Configuring MIPI Camera IMX299 on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano with DPHY Issues

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties while attempting to configure the IMX299 MIPI camera with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, particularly when dealing with DPHY clock settings. The primary concern is that the camera outputs normally at 1Gbps but encounters issues when configured for 1.5Gbps, leading to errors and timeouts.

• Symptoms: Users report the following errors in their logs:

  • corr_err: discarding frame 0
  • ERROR: Invalid header detected on UEFI supplied FDT, ignoring
  • uncorr_err: request timed out after 2500 ms

• Context: The issue arises during the configuration of the camera’s clock output and while running tests to verify proper functionality. Users are modifying device tree entries and attempting to perform loopback tests.

• Hardware/Software Specifications:

  • Device: Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano
  • Camera: IMX299
  • JetPack Version: Initially R35.3.1, later discussions mention R35.4.1.

• Frequency: This issue appears to be consistently reported by users trying to operate MIPI cameras at higher data rates.

• Impact on User Experience: The inability to configure the camera correctly can prevent users from utilizing it effectively for their applications, particularly in real-time processing scenarios.

Possible Causes

Several factors may contribute to the issues experienced with the IMX299 camera configuration:

• Inadequate Clock Configuration: The clock settings may not be properly configured for higher data rates, leading to synchronization and data transfer issues.

• Driver or Firmware Bugs: There may be bugs in the camera driver or firmware that affect how high-speed data rates are handled, particularly in newer JetPack versions.

• Deskew Calibration Issues: Problems with deskew calibration may prevent successful data transmission at higher speeds, causing timeouts and errors.

• Device Tree Configuration Errors: Incorrect entries in the device tree may lead to misconfiguration of GPIO pins or clock settings necessary for proper operation.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To resolve issues related to configuring the IMX299 camera on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, follow these steps:

1. Verify Device Tree Settings:

   • Ensure that the device tree is correctly configured for the IMX299 camera, particularly regarding clock settings and pin assignments:

     mode0 { // E2832_1920x1080_60Fps
         mclk_khz = "24000"; // Set appropriate clock frequency
         num_lanes = "4";
         tegra_sinterface = "serial_a";
     }
     

2. Check Clock Configuration:

   • Review and adjust your clock settings for both the DPHY and pixel clock rates. Ensure they match the requirements of your camera setup:

     serdes_pix_clk_hz = "1400000000"; // Example setting for high data rate
     

3. Run Deskew Calibration:

   • Ensure that deskew calibration is executed properly during initialization. This is crucial for high-speed sensors:

     # Command to initiate deskew calibration if applicable
     

4. Monitor System Logs:

   • Use dmesg or similar commands to monitor logs for any error messages related to camera initialization or data transfer:

     dmesg | grep tegra-camrtc-capture-vi
     

5. Test Different Data Rates:

   • Experiment with different configurations for data rates (e.g., 1Gbps vs. 1.5Gbps) to determine if specific settings lead to successful operation or errors.

6. Use v4l2-ctl for Testing:

   • Test your camera source stability using v4l2-ctl commands to capture images or stream video:

     v4l2-ctl --device /dev/video0 --stream-mmap --stream-count=10
     

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s documentation regarding MIPI camera setup and troubleshooting.
   • Engage with community forums for insights from other developers who have faced similar issues.

8. Unresolved Aspects:

   • Users may still need clarification regarding specific configurations required for successful operation of their MIPI camera setup.
   • Further investigation into potential hardware limitations or defects may also be necessary if standard troubleshooting does not resolve the problem.

By following these steps, users should be able to troubleshoot and configure their IMX299 cameras effectively on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano devices while addressing DPHY-related issues.