Method and apparatus for driving plasma display panel

A method for driving a plasma display panel having an upper plate on which a scan electrode and a sustain electrode are formed, and a lower plate on which an address electrode is formed, comprising:

• applying a first initialization signal to the scan electrode and a second initialization signal to the sustain electrode during an initialization period;
• applying a scan signal to the scan electrode, and data signal to the address electrode during an address period;
• and
• applying sustain signals to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode during a sustain period,
• wherein the initialization period includes a first portion and a second portion, during the first portion of the initialization period the voltages of the first and second initialization signals gradually increase and during the second portion of the initialization period the voltage of the first initialization signal gradually decreases from a first voltage to a second voltage and the voltage of the second initialization signal decreases from a third voltage to a fourth voltage, and
• wherein the second voltage is smaller than the fourth voltage.