Classification and introduction of addressable LED strip products

A magical LED strip, also known as a full-color or addressable LED strip, is different from a regular RGB color-changing strip in that it contains an integrated IC (Integrated Circuit) chip. Without the integrated chip, a color-changing LED strip can only achieve color transitions and adjust the brightness of the entire strip, without the ability to create effects such as flowing or chasing patterns. On the other hand, a strip with an integrated IC chip can offer a variety of effects through a control system, including flowing patterns, multi-color cycling, single-color moving, dual-color filling, and more. These patterns are usually pre-programmed by the controller engineer and embedded into the IC on the controller circuit board, allowing for single-point control (built-in IC) or multi-point control (external IC). Users simply need to power the strip, connect it to a controller, and play the pre-programmed patterns. Individuals can also create their own animated effects using programming software.

The connection of a magical LED strip mainly consists of positive and negative poles and a signal line. The signal line is used to connect to the controller.

There are many different types of chips for magical LED strips, such as 16703, 6812, 6813, 2811, 2812, 2815, 1903. These are model numbers for the chips, and different manufacturers may use different naming conventions. In most cases, the signal is generally compatible across various chip models.

1.ws2812b.sk6812 Addressable LED strip

WS2812 is an intelligent externally controlled LED light source that combines a control circuit and an illumination circuit into one unit. Its appearance is the same as a 5050 LED chip, with each component representing a single pixel. The pixel includes an intelligent digital interface, data latch signal shaping and amplification circuit, power supply voltage regulation circuit, built-in constant current circuit, high-precision RC oscillator, and output driver utilizing patented PWM technology, ensuring consistent illumination color for each pixel. The data protocol uses a unipolar return-to-zero coding communication method. After power-on reset, the DIN (Data Input) pin receives data transmitted from the controller. The first pixel extracts the initial 24-bit data and sends it to the internal data latch register. The remaining data is processed by the internal shaping circuit, amplified, and forwarded through the DO (Data Output) pin to the next cascaded pixel. Each transmission through a pixel reduces the data by 24 bits.

WS2812 LEDs offer several advantages, including low voltage operation, environmentally friendly and energy-saving characteristics, high luminous efficiency, wide viewing angle, good consistency, ultra-low power consumption, and long lifespan. By integrating the control circuitry into the LED itself, the overall circuit complexity is reduced, the size becomes smaller, and the installation becomes more convenient.

2.ws2813.sk6813 Addressable LED strip

WS2813 is an intelligent externally controlled LED light source that integrates a control circuit and an illumination circuit into one unit. It has the same appearance as a 5050 LED chip, where each component represents a single pixel. The pixel includes an intelligent digital interface, data latch signal shaping and amplification circuit, power supply voltage regulation circuit, built-in constant current circuit, high-precision RC oscillator, and output driver utilizing patented PWM technology, effectively ensuring high color consistency within each pixel.

The WS2813 chip uses a dual-line communication method and sends signals using zero-coding. After power-on reset, the chip accepts data from the DIN (Data Input) pin. Once it receives enough 24-bit data, it starts forwarding the data through the DOUT (Data Output) pin to provide input data for the next chip. Before forwarding, the DOUT pin is pulled low continuously. At this time, the chip does not accept new data. The OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB PWM output pins of the chip generate signals with different duty cycles based on the received 24-bit data, and the signal cycle is 4ms. If the DIN input signal is a RESET signal, the chip will display the received data. After that signal ends, the chip will start accepting new data again. Once it receives the initial 24-bit data, it forwards the data through the DOUT pin. The OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins maintain their original outputs until a low-level RESET code of more than 80µs is received. Afterward, the chip outputs the previously received 24-bit PWM data pulse width onto the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins.

In addition to the DIN pin, the chip also includes an additional FDIN input pin to receive the DIN data from the previous chip, which corresponds to the DOUT data of the chip before that. When cascading, if a particular chip is damaged, it does not affect data transmission, and the subsequent chips can still receive data normally.

3.ws2815.sk6815 Addressable LED strip

WS2815 is an intelligent externally controlled LED light source that integrates a control circuit and a three-channel illumination circuit into one unit. It has the same appearance as a 5050 LED chip, where each component represents a single pixel. The pixel includes an intelligent digital interface, data latch signal shaping and amplification circuit, power supply voltage regulation circuit, built-in constant current circuit, high-precision RC oscillator, and output driver utilizing patented PWM technology, effectively ensuring high color consistency within each pixel.

