Effect of voltage distribution among three electrodes on microdischarge characteristics in ac-PDP with long discharge path

The effect of the three-electrode voltage distribution on the microdischarge characteristics of an ac-PDP with a long discharge path (400 pm) is investigated. It is found that the auxiliary pulse applied to the address electrode, which participates in the trigger discharge, plays a key role in lowering the sustain voltage in the long discharge path by both providing the priming particles to generate the main discharge and accumulating more wall charges with the proper polarity to help the next discharge. In particular, the amplitude and width of the auxiliary pulse are very important parameters in a large sustain gap structure, as they are related to both the electron channeling that bridges the long discharge path and the accumulation of wall charges on the sustain electrodes. Thus, the effect of the width and amplitude of the auxiliary short pulse on the discharge characteristics, such as a low sustain voltage, the luminance, and luminous efficiency, are extensively investigated. As a result, the existence of a proper width and amplitude for the auxiliary pulse to lower the sustain voltage is observed, thereby also improving the luminous efficiency.