Recent advances of color plasma displays-panel structures and fabrication technologies

Summary form only given. Color PDPs that provide good hardware performance in terms of luminance and luminous efficiency, as well as a level of display quality sufficient for TV monitors, have finally been developed. The system structure and design stage is now over, and a mass production process, which can achieve a high yield and throughput, is being sought. As more manufacturers enter the color PDP production field and attempt to develop innovative technologies on the basis of new concepts for device materials and components, the conventional manufacturing processes are being reviewed. PDPs were once classified as AC or DC panels, according to their electrode structure, and were treated as two separate kinds of displays. However, the most popular trend now has converged on AC type PDPs, in particular, the surface-discharge AC PDPs, with a basic structure of either anode or cathode covered with dielectric layer and protecting MgO layer, and to take advantage of the luminous phenomenon that accompanies gas discharge. Recent achievements will be discussed. Further improvements are expected in basic structure, characteristics, device materials and manufacturing technology, targeting 50 cm diameter color PDPs that accommodate SXGA displays.