Positive column AC plasma display

A method for operating an AC plasma panel having a plurality of addressable subpixel sites, each subpixel site including an address electrode positioned on one substrate and a first sustain electrode and a second sustain electrode positioned on an opposed substrate, each said electrode covered by a dielectric material, a dischargeable gas positioned between said substrates, an intersection between said address electrode and said first sustain electrode defining a first discharge site and an intersection between said address electrode and said second sustain electrode defining a second discharge site, said method comprising the steps of:

• during an address phase, applying (i) a negative going signal to said first sustain electrode and (ii) an address signal to said address electrode, to create a discharge of said gas at said first discharge site which causes a positive column to migrate along said address electrode to said second discharge site, said address signal, said positive column and a potential applied to said second sustain electrode cooperating to create a discharge which induces a wall voltage at said second discharge site in accordance with a determined subpixel value;
• during a sustain phase, applying sustain signals to said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode to thereby enable an independent discharge to initiate at said second discharge site between said second sustain electrode and said address electrode when said wall voltage at said second discharge site is indicative of said determined subpixel value, said sustain signals thereafter cooperating to enable a discharge at said second discharge site to cause a positive column to migrate along said address electrode to said first discharge site and to enable a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value;
• and
• causing said discharges such that the power dissipated in said positive column is increased relative to a power dissipated in a negative glow portion of said discharge.

An AC plasma panel having a plurality of addressable subpixel sites, each subpixel site including an address electrode positioned on one substrate and a first sustain electrode and a second sustain electrode positioned on an opposed substrate, each said electrode covered by a dielectric material, a dischargeable gas positioned between said substrates, an intersection between said address electrode and said first sustain electrode defining a first discharge site and an intersection between said address electrode and said second sustain electrode defining a second discharge site, said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode separated by a sustain gap distance, said AC plasma panel further comprising:

• first drive means for establishing a wall voltage at said second discharge site in accordance with a determined subpixel value;
• sustain drive means for applying sustain signals to said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode to enable a discharge to occur at said second discharge site when said wall voltage at said second discharge site is indicative of said determined subpixel value, successive sustain signals further cooperating to thereafter successively enable a discharge at said second discharge site to cause a positive column which moves along said address electrode to said first discharge site and enables a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value, and a discharge at said first discharge site to cause a positive column which moves along said address electrode to said second discharge site and enables a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value;
• and
• wherein said sustain gap distance is larger than a critical sustain gap distance between said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode, said critical sustain gap having a first minimum sustain voltage equal to a second minimum sustain voltage, said first minimum sustain voltage being the minimum voltage that would be required to sustain a discharge over said critical sustain gap distance between said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode, said second minimum sustain voltage being the minimum voltage that would be required to successively enable a discharge at said second discharge site to cause a positive column to move over said critical sustain gap distance along said address electrode to said first discharge site and to enable a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value, and a further discharge at said first discharge site to cause a positive column to move along said address electrode to said second discharge site over said critical sustain gap distance and to enable a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value.

An AC plasma panel having a plurality of addressable subpixel sites, each subpixel site including an address electrode positioned on one substrate and a first sustain electrode and a second sustain electrode positioned on an opposed substrate, each said electrode covered by a dielectric material, a dischargeable gas positioned between said substrates, an intersection between said address electrode and said first sustain electrode defining a first discharge site and an intersection between said address electrode and said second sustain electrode defining a second discharge site, said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode separated by a sustain gap distance, said AC plasma panel further comprising:

• first drive means for establishing a wall voltage at said second discharge site in accordance with a determined subpixel value;
• sustain drive means for applying sustain signals to said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode to enable a discharge to initiate at said second discharge site between said second sustain electrode and said address electrode when said wall voltage at said second discharge site is indicative of said determined subpixel value, successive sustain signals further cooperating to thereafter successively enable a discharge at said second discharge site to cause a positive column which moves along said address electrode to said first discharge site and enables a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value, and a discharge at said first discharge site to cause a positive column which moves along said address electrode to said second discharge site and enables a discharge to occur thereat that is indicative of said determined subpixel value;
• and
• wherein said sustain signals exhibit a voltage level that is less than a minimum voltage that would be required to sustain a discharge over said sustain gap distance between said first sustain electrode and said second sustain electrode.

An AC plasma panel comprising:

• a plurality of addressable subpixel sites, each subpixel site comprising:
• an address electrode positioned on one substrate;
• a first and second electrode positioned on an opposing substrate and separated by a distance;
• drive means for applying signals to said electrodes, said drive means operating to produce a positive column discharge between said address electrode and said first electrode which travels along said address electrode to said second electrode, said drive means further operating to produce a positive column discharge between said address electrode and said second electrode which travels along said address electrode to said first electrode;
• isolation bars positioned between adjacent first or second electrodes of adjacent subpixel sites, said isolation bars operating to establish a negative charge in inter-electrode gaps between said adjacent first or second electrodes and to ensure that there is no discharge activity in said inter-electrode gaps.