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Camera on Toradex Computer on Modules

 

Article updated at 11 May 2022
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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:

Hardware Support on Windows CE

Parallel Camera Interface

Toradex modules do not support the native Analogue camera interface, but one can use Analogue Camera Adapter to connect a 4x Analogue camera.

All Toradex modules(except Apalis TK1) support the parallel camera interface. Refer to this article for more details on how to set up a parallel camera on a Tegra-based module. If you plan to use a parallel camera interface on an IMX6-based module you can find additional information in the respective Using iMX6 Camera Interface in Windows CE article.

Ethernet

All Toradex modules have native Ethernet support. The Colibri family supports 10/100Mbit and the Apalis family supports up to 1Gbit Ethernet. Most of the IP cameras support MJPEG or H264 RTSP. Windows CE supports MJPEG Software codec. H264 software codec is not yet available for WinCE.

USB

USB 2.0 Host interface is available on all the modules to connect USB Cameras. We have an article explaining how to set up a USB camera in WinCE.

USB 3.0 interface is only available on the Apalis TK1 module but there is no WinCE support.

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.

Please get in touch with Toradex Support to learn more about future support, or if you have questions or feedback.

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:

Note: 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.


Operating System
Interface
Features

Showing 1-8 of 8 items.
Manufacturer
Device and Interface
Features

e-con Systems
Chroma Type: Color
Focus: Fixed Focus
Housing: Bare Board
Integrated ISP
Lens Mount: S-mount
Pixels: 5MP
Resolution: 2592 × 1944
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: AR0521

Basler
Chroma Type: Color
Housing: Box Housing
Lens Mount: C-mount
Pixel Depth: 12 bits
Pixels: 1.3MP
Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: EV76C560

Allied Vision
Alvium 1500 C -500

MIPI CSI-2

Chroma Type: Color
Chroma Type: Monochrome
Housing: Box Housing
Integrated ISP
Lens Mount: C-mount
Pixels: 5MP
Resolution: 2592 × 1944
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: AR0521

Toradex
Auto Focus
Chroma Type: Color
Housing: Bare Board
Pixels: 5MP
Resolution: 2592 × 1944
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: OV5640

e-con Systems
e-CAM130_MI1335_MOD

MIPI CSI-2

Chroma Type: Color
Focus: Autofocus
Housing: Bare Board
Integrated ISP
Pixels: 13MP
Resolution: 4192x3120
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: AR1335

e-con Systems
Chroma Type: Color
Focus: Fixed Focus
Housing: Bare Board
Integrated ISP
Lens Mount: S-mount
Pixels: 13MP
Resolution: 4192x3120
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: AR1335

e-con Systems
Chroma Type: Monochrome
Focus: Fixed Focus
Housing: Bare Board
Lens Mount: S-mount
Pixels: 5MP
Resolution: 2592 × 1944
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: AR0521

Point Grey Research
Chroma Type: Monochrome
Housing: Box Housing
Lens Mount: C-mount
Pixels: 1.3MP
Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Sensor Type: CMOS
Sensor: EV76C560