A new simple-structure driving circuit to eliminate path switches for plasma display panels

A new simple-structure PDP driving circuit without using any path separation switch is proposed and its operational principle is addressed in detail. The proposed driver employs not a path switch but a path diode to prevent the shoot-through current which flows from Y-main ground to negative scan low voltage source during the ramp-down reset and address periods. Consequently, it has advantages such as simpler structure, higher efficiency, and lower cost due to no path switches. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed driver, experimental results using a prototype 42-inch HD PDP module are presented.