Corrupted images with Arducam OV2640

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Hello everyone !

I’m trying to use an Arducam OV2640 camera with a Raspberry Pi Pico in CircuitPython (8.2.10) to capture an image every two seconds at low resolution (320x240) and store it to an SD card (via Adafruit 4682 SD Breakout board).

The camera was bright new and worked perfectly fine with the script suggested on the Arducam GitHub page (https://github.com/ArduCAM/PICO_SPI_CAM/tree/master/Python).

Using one of my scripts, the camera managed to capture a number of photos (about 200) without any issues. In the script, I was always first initializing the camera, then waited for 2 seconds in order to stabilize the system and then started a loop to take a picture every 2 seconds.

However, suddenly, when running the script the first photo consistently became corrupted ; following photos were ok.
Now, the camera isn’t functioning at all, even with the simplest code provided by Arducam, and it fails to initialize. I’m encountering an SPI Interface error.

I tried different computers (Windows and Mac), different USB ports, different Picos… I am always encountering the same SPI Interface error.

Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?

1 Like
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Hello @marel and welcome to our forum!

Sorry to hear about the problem.

Two questions:

  • Was this purchased from RobotShop?
  • Have you tried contacting ArduCam support?

Thank you.

3

Hello @igor_X,

I thank you for your reply.

  • Was this purchased from RobotShop? YES

  • Have you tried contacting ArduCam support? YES
    Here is their reply :
    " Can you modify 0x04 to 0x08 and give it a try again?"
    This was refering to the line command : arducam_wrSensorReg16_8(0x4407, 0x04); of the library (Arducam.py) used by the camera. You can find the complete file here : https://github.com/ArduCAM/PICO_SPI_CAM/blob/master/Python/Arducam.py > LINE290.
    I obviously tried this modification but with no luck…

Have you already encountered a similar issue ?

Regards

1 Like
4

Hi @marel ,

Thank you for your reply.

No, I don’t remember we had this issue.

I would advise that you continue troubleshooting with Arducam support.

If they conclude that the product is defective, you can return to us to consider exchange of the product.

Have a nice weekend.

5

Hello @igor_X,

As this camera is actually the second module with an “SPI Inteface Error” after only a couple of uses, either I am doing something terribly wrong or the reliability of the Arducam OV2640 module with a Raspberry Pi Pico is highly questionable.
Could it be a defective batch ?
I am still waiting for an answer from Arducam support to continue troubleshooting with them (as suggested).

Do you know any camera module that is 100% reliable with the Pico ? I just want to get a picture every 2 seconds in low resolution.

I sincerely thank you for your time and help !

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Hello @marel ,

Can you give us your RobotShop order ID?

I can write to Arducam to have a look at your questions.

7

Hello @igor_X ,

Here is the order ID : 1330815

A second camera module has been ordered on February 16th or so while trying to debug. I was not the one who did this second order but if needed I could provide you with the second order ID.

Thank you for trying to help !

1 Like
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Thank you.

I wrote to Arducam support so they should get back to you.