Custom Camera Device Tree Not Found After Flash | JP6

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board when trying to interface with the adv7280m video decoder. The specific symptoms include:

• Missing Device Tree Overlay: After flashing, the device tree overlay for the adv7280m is not included in the /boot/ directory, despite attempts to configure it properly.
• Driver Probe Failures: The driver for adv7180, which is compatible with adv7280m, fails to probe, resulting in errors logged as adv7180: probe of 9-0021 failed with error -121.
• Context: The issue arises during kernel customization and flashing processes using Jetpack 6 and Jetson Linux R36.3. Users have attempted to disable the imx219 sensor probe and include their custom device tree overlays but have not succeeded.
• Hardware/Software Specifications: The users are working with the Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson Orin NX boards, utilizing Linux kernel version 5.15.136-tegra.
• Frequency of Issue: This appears to be a consistent problem for multiple users attempting similar configurations.
• Impact: The inability to successfully interface with the camera affects the overall functionality of projects relying on video input.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities:

   • The adv7280m may not be fully supported by the current device tree configuration or kernel version being used.

2. Software Bugs or Conflicts:

   • There may be unresolved bugs in the kernel or driver that prevent proper initialization of the adv7280m.

3. Configuration Errors:

   • Incorrect modifications to device tree files or Makefile settings could lead to missing overlays during the boot process.

4. Driver Issues:

   • The driver for adv7180 may not be correctly compiled or linked, leading to probe failures.

5. Environmental Factors:

   • Power supply issues or temperature-related problems could affect device initialization.

6. User Errors or Misconfigurations:

   • Users may inadvertently misconfigure settings in extlinux.conf or fail to include necessary overlay files.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Device Tree Configuration:

   • Ensure that the device tree overlay for adv7280m is correctly referenced in the board configuration file.
   • Check if you have included the line #include "tegra234-p3768-camera-rbpcv2-adv7280m.dtsi" in your dynamic device tree overlay file.

2. Recompile Device Tree Overlays:

   make dtbs
   cp nvidia-oot/device-tree/platform/generic-dts/dtbs/* <install-path>/Linux_for_Tegra/kernel/dtb/
   

3. Modify extlinux.conf:

   • Add the following line to /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf to ensure that your overlay is loaded during boot:

     OVERLAYS /boot/tegra234-p3767-camera-p3768-adv7280m-dual.dtbo
     

4. Check Driver Status:

   • Use lsmod | grep adv to confirm that the adv7180 driver is loaded.
   • If it’s not loaded, check for errors using dmesg | grep adv.

5. Adjust Device Tree Node Status:

   • If you find that the node for adv7280m has a status of "disabled", change it to "okay":

     rbpcv2_adv7280m_a@21 {
         ...
         status = "okay";
     }
     

6. Debug Driver Probing Issues:

   • Investigate error codes from dmesg logs (e.g., error -121) which may indicate communication issues with the hardware.
   • Consider adding debug messages in the driver code for better insights.

7. Test with Different Configurations:

   • Isolate issues by testing with different camera configurations or using known working overlays.

8. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for any updates regarding kernel support and compatibility.
   • Engage with community forums for shared experiences and solutions.

9. Firmware and Driver Updates:

   • Ensure that all firmware and drivers are up-to-date by checking Nvidia’s downloads page regularly.

10. Future Prevention Best Practices:

    • Maintain backups of working configurations before making changes.
    • Document all changes made during troubleshooting to identify what works or fails.

By following these steps, users can systematically diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to custom camera device trees on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano boards. Further investigation into unresolved aspects such as specific error codes during driver probing may also be necessary for complete resolution.