Studies on a LaF3‐coated MgO protecting layer in AC‐plasma‐display panels

A new protecting layer, a LaF₃‐coated MgO layer, in color AC‐plasma‐display panels (PDPs) was studied in order to overcome the weakness of the conventional single MgO protecting layer. The material characteristics of the new layer were examined by using variations in the deposition process. The display characteristics were also examined by implementing their processes to actual PDPs. It was demonstrated that this method is effective in lowering the firing and sustaining voltages of PDPs and enhancing the brightness of the panel as well.     

Electronic structure and electrical conductivity of MgO protecting layer in plasma‐display panels: A tight‐binding quantum chemical study

Abstract— The tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics code, Colors, has been successfully applied to the electronic‐structure calculations of the MgO‐protecting‐layer model in plasma‐display panels (PDPs). The code succeeded in reproducing the band‐gap energy of the MgO crystal structure. The energy gap between the bottom of the conduction band (CB) and the top of valence band (VB) was 7.45 eV, which is in quantitative agreement with the experimental and previous theoretical results. The electronic structure of the undoped MgO model and Si‐doped MgO model was also calculated. The impurity level was 2.15 eV lower than that for the bottom of the CB. This result was in qualitative agreement with recent cathodoluminescence measurements. In addition, we have already succeeded in developing a novel electrical conductivity simulator using the spatial distribution of the probability density of wave functions obtained from the tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics code, Colors. The electrical conductivity of the MgO‐protecting‐layer model was estimated with and without an oxygen defect and a significant change in the electrical conductivity of the MgO‐protecting‐layer materials was observed with the introduction of oxygen defects.     

Front address structure for high luminous efficacy and low address voltage in ACPDPs

Abstract— 8‐in. AC plasma display panels with front address (FA) structures were developed. Deep barrier ribs, high‐Xe‐content gas, and long sustain gaps were applied to FA structures to achieve high luminous efficacy. The FA structures have several advantages over conventional structures. Because address electrodes are closer to sustain electrodes, FA PDPs can be driven at lower address voltages, under the condition of deep barrier ribs or high‐Xe‐content gas, than conventional PDPs. A disadvantage of FA PDPs is relatively high capacitance between the sustain electrodes and address electrodes compared to that of conventional PDPs.     

Radio‐frequency plasma‐display cell

Abstract— This paper demonstrates that it is possible to improve the basic parameters of plasma displays (efficiency, primarily) using AC voltages with frequencies so high that the amplitude of the electron‐drift oscillations is smaller than the inter‐electrode gap. In this case, the voltage drop on sheaths is much smaller than that in the low frequency or DC discharge and, correspondingly, the energy losses in ion heating are also small. Electron losses in the RF discharge are of the diffusion character and sufficiently lower than the losses in a typical AC plasma‐display panel (AC PDP), in which the electron drift to the electrodes is predominant. Hence, the energy cost of gas ionization in the cells of radio‐frequency PDPs (RF PDPs) is also rather low. In the long run, about 80% of the energy absorbed in the RF discharge goes into excitation of the energy level of a Xe atom, yielding UV radiation. The experiments performed show that efficiency of a RF PDP is five times higher than the efficiency of existing AC PDPs and DC PDPs and can exceed 5 lm/W.     

Electron‐beam deposition of MgO on plastic substrate and manufacturing flexible flat fluorescent lamp

Abstract— A flexible fluorescent lamp that utilizes the same plasma discharge mode as in PDPs has been manufactured. The structure of the flexible lamp is simple and easy to manufacture. All‐plastic materials including plastic substrates, barrier ribs (spacers), and sealants for low‐temperature manufacturing processing have been adopted except for the phosphor and MgO thin film. The MgO thin films were coated on the plastic substrates as a protection layer against the plasma discharge. The adhesion and biaxial texture of MgO thin film deposited on the plastic substrates, poly‐ethyle‐nenaphthalate (PEN) and polycarbonate (PC), at low temperature (100–180°C) has been characterized. The MgO film on PEN shows good adhesion under a repeated bending test. The manufactured flexible lamp consists of two plastic substrates of about 3 in. on the diagonal, barrier rib (spacer), and external ITO electrodes. The Ne‐Xe (5%) gas mixture at 100–200 Torr was used for the discharge gas. A maximum surface luminance of about 100 cd/m² was achieved for a 1 ‐kHz AC pulse.     

