Good news, everyone: After a couple of interesting skype calls and emails with Worldsemi they appear to be very open for next gen ideas. Quote from their last reply “Then for new product,we need to know the market,since before production,shall require much time to test and value this,we do hope you can give us some good idea!By the way,we have newly design a WS2821IC,we already apply the patent LED+ embedded driver which adopts signal in parallel connection in China and USA,after all things completed,we will publish the WS2821LED.” and “For us Worldsemi,we do want to find more strategy partners who would like to cooperate with us to develop more products!”
So tell me: What do YOU need/want/dream about? Beside more colors (> 3 * 8 Bit), higher interface speed, faster PWM and later linkable matrix elements and strips with more than 144 leds/m? That’s what we already spoke about…
Higher supported voltages (let the embedded controller auto regulate from 3v DC up to 36v DC)
Smaller packaging (5050 is a bit large for some applications (edge lighting of thin materials) and smaller packaging could allow higher LED density per strip.
Data and clock able to handle data from 3.3 or 5v controllers without a shift leveler.
Reverse polarity protection and mis-wire protection on all connections.
5050 package in primary colors (not just white ) to make it easier to conceal the LED from view.
Rigid strips (aluminum or pcb) with more than 30 leds/meter.
Standard rigid (aluminum or pcb) arc lengths (to make circles, curves on a flat surface easier).
Embed the LPD8806/3 into an LED package.
Embed the WS2801 into an LED package if the original specs of 25mb/s can be achieved
Provide more details about the LED package and embedded controller in the datasheet - translated into other languages. And I don’t mean partial translations or relying on Google Translate - get someone that speaks both languages to verify that the translation has not lost meaning or details.
Work with all LED vendors to standardize wire colors.
Work with all LED vendors to come up with a better connector
Work with LED vendors to standardize the RGB or BRG or GRB ordering.
RGBW LED with embedded controller in a single package.
My wishlist is short; a 3mm RGB through hole LED. I’ve not found one yet, have a project in mind which I did some time back with 3mm red leds and a PIC, it would look so much better with RGB and FastLED, but I can’t source any 3mm RGB through hole LEDs, only 5mm. Maybe it’s a limitation of manufacture, but as I see everything else shrinking, I am hopeful…
I reached out to GreeLed about getting a sample order of the 8mm through hole with WS2811 embedded. http://gree-leds.com/productshow.asp?ArticleID=08W36PRP9T The product isn’t available yet. Here is a direct quote from Nick at GreeLed:
“Thanks Michal,
For 8mm WS2811 Chip-built-in led.so far, we have no goods. Now the Products is with some wrong. we will delay to supply it so far.
Nick”
@Tod_Kurt , the physical die inside can only be made so small. They can’t even get it inside of a 5mm casing, let alone 1206. You can get regular RGB LEDs that small or smaller though, just not with a controller inside.
Yup, I use much smaller actually.
And they could go to a smaller die if they go to a different process. I mean, if they’re really up to next gen ideas, they should should start thinking about reducing feature size.
@Ashley_M_Kirchner_No That’s what I’m after; I don’t need the WS2812 embedded in the LED body as I’ve got separate driver boards, just a 3mm RGB through hole LED without controller circuitry. Do you have an example of a supplier of such a beast please, as I can’t find any? Thanks!
