Patent attributes
A display element, such as an interferometric modulator, comprises a transparent conductor configured as a first electrode and a movable mirror configured as a second electrode. Advantageously, the partial reflector is positioned between the transparent conductor and the movable mirror. Because the transparent conductor serves as an electrode, the partial reflector does not need to be conductive. Accordingly, a greater range of materials may be used for the partial reflector. In addition, a transparent insulative material, such as a dielectric, may be positioned between the transparent conductor and the partial reflector in order to decrease a capacitance of the display element without changing a gap distance between the partial reflector and the movable mirror. Thus, a capacitance of the display element may be reduced without changing the optical characteristics of the display element.
