addressable.wiki

WS2816

1-wire RGB · WorldSemi · ws281x

Channels
RGB
Bits / channel
16
Supply
3.3–5.5 V
PWM
10 kHz
Backup data
yes
Packages
5

WorldSemi’s 16-bit-per-channel addressable LED: 65,536 levels per colour instead of 256, for smoother low-brightness fades and HDR-style grading. Sold as 5050, 2020, 2121, 2427 and 1313 packages, several with a backup data line. Seeded from the LCSC datasheets; nothing else is verified.

Timing

WS2816 bit timingWS2816 bit timing: a zero bit is 260 nanoseconds high then 1000 low; a one bit is 660 high then 740 low; reset 280 microseconds low1 · Bit encoding, to scaleDINhighlowbit 0 period 1260 nsbit 1 period 1400 nsT0H 260 nsT1H 660 nsT0L 1000 nsT1L 740 ns"0" bit"1" bit02505007501000125015001750200022502500time, nsDatasheet lists unequal bit periods (1260 vs 1400 ns); each bit is drawn with its own.2 · One frame: 48 bits, most-significant bit firstDIN115011001010110010001510011010100110101150010110100101100bitch 1 · 16 bitsch 2 · 16 bitsch 3 · 16 bitsChannel order not recorded for this protocol · frame = 48 × ~1400 ns ≈ 67.2 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 48 bits, re-shapes the signal and sends the rest out on DOUT;LED 2 keeps the next 48, and so on. The last LED's DOUT is left unconnected.BIN (backup): tied to the previous pixel's DIN
T0H 260 / T0L 1000 · T1H 660 / T1L 740 ns · reset 280 µs source: datasheet
SourceT0HT0LT1HT1LPeriodRateReset±
datasheet ↗ 260 ns 1000 ns 660 ns 740 ns 1260 ns 794 kHz 280 µs —
Ranges, midpoints recorded: T0H 200-320 ns, T0L 800 ns-1.2 us, T1H 520-800 ns, T1L 480 ns-1 us, reset above 280 us. 16 bits per channel, so 48 bits per pixel on the wire rather than 24: the same bit time carries twice the data per LED.

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 WS2813

    Both have a backup (breakpoint-resume) data line in the 6-pin and 6-pad packages, but the WS2816 frame is 48 bits per pixel against 24, so the data stream is not interchangeable. The 4-pin and 5-pin WS2816 variants have no backup input at all.

  • electrically similar of this WL-ICLED (48-bit, bypass pin)

    Both are 6-pin single-wire parts with a second input and 12-16 bit channels, but the WS2816 frame is 16-bit per channel with its own backup semantics and this sheet specifies 12-bit PWM plus a 4-bit current gain. Not interchangeable on the wire.

Library support

Not checked against FastLED, WLED or Adafruit_NeoPixel source; the 16-bit frame means a driver must know it explicitly.

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.

  • 2020-01-06 datasheet revision WorldSemi WS2816C-2121 datasheet (LCSC C965561) Modify Record: 'V1.0 N New-Official release 20200106' ↗ day