Patent ID: 8031168

Claim:
An optical switch for a picture element, the optical switch comprising: a first transparent support plate; a second support plate; a first fluid; a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid within a space between the first transparent support plate and the second support plate, the second fluid being electroconductive or polar; a first electrode on at least one of the support plates, the first electrode only partly covering a total area of the picture element leaving a remaining part of the optical switch not covered by the first electrode; and a second electrode covering at least a portion of the remaining part; and a pulse generator configured to provide to the first electrode a first pulse having a first pulse width while the second electrode is grounded and, after removal of the first pulse, to provide to the second electrode a second pulse having a second pulse width, wherein the second pulse width is smaller than the first pulse width; and wherein the first electrode is substantially along an entire first edge and an entire second edge of the optical switch, and the second electrode is along a third edge of the optical switch.