Driving system for a plasma display panel

Abstract

Upon applying a discharge voltage between opposed electrodes of a plasma display panel, all electrodes other than a selected electrode are clamped at a fixed potential. To that end, a toggled voltage is supplied from a toggled voltage source and applied via a first switching circuit, to one ends of a plurality of second switching circuits in common. The other ends of the second switching circuits are respectively connected to panel electrodes and to one end of third switching circuits. The other ends of the third switching circuits are respectively held at a fixed potential. The second and third switching circuits may be driven synchronously in such manner that when one is ON, the other is OFF and vice versa when a toggled voltage is not brought to a panel electrode, that panel electrode is clamped at a fixed potential. Such a first switching circuit and a group of second switching circuits are combined into one set. There are provided a plurality of such sets, in which the other ends of the corresponding second switching circuits in the respective sets are connected in common, via blocking diodes, to one end of the corresponding third switching circuit. Thereby a compact switching matrix circuit can be formed. By means of the aforementioned driving circuit, generation of an induction voltage was prevented and the operating voltage range was broadened.