Camera Module - cable length....

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

royston02 — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 06:51:40 GMT

any other websites

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

e14 Contributor — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 19:17:15 GMT

There's a wider range of sellers with these on eBay now, and the prices are coming down, such as: Camera (CSI/DSI) Flat Ribbon Cable for the Raspberry Pi - Lengths: 10cm to 100cm | eBay

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

e14 Contributor — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:37:05 GMT

For longer cables, see this ebay listing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AlienSpec-CSI-DSI-Camera-Ribbon-Cable-5cm-10cm-15cm-20cm-30cm-for-Raspberry-Pi-/121051772597?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item1c2f3f76b5

e14, if you're listening it would be good if you stocked some alternate length 15 way ffc/fpc cables (currently only 14 & 16's) and maybe have them listed as accessories to the camera module now that it's back in stock

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

shabaz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:47:36 GMT

That's very cool. So, Thomas, in that case, normal ribbon may be fine but it's an experiment, or something like Ethernet cable type wiring could be used in theory too, but that's an experiment too because the impedance might not match. And as Selsinork says, your limit may end up being the I2C control signals, unless it's a slow speed.

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

e14 Contributor — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:34:26 GMT

not sure myself, but the schematics show what appears to be three sets of differential pairs. You might expect more problems with the I2C over a distance, but they're using fairly low value pullups, so probably ok unless it's running at high speeds

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

shabaz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:06:24 GMT

That is interesting, maybe they're using LVDS type technology? Not sure what CSI/DSI specifies.

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

e14 Contributor — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:58:33 GMT

shabaz wrote:

Hi Thomas,
I don't believe that this will work,

You'd be wrong...

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43737&sid=419088a3e7ea47166e240dfef5fa8bd1&start=22

http://www.bitwizard.nl/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=146

RE: Camera Module - cable length....

shabaz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:04:39 GMT

Hi Thomas,

I don't believe that this will work, if the camera board has just a parallel interface with 3.3v logic. The drivers on the camera won't have have enough drive to rapidly send 1s and zeros on a long cable, because of the capacitance, it will alter the shape of the waveform. Maybe the camera board sends using some other technology, but you'd need to check with the RPI foundation.

Some people may suggest screened cable but that won't help you. Some (not all) possible solutions are to:

1. Remotely mount the RPI too, and use Ethernet which will be fine for 100m

2. Use an analog camera and coax, and no RPI - this uses a transmission technology known as "transmission line" (same as Ethernet) which in theory can be as long as you like - in practice there will be loss

3. Use an analog camera and wireless technology and no RPI