GMSL Camera Not Functioning on Jetson Orin Nano with JetPack 5.1.2

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link) cameras on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board running JetPack 5.1.2. The primary symptom is the inability to receive MIPI frames from the camera. This issue occurs during the setup and operation of the camera system, preventing users from capturing and processing video data as expected. The problem appears to be consistent across different attempts to use the GMSL camera with the Orin Nano.

Possible Causes

1. Firmware incompatibility: The camera firmware may not be fully compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano or the current JetPack version.

2. Driver issues: There could be problems with the camera drivers or their integration with the Jetson system.

3. Hardware configuration: Incorrect hardware setup or connections between the GMSL camera and the Orin Nano board.

4. CSI channel misconfiguration: The CSI (Camera Serial Interface) channel might not be properly configured to receive data from the GMSL camera.

5. Deskew calibration: For high data rate sensors (> 1.5 Gbps), deskew calibration might be necessary but not properly implemented.

6. USB communication issues: Problems with USB connectivity during firmware flashing or device communication.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify camera detection:
   Run the following command to check if the camera is detected:

   v4l2-ctl --list-devices
   

   If the camera is not listed, check physical connections and power supply.

2. Check camera firmware version:
   Examine the kernel init messages for the firmware version:

   dmesg | grep "firmware version"
   

   Look for a line similar to:

   tegra186-cam-rtcpu bc00000.rtcpu: firmware version cpu=rce cmd=6 sha1=8676d22a01443bdbc66581b7dde3b6d6828cc925
   

3. Update camera firmware:
   Download and apply the updated firmware provided by Nvidia:

   • For standard firmware: Use the file "Topic268833_JP-512_rce-fw.7z"
   • For debug firmware: Use the file "Topic268833_JP-512_rce-fw_Debug.7z"

   Follow the readme file within the package for firmware update steps.

4. Flash firmware using l4t_initrd_flash.sh:

   sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh -k A_rce-fw --flash-only --showlogs
   

   If encountering USB timeout issues, verify the device is in recovery mode:

   lsusb
   

   Look for a device with ID 0955:7523 NVIDIA Corp. APX

5. Configure CSI channels:
   Review the device tree configuration for proper CSI channel setup. Pay attention to the serdes_pix_clk_hz value, which should match your camera’s specifications.

6. Check deskew calibration:
   For sensors with data rates ≥ 1.5 Gbps, ensure deskew calibration is enabled in the device tree or camera configuration.

7. Analyze debug logs:
   After applying the debug firmware, capture and analyze detailed logs:

   dmesg > dmesg_log.txt
   

   Look for any error messages or warnings related to the camera or CSI interface.

8. Verify MIPI signaling:
   Use a logic analyzer or oscilloscope to verify that the camera is sending proper MIPI signaling to the CSI channel.

9. Test with different JetPack versions:
   If possible, try using an older or newer JetPack version to isolate whether the issue is specific to JetPack 5.1.2.

10. Consult Nvidia Developer Forums:
    If the issue persists, provide detailed information about your setup, including:

    • Exact camera model and specifications
    • Complete device tree configuration
    • Debug logs and firmware version information
      to the Nvidia Developer Forums for further assistance.

By systematically working through these steps, users should be able to identify and potentially resolve the GMSL camera issues on their Jetson Orin Nano boards. If problems persist, reaching out to Nvidia support with comprehensive diagnostic information will be the best course of action.