Is that this the World’s Smallest Addressable LED? – Information

We’re excited to introduce what we consider is the world’s smallest addressable LED, the SMD LED – Addressable RGB APA-104-1010.

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Blade
September 24, 2024 7:20 pm UTC
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The SMD LED – Addressable RGB APA-104-1010. Measuring an astonishingly small 1.0mm x 1.0mm, this LED represents the slicing fringe of miniaturization in digital elements. However how did we get right here? Let’s take a short journey by way of the historical past of addressable LEDs and discover how they’ve shrunk to this unbelievable dimension.

The Evolution of Addressable LEDs

From being easy standing indicators to interactive artwork installations, addressable LEDs have been built-in into electronics in some ways. Not like conventional LEDs, lots of that are restricted a single coloration, addressable LEDs simplify the method by embedding management circuitry inside every LED to alter coloration and brightness by way of easy code. This development allowed for particular person management over every LED in a strip or sequence, making it simpler to create intricate lighting results.

The idea of addressable LEDs will be traced again to the event of good lighting techniques within the early 2000s. One of many earliest fashions that gained reputation was the WS2801 by Worldsemi, an LED driver IC that enabled management of RGB LEDs through a easy two-wire SPI interface. The WS2801 was quickly adopted by built-in fashions just like the WS2812s, which embedded the driving force inside the LED bundle, simplifying the design and decreasing the dimensions.

Producers improved these techniques and developed much more compact fashions, such because the APA102C collection (manufactured by APA Electronics Co., Ltd.) which provided sooner information charges and higher coloration stability. The APA102C-5050 and APA102-2020 are prime examples of how addressable LEDs have turn out to be smaller and extra environment friendly, setting the stage for the miniaturized APA-104-1010. See the chart beneath to check the Addressable LED choices we presently keep on our webstore.

1.0mm x 1.0mm!?

The pattern in the direction of miniaturization in digital elements is pushed by many components, together with the demand for extra compact units, the necessity for power effectivity, and the pursuit of upper decision in shows and lighting functions. As expertise superior the addressable LED grew to become smaller and smaller.

The most recent innovation on this area is the APA-104-1010, which our founder calls “insanely small”. At simply 1.0mm x 1.0mm, these LEDs retain the performance of their bigger predecessors whereas taking over a fraction of the house.

These tiny LEDs are significantly important for functions the place house and weight are at a premium. We actually assume that these LEDs give the power to suit into extra versatile PCB shapes particularly in wearable expertise and drones, the place each millimeter and gram counts, the APA-104-1010 will enable designers to include RGB lighting into units with out compromising on dimension or weight.

Drawbacks?

One small downside for these LEDs is that they’re fairly delicate to humidity and may crack throughout reflow. No want to fret although, SparkFun makes certain to ship them in humidity sealed baggage.

All in all, the SMD LED – Addressable RGB APA-104-1010 is extra than simply the newest in an extended line of addressable LEDs — it is a testomony to how far we have include electronics. By persevering with to push the bounds of miniaturization, we’re not simply making smaller elements; we’re opening the door to new improvements that had been beforehand unimaginable. We’re proud to hold this merchandise and we won’t wait to see how we, and others, use this unbelievable new LED of their builds.