UCS2912 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Shenzhen UcsA WS2812-family single-wire RGB pixel driver in a SOP16 package, self-clocked at a 1600Hz PWM refresh with a wide 5V to 24V supply range.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP16 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 24V |
| PWM Rate | 1600Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 54fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, data-only design needs just one data conductor alongside power, so cabling and connectors are simpler than on two-wire clocked chips and there is no clock line to route or shield.
- Wide 5V to 24V pixel supply range gives real flexibility in power architecture; running higher voltage reduces voltage drop and injection points over longer runs.
- The 1600Hz PWM refresh is comfortably flicker-free for the rated 54fps camera work, so it is camera-safe for typical video and broadcast use without relying on inflated refresh figures.
Limitations
- As a data-only chip the timing is self-clocked and timing-sensitive: long or electrically noisy data lines need careful signal integrity, and with no redundant data line a single failed pixel cuts data to everything downstream of it.
- Colour resolution is a standard 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB, no white channel), which is fine for most work but below the higher bit depth some newer drivers offer for very smooth low-level dimming.
Overview
The UCS2912 is a single-wire, individually addressable RGB pixel driver in the WS2812 family, self-clocking its data with no separate clock line. Each IC handles 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB) and regenerates the signal down the chain. It accepts a wide 5V to 24V supply and runs a 1600Hz PWM refresh, comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to 54fps. ENTTEC pixel controllers (OCTO 71521, PIXELATOR MINI/MK2 70067/70068, DIN PIXIE 73539, PLINK Injectors) drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Shenzhen Ucs.
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.