Discharge characteristics of cross-shaped microdischarge cells in ac-plasma display panel

This paper proposes a highly efficient cross-shaped cell structure to improve the luminous efficiency of an alternate current plasma display panel (ac-PDP). The microdischarge characteristics of the proposed structure are examined in an all-green 6-in test panel with various pressures and Xe-concentrations. Since the proposed cross-shaped cell structure has a longer Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) path between the two sustain electrodes and wider sidewall phosphor area, the following microdischarge characteristics were observed when compared with the conventional stripe-type cell structure. First, the sustain voltage margin was lower by about 15 V under a high Xe-concentration of 10%. Second, the rate of increase in the luminous efficiency was higher with a high pressure and high Xe-concentration. Finally, when adopting an auxiliary address pulse driving scheme, the luminous efficiency was improved by about 44% (2.38 lm/W) with a high Xe-concentration of 10%.