Characterization of micro‐cell discharge in AC‐PDPs by spatio‐temporal optical emission spectroscopy

Abstract— We have developed highly resolved spatio‐temporal optical emission spectroscopy to investigate the discharge characteristics of coplanar type ac plasma‐display panels (AC‐PDPs). Spatio‐temporal emission profiles were measured for relevant lines of atomic He, Ne, Xe, and ionic Xe in He‐Xe and Ne‐Xe systems with various Xe concentrations and total gas pressures. The surface‐discharge behavior in coplanar PDPs has been clarified.     

Protective layer for high‐efficiency PDPs driven at low voltage

Abstract— The sustain pulse voltage of a panel for 66‐kPa Ne + Xe (5–30%) with an (SrCa)O protective layer is 20–40% lower than that with an MgO protective layer. The luminous efficiency of the panel with a Ne + Xe (30%) (SrCa)O protective layer is 1.5 times that of the conventional panel with a Ne + Xe (10%) MgO protective layer; the sustain pulse voltages of these panels are almost the same. The power loss caused by panel capacitance is proportional to the second power of the sustain pulse voltage. Using the (SrCa)O protective layer for Xe (5–30%), the power loss is reduced by 35–60% compared with the MgO protective layer. It follows that, using the (SrCa)O protective layer, we can increase the Xe content with little power loss and thus achieve high‐efficiency PDPs. As for MgO and CaO with Xe ions, electrons are probably ejected from only the defect states. On the other hand, as for the SrO with Xe ions, it is likely that electrons can be ejected from not only defect states but also the valance band. This seems to be the reason why the driving voltage is lower with the (SrCa)O protective layer than with the MgO protective layer.     

Discharge properties and chemical stability of SrZrO films

Abstract— MgO thin film is currently used as a surface protective layer for dielectric materials because MgO has a high resistance during ion sputtering and exhibits effective secondary electron emission. The secondary‐electron‐emission coefficient γ of MgO is high for Ne ions; however, it is low for Xe ions. The Xe content of the discharge gas of PDPs needs to be raised in order to increase the luminous efficiency. Thus, the development of high‐γ materials replacing MgO is required. The discharge properties and chemical surface stability of SrO containing Zr (SrZrO) as the candidate high‐γ protective layer for noble PDPs have been characterized. SrZrO films have superior chemical stability, especially the resistance to carbonation because of the existence of a few adsorption sites due to their amorphous structure. The firing voltage is 60 V lower than that of MgO films for a discharge gas of Ne/Xe = 85/15 at 60 kPa.     

Application of AC plasma display panels to radiation detectors

Radiation detector proposals that use plasma display panels are rare. In this work, we confirmed a radiation detector that uses plasma display panels that are focused on the breakdown voltage shift in the ramp waveform. We adapted the cell structures, gas contents, and waveforms of plasma display panels (AC‐PDPs) for radiation detectors. Hard X‐rays and gamma rays induce electron emission into the discharge gas, resulting in generating electrons, electron multiplication, and charge accumulation on dielectrics. The radiation dose rate of hard X‐rays and gamma rays (Cs137) is measured as a breakdown voltage shift between anodes and cathodes. For gamma rays, the detection sensitivity in this experiment is not as high as in the case of hard X‐rays, but the detector can locate gamma rays. These results suggest that adapted AC‐PDPs can detect both hard X‐rays and gamma rays and can be used in a large two‐dimensional radiation detector.     

Improved discharge characteristics using MgO single‐crystal particles and advanced CEL structure

Abstract— Pioneer Corporation introduced plasma‐display‐panel (PDP) TVs in 2005, which achieved the highest dark‐room contrast ratio of 4000:1 at the time. These PDPs had a novel discharge cell structure consisting of a crystal emissive layer (CEL) on a MgO protective thin film. This cell structure is refered to as a CEL structure. Magnesium‐oxide single‐crystal particles, which have a unique luminance peak around 230–250 nm and a good exo‐electron‐emission property, were found to be an excellent material for CEL and were utilized in CEL panels. In 2007, newly developed PDP TVs in which CEL was formed on a phosphor layer, in addition to the previous CEL structure, were introduced, and this discharge cell structure is refered to as advanced CEL structure. By using the new cell structure, the opposed discharge characteristics have been drastically improved, and a stable reset discharge has been realized with only a weak opposed discharge. As a result, black luminance has been drastically reduced, and a dark‐room contrast ratio of over 20,000:1, the highest ever reported, has been achieved.     

