Display Support Issues with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

The primary issue discussed in the forum revolves around the incompatibility of display interfaces with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. Users are attempting to interface a MIPI DSI display but are encountering significant limitations. The symptoms reported include:

• Inability to use MIPI DSI: Users have confirmed that the Orin Nano does not support MIPI DSI displays, only HDMI and DisplayPort (DP) connections are officially supported.
• Lack of support for other interfaces: Questions were raised about the potential for using other display interfaces such as SPI or 16-bit RGB, but these were also confirmed to be unsupported through official drivers.
• User frustration: There is a notable dissatisfaction regarding the lack of documentation and support for alternative display configurations, which impacts the user experience significantly.

This issue is consistent across multiple users who have attempted to use unsupported display interfaces, leading to a general consensus that the Orin Nano is not suitable for applications requiring MIPI DSI connectivity.

Possible Causes

The following potential causes have been identified for the display support issue:

• Hardware limitations: The Orin Nano’s hardware architecture does not include support for MIPI DSI, which is a significant limitation for users expecting broader compatibility.
• Driver restrictions: The official drivers provided by Nvidia do not accommodate MIPI DSI or other alternative interfaces, limiting users to HDMI and DP.
• Lack of documentation: Insufficient documentation regarding supported interfaces leads to confusion and misconfiguration among users.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues surrounding display support on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Confirm Supported Interfaces:

   • Verify that your intended display interface is supported by checking the official Nvidia documentation for the Orin Nano.

2. Use HDMI or DP:

   • Since MIPI DSI is not supported, connect your display using HDMI or DisplayPort. Ensure that your cables and connections are secure.

3. Explore Conversion ICs:

   • If you need to connect a MIPI DSI display, consider using an HDMI or DP to MIPI DSI conversion IC. However, as noted in the forum, no specific recommendations were provided by users.

4. Documentation Review:

   • Regularly check Nvidia’s developer forums and documentation for any updates regarding driver support or new features related to display connections.

5. Community Engagement:

   • Engage with community forums for any unofficial solutions or workarounds that may have been discovered by other users facing similar issues.

6. Feedback to Nvidia:

   • Provide feedback on the limitations of the current hardware and request additional features in future updates or products.

Recommended Approach

Given that multiple users reported similar experiences regarding display compatibility, it is recommended to strictly use HDMI or DisplayPort for any display needs with the Jetson Orin Nano. This approach will ensure functionality without encountering unsupported configurations.

Unresolved Aspects

• There remains a lack of clarity regarding potential third-party hardware solutions that could bridge the gap between MIPI DSI displays and the Orin Nano.
• Further investigation into future firmware updates from Nvidia may be needed to explore any planned support for additional display interfaces.

This document serves as a comprehensive guide for addressing display support issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board based on current user discussions and experiences.