Inactive dummy pixels

A method, comprising:

• forming an optical stack over a substrate, the optical stack including a first conductive layer;
• forming a plurality of support structures on the optical stack or on the substrate;
• forming a second conductive and reflective layer on the support structures;
• forming an array of active subpixels that include the first conductive layer, the support structures and the second conductive and reflective layer such that the second conductive and reflective layer is movable between a first position and a second position when an active subpixel actuation voltage is applied to the active subpixels;
• forming a routing area outside the array of active subpixels;
• and
• forming an edge subpixel array including rows and columns of edge subpixels, the edge subpixels configured to provide electrical connectivity between the routing area and the active subpixels, each of the edge subpixels including the first conductive layer, the second and reflective conductive layer and the support structures, the edge subpixels further including an opening in the first conductive layer, the opening being large enough to prevent the edge subpixels from actuating when the actuation voltage is applied to the active subpixels.

An apparatus, comprising:

• routing means having a routing area reflectivity;
• active subpixel means including a first conductive layer and a second conductive and reflective layer, the active subpixel means including means for controlling an optical cavity by moving the second conductive and reflective layer from a first position to a second position;
• array driver means;
• and
• edge subpixel means for providing electrical connectivity between the routing means and the active subpixel means, the edge subpixel means including reflectivity modulation means for causing a reflectivity difference between an edge subpixel area reflectivity and the routing area reflectivity to be less than or equal to a desired reflectivity difference.