Patent ID: 7556917

Claim:
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 interferometric modulators of a plurality of types characterized by gap sizes between its first and second optical layers when in the undriven state; wherein fabricating the interferometric modulators of the plurality of types comprises in sequence: forming a sacrificial structure over a light-transmissive substrate, the sacrificial structure having different thicknesses in each of a plurality of regions, each of the thicknesses corresponding to a gap size between the first and second optical layers in the undriven state for reflecting a particular color, the sacrificial structure being formed of an opaque material; forming vias through the sacrificial structure; depositing a photosensitive material into the vias and over the sacrificial structure, the photosensitive material being negative acting; exposing the photosensitive material to light passing through the substrate; and developing the photosensitive material such that portions of the photosensitive material in the vias remain to form a plurality of supports of the array of interferometric modulators.