History of Addressable LEDs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 04:16:24 pm
content: Seasons Greetings!I was watching an Christmas movie last night on Netflix,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Halls_(2006_film) and had an epiphany.I am ashamed to admit I have no idea when addressable LEDs became a reality.The film was released in 2006. So, it would have likely been filmed early 2006, late 2005. In this example, I am assuming if the display was real, they used display tiles/modules which include an array of LEDs on one tile.I took a look at WorldSemi's website (I believe to be the original designer of the WS281X LEDs). They state they were founded in 2007:"WorldSemi was founded in 2007, we work as the leading LED specialist in IC designer for Constant Current LED Driver IC"My google search skills seem to be failing me. Was the WS281x the first addressable pixel?Thanks,

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 10:01:22 pm
content: Was going to say it was CG, but the write up for what LED used is here:https://www.livedesignonline.com/business-people-news/color-kinetics-technology-stars-deck-hallsWS2812 seems to be the first.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 11:20:00 pm
content: LED displays are pretty old. They were just using a bunch of ICs to drive the LED matrix instead of each LED having its own driver IC.So not sure I get the question. Yes, LED matrix displays have existed for a few decades. Nobody has been waiting for the WS281X to build LED displays.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 11:57:18 pm
content: Well sure, LEDs have been around for a while, but you're not about to armor a house in stadium bigscreen modules!Which themselves haven't been around for that long, as it took the introduction of GaN blues to make full color LED displays practical. Which was early 2000s so, around there, and addressable strings are a natural evolution of that.Impressive that they actually did it; almost as impressive is finding an actual press release claiming what they used. Finding historic information on the net can be such a wash these days!Tim

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 12:44:45 am
content: QuoteAnd before that addressable festoons,no fancy colour changing but at the time it was still impressive

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 12:50:31 am
content: That is too cool! Thank you soo much!I really wasn't sure what products were available at that time. The article you discovered links to "icolor flex sl" which appears to be very similar to what we now know as a ws281x or "Neo Pixel". Each programable RGB pixel was (1.6 cm x 1.6 cm x 1.9 cm) spaced every 4 or 12 inches connected with a three-wire 18 AWG cable.I'm sure a bunch of electronics designers had way too much fun on this projectI am impressed, piping video data out to addressable LEDs would take a little bit of effort.

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 01:08:24 am
content: Thanks for your input. My inquiry was rooted in not knowing the history on the subject, and not being able to find an article on the subject with a google search.I know I2C/SPI GPIO expanders with LED functions have existed for some time likehttps://www.nxp.com/docs/en/data-sheet/PCA9532.pdf.Or chainable matrix display driver ICs like the:https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/en/ds/MAX7219-MAX7221.pdfNot sure about the history of video tiles either used in video walls, billboards, etc lolToday these addressable LEDs are the norm, I have seen half a dozen homes in my city with addressable LED lights.You can even buy an artificial Christmas tree pre-lit with ws2812 string lights:https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/noma-advanced-aurora-music-light-show-christmas-tree-7-5-ft-1518410p.html(don't look at the price though)

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 01:30:13 am
content: lol the installation only operated on a measly 7.1 kW! Had they of used tungsten bulbs they claim it would have been in excess of 100 kW.I think I found the patent for the addressable LED pixels used in the film:https://patents.google.com/patent/US7253566B2/which is dated 2002.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 10:37:18 am
content: All LEDs are addressable. How do you think the manufacturers get them to the wholesalers? 😛

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 11:47:38 am
content: Installations like those in the OP pic are most often done using DMX equipment.The DMX protocol is used in show biz for light shows, theaters, outdoor concerts, clubs, movies (animatronics), etc. That is why all kind of on the shelf components, including outdoor DMX controllers (IP68), can be bought ready made.There are a few programs that can use MIDI controllers to easily control DMX devices live (stage lights, dimmers, spot-heads, LASERS, etc.), and it is also possible to record (or design) an entire show then playback it later (includes picture to light conversion features, like on that roof in the OP).FreeStyleris an example of a free software for DMX control, if you want to try your stage-lighting skills. Designing a good light-show is an entire new skill than laying out the DMX network. There are many programs to help with DMX shows, some are easier to learn than Freestyler, but quite pricey for home use.DMX standard appeared long before addressable LEDs.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMX512

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 01:14:10 pm
content: Quote from: eti on December 09, 2021, 10:37:18 amThis is true! I'm not sure what the most accurate title would be "WS2812B is a intelligent control LED light source"... I do like the adafruit "Neo Pixel" term though.Worldsemi can send me all the LEDs!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 01:48:17 pm
content: Quote from: Scottie on December 09, 2021, 12:50:31 amThe Color flex and other proucts use a chip which Color Kinetics developed called "Chromasic".Similar to WS2812 but actually done properly - more colour depth, nicer protocol. Many years ago I reversed the protocol, as their PSU/drivers were expensive and mechanically ugly.https://www.docs.colorkinetics.com/support/datasheets/Chromasic1.pdf

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 01:58:22 pm
content: Interesting, in the Color Kinetics patent, they describe striping off the first N data bytes just like the ws281x:QuoteThey also employed pulse width coded signaling, and reference 1/4 and 3/4 of a bit times for high/low states:Quote

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 02:33:56 pm
content: What surprised me most is Color Kinetics didnt try and sue the inventors of other addressable ledsQuoteAnd if you want something real lampies use to light everything from the local junior school play to international artists in a stadiumhttps://chamsyslighting.com/products/magicq?variant=7841688715300

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 03:42:28 pm
content: At some point in the historyof addressable LEDs I think this has a place:https://www.barco.com/en/News/Press-releases/u2-vertigo-tour-a-feast-for-the-eyes-with-revolutionary-barco-technology.aspx

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 03:55:13 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on December 09, 2021, 01:48:17 pmThat is so interesting, in the product brief they mention the control die being the size of a pinhead. Its too bad they never were able to package the IC and LEDs into a single leadframe like the WS2812. The WS2811 is just the driver IC in a 8-pin package similar to the Chromasic.I don't remember the actual value but I recall WS2812 starting to brownout at over 4.5V, meaning the constant current driver had limited compliance voltage. Worldsemi now advertise the WS2812-V5:QuoteWhich would be similar to the Chromatic's rating:QuoteIn some of the color kinetics press article I see them targeting many deep pocket applications such as pools, spas, and architectural lighting. I can only image what their products would have cost at that time.

author: Scottie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 04:42:00 pm
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on December 09, 2021, 03:42:28 pmThat is a great find, a real life light-curtain.The datasheet for the MiSPHERE bulbs is available too:https://www.barco.com/services/website/en/TdeFiles/Download?FileNumber=R5976941&TdeType=1&Revision=01&ShowDownloadPage=FalseLook at the 12(ish?)-pin circular connectors on each of the MiSPHERE bulbs. I can only imagine what the cables and connectors alone would have cost...You even get branded rolling flight cases, too awesome!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 05:18:33 pm
content: QuoteFrom memory I think they either measure the width of the first pulse and reference this for the rest of the packet, or look at the change in puse width, either way it means it will work over a fairly wide range of bit rates. TI's 1-wire protocol which they use on the TLC5973 does something similar.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 05:35:17 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on December 09, 2021, 02:33:56 pmEspecially as at one time they were notorious for suing companies due to their patent for using PWM to dim RGB LEDs, and pissed off the whole industry.I don't know if their attitude changed when they got bought by Philips, but it's now so established as standard practice that there's no way they could keep on top of it now.