Novel driver structure based on low-cost and low-rating devices for plasma televisions

A simplified driver based on low-cost and low-rating devices is presented for plasma display panels (PDPs). Since the proposed driver has been designed by devices with half of voltage rating compared with the conventional Weber-type driver, it can take advantages of semiconductor devices with reduced conduction and switching losses as well as cheaper costs. In addition, a simpler structure of the proposed circuit with fewer devices can eliminate drawback of the prior approach with a series-connected Weber-type driver, which utilizes reduced voltage rating components. Moreover, the proposed driver is supplied from half of required sustain voltage level. The reduced supply voltage of the driver results in cost reduction and improved efficiency in the power supply blocks. Thus, the PDP driver presented in this paper can feature smaller size, lower cost, and high efficiency for both the sustain driver and the power supply circuit.