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.
Compatible ENTTEC controllers
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.