LinkSprite JPEG Color Camera TTL Interface - Infrared

Are you a super spy trying to spot ninja assassins in the dark? Or maybe you're just trying to figure out who's been sneaking to the kitchen at night and eating your snacks... Either way, an infrared camera is the way to go! LinkSprite's latest serial port camera module can capture high resolution pictures and transport them over TTL serial, making it ideal for embedded applications. And it can do it in the dark, thanks to infrared LEDs. The infrared feature even has a built-in light sensor, so as soon as the ambient light gets low enough, it will automatically turn on the infrared LEDs for night vision!

  • VGA/QVGA/160*120 resolution
  • Support capture JPEG from serial port
  • Default baud rate of serial port is 38400
  • DC 3.3V or 5V power supply
  • Current consumption: 80-100mA
  • The pin near C03 is AV output pin, which is an analog output pin
  • 45.6x30x28mm

LinkSprite JPEG Color Camera TTL Interface - Infrared Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

2 Programming

Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
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Comments

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  • bdcannon / about 9 years ago / 1

    Hi everyone I wrote a quick class for this camera in Python. You can use pretty much any usb to ttl device for this as long as it supports the baud.

    https://github.com/bdcannon/LinkSprite

  • HumbertoGarza / about 9 years ago * / 4

    Hello everyone; if you have an Edison and have no idea how to get this to work, I am writing a library to get to use this camera. Here is My Github

    Edison Tutorial - LinkSprite JPEG Color Camera TTL Interface

    For now is only in C, but I will write the Arduino Library as well and maybe Python if you need so.

    Regards

  • Improvised Dynamics / about 11 years ago / 4

    The cable harness that currently (6/21/13) ships with this camera: Tx-Brown, Rx-Red, Gnd-Purple, Vcc-Grey

  • TimZaman / about 12 years ago / 3

    ->Near-infrared. This is actually the same LinkSpire JPEG camera only they stripped off the IR-block filter that was in front of the sensor. The awesome thing is that also during daytime that means that it receives more light as the added intensity of near-ir light is quite substantial.

  • Member #656557 / about 10 years ago / 2

    I have connected the camera to the Arduino UNO board. (The code provided is out of date by the way). After fixing the code, the operation still wasn't working properly. After some testing, it was discovered that the camera never registered as "available" in the code. Can someone help me figure out why?

    The wires were connected directly to the board (RX/TX, 5V, GND), and I have tried two of these cameras, so it's not likely to be an issue with the camera itself. Is there some extra wiring required via protoboard, or anything else I'm missing?

    • Member #656557 / about 10 years ago / 3

      Got it. http://robotic-controls.com/learn/arduino/linksprite-jpeg-camera

  • Clorofilla / about 10 years ago / 2

    Does this camera support motion detection? i mean, can detect if something has moved in the frame?

  • agreer / about 11 years ago / 2

    Can anyone comment on the kind of capture rate this camera is capable of at the default baud rate? (i.e. How fast can it take multiple photos, one after the other, ala pseudo video? Is it limited more by the baud rate, or the acquisition rate of the imaging system?)

    Also, what kind of file sizes are achieved at the VGA setting?

  • I am confused about the serial interface level. The SparkFun title indicates TTL, the manual states RS232 and to remove the interface chip for ttl use. The entire interface options paragraph is porly worded. IMO, the entire manual is quite lacking.

  • Finnishguy / about 12 years ago / 2

    Combine Raspberry Pi and this (previous version) and you get this: http://kuvau.tuu.fi/

  • Member #720274 / about 9 years ago * / 1

    So can anyone tell me how to test the camera in any other way that requires a direct connection via a serial-usb cable? I need to know if this camera is working or not and because the evaluation software is only available for Windows, Im unable to use it.

  • Member #720274 / about 9 years ago / 1

    I have this camera and I must say its been really difficult to getting anything working since I got it 1 month ago. Ive been posting like crazy with sketches from linksprite as well as from sparkfun and roboticControls etc. Linksprite doesnt really handle support well in their forums. I still have not been able to even determine if the camera is working properly or not.

  • HumbertoGarza / about 10 years ago * / 1

    -

  • Piper4123w / about 10 years ago / 1

    How fast can i get this camera to take photos? im looking to attach it to a model rocket and get shots on the flight. an image per second would be fantastic.

  • Member #489930 / about 10 years ago / 1

    Will this camera work with close up objects. For example an object that is 1in from the camera?

