Patent ID: 7297471
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing an array of interferometric modulators, each interferometric modulator comprising first and second optical layers which when the interferometric modulator is in an undriven state are spaced by a gap of one size, and when the interferometric modulator is in a driven state are spaced by a gap of another size, the size of the gap determining an optical response of the interferometric modulator, the method comprising: fabricating an interferometric modulator of a first type characterized by a first gap size between its first and second optical layers when in the undriven state; fabricating an interferometric modulator of a second type characterized by a second gap size between its first and second optical layers when in the undriven state; fabricating an interferometric modulator of a third type characterized by a third gap size between its first and second optical layers when in the undriven state, wherein fabricating the interferometric modulators of the first, second, and third types comprises: wherein the first gap size is equal to or greater than a sum of the first, second, and third thicknesses; wherein the second gap size is equal to or greater than a sum of two of the first, second, and third thicknesses; and wherein the third gap size is equal to or greater than one of the first, second, and third thicknesses.