JetPack 6 IMX219 MIPI Camera Not Working on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with the IMX219 MIPI camera when using the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Development Kit with JetPack 6. The main symptoms include:

• The camera is detected, but it fails to load properly, leading to errors during operation.
• Users have reported receiving timeout errors when attempting to access the camera.
• Attempts to use commands such as v4l2-ctl to configure the camera settings yield no successful results, even when executed correctly.

The issue appears to occur during setup and while trying to run specific applications that utilize the camera. Users are primarily using the Seeed Studio JE3011 kit, which is confirmed to be compatible with the IMX219 sensor. The problem seems to be more prevalent with JetPack 6, as some users have reported success with JetPack 5.1.3.

The impact of this issue significantly hampers user experience, as it prevents them from utilizing the camera for their intended applications, thereby limiting functionality.

Possible Causes

The following potential causes may explain the issues experienced by users:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: There may be compatibility issues between the Jetson Orin Nano and the IMX219 camera when using JetPack 6.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: As JetPack 6 is a Developer Preview version, it may contain unresolved bugs or conflicts that affect camera functionality.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in video format or resolution may lead to failures in loading the camera.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or improperly installed drivers for the camera may result in malfunction.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply inconsistencies or temperature variations could potentially impact performance.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Misunderstanding of commands or incorrect usage of software tools could lead to failure in accessing the camera.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues with the IMX219 MIPI camera on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board, users can follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Camera Detection:

   • Use the command:

     v4l2-ctl --list-devices
     

   • Ensure that /dev/video0 corresponds to your IMX219 camera.

2. Check Kernel Messages:

   • Gather kernel logs for any error messages:

     dmesg > klogs.txt
     

   • Review klogs.txt for timeout or error messages related to camera initialization.

3. Validate Camera Functionality:

   • Run a basic test using V4L2 IOCTL commands:

     v4l2-ctl --set-fmt-video=width=1920,height=1080,pixelformat=RG10 --stream-mmap --stream-count=1 -d /dev/video0 --stream-to=test.raw
     

4. List Supported Formats:

   • Check available formats and ensure correct settings:

     v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-formats-ext
     

5. Reinstall GStreamer Packages:

   • Update and reinstall necessary packages:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install nvidia-l4t-gstreamer
     sudo ldconfig
     rm -rf ~/.cache/gstreamer-1.0/
     

6. Test with GStreamer Command:

   • Use GStreamer to test video streaming:

     DISPLAY=:0 gst-launch-1.0 nvarguscamerasrc sensor_id=0 ! 'video/x-raw(memory:NVMM), width=1920,height=1080, format=(string)NV12' ! nvvidconv ! nvegltransform ! nveglglessink
     

7. Consider Downgrading JetPack:

   • If issues persist, consider reverting back to JetPack 5.1.3 where users have reported successful operation.

8. Monitor for Future Updates:

   • Keep an eye on future releases of JetPack 6 for bug fixes and improvements, particularly around April 2024 when a production-quality version is expected.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues with their MIPI cameras on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board. If problems continue after these troubleshooting efforts, further investigation into hardware compatibility or waiting for software updates may be necessary.