MBI6023 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Macroblock Inc.A clocked two-wire RGB pixel driver running 10-bit PWM at around 11.7 kHz for smooth, flicker-free dimming across a 5 to 12V range.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Clocked |
| Color Resolution | 10 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP24 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 12V |
| PWM Rate | 11,718Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 391fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- 10-bit (1024-level) per-channel PWM resolves finer low-end dimming and smoother gradients than 8-bit single-wire parts.
- A dedicated clock line makes the data timing far more tolerant, so the protocol is forgiving over cabling and layout that would upset tightly-timed self-clocking chips.
- The ~11.7 kHz PWM rate is comfortably flicker-free and camera-safe, holding up to the rated 391fps capture without visible banding for broadcast and film work.
Limitations
- Being clocked is a genuine tradeoff, not a free win: the second (clock) conductor adds wiring and cost and another point of failure, and a high-frequency clock line radiates EMI that can interfere in sensitive installations. The timing-tolerance benefit is real but comes at that price, and the market is trending toward data-only single-wire chips to avoid both.
- RGB only (no RGBW white channel) and no redundant/backup data line, so a single break in the chain stops every pixel downstream of the fault.
Overview
The MBI6023 is a clocked, two-wire pixel driver: it carries a separate data line and a separate clock line rather than the self-clocking single wire used by WS2812-class parts. Each RGB channel drives 10-bit (1024-step) PWM at roughly 11.7 kHz, giving smooth, camera-safe dimming for pixels operating anywhere across a 5 to 12V supply range. The dedicated clock relaxes data-timing tolerances, at the cost of an extra conductor, and the part is supplied in a SOP24 package. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Macroblock.
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.