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I am working on a project that necessitates connecting two cameras to a Raspberry Pi 2 B. The cameras will not be required to take pictures/video at the same time. I have done the following research for the solution:

MIPI switching
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=67553&p=797174

Raspcam multiplexer
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=61904&p=460203

Multiple cameras
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=50142

IVPort project
https://hackaday.io/project/2847-ivport-raspberry-pi-camera-module-multiplexer

Camera module multiplexer
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=52213&p=447084

I would like to implement the solution proposed by that last forum post.

I am using this image for a visual reference CSI specification

For the CSI transmitter/receiver (top half), it appears as though I am limited to the FSA642 IC. Datasheet: https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/FS/FSA642.pdf

As for the CCI master/slave, I saw the PCA9543A being suggested. Datasheet: http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/302/PCA9543A_43B_43C-64811.pdf

To switch between cameras, I would use a GPIO pin from the Pi to switch the selection pins of the two ICs. Switching time does not matter unless it is unreasonable (>3 seconds). It will basically fulfil the same purpose as a standard smart phone switching from a front-facing camera to a rear-facing camera.

All that remains are two questions in my mind. First and foremost, would this idea work at all as I have it? Second, what would I do with the CAM_GPIO and CAM_CLK pins as shown in the Raspberry Pi schematic (page 4)? It seems from this post that I can use a standard multiplexer to switch those.

Thank you in advance for any insight you may provide.

Note: I should also mention I am not interested in paying $80 for the IVPort and I am restricted to using the official camera modules.

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  • I would just buy another Pi (an A+ should do the job)
    – Milliways
    Nov 4, 2015 at 3:34
  • I wish I could, the project I'm working on has some pretty tight space requirements. I even considered the compute model but I have to use a model B.
    – John P.
    Nov 4, 2015 at 4:03
  • If you weren't tied to a Model B I say perhaps the Pi Zero might help, it has two camera ports IIRC...
    – SlySven
    Dec 14, 2015 at 22:38

1 Answer 1

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Maybe the following links are helpful, unless you already have the information found there:

Relevant thread on freescale.com forum

Link to Arducam.com with this device:

One image from site showing a RPi and four camera leads connected to device referred to in link

I personally do not have any competence with Pi's, just been wandering around and picking up some informative links about Pi's for future use.

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  • Welcome to the Raspberry Pi Stack Exchange community. Those linked to products look interesting and relevant but actually getting a switching unit may not be so easy. Do you have any experience of similar camera multiplexing devices on another platform (e.g. Arduino) type devices?
    – SlySven
    Feb 2, 2016 at 18:26

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