Control Protocols

Currently available types differ not only in colour choice (some offer dedicated white, warm white or even both chips in addition to red, green and blue), but also in the control protocol.

The most commonly available type uses a one wire protocol, like the very well known WS2812b. The data has to be sent according to a very strict timing and the logic value depends on wether or not the data line went low after a short delay.

Advantageous is the need for only one pin to control a theoretically unlimited number of LEDs.

The second type uses two control pins, one for data, one for clock. This eliminates the need for a strict timing and enabled lazy data output while more time relevant tasks have priority. Also the clock speed does not have to be constant.