WS2816A Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: WorldsemiA single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel protocol distinguished by 16-bit-per-channel colour depth for smoother low-level dimming and gradients than 8-bit parts.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 16 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 10,000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 333fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- 16-bit-per-channel colour resolution delivers noticeably smoother gradients and low-level dimming than 8-bit WS2812-class chips, which matters most for slow fades and dark scenes where 8-bit banding shows.
- Data-only single-wire signalling needs just one data conductor per run: simpler and cheaper to cable than clocked two-wire chips, with no clock line to route or fail.
- A redundant (backup) data line lets the chain keep running past a single failed pixel, improving reliability on longer runs, and the 10,000Hz PWM rate is comfortably flicker-free for camera work up to 333fps.
Limitations
- As a data-only, self-clocking protocol the timing is tight and unforgiving: line length, connector quality and signal integrity all matter, and there is no clock line to relax the timing tolerance, so long or noisy runs need careful data injection.
- 16-bit colour means roughly twice the data per pixel of an 8-bit chip, so at a given data rate the practical pixel count per line and the achievable refresh are lower than a comparable 8-bit part; budget your data channels accordingly.
Overview
Single-wire, data-only pixels: each SMD5050 package integrates its controller IC and self-clocks from the incoming data stream, so no separate clock conductor is run. The standout feature is 16-bit-per-channel colour resolution, well beyond the 8-bit of WS2812-class parts, giving smoother fades and finer control at the bottom of the dimming curve. At 5V with a 10,000Hz PWM rate they stay comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to 333fps, and a redundant data line lets the chain continue past a failed pixel. ENTTEC pixel controllers drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. 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.