Optical filters for plasma‐display panels using organic dyes and conductive mesh layers by using a roll‐to‐roll etching process

Abstract— Optical filters with a high shielding capability against electromagnetic (EM) radiation for plasma‐display panels (PDPs) have been studied. We developed optical filters with high conductivity by utilizing a copper‐mesh layer, which was processed by using roll‐to‐roll photolithography and roll‐to‐roll etching. The copper‐mesh layer has a cross‐striped pattern with a surface resistance of 0.05Ω/□ and an opening ratio of approximately 93%. In combination with the copper‐mesh layer, organic dyes were applied to reduce the PDPs unfavorable emissions, such as near‐infrared light, and to control the transmission properties to improve the PDPs picture quality.     

Cathode‐luminescence diagnostics of MgO,MgO:Si,MgO:Sc,and MgCaO

Abstract— The cathode‐luminescence (CL) emission of crystalline MgO, MgO:Si, MgO:Sc, and MgCaO, often used as a protective‐layer material in PDPs, were measured. In some of these materials, it was found that the UV emission band is located at a shorter wavelength than published in the literature and depends upon the type of impurities or doping. MgCaO‐pellet material is found to contain a separate CaO phase. It is concluded that the recombination mechanism is thermally assisted in most of these materials, while only in the case of MgO:Sc tunneling recombination was found.     

Cell parameter extraction method for AC plasma display panels

This paper presents a cell parameter extraction method for three-electrode AC plasma display panels (PDPs). This method uses three different two-electrode AC discharges to extract the cell capacitances. The drive point capacitances of the cell with and without a two-electrode dark discharge were measured, and the cell capacitances were extracted from them. The extracted cell capacitances agree well with those obtained from a three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation. Electrical equivalent circuits of the plasma were constructed using Jung's model [Y.K. Jung, J.W. Seo, Y.H. Kim, B.K. Kang, Circuit model for two-electrode AC discharge, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., 31(3), pp. 362–368, 2003.] and the measured firing voltages. A circuit model for the cell was constructed using the cell capacitances and the equivalent circuits for the plasma. The results of electrical simulation using this circuit model agree well with the measurements, indicating that the presented circuit model would be useful for simulating the electrical behaviors of a three-electrode AC PDP.     

The 121‐contiguous‐subfield addressing of high Xe‐content PDPs

Abstract— As the Xe content of PDPs is increased, the space‐charge priming becomes more effective. Also, the diffusion/drift of the space charges and accumulation of the wall charges becomes faster. These facts indicate that the use of an erase addressing is preferable for high‐Xe‐content PDPs. A 30%‐Xe green test panel was driven with contiguous subfields using erase addressing and a grouped Address‐While‐Display scheme. Crosstalk was suppressed by driving the odd and even sustain electrodes separately. The fast addressing speed of 0.283 μsec allowed for 121 subfields and 122 gray levels, with a resultant luminance of 4200 cd/m² and a dark‐room contrast of 310:1. The scan and data pulse voltages were as low as 90 and 75 V, respectively. All the subfields had an identical length of 136 μsec, but the number of sustain pulses in these subfields could be varied between 2 and 20. By selecting an adequate number of sustain pulses in the subfields, arbitrary gamma characteristics could be realized. A gray‐scale expression having a constant difference between the consecutive “perceived” luminance levels was verified throughout all the luminance levels.     

Aging processes of the blue phosphor in plasma‐display panels

Abstract— The degradation mechanisms of the fluorescence characteristics of plasma‐display‐panel (PDP) phosphors during panel fabrication and panel operation are a major drawback in the performance of PDPs. A study of these phenomena for a laser excitation simulation process is presented. These are compared to those obtained in conventional PDPs.     

