Driving apparatus and method, plasma display apparatus, and power supply circuit for plasma display panel

A driving method for applying predetermined voltages to a load, wherein:

• the voltage of a first signal line is changed between first and fifth levels, and the voltage of a second signal line is changed between said fifth level and a second level, while the voltage of a third signal line is changed between third and sixth levels, and the voltage of a fourth signal line is changed between said sixth level and a fourth level;
• the voltage at said first level, supplied by said first signal line in a state that the voltage of said second signal line is set at said fifth level, is supplied to one terminal of said load, while the voltage at said fourth level, supplied by said fourth signal line in a state that the voltage of said third signal line is set at said sixth level, is supplied to other terminal of said load;
• the voltage at said second level, supplied by said second signal line in the state that the voltage of said first signal line is set at said fifth level, is supplied to said one terminal of said load, while the voltage at said third level, supplied by said third signal line in the state that the voltage of said fourth signal line is set at said sixth level, is supplied to said other terminal of said load;
• and
• the fifth level is intermediate the first and second levels and the sixth level is intermediate the third and fourth levels.

A driving apparatus for applying predetermined voltages to a load, said apparatus comprising:

• a first signal line for supplying a voltage at a first level or a fifth level to one terminal of said load, a second signal line for supplying a voltage at a second level or said fifth level to said one terminal of said load, a third signal line for supplying a voltage at a third level or a sixth level to other terminal of said load, and a fourth signal line for supplying a voltage at a fourth level or said sixth level to another terminal of said load, wherein:
• the voltage of said second signal line is set at said fifth level and the voltage of said first signal line is set at said first level so that the voltage at said first level is supplied to said one terminal of said load through said first signal line, or the voltage at said fifth level is supplied to said one terminal of said load through said second signal line, while the voltage of said third signal line is set at said sixth level and the voltage of said fourth signal line is set at said fourth level so that the voltage at said fourth level is supplied to said other terminal of said load through said fourth signal line, or the voltage at said sixth level is supplied to said other terminal of said load through said third signal line,
• the voltage of said first signal line is set at said fifth level and the voltage of said second signal line is set at said second level so that the voltage at said second level is supplied to said one terminal of said load through said second signal line, or the voltage at said fifth level is supplied to said one terminal of said load through said first signal line, while the voltage of said fourth signal line is set at said sixth level and the voltage of said third signal line is set at said third level so that the voltage at said third level is supplied to said other terminal of said load through said third signal line, or the voltage at said sixth level is supplied to said other terminal of said load through said fourth signal line, and
• the fifth level is Intermediate the first and second levels and the sixth level is Intermediate the third and fourth levels.

A driving method of a plasma display apparatus including a plasma display panel having a pair of electrodes between which a discharge occurs, said method comprising:

• a first step of supplying a voltage at a first level to one of said electrodes, and supplying the voltage at said first level to one terminal of a first capacitor to charge said first capacitor with the voltage at said first level;
• a second step of outputting a voltage at a second level reversed in polarity to the voltage at said first level, from the other terminal of said first capacitor, and supplying the voltage at said second level to said one of said electrodes;
• a third step of supplying a voltage at a third level to the other of said electrodes, and supplying the voltage at said third level to one terminal of a second capacitor to charge said second capacitor with the voltage at said third level;
• and
• a fourth step of outputting a voltage at a fourth level, reversed in polarity to the voltage at said third level, from the other terminal of said second capacitor, and supplying the voltage at said fourth level to said other of said electrodes, and
• said first and fourth steps are performed at substantially the same time so that a voltage required for a discharge and obtained due to the potential difference between the voltages at said first and fourth levels is applied between said electrodes, and then said second and third steps are performed at substantially the same time so that a voltage required for a discharge, and obtained due to the potential difference between the voltages at said second and third levels, is applied between said electrodes.

A driving method for applying predetermined voltages to a load, wherein:

• a voltage of a first signal line is changed between first and fifth levels, and a voltage of a second signal line is changed between said fifth level and a second level, while a voltage of a third signal line is changed between third and sixth levels, and a voltage of a fourth signal line is changed between said sixth level and a fourth level;
• the voltage at said first level on said first signal line, or the voltage at said fifth level on said second signal line, is supplied to one terminal of said load, in the state that the voltage of said first signal line is set at said first level and the voltage of said second signal line is set at said fifth level, while the voltage at said fourth level on said fourth signal line, or the voltage at said sixth level on said third signal line is supplied to other terminal of said load, in the state that the voltage of said fourth signal line is set at said fourth level and the voltage of said third signal line is set at said sixth level;
• the voltage at said second level on said second signal line, or the voltage at said fifth level on said first signal line, is supplied to said one terminal of said load, in the state that the voltage of said second signal line is set at said second level and the voltage of said first signal line is set at said fifth level, while the voltage at said third level supplied by said third signal line, or the voltage at said sixth level supplied by said fourth signal line, is supplied to said other terminal of said load, in the state that the voltage of said third signal line is set at said third level and the voltage of said fourth signal line is set at said sixth level;
• and
• the fifth level is intermediate the first and second levels and the sixth level is intermediate the third and fourth levels.

A driving apparatus for applying a predetermined voltage to a load, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second switches connected in series at a node and between a power supply, supplying a voltage at a first level, and a reference level;
• a capacitor having one terminal connected to the node between said first and second switches;
• a third switch connected between a second terminal of said capacitor and said reference level;
• a first signal line connected to said one terminal of said capacitor for outputting the voltage at said first level;
• and
• a second signal line connected to said second terminal of said capacitor for outputting a voltage at a second level, reversed in polarity relatively to the voltage at said first level,
• wherein the voltage at said first level supplied by said first signal line, and the voltage at said second level supplied by said second signal line are selectively applied to said one terminal of said load.

A power supply circuit of a plasma display panel having a pair of electrodes between which a discharge occurs, the power supply circuit applying a predetermined voltage to one of said pair of electrodes and comprising:

• first and second switches connected in series at a node and between a power supply terminal and a reference terminal of a power supply and selectively supplying a voltage at a first level and a reference level;
• a capacitor having one terminal connected to the node between said first and second switches;
• a third switch connected between a second terminal of said capacitor and said reference level;
• a first signal line connected to said one terminal of said capacitor for outputting the voltage at said first level;
• and
• a second signal line connected to said second terminal of said capacitor for outputting a voltage at a second level, reversed in polarity to the voltage at said first level.

A pulse voltage generating circuit generating pulse voltage waves used by a driving circuit, of an AC-driven plasma display panel, to apply said pulse voltage waves, which reverse their polarity in a positive or a negative direction from a voltage at a reference level, to opposite terminals of a discharge cell of the AC-driven plasma display panel, in mutually opposite phases, thereby to drive said discharge cell with a difference voltage of both the pulse voltage waves, comprising:

• first and second switches connected in series at a node and between a power supply terminal and a reference terminal of a power supply terminal and selectively supplying a voltage at a first level and a reference level;
• a capacitor having one terminal connected to the node between said first and second switches;
• a third switch connected between a second terminal of said capacitor and said reference level;
• a first signal line connected to said one terminal of said capacitor for outputting the voltage at said first level;
• and
• a second signal line connected to said second terminal of said capacitor for outputting a voltage at a second level, reversed in polarity to the voltage at said first level.