Difficulties using with esp32-camera

j0shmillar

I'm trying to use the esp32-camera library (in esp-idf) with my board and having difficulties.

Can anyone suggest an appropriate set up and/or pin configuration for the OV5640?

It would be much appreciated!

powerfeatherdev

Can you post your current connections and mention the difficulties you are having?

j0shmillar

I’m modifying this example and using the following connections:

#define CAM_PIN_PWDN -1
#define CAM_PIN_RESET -1
#define CAM_PIN_XCLK 2 //XCLK
#define CAM_PIN_SIOD 35 //SDA
#define CAM_PIN_SIOC 36 //SCL

#define CAM_PIN_D7 45
#define CAM_PIN_D6 12
#define CAM_PIN_D5 17
#define CAM_PIN_D4 18
#define CAM_PIN_D3 15
#define CAM_PIN_D2 16
#define CAM_PIN_D1 37
#define CAM_PIN_D0 6
#define CAM_PIN_VSYNC 3 //VSYNC
#define CAM_PIN_HREF 8 //HS
#define CAM_PIN_PCLK 1 //PC

I can’t get the board to recognise the OV5640 (sccb init err, no peripheral is connected) hence I’m assuming there’s a problem with this configuration - I'm new to embedded so apologies if it’s obvious!

powerfeatherdev

It just so happens that I have an OV5640 module on-hand, so I was able to try the pin config you posted.

I think I know what's happening here - the camera isn't actually powered. The 3V3 pin on the PowerFeather board is controlled via a pin. Normally, it's initially enabled during the Board::init function call. I assume this was not done in your case as well (as I have also done so in my attempt at this).

So to quickly test this without pulling in PowerFeather-SDK for now, add the following lines at the beginning of app_main:

    gpio_reset_pin(4); // GPIO4 controls the 3V3 output
    gpio_set_direction(4, GPIO_MODE_OUTPUT);
    gpio_set_level(4, 1);

This manually sets high the pin that enables the 3V3 output.

Side note, I found that I had to modify the file main/CMakeLists.txt for the entire example to work:

idf_component_register(SRCS take_picture.c
                        PRIV_INCLUDE_DIRS .
                        PRIV_REQUIRES nvs_flash esp_psram) # added esp_psram

On my end, it seems the example succeeds once I've done the changes above:

 (589) cam_hal: cam init ok
I (592) sccb: pin_sda 35 pin_scl 36
I (596) sccb: sccb_i2c_port=1
I (610) camera: Detected camera at address=0x3c
I (611) ov3660: Mismatch PID=0x5640
I (613) camera: Detected OV5640 camera
I (614) camera: Camera PID=0x5640 VER=0x00 MIDL=0x00 MIDH=0x00
I (1312) s3 ll_cam: node_size: 3840, nodes_per_line: 1, lines_per_node: 6
I (1312) s3 ll_cam: dma_half_buffer_min:  3840, dma_half_buffer: 15360, lines_per_half_buffer: 24, dma_buffer_size: 30720
I (1319) cam_hal: buffer_size: 30720, half_buffer_size: 15360, node_buffer_size: 3840, node_cnt: 8, total_cnt: 10
I (1330) cam_hal: Allocating 153600 Byte frame buffer in PSRAM
I (1337) cam_hal: cam config ok
I (1354) ov5640: Set PLL: bypass: 0, multiplier: 8, sys_div: 1, pre_div: 1, root_2x: 0, pclk_root_div: 1, pclk_manual: 1, pclk_div: 4
I (1355) ov5640: Calculated XVCLK: 20000000 Hz, REFIN: 20000000 Hz, VCO: 160000000 Hz, PLL_CLK: 64000000 Hz, SYSCLK: 16000000 Hz, PCLK: 8000000 Hz
I (1388) example:take_picture: Taking picture...
I (1672) example:take_picture: Picture taken! Its size was: 153600 bytes

Let me know if this solves your issue.

j0shmillar

Cheers for trying it out! You're exactly right - it wasn't actually getting powered.

I'm manually setting the pin now and it works great.

Thanks again for your help.

powerfeatherdev

Just remember, if you do use PowerFeather-SDK and call Board::init - that does the initial enabling of 3V3 for you; as well as to turn off the red CHG LED flashing (properly initializing charger IC and fuel gauge).

And thanks for purchasing the board!