Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same
First Claim
1. A method of providing an electrical signal to one or more optical elements of a display, the one or more optical elements individually actuatable by applying a voltage thereto, the method comprising:
- 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, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise interferometric modulators, and wherein the mask comprises a first and a second reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light.
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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 electrical paths for applying voltages to the optical elements. In another embodiment, a method of providing an electrical signal to 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
16 Claims
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1. A method of providing an electrical signal to one or more optical elements of a display, the one or more 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, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise interferometric modulators, and wherein the mask comprises a first and a second reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of providing an electrical signal to one or more optical elements of a display, the one or more 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, wherein the mask comprises a film stack comprising a first and a second conductive reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light, wherein a voltage is applied to at least one reflective layer to activate the one or more optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing an electrical signal to one or more light modulating elements of a display, the one or more light modulating elements individually actuatable by applying a voltage thereto, the light modulating elements having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to each modulating element, the method comprising:
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disposing an electrically-conductive mask on a substrate masking a portion of the one or more light modulating elements, wherein the mask comprises a first and a second reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light; electrically coupling the electrically-conductive mask to the one or more light modulating elements to provide one or more electrical paths for applying voltages to the one or more light modulating elements; and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more light modulating elements, wherein the one or more light modulating elements comprise interferometric modulators. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. 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 and comprises a first and a second reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification