UCS7804 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Shenzhen Ucs
A single-wire, data-only addressable LED protocol with an on-chip driver, 8-bit per channel colour, a wide 5 to 30V range, and RGB or RGBW output.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP8 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 30V |
| PWM Rate | 16,000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 533fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, data-only wiring: only one data conductor is needed alongside power and ground, so there is no clock line to route, terminate, or fail, keeping cabling and connectors simple.
- Wide 5 to 30V operating range gives flexibility for longer power runs and higher-voltage strings, unlike fixed 5V parts, and both RGB and RGBW variants are available.
- 16kHz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for on-camera use up to 533fps, so it is a safe choice for broadcast and film capture at typical frame rates.
Limitations
- No redundant data line: because data is passed pixel to pixel on a single path, one failed pixel or broken joint interrupts every pixel downstream, with no backup route to carry the signal past the fault.
- 8 bits per channel is standard depth, not high-resolution, so very smooth low-level fades and deep dimming are more limited than on higher bit-depth chips; the single-wire protocol is also timing-sensitive, so cable length and signal integrity need care.
Overview
The UCS7804 is a data-only, single-wire addressable LED driver protocol: each pixel carries one self-clocking data line (plus power and ground) with no separate clock conductor. It handles 8 bits per channel and is available in RGB and RGBW configurations, driven at a 16kHz PWM rate that is comfortably flicker-free for camera work up to 533fps. Its 5 to 30V operating range suits longer power runs and higher-voltage strings, and the driver is packaged as an SOP8. No redundant data line is provided. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Shenzhen Ucs.
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.