Camera On Jetson Orin Nano error message

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues when attempting to connect and use cameras with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The problems occur specifically with a CSI to 2* GSML board setup using MAX9296A, IMX390C camera with MAX9295A, and OX03C10 camera with MAX96717F. The issues manifest in two main areas:

1. Kernel errors when setting pixel_phase to "bggr" for the OX03C10 camera.
2. Video streaming errors when attempting to use v4l2-ctl with the OX03C10 camera.

These issues are occurring on a system running Jetpack 5.1.2 with L4T version 35.4.1.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible device tree configuration
2. Incorrect camera driver settings
3. Mismatched pixel formats between camera and software
4. Hardware compatibility issues between the cameras and the Jetson Orin Nano
5. Firmware or software bugs in the L4T (Linux for Tegra) distribution
6. Incorrect I2C addressing or communication issues

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify camera compatibility:

   • Ensure that the cameras (IMX390C and OX03C10) are officially supported by the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Check the Nvidia documentation for any known issues or limitations with these specific camera models.

2. Update Jetpack and L4T:

   • Check for any available updates to Jetpack and L4T that may address known camera-related issues.
   • Update to the latest stable version if available.

3. Modify device tree configuration:

   • Compare the working device tree configuration for IMX390C with the non-working configuration for OX03C10.
   • Adjust the OX03C10 configuration to match the working IMX390C setup where appropriate.
   • Pay special attention to the following parameters:
     • num-lanes
     • tegra_sinterface
     • discontinuous_clk
     • dpcm_enable
     • cil_settletime
     • active_w and active_h
     • pixel_phase

4. Correct pixel format settings:

   • For the OX03C10 camera, try changing the pixel_phase from "bggr" to other formats like "rggb", "grbg", or "gbrg".
   • Update the corresponding values in the device tree:

   pixel_phase = "rggb";
   

5. Adjust I2C settings:

   • Verify that the I2C addresses in the device tree match the actual camera hardware.
   • Check for any conflicts in I2C addressing between the cameras and other devices.

6. Modify MAX96717F configuration:

   • Review and adjust the MAX96717F serializer settings to ensure compatibility with the OX03C10 camera.
   • Consult the MAX96717F datasheet for proper configuration values.

7. Debug kernel errors:

   • Analyze the kernel log for more detailed information about the NULL pointer dereference error.
   • Use dmesg or journalctl to view kernel logs:

   dmesg | grep camera
   

   • Look for any additional error messages or warnings that may provide clues about the root cause.

8. Test with different v4l2-ctl commands:

   • Try alternative v4l2-ctl commands to isolate the issue:

   v4l2-ctl --list-devices
   v4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext
   v4l2-ctl --stream-mmap --stream-count=10 -d /dev/video3
   

9. Check camera power and connections:

   • Ensure that the cameras are receiving proper power and that all connections are secure.
   • Verify that the CSI lanes are correctly connected and not damaged.

10. Implement a custom camera driver:

    • If the issue persists, consider developing a custom camera driver specifically for the OX03C10 camera.
    • Use the provided camera_gmsl_driver.c and camera_gmsl_mode_tbls.h files as a starting point.
    • Modify the driver code to address any specific requirements of the OX03C10 camera.

11. Consult Nvidia Developer Forums:

    • Search the Nvidia Developer Forums for similar issues and potential solutions.
    • If no solution is found, create a new thread with detailed information about your setup and the errors encountered.

12. Contact Nvidia Support:

    • If all else fails, reach out to Nvidia’s official support channels for assistance with camera integration on the Jetson Orin Nano.

Remember to test each change individually and document the results to identify which modifications resolve the issues.