A common electrode and an individual electrode are provided in plural pairs
on a first transparent substrate, and recesses are formed in a second
substrate in positions corresponding to the pairs of electrodes to define
discharge cells of display cells. The display cells of a display panel can
be individually driven on the cell-by-cell basis and the planar panel has
a reduced thickness. A driving circuit for changing luminance in
accordance with the number of pulses applied to the individual electrode
within a unit time to make gradation display is provided, and gradation
control is achieved by performing switching control for each of the
individual electrodes provided independently of one another in one-to-one
relation to the display cells. A voltage pulse is applied to the
individual electrode to reverse the polarity of wall charges accumulated
on a dielectric layer, and a voltage pulse is then applied to the common
electrode so that an electric field of the wall charges caused upon the
reversal of the polarity is additionally applied. Thereby provided are a
planar display panel which can set a large control margin in the display
operation, ensure stable display, and present gradation display with high
reliability and quality, as well as a manufacturing method, a controller,
and a driving method for the planar display panel.
