Patent ID: 7723015

Claim:
A method for fabricating an interferometric modulator by performing subtractive definition of a multi-height sacrificial layer comprising: depositing a multilayer sacrificial stack on a substrate for the interferometric modulator, wherein the sacrificial stack comprises a first material and a second material, wherein said first and second materials are etchable by a gas etch, and wherein said first material is etchable by a first solution but not a second solution, and wherein the second material is etchable by the second solution but not the first solution; removing a portion of a first layer of the sacrificial stack comprising the first material by exposing it to the first solution to leave a remaining portion of the first layer; removing a portion of a second layer of the sacrificial stack comprising the second material by exposing it to the second solution to leave a remaining portion of the second layer; and removing the sacrificial stack including the remaining portions of the first layer and the second layer by exposing it to the gas etch.