Active matrix display

A flat panel display (10) uses active matrix addressing. Two parallel substrates (20, 30) have an organic electroluminescent medium (40) that emits visible light in response to an electrical signal, sandwiched between them. The top substrate is transparent to allow emitted light (50) to be discernible to an observer. The bottom substrate does not need to be transparent, as the active matrix display operates in a emissive or reflective mode. An array of electrodes (22) is situated on an inside face of the bottom substrate, and a transparent electrode (32) corresponding to the array is situated on an inside face of the top substrate. The electrodes serve to define an array of pixels. A number of switches (24) are located on the backside of the bottom substrate, and are each connected to respective electrodes (22) by an electrically conductive via (28) in the bottom substrate.