Perplexing remote control RGB LED module

This module uses a microcontroller and a set of fully addressable RGB LEDs but only uses them for single colours. I wonder if the original intent was to have colour chasing effects, but they discovered that the software was too complex or the processor too basic to achieve that result.

Or maybe they just decided that the addressable LEDs are so cheap that they might as well use a huge string of them for single colours by sending the same three bytes out for every single LED.

It certainly makes the PCB design a lot simpler with three-track power and data going to all the LEDs. The alternative would have required four tracks, a set of resistors and three transistors for the red, green and blue channels.

Whatever the intended application is they have implemented some level of power saving by using a single MOSFET to shut down all the LEDs when they are off. The WS2812B style addressable LEDs tend to have a slight current draw even when unlit.

The module does have an ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) port, and the chip may actually be reprogrammable. Many similar circuits use OTP (One Time Programmable) microcontrollers to save costs.

Rather predictably, this is another item from our favourite Chinese purveyor of tat - AliExpress.
If you want one to experiment with then here's an affiliate link to the listing I bought this one from.
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4ON7Wpd



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