UCS5603 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Shenzhen UcsThe UCS5603 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel driver with 12-bit-per-channel PWM, a redundant data line, and a wide 5 to 30V supply range.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 12 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP8 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 30V |
| PWM Rate | 1000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 34fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- 12-bit-per-channel resolution (4096 levels each) gives finer low-end dimming and smoother gradients than typical 8-bit pixels.
- Wide 5 to 30V operating range lets installers run higher supply voltages to reduce voltage drop and colour shift across long runs.
- A redundant (backup) data line keeps the downstream chain lit if a single pixel's primary data path fails, improving reliability on long strings.
Limitations
- As a single-wire, self-clocking part it is timing-sensitive: signal integrity depends on clean cabling, controlled run lengths, and good grounding, since there is no separate clock line to lock timing.
- The 1000Hz PWM rate is comfortably camera-safe for the stated 34fps target with sensible margin, but it is a modest figure; very high-speed or slow-motion capture leaves less headroom than chips built specifically for high-frame-rate broadcast.
Overview
The UCS5603 is a data-only, single-wire RGB pixel driver in an SOP8 package. One self-clocking data line carries 12-bit-per-channel RGB (4096 levels each) to every integrated IC, which regenerates and forwards the signal down the chain. It runs a 1000Hz PWM output, comfortably flicker-free for camera work up to about 34fps, and operates across a wide 5 to 30V range that helps limit voltage drop on longer runs. A redundant data line lets the string survive a single failed pixel. It is commonly attributed to Shenzhen Ucs. 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.