A New Driving Scheme for Plasma TVs Using Multi-Functional Gate Driver

This paper proposes a new cost-effective scheme that reduces the total number of switches in driving systems for plasma TVs. In conventional systems, power switches are involved in generating only one of the reset, scan, and sustain voltage waveforms. By contrast, the proposed scheme combines power switches by using a new gate driver that enables one switch to do multiple functions resulting in a low-cost driving system. A new gate driver is devised to turn on switches with either a fast transition or a slow switching process for generating reset voltage waveforms with sustain and scan switches. Short gate pulses are used instead of a continuous on signal during the reset period in order to minimize the size of an external capacitor involved in generating ramp-reset voltage. Experimental results implemented in a 42-inch TV demonstrate the validity of using a new gate driver.