SK6812 RGBW Pixel Protocol Overview

Last article we talked the UCS2904 IC pixel protocol which is dedicated to RGBW solution. Today, we discuss another pixel chip protocol which is suitable for RGBW design too, SK6812 RGBW. 

SK6812 RGBW,this pixel protocol was designed by OPSCO in China in 2015 year. It is SPI protocol too.

While SK6812 RGBW offers nearly same features as its RGB version, SK6812 which is famous accros the world. But this SK6812 RGBW run 4 channels.

From the image you can see there is an egg zone that is the white channel. This SK6812 RGBW control circuit and LEDs are integrated in a 5050 SMD , which provides a small physical footprint for each pixel.

SK6812 RGBW LED comes out integrated in a 5050 SMD package, which provides a small physical footprint for each pixel.

Now there are two assemble package like images below, with a little difference from surface, but they are 100% same function.

SK6812 RGBW Technical Specifications:

SK6812 RGBW Advantages:

• High PWM rate 1.20KHZ allows for filming the pixels with 30fps appromately.
• Drive 4 colors LED allowing for tones that were previously hard to achieve with single RGB strip.
• RGB and White can be independently controlled to allows us to create bolder and more vibrant colors than with RGB alone.
• Integrated 5050 LED, it is availble to offer high density individually control RGBW led tapes.

SK6812 RGBW Shortcomings:

• 8 bits of color resolution, 256 grayscale for each color makes dimming curves less smooth.
• No Clock data line  restricts refresh rate to be limited by the protocol speed, which will generally be slow.
• Integrated LEDs have NOT good heat dissipation ability compared to the external IC chip solutions .
• Limited to 5V, bigger voltage drop.

SK6812 RGBW Cautions:

• Very Similar with the UCS2904 Protocol / SM16704 Protocol, but couldn't work together with those IC chips. 
• Must be installed in a good heat dissipation conditions.

If you have any info should be updated, tell us freely.

Best regards from Art LED Team