Plasma display panel and method of driving the same

1. A plasma display panel, comprising:

scan electrodes to select respective rows of a matrix display;

data electrodes to select respective columns of the matrix display;

a partition to define a discharge space at least for each column;

two of the data electrodes being arranged for each column of the matrix display, the data electrode being continuous from one end of the column to another end thereof;

all the scan electrodes within a display screen being classified into two groups, each of the two groups being assigned to each of the two data electrodes in each column; and

each of the data electrodes being formed in a meandering shape so that each of the data electrodes being crossed with scan electrodes, belonging to the group that is assigned to the data electrode, such that the data electrode have first portions and second portions, the first portions being crossed with the scan electrodes belonging to the assigned group and not overlapping the partition and second portions being crossed with the scan electrodes belonging to the group that is not assigned to the data electrode and overlapping the partition.

2. The plasma display panel according to claim 1 , wherein two of the scan electrodes, each of which is selected from each of the two groups within the display screen, are connected electrically.

3. The plasma display panel according to claim 1 , wherein both ends of all data electrodes are led out of a sealing member that surrounds the display screen so as to close the discharge space.

4. The plasma display panel according to claim 1 , wherein each of the data electrodes is widened locally in a plan view at portions thereof crossed with or opposed to scan electrodes belonging to the group that is assigned to the data electrode.

5. A method of driving a plasma display panel having scan electrodes to select respective rows of a matrix display, data electrodes to select respective columns of the matrix display, and a partition to define a discharge space at least for each column, comprising:

arranging two data electrodes for each column of the matrix display, each data electrode being continuous from the first end of the column to the second end of the column;

classifying all the scan electrodes within a display screen into two groups, and assigning each of the two groups to each of the two data electrodes in each column;

forming each data electrode in a meandering shape so as to set each data electrode to cross scan electrodes, belonging to the group that is assigned to the data electrode, such that the data electrode have first portions and second portions, the portions being crossed with the scan electrodes belonging to the assigned group and not overlapping the partition and the second portions being crossed with the scan electrodes belonging to the group that is not assigned to the data electrode and overlapping the partition;

connecting electrically two of the scan electrodes, each of which is selected from each of the two groups within the display screen; and

selecting simultaneously two rows corresponding to the scan electrodes connected electrically when potentials of the scan electrodes and data electrodes are controlled in accordance with display contents for addressing.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the selecting comprises:

selecting two rows from one end of a row arrangement to another end thereof; and

setting different potentials for the data electrode corresponding to a row that is closest to the second end of the column and the data electrode corresponding to a row that is closest to the first end of the column among the two rows to be selected simultaneously.

7. A plasma display panel, comprising:

a plurality of scan electrodes to select respective rows of a matrix display;

a plurality of data electrodes to select respective columns of the matrix display;

a plurality of partitions to define discharge spaces at least for each column;

the plurality of data electrodes being divided into sets of a common number of the data electrodes, each of the sets of the common number of the data electrodes being arranged, to interact in a respective column, each of the data electrodes having a meandering shape that is continuous from one end of the column to another end thereof;

the plurality of scan electrodes being arranged into a plurality of groups such that individual data electrodes of each of the sets are arranged to interact with a respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the groups; and

the individual data electrodes of each of the sets being crossed with or opposed to the respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the groups, and at portions crossed with or opposed to the respective one of the scan electrodes does not overlap a respective partition and the individual data electrodes of each of the sets being crossed with or opposed to remaining ones of the scan electrodes in each of the groups, and at other portions crossed with or opposed to the other scan electrodes overlaps the respective partition.

8. The plasma display panel according to claim 7 , wherein the scan electrodes in each of the groups are connected electrically.

9. The plasma display panel according to claim 7 , wherein both ends of all data electrodes are led out of a sealing member that surrounds the display screen so as to close the discharge space.

10. The plasma display panel according to claim 7 , wherein the individual data electrodes of each of the sets is wider at the portions being crossed with or opposed to the respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the respective groups which do not overlap the respective partition.

11. A method of driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of scan electrodes to select respective rows of a matrix display, a plurality of data electrodes to select respective columns of the matrix display, a plurality of partitions to define discharge spaces at least for each column, comprising:

dividing the plurality of data electrodes into sets of a common number of the data electrodes;

arranging each of the sets of the common number of the data electrodes to interact in a respective column, each of the data electrodes having a meandering shape that is continuous from the first end of the column to the second end of the column;

arranging the plurality of scan electrodes into a plurality of groups such that individual data electrodes of each of the sets are arranged to interact with a respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the groups;

crossing or opposing the individual data electrodes of each of the sets with a respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the groups, and at portions, crossing or opposing the individual date electrodes of each of the sets with the respective one of the scan electrodes in each of the groups, the respective one of the scan electrodes does not overlap a respective partition;

crossing or opposing the individual data electrodes of each of the sets with remaining respective ones of the scan electrodes in each of the groups and at other portions, crossing or opposing the individual data electrodes of each of the sets with the remaining respective ones of the scan electrodes in each of the groups, the respective remaining respective ones of the scan electrodes overlap the respective partition;

connecting electrically the scan electrodes in each of the groups; and

selecting simultaneously rows corresponding to the scan electrodes connected electrically when potentials of the scan electrodes and data electrodes are controlled in accordance with display contents for addressing.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the selecting comprises:

selecting a number of rows in accordance with the common number of the data electrodes; and

setting different potentials for a data electrode corresponding to a row that is closest to the second end of the column and the data electrode corresponding to a row that is closest to the first end of the column from among the rows selected simultaneously.