Question

How does color mixing work in RGB LEDs?

Answer 1

Color mixing in RGB LEDs works by combining different intensities of red, green, and blue light. Here's a simple breakdown of how it works:

1. RGB LEDs: These LEDs contain three separate light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in one package: one for red, one for green, and one for blue. Each LED can be turned on at different brightness levels.
   

1. Additive Color Mixing: The process of color mixing in RGB LEDs is additive, meaning that the more colors you add, the more the result approaches white light. When all three colors (red, green, and blue) are mixed at their full intensity, they create white light. If one or more colors are dimmed or turned off, you get a different color.
   

1. How Colors Are Created:
   

   - Red: Only the red LED is turned on.
   - Green: Only the green LED is turned on.
   - Blue: Only the blue LED is turned on.
   - Yellow: A combination of red and green LEDs turned on at the same time, with no blue.
   - Cyan: A combination of green and blue LEDs turned on at the same time, with no red.
   - Magenta: A combination of red and blue LEDs turned on at the same time, with no green.
   - White: All three LEDs (red, green, and blue) are turned on at full intensity.

1. Brightness Control: The intensity of each color is controlled by adjusting the brightness of each individual LED. This is usually done with a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), where the LED is rapidly switched on and off at a very high speed, controlling how much light is emitted.
   

In summary, by adjusting the intensity of the red, green, and blue LEDs, you can mix them together to create a wide range of colors, from pure reds to greens, blues, and even white light. The key is that RGB LEDs use the additive color mixing principle, where combining more colors makes the light brighter or closer to white.