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WS2812S

1-wire RGB · WorldSemi · ws281x

Channels
RGB
Bits / channel
8
Supply
3.7–5.3 V
PWM
2 kHz
Backup data
no
Packages
1

The six-pin WorldSemi part still on sale: control-circuit supply (VCC, pin 3) and LED supply (VDD, pin 5) are separate pins, with pin 4 not connected. Catalogued on its own because its datasheet timing, supply and pin structure differ from the four-pin WS2812B, and nothing in the sheet ties it to the original WS2812.

Timing

WS2812S bit timingWS2812S bit timing: a zero bit is 300 nanoseconds high then 790 low; a one bit is 790 high then 320 low; reset 280 microseconds low1 · Bit encoding, to scaleDINhighlowbit 0 period 1090 nsbit 1 period 1110 nsT0H 300 nsT1H 790 nsT0L 790 nsT1L 320 ns"0" bit"1" bit02004006008001000120014001600180020002200time, nsDatasheet lists unequal bit periods (1090 vs 1110 ns); each bit is drawn with its own.2 · One frame: 24 bits, most-significant bit firstDIN170110010007100110101700101100bitch 1 · 8 bitsch 2 · 8 bitsch 3 · 8 bitsChannel order not recorded for this protocol · frame = 24 × ~1110 ns ≈ 26.6 µs · example data, first bits 1 0 1 …3 · RESET / latchlast bits of frame 1first bits of frame 2LEDs latch the data they receivedRESET: DIN low ≥ 280 µs (not to scale)4 · Cascade: each DOUT feeds the next DINMCULED 1DINDOUTLED 2DINDOUTLED NDINDOUTLED 1 keeps the first 24 bits, re-shapes the signal and sends the rest out on DOUT;LED 2 keeps the next 24, and so on. The last LED's DOUT is left unconnected.
T0H 300 / T0L 790 · T1H 790 / T1L 320 ns · reset 280 µs source: datasheet
SourceT0HT0LT1HT1LPeriodRateReset±
datasheet ↗ 300 ns 790 ns 790 ns 320 ns 1090 ns 917 kHz 280 µs —
Ranges, midpoints recorded: T0H 220-380 ns, T0L 580 ns-1 us, T1H 580 ns-1 us, T1L 220-420 ns, reset above 280 us. Unlike the four-pin WS2812B-V5 table, T1L is a SHORT window (220-420 ns), so a 1 bit is high for longer than it is low - the pattern the original WS2812 and the SK6812 follow. The 320 ns recorded for T1L is the midpoint of 220-420 ns.

Clones & compatibility

“Compatible” is never stated bare here — each relationship carries how strong the claim is, and what bites if you assume too much.

  • electrically similar WS2812

    Both are six-pin 5050 parts with separate control (VCC) and LED (VDD) supply pins and a no-connect. The WS2812S sheet does not say it is the original WS2812 silicon, and its timing windows differ from the original sheet's 350/800/700/600 ns +/-150 ns.

Library support

Not checked against FastLED’s chipset list.

Parts using this protocol

Dating evidence

Evidence, not a release date. A library commit proves the part existed by that date and says nothing about how long before.

  • 2017-05-23 datasheet revision WorldSemi WS2812S datasheet (LCSC C114584) Modify Record: 'V1.0 N New 20170523' ↗ day