N900 VGA camera

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The front camera is a VGA camera from ST microelectronics.
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==Hardware==
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The [[Nokia N900|N900]] front camera is a VS6555 VGA camera from ST Microelectronics.
The [http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/206482/STMICROELECTRONICS/VS6555.html datasheet] lists the following specs.
The [http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/206482/STMICROELECTRONICS/VS6555.html datasheet] lists the following specs.
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* Size: 4.5*4.5*2.5mm
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* Size: 4.5×4.5×2.5 mm
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* Resolution: 640*480
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* Resolution: 640×480
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* minimum illumination 7 lux.
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* minimum illumination 7 lux
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* SNR at 100 lux 34dB
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* SNR at 100 lux 34 dB
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* Field of view: 66 degrees horizontal, 78 degrees diagonal.
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* Field of view: 66 degrees horizontal, 78 degrees diagonal
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This is connected via a multiplexor to the single camera bus on the CPU, along with the main camera. The two cannot be used concurrently.
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==Software==
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The driver presents the camera as a video4linux device - <code>/dev/video1</code>.
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This camera had severe performance problems under the original software release. (PR1.0)
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With [[Maemo 5/PR1.1|PR1.1]], released in January 2010, in very good light, the picture was acceptable. In normal room light, the performance remained lower than would be hoped.
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The driver presents the camera as a video4linux device - /dev/video0.
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With the release of [[Maemo 5/PR1.2|PR1.2]], this has improved further, being generally adequate.
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This is connected via a multiplexor to the single camera bus on the CPU, along with the main camera. The two cannot be used at once.
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Also, with the release of PR1.2, [http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=53579&highlight=skype+video Skype Video] began to work, using the VGA camera. Little other software uses the front camera - [http://maemo.org/downloads/product/Maemo5/mirror/ mirror] provides a real-time image of what the camera is showing, and [http://maemo.org/packages/view/mplayer/ mplayer] can also use the camera as a video4linux device.
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[[Category:n900]] [[Category:n900_Hardware]]
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[[Category:N900]]
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[[Category:N900 Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 16:43, 27 July 2014

[edit] Hardware

The N900 front camera is a VS6555 VGA camera from ST Microelectronics.

The datasheet lists the following specs.

  • Size: 4.5×4.5×2.5 mm
  • Resolution: 640×480
  • minimum illumination 7 lux
  • SNR at 100 lux 34 dB
  • Field of view: 66 degrees horizontal, 78 degrees diagonal

This is connected via a multiplexor to the single camera bus on the CPU, along with the main camera. The two cannot be used concurrently.

[edit] Software

The driver presents the camera as a video4linux device - /dev/video1.

This camera had severe performance problems under the original software release. (PR1.0) With PR1.1, released in January 2010, in very good light, the picture was acceptable. In normal room light, the performance remained lower than would be hoped.

With the release of PR1.2, this has improved further, being generally adequate.

Also, with the release of PR1.2, Skype Video began to work, using the VGA camera. Little other software uses the front camera - mirror provides a real-time image of what the camera is showing, and mplayer can also use the camera as a video4linux device.