Any open source camera modules out there?

[Shai]

I'm looking to customize my camera module so it can mount easier and also would like to integrate the LEDs into one PCB. Does anyone know of any camera modules out there that are open source? This must include firmware as well to go with it.

[Jason von Nieda]

Look at ArduCAM - that is about the only option that I know of. Unfortunately most of these modules require info and data that is considered trade secret, and they don’t share it unless you are buying millions of modules. 

Jason

On Sun, Nov 10, 2019 at 5:45 PM Shai <shai...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm looking to customize my camera module so it can mount easier and also would like to integrate the LEDs into one PCB. Does anyone know of any camera modules out there that are open source? This must include firmware as well to go with it.

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[Shai]

Yeah I've seen Arducam, however it seems they only sell adapters and you need to plug it into an Arduino. The PCB itself isn't open source and neither is the code?

[Shai]

If someone is up for making an open source camera for the OV5640 sensor, there's public data sheets available here: https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/LightImaging/OV5640_datasheet.pdf and here: https://www.arducam.com/downloads/modules/OV5640/OV5640_Software_app_note_parallel.pdf

There's also a bunch of files here for similar cameras: https://www.uctronics.com/download/cam_module/

Maybe as a community we can create an open source camera? The PCB shouldn't be too difficult I imagine as that can be reverse engineered if needed. It's the firmware I would guess?

[Harjit Singh]

I worked on three webcams and it isn't a trivial effort. To get a great performing camera, you have to solve things like - chip to board attach in a clean environment, proper alignment of the lens body to the board, lens design, etc. The lens design itself is a huge factor. I wonder how much of the performance variation folks run into is because of the lens.

Most of the camera ISPs (Image Signal Processors), require a decent amount of tuning. Finally, you have to do a bunch of calibration at the end - things like bad pixel compensation, sensor flatness response, color compensation, white balance calibration, etc.

The sensors and ISPs are fine pitch parts, so, assembling the board is going to require work.

I am seriously considering using Microsoft's LifeCam HD3000 and the Logitech C270 because I "know" that they will have expended a ton of effort to resolve the issues we are talking about.

Having said this, the camera you sent a link to is attractive because it has a remote sensor and I'm trying to work out a head design that is very low mass. Having just the sensor with a flex cable will keep the mass low and avoid the drag of the USB cable.

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[Shai]

It looks nice, but after getting one, the holes are too close to components and it's impossible to attach it with screws. It's a dumb design in my opinion. Small and nice but whoever made it, didn't bother to check their work to realize that you cannot even mount it without shorting or crushing components!

I don't imagine it's THAT difficult to assemble the camera once the firmware/driver and schematics are figured out. The schematics I don't believe are too complicated seeing as there's not that many parts. However, these chinese cameras (at least the ones I ordered from HBV store on aliexpress) have the main processing chip etched out probably so no one knows what it is or where it's from.

Perhaps it's possible to reverse engineer the firmware and find out? That's beyond my skillset though.

[Mike M.]

Can you add a 3D printed part in which bolts or nuts will be further away from PCB and elements on PCB .. , or use spacers ?

[Harjit Singh]

Or epoxy it to a plate?

On Tue, Nov 12, 2019, 3:08 AM Mike M. <mike....@gmail.com> wrote:

Can you add a 3D printed part in which bolts or nuts will be  further away from PCB and elements on PCB .. , or use spacers ? 

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[Shai]

You can’t add spacers unfortunately. The components sit right on the edge of the screw holes. Epoxy is messy in my opinion. This is why it would be great to have an open source camera :)

[Shai]

I spoke to HBV and for a fee, they can customize the camera board/connector so it's' built to spec. Seems that they are a legitimate factory.