BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera
Contents
Descriptions

The BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape provides a portable camera solution for BeagleBone. Each Camera Cape is composed of a Sensor board and an Expansion board. The Sensor board carries a 3.1 megapixel camera sensor and transmits captured image data to the Expansion board over camera interface (CAM I/F). The Expansion board features a CSSP bridge connectivity device, which stores image data received from Sensor board and transfers them to the AM335x using general purpose memory controller (GPMC) interface.
Note: BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape should be used with LCD7 Cape or DVI-D Cape for previewing and capturing photos.
Revision Changes
Revision A2
The only change made in revision A2 is the QuickLogic chip CSSP-FPUN86-6494 has been updated to a newer version to improve the support for the camera sensor. No changes are made in the schematic, board files, or bill of materials.
Revision A1
Initial release of BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape. This revision is for beta testing purposes and not officially released.
Software Support
- BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape revision A1 is for beta testing purposes and not supported by official Angstrom software.
- BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape revision A2 is supported by Angstrom release 10-31-12 onward.
- Major BeagleBone image releases can be downloaded here.
- Intermediate BeagleBone image releases can be downloaded here
Please follow the instructions here to write the image file to your SD card on a Windows machine.
Getting Started
Note: BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape should be used with LCD7 Cape or DVI-D Cape for previewing and capturing photos.
With LCD7 Cape
Required setup:
- A BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape
- A BeagleBone (with supported software)
- A BeagleBone LCD7 Cape
- A 5V DC power supply (we recommend 5V - 2A)
- A Stylus (optional)
Following the instructions below to start using your BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape:
- Ensure the EEPROM addresses on the LCD7 Cape and 3.1MP Camera Cape are different.
- Note: The EEPROM address is determined by the 2-bit switches SW1 on both LCD7 and 3.1MP Camera capes. Ensure these two switches are configured differently.
- Mount the BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera to the connectors labeled “Cape Installed Here”. Ensure BeagleBone is mounted to the other connectors.
- Ensure the micro SD card using with BeagleBone has latest Angstrom image.
- Power up the BeagleBone by connecting a 5V DC power supply to the DC connector of LCD7 Cape.
- The BeagleBone is now booting up. This process may take from 1 to 2 minutes. LEDs D3 and D4 on LCD7 Cape and LEDs D1 and D2 on the Camera Cape should be lit.
- Note: For more information about LCD7 Cape, please visit its wiki page here.
- After BeagleBone finishes booting up, you should see a desktop with black background. This is the Angstrom desktop.
- Go to the system menu bar at the top, select Applications > Sound & Video > Cheese Webcam Booth to open the Cheese application.
- Note: A stylus is recommended to use the Angstrom user interface on LCD7 Cape.
- A live photo preview should be displayed at the center of Cheese application window.
- To capture a photo, click the “Take a Photo” button inside Cheese application window.
With DVI-D Cape
Required setup:
- A BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape
- A BeagleBone (with supported software)
- A BeagleBone DVI-D Cape
- An LCD monitor that supports DVI-D and 1024x768 resolution.
- An HDMI-to-DVI-D cable
- A 5V DC power supply (we recommend 5V - 2A)
- USB keyboard/mouse
Following the instructions below to start using your BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape:
- Ensure the EEPROM addresses on the DVI-D Cape and 3.1MP Camera Cape are different.
- Note: The EEPROM address is determined by the 2-bit switches SW1 on both DVI-D and 3.1MP Camera capes. Ensure these two switches are configured differently.
- Mount the BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape and DVI-D Cape on a BeagleBone. The mounting order is not important.
- Connect a HDMI-to-DVI cable from the HDMI connector of DVI-D Cape to a DVI-D supported monitor.
- Note: For more information about DVI-D Cape. Please visit its wiki page at here.
- Connect a USB mouse to the USB host connector P2 of BeagleBone.
- Note: Certain USB mice are not compatible with BeagleBone Angstrom software.
- Ensure the micro SD card using with BeagleBone has latest Angstrom image.
- Power up the BeagleBone by connecting a 5V DC power supply to the DC connector of BeagleBone.
- The BeagleBone is now booting up. This process may take from 1 to 2 minutes. LEDs D5 and D6 on DVI-D Cape and LEDs D1 and D2 on the Camera Cape should be lit.
- After BeagleBone finishes booting up, you should see a desktop with black background on the monitor. This is the Angstrom desktop.
- Go to the system menu bar at the top, select Applications > Sound & Video > Cheese Webcam Booth to open the Cheese application.
- A live photo preview should be displayed at the center of Cheese application window.
- To capture a photo, click the “Take a Photo” button inside Cheese application window.
Specifications
Followings are some specifications of the BeagleBone LCD3 Cape:
Electrical Specifications
Camera Sensor | 1/4 inch 3.1 megapixel Aptina MT9T111 |
Data Interface | CAM I/F |
GPMC | |
Power | 3.3V via expansion header |
5V via expansion header | |
Indicators | Two power LEDs |
Connectors | Two 46-position BeagleBone connectors |
One 10-position BeagleBone connector | |
Two pairs of 30-position Sensor board connectors | |
One 28-position camera sensor socket |
Mechanical Specifications
Size | 3.40" x 3.90" |
Layers | 4 |
PCB Thickness | .062" |
RoHS Compliant | Yes |
Signal Usage
The BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape uses 31 signals including:
- VDD_3V3EXP
- SYS_5V
- DGND
- GPMC_AD0
- GPMC_AD1
- GPMC_AD2
- GPMC_AD3
- GPMC_AD4
- GPMC_AD5
- GPMC_AD6
- GPMC_AD7
- GPMC_AD8
- GPMC_AD9
- GPMC_AD10
- GPMC_AD11
- GPMC_AD12
- GPMC_AD13
- GPMC_AD14
- GPMC_AD15
- GPMC_nADV_ALE
- GPMC_nCS
- GPMC_nOE_nRE3
- GPMC_nWE
- GPMC_CLK
- GPIO0_30
- GPIO0_5
- GPIO0_4
- CAM_CLK
- DMAR
- I2C2_SCL
- I2C2_SDA
EEPROM
EEPROM Suport | Yes |
Board Name | BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Cape |
Version | 00A2 |
Manufacturer | BeagleBoardToys |
Part Number | BB-BONE-CAM3-01 |
Pins Used | 40 |
Distributors
Product Images
Documentations
System Reference Manual
Hardware Files
BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Revision A2
No changes are made in schematic, board files, or bill of materials for this revision.
BeagleBone 3.1MP Camera Revision A1
- Camera Expansion board - Bill of Materials
- Camera Expansion board - Manufacturing Files
- Camera Expansion board - Schematic (PDF)
- Camera Expansion board - Schematic (OrCAD)
- 3.1MP Camera Sensor board - Bill of Materials
- 3.1MP Camera Sensor board - Manufacturing Files
- 3.1MP Camera Sensor board - Schematic (PDF)
- 3.1MP Camera Sensor board - Schematic (OrCAD)
To download all files at once please click here