The WS2815 chip uses a single-line communication method and sends signals using zero-coding. After power-on reset, the chip accepts data from the DIN (Data Input) pin. Once it receives enough 24-bit data, it starts forwarding the data through the DOUT (Data Output) pin to provide input data for the next chip. Before forwarding, the DOUT pin is pulled low continuously. At this time, the chip does not accept new data. The OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB PWM output pins of the chip generate signals with different duty cycles based on the received 24-bit data, and the signal cycle is 4ms. If the DIN input signal is a RESET signal, the chip will display the received data. After that signal ends, the chip will start accepting new data again. Once it receives the initial 24-bit data, it forwards the data through the DOUT pin. The OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins maintain their original outputs until a low-level RESET code of more than 80µs is received. Afterward, the chip outputs the previously received 24-bit PWM data pulse width onto the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins.

LEDs have the advantages of low voltage driving, environmental friendliness, high brightness, wide viewing angles, excellent color consistency, ultra-low power consumption, and long lifespan. By integrating the control circuitry onto the LED, the circuit becomes simplified, the size becomes smaller, and the installation becomes more convenient.

4.ws2811.16703.1903…Addressable LED strip

WS2811 is a dedicated three-channel LED driver and control circuit. The chip includes an intelligent digital interface, data latch signal shaping and amplification circuitry, as well as a high-precision internal oscillator and a 15V programmable constant current output driver. To reduce power supply ripple, each of the three channels has a certain delay before turning on, which helps to lower circuit ripples during frame refresh.

The chip adopts single-line zero-coding communication. After power-on reset, the DIN (Data Input) pin receives data transmitted from the controller. The first 24-bit data received is extracted by the first chip and sent to the internal data latch. The remaining data is processed and amplified by the internal circuitry before being forwarded through the DO (Data Output) pin to the next cascaded chip. With each chip in the cascade, the signal decreases by 24 bits. The chip utilizes automatic shaping and forwarding technology, allowing flexibility in the number of chips cascaded, limited only by the speed of signal transmission.

The internal data latch of the chip generates different duty cycle control signals at the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB control pins based on the received 24-bit data. When a RESET signal is received at the DIN pin, all the chips synchronously transmit the received data to their respective segments. After the RESET signal ends, the chip starts accepting new data again. Once the initial 24-bit data is received, it is forwarded through the DO pin. Before receiving a RESET code, the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins maintain their original outputs. However, when a low-level RESET code of more than 50μs is received, the chip outputs the previously received 24-bit PWM data pulse width onto the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins.

5.ws2818 Addressable LED strip

WS2818A is a dedicated three-channel LED driver and control circuit. The chip includes an intelligent digital interface, data latch signal shaping and amplification circuitry, high-precision internal oscillator, programmable constant current output driver, and high-accuracy constant current control module. These features effectively ensure consistent color of the pixel light in the driving circuit.

It features a unique break-point continuous transmission function. The chip adopts dual-signal transmission, where the two signal transmissions do not interfere with each other. Even if a single chip is damaged, it does not affect the overall display effect. Users can choose either the DIN pin or the BIN pin of the first chip as the control signal input pin from the controller. The remaining cascaded chips will automatically recognize the signal output by the first chip without affecting the overall effect.

The data protocol uses single-line zero-coding communication. After powering-on reset, the DIN pin receives data transmitted from the controller. The first 24-bit data received is extracted by the first chip and sent to the chip's internal data latch. The remaining data is processed and amplified by the internal shaping circuitry before being forwarded through the DO (Data Output) port to the next cascaded pixel. With each pixel in the cascade, the signal decreases by 24 bits. The chip utilizes automatic shaping and forwarding technology, allowing flexibility in the number of cascaded pixels, limited only by the speed of signal transmission. When using the BIN pin as the control signal receiving port, the control data for the BIN port needs to be 24 bits more than the control data for the DIN port to ensure consistency in the number of points controlled by both methods.

The internal data latch of the chip generates different duty cycle control signals at the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB control pins based on the received 24-bit data. When a RESET signal is received at the DIN pin, all the chips synchronously transmit the received data to their respective segments. After the RESET signal ends, the chip starts accepting new data again. Once the initial 24-bit data is received, it is forwarded through the DO port. Before receiving a RESET code, the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins maintain their original outputs. However, when a low-level RESET code of more than 280μs is received, the chip outputs the previously received 24-bit PWM data pulse width onto the OUTR, OUTG, and OUTB pins.