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Version: 6

Camera on Toradex Computer on Modules

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This page has not been fully updated to reflect the changes made in Toradex Linux BSP 6. Some information may still apply to Toradex Linux BSP 6 configurations. If you encounter issues, please Send Feedback.
If you are using version 5 LTS, please visit the 5 LTS version documentation.

Introduction​

This article aims to provide an overview of cameras on Toradex computer on modules. Toradex computer on modules provides various interfaces to connect a camera, such as Parallel Camera Interface, USB 2.0/3.0, Ethernet, MIPI CSI-2. We also provide a camera database with devices that have been reported working at least once, either by one of our customers, our partners or from internal testing.

The available interfaces are specific to every Toradex SoM. Always consult the datasheet to confirm that an interface is available.

Hardware Support on Linux​

MIPI CSI-2​

  • The Apalis module family provides MIPI CSI-2 interfaces on type-specific pins.
  • The Colibri module family does not provide MIPI-CSI interfaces. Some SoMs, as the Colibri iMX8X, have a MIPI CSI-2 interface exposed in an additional FFC connector.
  • The Verdin module family provides one quad-lane MIPI CSI-2 interface on reserved pins, according to the Verdin Family Specification. That means that, as long as the SoC used in a Verdin SoM has MIPI CSI-2, we make sure it's always exposed on fixed pins.

Toradex is looking for a solution to replace our CSI Camera Module with the 5MP OV5640 sensor which reached end-of-life. Scroll down this article to find preferred cameras from our partners, as well as other cameras that have been reported working at least once in our camera database.

Our partner Antmicro Ltd. authored a blog post about using CSI with Toradex Apalis modules.

Parallel Camera Interface​

Toradex modules do not support the native Analogue camera interface but one can use the Analogue Camera Adapter to connect a 4x analogue camera, switching data to read one camera at a time. Also, there is third-party support for the Multi-Camera Module using EPSON chip, for more information refer to the article Multi Camera Module (Linux).

Various Toradex modules support the parallel camera interface. Always consult the datasheet to confirm that an interface is available. Refer to the article How to use Analogue Camera Adapter/Analogue Camera Module on Embedded Linux for more details on how to set up a parallel camera.

USB​

USB 2.0 Host interface is available on all the modules to connect USB Cameras. USB 3.0 interface is only available on specific modules from the Apalis SoM Family and the Verdin SoM Family, check the datasheet for details. Our article Webcam (Linux) is a starting point on how to set up a USB camera in Linux.

Ethernet​

All Toradex modules have native Ethernet support. The Colibri family supports 10/100Mbit, the Apalis and Verdin families supports up to 1Gbit Ethernet. Most of the IP cameras support MJPEG or H264 RTSP. Our article Audio/Video over RTP (Linux) has more details.

Software Support on Linux​

BSP Layers and Reference Images for Yocto Project​

With cameras, device driver integration may be a challenge. You should consider how good is the Linux device driver support from your camera vendor.

Unless you use a camera with a proprietary API, usually it's listed as a /dev/videoX device that can be controlled and configured from the user space using the Video4Linux2, a.k.a v4l2 API and utils, and accessed using the GStreamer API and utils. Learn more on related articles:

TorizonCore​

Keep in mind that, since Torizon is based on the BSP Layers for Yocto Project, the information provided in the previous section is valid, except you need to install and run the utils from inside a container. In addition to the aforementioned articles, learn more on TorizonCore related articles:

Camera Partners​

E-con Systems​

e-con Systems, a leading MIPI CSI-2 camera module manufacturer, has partnered with Toradex to provide embedded vision camera solutions with/for Toradex Computer On Modules.

Currently, there are 4 camera modules:

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Each of the devices above is integrated into our Cameras Database.

Please refer to the e-con Systems page to know more about it.

Cameras Database​

Browse below for Cameras that should work on Toradex Computer on Modules.

Migration in Progress

The Peripheral database is not yet available in the new developer website. See it on the archived developer website.



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