Simulation studies of the coplanar electrode and other plasma display panel cell designs

A two-dimensional self-consistent simulation model is used to study the effect of the geometric parameters on the operating voltages and ultraviolet ~UV! efficiency of a coplanar-electrode plasma display panel cell. It is found that in the standard coplanar-electrode geometry there is a tradeoff between high UV efficiency and low operating voltages as the electrode gap, or the parameters of the upper dielectric are varied, while variation of the sustain electrode width has no significant effect on either the operating voltages or UV efficiency. It is also found that wider discharge area results in higher efficiency. In addition, the effect of the insertion of floating electrodes in the upper dielectric is investigated. When floating electrodes are used, UV light is emitted in a more confined area, thus limiting cross talk with adjacent cells, while efficiency decreases by ;8%. Finally, a self-erase discharge sustaining waveform is studied. Use of this waveform results in ;17% increase in the UV efficiency. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. @DOI: 10.1063/1.1478143#