Display apparatus incorporating touch sensors formed from light-blocking materials

A method of forming a display device, comprising:

• depositing a substantially light-blocking material on a rear surface of a first substrate;
• patterning the substantially light-blocking material to define a plurality of apertures;
• depositing a first conductive material over the rear surface of the first substrate;
• patterning the first layer of conductive material to define a first array of conductive elements forming a first portion of a capacitive touch sensor and a plurality of apertures associated with respective apertures formed through the substantially light-blocking material;
• depositing a second conductive material over the rear surface of the first substrate;
• patterning the second layer of conductive material to define a second array of conductive elements forming a second portion of the capacitive touch sensor and a plurality of apertures associated with respective apertures formed in the substantially light-blocking material;
• positioning a second substrate such that the second substrate is substantially parallel to the first substrate and a front surface of the second substrate opposes the rear surface of the first substrate;
• forming an edge seal around the perimeters of the first and second substrates to couple the first and second substrates to one another;
• and
• filling a gap between the first and second substrates with a fluid such that the fluid substantially surrounds a plurality of display elements formed on one of the first and second substrates.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rear substrate;
• a front substrate positioned in front of the rear substrate;
• a seal coupling the rear substrate and the front substrate;
• a plurality of display elements positioned between the rear substrate and the front substrate;
• a rear aperture layer positioned on a front surface of the rear substrate, the rear aperture layer including a light-blocking material and including a plurality of rear apertures each associated with a respective display element;
• a front aperture layer positioned on a rear surface of the front substrate, the front aperture layer including an electrically insulating, light-blocking material and including a plurality of front apertures each associated with a respective display element;
• a capacitive touch sensor including:
• a first array of conductive elements including a light-blocking material and positioned between the rear substrate and the rear surface of the front substrate, the first array of conductive elements including a first plurality of apertures defined through the conductive elements and aligned with respective apertures defined through the front aperture layer;
• a second array of conductive elements including a light-blocking material and positioned between the rear substrate and the rear surface of the front substrate, the second array of conductive elements including a second plurality of apertures defined through the conductive elements and aligned with respective apertures defined through the front aperture layer;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first array of conductive elements and the second array of conductive elements, the controller configured to:
• measure, periodically, a capacitance between a first conductive element of the first array of conductive elements and a second conductive element of the array of second conductive elements;
• and
• determine a presence and location of a conductive touch input device, based on the measured capacitance.