Loading and Configuring IMX708 RPI V3 Camera Driver on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties loading and configuring the IMX708 RPI V3 camera driver on the Jetson Orin Nano platform. The main challenges include compiling the driver, loading it as a kernel module, updating the device tree, and establishing proper I2C communication with the camera sensor. Users are unsure about the correct steps to follow after compiling the driver and obtaining the nv_imx708.ko file.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect driver compilation: The driver may not be compiled correctly, leading to loading issues.
2. Improper device tree configuration: The device tree may not be updated or configured correctly to recognize the camera.
3. Hardware communication issues: There might be problems with I2C communication or power/reset configurations for the camera sensor.
4. Kernel module loading errors: Issues related to module verification or missing signatures could prevent proper loading.
5. Incompatible kernel version: The compiled driver may not be compatible with the current kernel version.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Compile the driver:

   • Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/RidgeRun/NVIDIA-Jetson-IMX708-RPIV3.git
   • Follow the compilation instructions provided in the repository’s README.

2. Load the kernel module:

   • After successful compilation, load the module using: sudo insmod nv_imx708.ko
   • Check for any error messages in the kernel log: dmesg | tail

3. Update the device tree:

   • Copy the compiled .dtb file to /boot/: sudo cp tegra234-p3767-0003-p3768-0000-a0-new.dtb /boot/
   • Modify /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf to include the new device tree:

     FDT /boot/tegra234-p3767-0003-p3768-0000-a0-new.dtb
     

   • Reboot the system: sudo reboot

4. Verify I2C communication:

   • Use i2cdetect to check if the camera is detected on the I2C bus:

     sudo i2cdetect -y -r 1
     

   • If the camera is not detected, check the power and reset configurations with a hardware engineer.

5. Rebuild the kernel image:

   • If the loadable kernel module approach fails, try rebuilding the entire kernel image with the driver included.
   • Replace the /boot/Image file with the newly built image.
   • Reboot the system and check if the camera is detected.

6. Check for module verification issues:

   • If you encounter the error "module verification failed: signature and/or required key missing – tainting kernel", you may need to disable module signature verification:

     sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/disable-mod-sign.conf
     

     Add the following line:

     options module_sig_enforce=0
     

   • Save the file and reboot.

7. Verify driver compatibility:

   • Ensure that the driver is compatible with your specific Jetson Orin Nano kernel version.
   • Check the kernel version: uname -r
   • Verify that the driver supports this kernel version in the repository documentation.

8. Debug I2C communication:

   • Use i2cdump to read the contents of the camera’s registers:

     sudo i2cdump -y 1 0x1a
     

   • Replace 0x1a with the correct I2C address of your camera if different.

9. Check power and reset configurations:

   • Consult the hardware documentation for your Jetson Orin Nano and camera module.
   • Ensure that the power and reset pins are correctly connected and configured.

10. Monitor system logs:

    • Use journalctl -f to monitor system logs in real-time while attempting to load the driver or connect the camera.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to NVIDIA developer support or the GitHub repository maintainers for further assistance. Provide detailed information about your setup, including the exact Jetson Orin Nano model, kernel version, and any error messages encountered during the process.