Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same
First Claim
1. An optical device comprising:
- a substrate;
a light modulating element disposed on the substrate, the modulating element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the modulating element; and
an electrically-conductive mask disposed on the substrate and spaced from the modulating element, the mask electrically coupled to the modulating element to provide one or more electrical paths for application of voltages to the modulating element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide one or more electrical paths for application of voltages to the one or more optical elements. In another embodiment a method of providing an electrical signal to a plurality of optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An optical device comprising:
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a substrate;
a light modulating element disposed on the substrate, the modulating element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the modulating element; and
an electrically-conductive mask disposed on the substrate and spaced from the modulating element, the mask electrically coupled to the modulating element to provide one or more electrical paths for application of voltages to the modulating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing an electrical signal to a plurality of optical elements of a display, the optical elements individually actuatable by applying a voltage thereto, the method comprising:
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electrically coupling an electrically-conductive mask to one or more optical elements; and
applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of fabricating an optical device, the method comprising:
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forming an electrically-conductive optical mask on a substrate, wherein the optical mask absorbs light;
forming an optical component on the substrate spaced from the optical mask, wherein the optical component has a driven state and an undriven state, the optical component changing between the driven state and the undriven state in response to an applied voltage, each state having a characteristic optical response to incident light; and
electrically connecting the optical mask to the optical component so at least a portion of the optical mask provides a bus for applying the voltage to the optical component. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of fabricating an optical device comprising at least one active optical component formed on a transparent substrate, the method comprising:
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identifying an area on the substrate that is to be light-absorbing wherein the identified area is laterally offset from the at least one active optical component; and
fabricating a conductive light-absorbing mask on the identified area prior to fabricating the at least one active optical component, wherein the mask is connected to the active optical component. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An optical device comprising:
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means for reflecting incident light from an optical component, wherein the optical component has a driven state and an undriven state, the optical component changing between the driven state and the undriven state in response to an applied voltage, each state having a characteristic optical response to incident light;
means for absorbing light in an electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and spaced from optical component; and
means for electrically connecting the optical mask to the optical component so at least a portion of the optical mask provides an electrical bus for a voltage applied to the optical component.
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32. An optical device produced by the process comprising:
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identifying an area on the substrate that is to be light-absorbing wherein the identified area is laterally offset from the at least one active optical component; and
fabricating a conductive light-absorbing mask on the identified area prior to fabricating the at least one active optical component, wherein the mask is connected to the active optical component.
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Specification