SK6822 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Opsco Optoelectronic (Normand)A 5V single-wire, individually addressable RGB pixel in an SMD5050 package with a built-in controller and a redundant data line for run reliability.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking control: one data conductor per run means simpler cabling and no separate clock line to route, terminate, or shield.
- Built-in redundant data line: pixels can keep receiving data past a single failed joint or dead IC, improving reliability on longer installed runs.
- 1200Hz PWM refresh is comfortably flicker-free for on-camera work up to 40fps, and 8-bit-per-channel (24-bit RGB) gives standard smooth colour mixing in a familiar SMD5050 footprint.
Limitations
- As a data-only, timing-sensitive protocol, the SK6822 depends on precise pulse widths: long data leads, marginal level-shifting, or noisy 5V distribution can corrupt the stream, so the first-pixel feed and power injection need care on longer runs.
- 8-bit-per-channel resolution means colour depth is standard, not extended, so very low-level dimming and slow fades can show visible stepping compared with higher-bit-depth chips; RGB only, with no dedicated white channel.
Overview
The SK6822 is a 5V, individually addressable RGB pixel that carries its integrated controller inside an SMD5050 package. It is a data-only, single-wire protocol: one self-clocking line feeds 8-bit-per-channel (24-bit RGB) data down the chain, with each IC latching its slot and forwarding the rest. It refreshes at a 1200Hz PWM rate, comfortably flicker-free for capture up to 40fps, and adds a redundant data line so a single broken joint need not kill the pixels beyond it. It suits gradients, animation, and general architectural runs. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Opsco Optoelectronic.
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.