plasma display panel
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| plasma display panel | |
|---|---|
| Name | Plasma display panel |
| Caption | A plasma display panel module |
| Invented | 1964 |
| Inventors | Donald L. Bitzer, H. Gene Slottow, Robert H. Willson |
| Manufacturer | Panasonic, Pioneer Corporation, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics |
| Type | Flat-panel display |
| Introduced | 1990s |
| Discontinued | 2010s |
plasma display panel A plasma display panel is a flat-panel display technology used for large-screen televisions, computer monitors and public information displays. It produces images by illuminating tiny cells of inert gas and phosphors arranged between glass panels, enabling high-contrast and wide-angle viewing for applications such as home theater, broadcasting, digital signage and professional video production. Plasma displays competed with liquid-crystal displays and organic light-emitting diode displays before mainstream production declined in the 2010s.
Introduction
Plasma display panels were commercialized in the 1990s by manufacturers including Panasonic, Pioneer Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., and Samsung Electronics. Early research originated in academic and corporate settings tied to innovators such as Donald L. Bitzer, H. Gene Slottow, and Robert H. Willson, with prototypes evolving through collaborations involving University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and firms in the United States. The technology became prominent in premium television market segments alongside products from Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation.
History
Research into neon and gas discharge displays dates to mid-20th-century laboratories and companies like Bell Labs and Philco. In 1964 Bitzer, Slottow and Willson developed an early prototype, which later influenced commercial efforts in the 1970s and 1980s by firms including Mitsubishi Electric and Hitachi. The 1990s saw mass-market introductions by Pioneer Corporation and Panasonic targeting large-screen consumers and professionals, coinciding with competition from Sharp Corporation and LG Electronics. By the late 2000s, aggressive price declines in liquid-crystal display manufacturing by companies such as Samsung SDI and Tianma Microelectronics and supply-chain shifts involving Foxconn influenced a market contraction; major producers announced phase-outs in the 2010s.
Design and operation
A plasma display panel consists of two glass substrates separated by a dielectric and sealed with a noble gas mixture such as neon and xenon. Address electrodes and sustain electrodes are patterned as conductive traces, with each pixel containing three sub-pixel cells coated with red, green and blue phosphors. Operation uses electrical pulses to create microdischarges (plasma) that emit ultraviolet photons, which in turn excite the phosphors to produce visible light. Driving schemes and addressing were refined using techniques influenced by patents and standards developed across industry participants including VESA, SMPTE, and technology teams at Pioneer Corporation and Matsushita Electric. Panels implemented methods for sub-field addressing and sustaining to control luminance and color, with power electronics and timing controllers often sourced from suppliers like Microchip Technology and Texas Instruments.
Manufacturing and materials
Manufacturing combined glass panel fabrication, photolithography for electrode patterning, phosphor deposition, and vacuum sealing. Major fabs were operated by companies such as Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, Pioneer Corporation, and LG Display with supply-chain links to glass suppliers like Asahi Glass and Corning Incorporated. Materials included indium tin oxide for transparent electrodes, nickel and silver pastes for address electrodes, dielectric ceramics, and precision sealants from chemical firms like 3M and DuPont. Roll-to-roll and batch processing methods evolved alongside investments by conglomerates including Hon Hai Precision Industry and collaborations with research centers such as Fraunhofer Society for process optimization.
Performance characteristics
Plasma displays were noted for wide viewing angles, high contrast ratios, deep black levels, rapid response times, and color accuracy, making them favorable for home theater enthusiasts and professionals in broadcasting. Typical issues included higher power consumption compared with LCD panels and susceptibility to image retention, a form of temporary persistence related to phosphor behavior similar to problems addressed in CRT technology. Lifespan depended on phosphor degradation and gas containment, with rated half-lives often marketed by manufacturers like Pioneer Corporation and Panasonic. Thermal management and driving electronics influenced performance, involving suppliers such as Infineon Technologies and NXP Semiconductors.
Applications and market adoption
Plasma panels found early adoption in large-format televisions, digital signage, flight simulators, and professional monitoring used by broadcasters like BBC and NHK. High-end home-theater markets embraced models from Sony Corporation and Panasonic while commercial deployments were installed by chains such as McDonald's for menu boards and airport operators relying on large-format displays. Market share shifted in the 2000s as LCD TV manufacturing scaled globally with firms including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics reducing plasma production; by the mid-2010s most manufacturers ceased mainstream plasma panel lines.
Environmental and health considerations
Environmental concerns included energy consumption compared with competing technologies and the management of materials such as indium and rare-earth phosphors sourced from suppliers linked to regions like Inner Mongolia and mining operations connected to companies such as China Minmetals. End-of-life handling required attention to glass recycling and containment of heavy metals and chemicals, engaging recycling firms and regulators including European Commission directives and policies from agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Occupational safety during manufacture involved cleanroom standards and exposure controls aligned with guidelines from organizations like Occupational Safety and Health Administration.