UCS7604 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Shenzhen UcsA single-wire, self-clocking addressable pixel IC offering 16-bit per-channel colour depth, RGB or RGBW output, and a redundant data path for run resilience.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 16 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP10 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 30V |
| PWM Rate | 16,000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 533fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- 16-bit per-channel colour resolution gives fine control at the low end of the dimming curve, so slow fades and deep shadows stay smooth rather than stepping.
- A 16kHz PWM rate is comfortably flicker-free for camera work, rated camera-safe up to 533fps, which suits broadcast and film applications without chasing needlessly high refresh figures.
- The redundant (backup) data line means a single dead pixel or broken joint does not necessarily take down the rest of the run, and the wide 5 to 30V range plus RGB/RGBW support covers many fixture builds.
Limitations
- As a single-wire self-clocking protocol, timing is encoded in pulse widths, so it is sensitive to cable length, connector quality, and level-shifting; long or noisy data runs need care with buffering and signal integrity.
- The headline 16-bit depth and 16kHz refresh are best-case figures; at maximum data rates and higher supply voltages, driver and thermal limits mean usable bit depth and channel count can be lower in practice than the specification implies.
Overview
The UCS7604 is a data-only addressable pixel driver: colour and greyscale data travel on one self-clocking signal line, with no separate clock conductor. Each IC latches its slot and forwards the remainder down the chain. It carries 16-bit resolution per channel, drives RGB or RGBW emitters, runs across a wide 5 to 30V supply, and refreshes at a 16kHz PWM rate that stays flicker-free for cameras up to 533fps. A redundant data line lets the chain bypass a failed node. Packaged as SOP10. The UCS prefix is commonly attributed to Shenzhen Ucs, though this is a prefix-family identification rather than a datasheet reproduced here. 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.