Jetson Orin Nano YUV V4l2 Data Order Issue

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board are experiencing inconsistencies in the order of YUV data received via the Camera Serial Interface (CSI). The primary symptoms include:

• Data Order Variability: When using test data (e.g., a simple counter sequence 00 01 02 03 04), the order of received YUV data changes based on the pixel format set in the driver.
• Context of Occurrence: This issue arises when users configure different pixel formats in their application pipeline, specifically when utilizing the v4l2-ctl command to retrieve video data.
• Hardware and Software Specifications: The setup involves a user-defined FPGA generating test data, with configurations set for various YUV formats (YUYV, UYVY, etc.). The issue persists despite ensuring that the device tree settings are correct.
• Frequency and Impact: The problem appears consistently during testing, leading to confusion regarding data integrity and usability of the captured images. Users have noted that this affects their ability to reliably process video data from the sensor.

Possible Causes

The following potential causes have been identified for the observed issue:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: If the FPGA is not configured correctly or does not support certain YUV formats, it may lead to incorrect data output.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the driver or conflicts between different software components that handle pixel format conversions.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the device tree or driver configuration can lead to mismatches between expected and actual data formats.

• Driver Issues: The driver may not handle certain pixel formats as expected, causing it to alter the order of received data.

• Environmental Factors: Issues such as power supply instability or overheating could potentially affect performance and data integrity.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently set incorrect configurations for pixel formats, leading to unexpected results.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To diagnose and resolve the issue with YUV data order on the Jetson Orin Nano, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Sensor Output Format:

   • Use the command:

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

   • Ensure that the output format from your sensor matches what is configured in your driver.

2. Check Device Tree Configuration:

   • Review your device tree settings to confirm that they align with your sensor’s output. Pay particular attention to parameters like mode_type, pixel_phase, and csi_pixel_bit_depth.

3. Test Different Pixel Formats:

   • Modify your driver configuration to test various pixel formats. For example, if you are currently using YUYV, try switching to UYVY or others supported by your setup:

     v4l2-ctl --set-fmt-video=width=1920,height=1080,pixelformat=UYVY --stream-mmap --stream-count=1 --stream-to=test.yuv
     

4. Isolate Hardware Issues:

   • If possible, verify your setup with a different sensor or a known working configuration (e.g., using a Raspberry Pi) to rule out hardware-related issues.

5. Inspect Raw Data Output:

   • Use third-party utilities like 7yuv to analyze raw dumped content from your device. This can help confirm whether the data being generated is consistent with expectations.

6. Consult Documentation and Driver Updates:

   • Check for any available updates for your drivers or firmware that might address known issues related to YUV processing on Jetson platforms.

7. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always ensure that configurations match between your sensor output and driver settings.
   • Regularly update your software and firmware to incorporate fixes and improvements.

8. Further Investigation Suggestions:

   • If issues persist despite following these steps, consider reaching out to Nvidia support or community forums for additional insights, especially regarding FPGA configurations that might affect output.

By systematically following these troubleshooting steps, users should be able to identify and resolve issues related to YUV data order discrepancies on the Jetson Orin Nano Dev board.