Using Jetson Orin Nano for IMX294 Camera Binning Mode: nvraw Capture Issues

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board when attempting to capture raw images from the IMX294 camera in binning mode using version R35.4.1. The main symptoms include:

• Inability to print the frame rate using the v4l2 command after successfully loading the driver.
• Error messages indicating that frames are being discarded, as shown in the dmesg output:

  [   94.726516] tegra-camrtc-capture-vi tegra-capture-vi: corr_err: discarding frame 0, flags: 0, err_data 131072
  

• When attempting to capture raw images using the nvargus_nvraw command, users encounter the following error:

  Error BadParameter (0x04): Embedded data size (7,552) is not a perfect multiple of row width (4,176)
  

The context of this issue occurs during the setup and operation of the camera, specifically when trying to utilize the camera’s binning mode. The hardware involved includes the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano and the IMX294 camera. The issue appears to be consistent across attempts to capture images, significantly impacting user experience by preventing successful image acquisition.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for these issues have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: There may be issues with the camera hardware or its compatibility with the Jetson Orin Nano.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The version of the software (R35.4.1) may contain bugs that affect camera operation, particularly in handling embedded metadata.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the device tree configuration could lead to improper operation of the camera.

• Driver Issues: The drivers may not be fully compatible with the current software version or may require updates.

• Environmental Factors: Insufficient power supply or overheating could affect performance and lead to errors.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrect command usage or configuration settings by users could contribute to these problems.

Each of these causes could result in either frame rate reporting failures or errors during raw image capture due to mismatched expectations between hardware capabilities and software requirements.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address these issues effectively, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Check Device Tree Configuration:

   • Ensure that embedded_metadata_height is correctly defined in your device tree configuration. This value should correspond to the expected height of embedded metadata.
   • Example configuration snippet:

     embedded_metadata_height = "1";
     

2. Adjust Clock Settings:

   • Increase clock speeds to see if this resolves any errors related to frame size discrepancies.
   • Monitor for any CHANSEL_SHORT_FRAME messages in the trace log after making adjustments.

3. Use v4l2 Command for Diagnostics:

   • Run the following command to check if frame rates can be printed after adjusting configurations:

     v4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext
     

4. Capture Raw Images with Adjusted Parameters:

   • Modify your nvargus_nvraw command parameters based on your device’s capabilities and test again:

     nvargus_nvraw --c 1 --mode 1 --file /home/nvidia/imx294.nvraw --exp0 "0.01,2" --skipframes 10
     

   • Ensure that parameters such as exposure time and skip frames are appropriate for your setup.

5. Update Drivers and Firmware:

   • Check for any available updates for drivers or firmware that might address known issues with image capturing on the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for guidance on updates.

6. Testing Different Configurations:

   • If possible, test with different hardware configurations (e.g., different cameras) or software versions to isolate whether the issue is specific to a particular setup.

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Review Nvidia’s developer forums and documentation for any similar reported issues or recommended fixes from other users who have encountered this problem.

8. Log Errors for Further Investigation:

   • Keep a detailed log of error messages and system behavior during attempts to capture images, which can be useful for further troubleshooting or when seeking help from community forums.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to capturing raw images using the IMX294 camera on the Jetson Orin Nano Dev board.