Patent ID: 8093688

Claim:
An array of light modulators comprising: a first metal layer disposed above a substrate, the substrate containing electrical addressing circuitry and memory cells; a conductive barrier layer disposed above portions of the first metal layer; a first insulating layer disposed above the conductive barrier layer, the first insulating layer containing first openings above portions of the conductive barrier layer; a second metal layer disposed above the first insulating layer; a plurality of first via contacts formed inside the first openings in the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the first metal layer, the conductive barrier layer, and the second metal layer, wherein the plurality of first via contacts have a diameter smaller than that of the first openings in the first insulating layer, and the plurality of first via contacts have a height greater than that of the first insulating layer; a third metal layer disposed above the second metal layer; and a plurality of second via contacts connected to the second metal layer and the third metal layer, wherein the plurality of second via contacts support the third metal layer above the second metal layer, such that the third metal layer is spatially separated from the second metal layer.