FW1906 Pixel Protocol
The FW1906 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel IC with 8-bit per-channel colour, a wide 5 to 24V range, and a 2600Hz PWM refresh.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP10 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 24V |
| PWM Rate | 2600Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 86fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, data-only wiring: one signal conductor plus power and ground, simpler and cheaper to install than a two-wire clocked chip, with no high-frequency clock line to route or to radiate EMI.
- Wide 5 to 24V input range: unusually flexible for a single-wire pixel, so higher supply voltages can be used to reduce voltage drop and cut the number of injection points on long runs.
- 2600Hz PWM is a sensible, moderate refresh that sits comfortably above the rated 86fps capture ceiling, keeping output flicker-free for typical on-camera work without over-reaching into optimistic vendor territory.
Limitations
- 8-bit per-channel colour resolution (256 levels per colour) is standard for this class but can show visible stepping on very slow fades and deep low-end dimming compared with higher-bit-depth parts.
- No redundant data line: as a single-wire protocol without a backup path, a single failed IC or broken joint takes out every pixel after it in the chain, and the tight self-clocking timing makes it sensitive to signal degradation over long runs.
Overview
The FW1906 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB LED pixel driver: DATA is the only signal line, and each IC latches its own 24-bit word (8 bits per channel) then forwards the remainder downstream, in the same self-clocking family as the WS2812 and SK6812. It accepts a wide 5 to 24V supply, letting integrators run higher voltages to cut volt-drop and reduce power-injection points on longer chains. PWM refresh is 2600Hz, comfortably flicker-free for capture up to 86fps. It ships in an SOP10 package as an RGB (not RGBW) part and carries no redundant data line, so a single failed IC breaks the run downstream.
Mapping an installation? ELM, ENTTEC's free LED pixel mapping software, drives the controllers above over Art-Net and sACN, from a single fixture to building-scale maps.
ENTTEC has been engineering lighting control in Australia since 1999, and shipping LED pixel controllers since the original Pixelator in 2014.