Ac plasma display with dual discharge sites and contrast enhancement bars

Abstract

An AC PDP incorporating the invention includes a first substrate having plural elongated address electrode structures, which include sets of color phosphors. A second substrate is opposed to the first substrate and encloses a dischargeable gas therebetween. The second substrate supports a plurality of scan loops and sustain loops that are interdigitated with the scan electrode loops. Gas discharges occur at intersections between address electrodes and both traces of a scan loop to which a scan voltage is applied and a single side of each adjacent sustain loop to which a sustain voltage is applied. This action creates wall charges at each of two subpixel sites for each color subpixel. Thereafter, sustain signals applied to sustain and scan electrode loops causes discharges at each of the dual subpixel sites at which wall charges exist. Electrically isolated contrast enhancement bars are placed within scan and sustain electrode loops and act to block ambient light from reflecting off the phosphor layer. Accordingly, ambient room contrast ratio of the PDP is enhanced due to the reduced reflection of the room light off the phosphor. Brightness reduction is minimized by the contrast bars being placed in the center of the loops where light is not produced.