WS2812 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: WorldsemiA single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel that integrates an 8-bit-per-channel controller IC into each SMD5050 LED for individual addressing along a chain.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 12V |
| PWM Rate | 400Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Flickering may be visible |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Simple, low-cost cabling: as a Data-Only single-wire protocol it needs just three conductors (data, +V, ground) and no separate clock line, unlike two-wire clocked chips.
- Fully integrated pixel: the controller IC sits inside the SMD5050 package, giving individual addressability and 24-bit (8-bit-per-channel) RGB colour with no external driver per LED.
- Broadly supported by ENTTEC pixel controllers: OCTO (71521), PIXELATOR MINI / MK2 (70067/70068), DIN PIXIE (73539) and the PLINK Injectors drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about any chip not listed.
Limitations
- Timing-sensitive with no redundant data line (row: Redundant Data Line = No): the self-clocking single-wire signal has tight timing tolerances, and because there is no backup data path a single failed pixel or marginal edge breaks everything downstream, so longer runs depend on reclocking and power injection.
- Not camera-safe: the specified 400Hz PWM rate is flagged as likely to show visible flicker on camera, so it can beat against shutter speeds and show banding or flicker on video, and 8-bit resolution limits smoothness at the low end of the dimming curve.
Overview
The WS2812 is a single-wire, individually addressable RGB pixel with its controller IC built into an SMD5050 package alongside the red, green and blue emitters. One self-clocking data line carries 24-bit colour (8 bits per channel): each pixel latches its own byte, then forwards the remainder down the chain. The row specifies an operating supply in the 5 to 12V range and a 400Hz PWM output, which is comfortable for the eye but, as the spec notes, not fast enough to be flicker-free on camera. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Worldsemi.
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.