  • Member #486470 / about 11 years ago / 1

    Hello, I am looking for an analogue application. I am curious as to what it means when it says that the pin ear c03 is av output pin, which is an anlog output pin. Does that mean that I could put an rca compatible conector on that and get constant video output? Or am I just confused.

    • Member #585778 / about 10 years ago / 1

      It outputs PAL format video as default setting, but it can also output NTSC video by changing one resistor on board.

  • Member #403106 / about 11 years ago / 1

    can somebody assist me with the code when using this camera with PIC microcontroller from microchips. ktsquare2002@yahoo.com

    • HumbertoGarza / about 9 years ago / 1

      ktsquare2002@yahoo.com

      Hello, take a look at the library I wrote; it is designed to work with the Intel Edison Board in Linux, but you can take a look at the functions to get an Idea how to communicate! Regards c: https://github.com/humberto-garza/LinkspriteEdisonIRCamera

  • gideon / about 11 years ago * / 1

    Will this work with an Arduino Uno r3 or the latest Arduino Mega? Did @GraziCNU find a solution to his problem? Perhaps someone has got it to work with this library ?

  • Member #412561 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Does this camera has a power saving mode?

    • Member #641020 / about 10 years ago / 1

      Yes Entering Power Saving Command (HEX) 56 00 3E 03 00 01 01 Return (HEX) 76 00 3E 00 00 Exiting Power Saving Command (HEX) 56 00 3E 03 00 01 00 Return (HEX) 76 0 3E 00 00

  • Member #412561 / about 12 years ago / 1

    How long does it take for the camera to start up?

  • GraziCNU / about 12 years ago / 1

    I have still yet to get the camera working with the Arduino code. I have made all the necessary syntax changes from NewSoftSerial library to the updated SoftwareSerial library for the Arduino 1.0 programming environment and all I can seem to get is a string of a single repeating character (or a string of about two or three repeating ASCII characters depending on the baud rate settings)in the serial monitor. I can't seem to find anyone else who has encountered this problem, but since this is my first time working with arduinos and this camera I am assuming I am making some kind of basic mistake as opposed to the thought that I purchased a defective camera. Can anyone offer any solutions or trouble shooting techniques that may work? Thanks.

    • colemanjax / about 12 years ago / 2

      Yep, same problem here... any solutions yet?

    • Member #380884 / about 12 years ago / 2

      Hi GraziCNU,

      I also have the same problem as you, I´ve tried to modify the code in order to make it work but it seems impossible, have you get to a solution?

      • Member #429006 / about 12 years ago / 2

        I am having the same problem as GraziCNU and Member #380884 .... Did either of you ever figure out how to fix this and or solve this problem?

        • Member #656557 / about 10 years ago / 1

          Same problem as all of you. I did manage to mess with the baud rates to get the returned values as actual numbers instead of those random ASCII characters, but the return was "2550" then it just repeated 0's over and over again. It's not a defective camera; I have two of them and I tried on both. After some fiddling with the code, I discovered that the availability check on the camera was always returning 0. I started out where all of you did, so it's likely the same problem, but anyone who has a solution, please post it!

          • Member #656557 / about 10 years ago / 1

            Helpful website here! http://robotic-controls.com/learn/arduino/linksprite-jpeg-camera

  • RalfieRoo / about 12 years ago / 1

    Does anyone know the measurements of the three holes to be used for mounting this camera? The "standard" standoffs seem too large for the tight spacing of the components to these holes. In other words: What is the proper nylon spacer to order so that you can mount this board?

  • Earlz / about 12 years ago / 1

    Is this the exact same camera as the other linksprite( https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10061 ) just with infrared LEDs added? Also, how does it compare to your CMOS IR camera( https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8773 )

    • MikeGrusin / about 12 years ago / 3
      1. This appears to be true.
      2. They're both infrared cameras, but they have completely different interfaces. The CMOS camera is a video camera which hooks up easily to televisions or video monitors, video recorders, etc. This is a still camera designed to be interfaced to a computer or microcontroller via serial port, and produces still JPEG images.
  • Rodware / about 12 years ago / 1

    i wonder if we can get this to interface with the dragon board?

  • Member #424462 / about 12 years ago / 0

    I m having a problem with changing the baud rate of this camera to 9600. I have tried to change the baud rate to 9600, it changes to 9600 but after reset it again change to its default baud rate 38400. It it not storing the set baud rate. Please help me to set the baud rate to 9600.

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