INK1003 Pixel Protocol
A single-wire, self-clocking addressable RGB LED driver IC with an integrated per-pixel controller and 8-bit-per-channel colour, in an SOP8 package.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP8 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 12V |
| PWM Rate | 400Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Flickering may be visible |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking design: only one data conductor per run, so cabling is simpler and cheaper than two-wire clocked chips (no separate clock line to route, terminate or fault-find).
- Integrated per-pixel IC with 24-bit RGB (8 bits per channel) and full individual addressability, suitable for gradients and pixel-mapped animation.
- Wide 5V to 12V supply range adds design flexibility; running at 12V reduces voltage drop over longer segments compared with 5V-only parts.
Limitations
- Not camera-safe: the 400Hz PWM rate is low, and the spec marks this part likely to show visible flicker on camera. Expect visible flicker or banding on video, so avoid broadcast, film and any camera-critical installation.
- No redundant/backup data line, so a single failed pixel or broken data link blacks out everything downstream; single-wire timing is also sensitive to signal degradation, so long runs need power injection and, where possible, signal reconditioning.
Overview
The INK1003 is a data-only, single-wire addressable RGB LED driver IC supplied in an SOP8 package. Each pixel integrates its own controller, latches 24-bit RGB data (8 bits per channel), and forwards the remaining stream to the next device, so every pixel is individually addressable over a single signal conductor. It operates across a 5V to 12V supply range and drives red, green and blue channels only, with no dedicated white. Being self-clocking, it needs no separate clock line, but it depends on accurate signal timing along the run.
Compatible ENTTEC controllers
Sku: 71521
Sku: 73539
Sku: 70067
Sku: 70068
Sku: 73-545
Sku: 73924
ENTTEC has been engineering lighting control in Australia since 1999, and shipping LED pixel controllers since the original Pixelator in 2014.