Interfacing Pi Camera V3 with Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to interface the Raspberry Pi Camera V3 with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board. Specifically, while the Raspberry Pi Camera V2 functions correctly, the V3 camera fails to operate. This issue arises when using JetPack version 6.0. The problem manifests during setup, leading to frustration as users expect both cameras to work seamlessly with the Jetson Orin Nano.

The primary symptoms include:

• The Raspberry Pi Camera V3 not being recognized or failing to initialize.
• No output or image capture occurring from the V3 camera.

The context of the problem is crucial, as it indicates a potential compatibility issue rather than a hardware failure. The frequency of this issue appears consistent among users attempting to use the V3 camera with the specified JetPack version.

The impact on user experience is significant, as it limits the functionality and usability of the Jetson Orin Nano for projects involving computer vision or image processing tasks.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Device Tree Configuration: The primary reason is likely related to the device tree configuration. The Raspberry Pi Camera V2 utilizes an IMX219 sensor, while the V3 employs an IMX708 sensor. Each sensor requires different drivers, which must be correctly configured in the device tree.

• Driver Issues: Since the default device tree binary (DTB) for NVIDIA Jetson boards is typically set up for IMX219 support, it may not include necessary configurations for the IMX708 sensor used in the V3 camera.

• Software Bugs: There could be bugs or limitations within JetPack 6.0 that affect camera support.

• User Errors: Misconfigurations during setup or installation processes can also lead to such issues.

Understanding these causes can help in diagnosing and resolving the problem more effectively.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issue of interfacing the Raspberry Pi Camera V3 with the Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that all physical connections between the camera and Jetson Orin Nano are secure.
   • Check for any visible damage on the camera or connectors.

2. Check Device Tree Configuration:

   • Open your current device tree configuration file.
   • Confirm whether it includes support for both IMX219 and IMX708 sensors.
   • If not, proceed to create a custom device tree binary (DTB).

3. Create a Custom Device Tree Binary (DTB):

   • Use a text editor to modify your device tree source file (.dts).
   • Add configurations for both camera modules:

     &camera {
         compatible = "nvidia,imx219";
         ...
     };
     
     &camera_v3 {
         compatible = "nvidia,imx708";
         ...
     };
     

   • Compile your modified .dts file into a .dtb file using:

     dtc -I dts -O dtb -o your_custom.dtb your_custom.dts
     

4. Flash Custom DTB:

   • Replace the existing DTB in your Jetson Orin Nano with your custom DTB.
   • Reboot your system to apply changes.

5. Test Camera Functionality:

   • After rebooting, use a command like v4l2-ctl --list-devices to check if both cameras are recognized.
   • Test capturing images from both cameras using:

     v4l2-ctl --device=/dev/video0 --stream-mmap --stream-count=1
     

6. Update Software:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest version of JetPack and any relevant drivers.
   • Check NVIDIA’s official documentation for any updates or patches related to camera support.

7. Seek Further Assistance:

   • If issues persist after following these steps, consider reaching out on forums or NVIDIA’s support channels for additional help.

By following these steps, users can diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to interfacing their Raspberry Pi Camera V3 with the Jetson Orin Nano.