Drive unit for planar display

Abstract

A triple-electrode planar display capable of achieving further power saving has been disclosed. A drive unit is dedicated to a planar display having a display panel in which cells being arranged in the form of a matrix and having a memory function and discharge glow function are formed, in which one of each pair of electrodes on the same substrate which are responsible for discharge glow is a common electrode connected in common. The drive unit includes a common electrode drive circuit for applying an alternating voltage to the common electrode, and a power save circuit that when the common electrode is changed from a high potential to a low potential, restores and accumulates power applied to the common electrode, and that when the common electrode is changed from the high potential to the low potential, applies accumulated power to the common electrode. The power save circuit includes a restoration channel that includes a capacitive element and inductance element and that restores power, and an application channel that includes an inductance element and that applies accumulated power to the common electrode.