Investigation of the firing voltage in a shadow‐mask PDP

Abstract— A numerical method was used to investigate the firing characteristics of the discharge cell in an AC shadow‐mask PDP (SM‐PDP). The firing voltages for the various discharge paths in the addressing and sustaining periods were calculated, and the effects of the metal barrier rib and the dielectric layer in the discharge cell on the firing characteristics were studied. Furthermore, the advantages of the SM‐PDP in terms of the firing characteristics will be discussed.     

Discharge characteristics and low‐voltage driving of high‐Xe‐content PDPs

Abstract— High‐Xe‐content PDPs attain improved luminous efficiency, but with sacrifices of higher sustain and address voltages and slower discharge build‐up. By examining PDPs with 3.5–100% Xe contents, it was revealed that space‐charge priming as well as wall‐charge accumulation are effective in obtaining low‐voltage and high‐speed operation. In addition, it was found that the effectiveness is emphasized for higher‐Xe‐pressure PDPs. In this respect, erase addressing is more favorable than write addressing, especially for high‐Xe‐pressure PDPs. The formative time lag of the discharge and diffusion/drift of the space charges are shorter for high Xe contents. In this respect, high‐Xe‐content PDPs have a potential for high‐speed addressing, if driven adequately. The use of space‐charge priming, however, is limited by the duration between the priming and scan pulses. Accumulation of wall charges is limited by ignition of a self‐erase discharge with which all the wall charges are dissipated. Although the highest efficiency and luminance are attained with a 100%‐Xe panel, the optimum Xe gas content, considering the sustain pulse voltage and drive voltage margin, would be 70% Xe + Ne.     

Reduction of permanent image sticking in ACPDPs using RF‐plasma pretreatment on MgO surface

Abstract— The characteristics of the MgO layer are known to be an important parameter that affects the permanent image sticking or lifetime of an ACPDP. In this paper, to reduce the permanent image sticking in ACPDPs, the effects of RF‐plasma pretreatments of the MgO layer on the permanent image sticking are investigated. The treatment was conducted by using several plasma‐forming gases, including Ar, Ar followed by O², and O² followed by Ar. Measurements of luminance, normalized luminance, V^t closed curve, haze, MgO hardness, and photoluminescence between the discharge and nondis‐charge regions under dark and bright backgrounds indicated that the plasma treatments of MgO using either Ar or Ar followed by O² gases reduce the permanent image sticking on dark and bright images in an ACPDP.     

The effect of stereoscopic viewing in a word‐search task with a layered background

Abstract— The benefits of stereoscopic viewing were explored in searching in words superimposed over a background. In the first experiment, eight participants searched for text in a normal 2‐D display, a 3‐D display using a parallax barrier, and a darkened 2‐D display of equivalent brightness to the 3‐D display. Word‐search performance was significantly faster for the bright 2‐D display vs. the 3‐D display, but when brightness was controlled, performance on the 3‐D display was better relative to the 2‐D (dim) display. In a second experiment, the effect of floating text vs. sinking background disparity was assessed across four background conditions. Twenty participants saw only the floating‐text (FT) condition and 20 participants saw only the sinking‐background (SB) condition. Performance of the SB group was significantly better than that of FT group, and the advantage of SB disparity was greater with the more‐complex backgrounds. Thus, when a parallax‐barrier 3‐D display is used to view text or other figural information overlaid on a background, it is proposed that the layer of primary interest (foreground) should be displayed with zero disparity (on the physical display surface) with the secondary layer (background) appearing to be sunk beneath that surface.     

Feasibility of driving PDPs with 1‐V data and 30‐V scan pulses by controlling the self‐erase‐discharge threshold

Abstract— In order to realize low‐voltage addressing of PDPs, an erase‐addressing scheme was adopted together with an accumulation of an appropriate amount of wall charge by using priming and bias pulses prior to addressing. The switching operation is performed by using sharp threshold characteristics of the self‐erase discharge. Cessation of the scan pulse ignites a weak self‐erase discharge, which, together with the data pulse, triggers an intense self‐erase discharge. By using the drive scheme, the data‐ and scan‐pulse voltages can be reduced to 1.1 and 29.6 V, respectively, provided that the panel has perfectly uniform voltage characteristics.