Blanket transistor array for electrophoretic coatings and methods thereof

An apparatus for electrophoretic control of surfaces, comprising:

• a vehicle component or panel having an outer surface, comprising:
• a substrate;
• a coating layer positioned on the substrate, the coating layer comprising a plurality of electrostatically controlled ink microcapsules, comprising:
• a first pigment having a first color and a negative charge;
• a second pigment having a second color and a positive charge;
• a third pigment having a third color and a negative charge;
• and
• a fourth pigment having a fourth color and a positive charge;
• and wherein:
• a magnitude of the negative charge of the third pigment is different than a magnitude of the negative charge of the first pigment;
• and
• a magnitude of the positive charge of the fourth pigment is different than a magnitude of the positive charge of the second pigment;
• and
• an integrated layer array positioned between the substrate and the coating layer, the integrated layer array comprising a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) disposed laterally across the integrated layer array.

A method for electrophoretic control of surfaces, comprising:

• placing a layer array in proximity to an outer surface of a component or panel, wherein the layer array comprises a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) disposed laterally across the layer array and wherein the layer array is connected to a programming device;
• imparting a first electrical charge from the layer array to the component or panel wherein the outer surface of the component or panel comprises a coating layer having a plurality of electrostatically controlled ink microcapsules;
• and
• changing a visual appearance of the outer surface of the component or panel from a first visual appearance to a second visual appearance;
• and
• wherein the layer array is an external programming array removably positionable to be in proximity to the outer surface and configured to be removed from the outer surface after changing the visual appearance from the first visual appearance to the second visual appearance.