Worldsemi WS2821 User manual

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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WS2821 Address Writer is a controller specially designed for WORLDSEMI’s newest WS2821
IC which adopts parallel signal connection. Its main functions are as followings: write channel
address for the WS2821 LED driver IC and test the WS2821’s channel address.
Tips: In this instruction data sheet,the font text require special attention and emphasis.
Especially attention to the port wiring, Wiring method is different for writing the address and
testing address , please read carefully, in case of doing damage to the individual IC. A complete
process for writing address are as followings:
1. Test new IC (this step is only recommended, not must do the test ,also it only have effect for
the ICs who haven’t been written address,see details described later)
2. Write address (Tips:Address writer’s "DATA" port connect with WS2821 driver IC’s address
input port "ADD" , WS2821’s data input terminal connect with ground, see details will be
described later).
3. Power off for WS2821, then power on, write address successful.
4. Address test (Tips:Address writer’s "DATA" port connect with DATA" port WS2821 driver IC
data input "ADDi" , see details described later)
5. Programs and effect test (listed in factory production menu, only recommend, see details
described later)
I. WS2821 LED Driver IC
Why we need to write address for WS2821 LED Driver IC?
● Since WS2821 is a new LED driver IC which is invented by WORLDSEMI, it adopts the parallel
transmission method, single pixel’s failure won’t effect any other pixels. However, for all the
WS2821 which is paralleled on one data line, then it shall receive the same channel. So we need
to address each WS2821, then we can control R 、G、B via retrieving the address of the

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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corresponding channel corresponding the channel.
II. WS2821 Address Writer Summary
WS2821 Address Writer has a LCD display which is convenient for using and directly perceived
through the senses. There are four buttons on the main panel, respectively is the return key,
addition key, subtraction key and confirm key. The functions are as followings:
key:Return Key,Exit current status or return to the previous menu
＋key:Value to add to select a directory or data
key:Confirm key, enter the directory or put into a state or a suspended state
－key:Down select a directory or data value subtraction
After power on, then it will display company LOGO and WS2821 programming model in turn(only
can show when there is in no SD Card mode ) after showing picture, then will enter the main
menu, mainly has 5 sub directories:
1. Address by lamp
2. Address by channel
3. Address testing
4. Program testing
5. Connection Instruction
III. Function Operate
A. New IC test
Before addressing new IC,first please do the “New IC test”, since the WS2821’s address writer
line are in series connection, when the IC can not work normally, it will lead the rest IC address
failure. The test operation are as followings:
1. Address Writer’s "DATA" need to connect with the WS2821’s DATA IN (Parallel data input
port), Address Writer’s "GND" need to connect with the WS2821’s GND, also the WS2821 need
toconnect with the power supply.

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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2. Select the menu bar "address testing" - > "New IC test", press confirm button, then all the
lamps controlled by WS2821 will jump light red, green, blue, white, if there's lamp no light, then it
may resulted from the lamp circuit problem or the IC is damaged or IC has been written other
address, please do corresponding processing and then do the test.
PS: The “New IC test” operate is only a suggestion process, not a essential steps.
B. Write Address
WS2821 Address Writer has two methods to write address: “Address by lamp”、“Address by
channel”.
The WS2821 address is two kinds of way: “write the address according to write code, ‘lamp’ by
channel coding”.
● The two write address methods’s wire connection method is the same:Address Writer’s
“DATA”、“ GND” are respectively connected with the WS2821 address input (ADDRI) and data
input (DATA), in addition, WS2821 need to be connected with power supply, Address writer need
to share the same GND with the WS2821.
When Addressing by lamp: Write address according to the lamp: root menu bar - > "Address by
lamping" , after confirm entering, you can set the corresponding parameters.
Write address according to the channel: root menu bar - > "Address by channel" , after confirm
entering, you can set the corresponding parameters.
Parameters setting are as followings: Select the parameters to be set, press confirm button, then
enter the rewrite parameter status, change the parameter value according to pressing the "+"、"-"
key: press the two key for a long time, then it can be continuous plus or continuous reduction,
also the speed for adding or reducing will continue to speed up; press confirm key will confirm
rewrite parameters and exit the rewrite status; While pressing the return button,it will abandon
the rewriting, parameters will be the default values, and exit the rewritten status.
After setting the parameters, select the "Confirm writing" column, press confirm key, it will
address the lamp’s WS2821 immediately (a moment finished), after writing address, then it will

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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automatically light the WS2821 light white, fall light white, then stands for write address
successful ,while the lamp which can’t shine white stands for this lamp being address failure,
please check the first not light IC and the former IC.
The difference between “Address by lamp” and “Address by channel” is: Address by lamp, three
channel work as a unit, for each channel to write as a unit, while address by channel, one
channel work as a unit, wherein the "adjoin IC pixels No." mean "pixels quantity between two IC"!
For example: "adjoin IC pixels NO." 2 channels (each two IC) at intervals of two channels.
Correspondence between different settings and the DMX512 protocol signal as shown in figure
1.0-1.3.
Fig 1.0 Begin Pixel is 1，Adjoin IC Pixels No. is 0
Fig 1.1 Begin Pixel is 1，Adjoin IC Pixels No. is 1
Fig1.2 Begin Channel is 1，Adjoin IC Channel No. is 0
Fig1.3 Begin Channel is 1，Adjoin IC Channel No. is 2

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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So if you want to use DMX512 protocol to control WS2821, realize that from the DMX512
channel 1, each DMX 512 channel control one RGB lamp’s one channel, then you must set the
parameters as followings:
Address by lamp: Begin Pixel: 1 Adjoin IC Pixels No.: 0
Address by channel: Begin Channel: 1 Adjoin IC Channel No.: 2
For WS2821 Address Writer, the default setting is the conventional control parameters, just need
to write to confirm. Parameter being set to others, can provide some special control methods.
C. Address Testing
Address testing function have New IC test function and address writing,it can test whether the
address is write.
The new IC test function has mentioned at first, so here no more description.
Wire connection for address testing:
Address Writer’s "DATA"、"GND" are respectively connected with the WS2821 parallel data
inputs (DATA) and GND (also WS2821 need to connect with the power supply).
After Address Writer addressing the WS2821 , test whether the address is written right.
This function have automatic test and manual test function, when enter automatic measurement,
WS2821 address writer will automatically send a test signal, channel by channel light; when the
manual mode, according to press and light the next channel (Screen display value is the
corresponding channel), it will show the same effect with automatic testing when you press it for
a long time. For example, the above mentioned:
Address by lamp: Begin Pixel: 1 Adjoin IC Pixels No.: 0
Address by channel: Begin Channel: 1 Adjoin IC Channel NO.: 2
The conventional way to write address for WS2821 , via address testing,you will see the lamp by
WS2821 successive lit the IC control lamp’s red green blue. If you cannot see this effect, then
write address failure. If only a few WS2821 light invisible to the test results, maybe due to some
WS2821 lamps have problems, please carefully detection.
D. Program Testing
This function has preset some programs,the DMX512 Protocol control’s WS2821 are all set
according to:
Address by lamp: Begin Pixel: 1 Adjoin IC Pixels No.: 0
Address by channel: Begin Channel: 1 Adjoin IC Channel No.: 2
This conventional way to write address for WS2821.
“Program Testing” function is used for checking whether there is RGB failure in all the IC, after
entering the column,choose one kind of the effect and enter confirm button,it will show the
corresponding effect.
During one effect work,you can use"+"、"-" key to switch the program.

WS2821
Address Writer Instruction
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IV. Connection Instruction
Choose the connection instruction, it will show the preset wire connection for customer’s
Reference.