivity type drain and source regions disposed in a second conductivity type semiconductor layer and defining a channel region therein, means for maintaining the source region of each sustain transistor at substantially the same potential as the semiconductor layer thereof,
means for connecting the drain of each row driver sustain transistor to an associated one of said row conductors,
means for connecting the drain of each column driver sustain transistor to an associated one of said column conductors, and
means for establishing an alternating-polarity potential difference of predetermined magnitude between the source regions of said row driver sustain transistors, on the one hand, and the source regions of said column driver sustain transistors, on the other hand,
each of said row drivers further including biasing means for rendering the channel region of its sustain transistor conductive in response to one polarity of said potential difference, and each of said column drivers further including biasing means for rendering the channel region of its sustain transistor conductive in response to the other polarity of said potential difference.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

MOS transistor driver circuits for plasma panels and similar matrix display devices

Life of this patent

MOS transistor driver circuits for plasma panels and similar matrix display devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10