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 comprising a movable reflective layer and a non-movable partially reflective layer, the movable layer configured to move between a driven state and an undriven state in response to a voltage applied to the modulating element; and
an electrically-conductive mask disposed on a portion of the substrate to mask a portion of the light modulating element and electrically coupled to the modulating element to provide one or more electrical paths for applying voltages to the modulating element, the mask comprising a non-movable reflective layer, a non-movable partially reflective layer, and an interferometric cavity defined by the reflective layer and the partially reflective layer.
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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
31 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 comprising a movable reflective layer and a non-movable partially reflective layer, the movable layer configured to move between a driven state and an undriven state in response to a voltage applied to the modulating element; and an electrically-conductive mask disposed on a portion of the substrate to mask a portion of the light modulating element and electrically coupled to the modulating element to provide one or more electrical paths for applying voltages to the modulating element, the mask comprising a non-movable reflective layer, a non-movable partially reflective layer, and an interferometric cavity defined by the reflective layer and the partially reflective layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An optical device comprising:
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a substrate; an interferometric modulator disposed on the substrate, the modulator comprising a movable reflective layer which moves in response to a voltage applied to the modulator; and electrically-conductive means disposed on the substrate for masking a portion of the modulator from reflecting light, the masking means comprising a non-movable first reflective layer and a non-movable second reflective layer, the masking means being electrically coupled to the modulator to provide one or more electrical paths for applying voltages to the modulator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An optical device comprising:
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an interferometric modulator disposed on a substrate, the modulator comprising a movable reflective layer configured to move between a driven state and an undriven state in response to an applied voltage; electrically-conductive means for masking a portion of the interferometric modulator, the masking means comprising a non-movable first reflective layer and a non-movable second reflective layer configured to interferometrically modulate light; and means for electrically connecting the masking means to the modulator so at least a portion of the masking means provides an electrical bus for applying voltage to the modulator.
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Specification