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Notify me when its in stockThese tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) SMD LEDs are the most compact way possible to integrate multiple bright LEDs into your design. Instead of NeoPixels, this disk uses DotStar LEDs, which have a 2-wire protocol that is less timing-specific and has high-frequency PWM for smoother color blending.
Like NeoPixels, DotStar LEDs are 5050-sized LEDs with an embedded microcontroller inside. You can set the color/brightness of each LED to 24-bit color (8 bits each red, green, blue). Each LED acts like a shift register, reading incoming color data on the input pins, and then shifting the previous color data out on the output pin. By sending a long string of data, you can control an infinite number of LEDs. The PWM is built into each LED chip so once you set the color you can stop talking to the disk and it will continue to PWM all the LEDs for you.
Another nice thing about DotStars is the high PWM rate. You only have to set the 24-bit color data for each pixel LED once, and then the LED+built-in-chip will PWM the bits for you. With NeoPixels, this PWM rate is 400 Hz, which works well but is noticeable if the strip is moving at all. DotStars have a 20 KHz PWM rate so you can't see the pixelation even when the disk is moving, and the color blending is very smooth.
You can order the DotStar RGB LED Disk - 240mm Diameter product from the Adafruit category at SAMM Market with competitive prices, same-day shipping, and fast delivery options.
