1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus, and more particularly, to a plasma display apparatus having an improved connecting structure between electrode terminal units and connection members.
2. Discussion of the Background
Generally, a plasma display apparatus is a flat panel display that displays images using gas discharge, and it is considered a next generation display that may replace the cathode ray tube (CRT) since it has excellent display characteristics such as display capacity, brightness, contrast, and viewing angle.
The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel, a chassis base supporting the plasma display panel, a circuit board mounted on a rear portion of the chassis base to drive the plasma display panel, and a case housing the plasma display panel, the chassis base, and the circuit board.
In the plasma display panel, a glow discharge is generated by applying a predetermined voltage to electrodes that are arranged in a sealed, gas-filled space. The glow discharge generates ultraviolet rays, which excite a phosphor layer formed in a predetermined pattern, thereby displaying an image.
Each electrode in the plasma display panel includes a terminal unit, to which voltages are applied, and the terminal units are arranged at at least an edge of the plasma display panel. Additionally, the terminal units are coupled with connection members, such as a flexible printed cable (FPC), which is coupled with the circuit board.
In more detail, a connection member includes a wiring unit, and the wiring unit includes a conductive line overlapping each terminal unit. The conductive lines of the wiring units and the terminal units may be connected by an anisotropic conductive film, on which conductive balls formed by plating gold (Au) on nickel (Ni) particles are evenly distributed. That is, the anisotropic conductive film is arranged between the conductive lines and the terminal units, and is heated and pressed by a heating and pressing tool to connect it between the terminal units and the conductive lines.
However, since the anisotropic conductive film is heated and pressed, the conductive balls formed on the film may be lumped together instead of being evenly distributed. If lumped conductive balls are located between adjacent terminal units, an electric short may occur between the terminal units.