Integrated touch for IMOD displays using back glass

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first substantially transparent substrate;
• an array of interferometric modulation elements disposed on the first substantially transparent substrate, the interferometric modulation elements comprising two walls that define a cavity, one of the walls being movable relative to the other through a range of positions, the walls causing the cavity to operate interferometrically in at least one of the positions, producing a predetermined optical response to visible light;
• a first plurality of electrodes oriented along a first axis configured for conducting electrical signals to the array of interferometric modulation elements;
• first control circuitry configured to apply electrical signals for controlling the array of interferometric modulation elements via the first plurality of electrodes;
• a second plurality of electrodes oriented along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis;
• and
• a touch screen apparatus configured for sensing a touch according to an associated change in resistance between electrodes of the first and second plurality.

A method of making an interferometric display apparatus, comprising:

• forming a front substrate at a front of the display, the front substrate being substantially transparent;
• forming a rear substrate at a rear of the display, the rear substrate being substantially transparent;
• forming an array of interferometric modulation elements on the front substrate at the front of the display, the interferometric modulation elements comprising two walls that define a cavity, one of the walls being movable relative to the other through a range of positions, the walls causing the cavity to operate interferometrically in at least one of the positions, producing a predetermined optical response to visible light;
• forming a first plurality of electrodes configured for conducting electrical signals to the array of interferometric modulation elements;
• forming a second plurality of electrodes on the rear substrate;
• and
• configuring a touch screen apparatus for sensing a change in capacitance between the electrodes of the first and second plurality and for determining a location of a touch according to the change in capacitance.

A method of making an interferometric display apparatus, comprising:

• forming an array of interferometric modulators on an array substrate;
• providing a second substrate opposing the array substrate;
• providing a matrix of touch sensors on the second substrate;
• configuring the interferometric display apparatus to supply a reference voltage to an electrode of the array of interferometric modulators and to detect a change in capacitance between one of the matrix of touch sensors and the electrode of the array;
• and
• attaching the array substrate and the opposing second substrate.