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EK-TM4C123GXL: EK-TM4C123GXL - Camera Implementation

Michael Garcia
Prodigy 60 points
Part Number: EK-TM4C123GXL
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430G2211

Hello TI forum! 

I am brand new to the community and to the embedded systems group. I have been introduced to the TI Launchpad TM4C123GXL beginning this semester for my design class. A big part of my grade for this class is to produce a project built around this microcontroller. 

A problem that I am having is trying to understand a possible camera implementation with the TM4C123GXL. I am getting conflicting answers, one group says it is impossible while others claim its been done before but with specific camera modules. Comparing data sheets, I don't see an obvious reason why this fairly powerful microcontroller wouldn't be able to handle a camera interface, especially if I run lower resolution video capture. I would like to add an SD Card to the system to give recorded videos a place to save them to as I realize onboard memory is not very large on the TM4C123GXL. 

Any ideas/answers are greatly appreciated. 

  • 0
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello Michael

    Even though the micro is fairly powerful, the lack of an interface for camera and the GPIO use model will prevent you from using a fast camera interface. There are some camera modules that provide a serial interface with 3 fps screen capture that you may investigate.

    The TM4C129x device family has a TI Design which uses the EPI module for faster image capture

    www.ti.com/.../TIDM-TM4C129CAMERA
  • 0 in reply to Amit Ashara
    Prodigy 60 points
    Hi Amit,

    Thank you for your quick response. Now, I'm not too worried about picture/video quality. 3fps would be just fine. Would you have any camera module recommendations that would work with my microcontroller?

    Also, I saw that there are some previous projects which were able to implement a camera but using a TI MSP430G2211. Comparing the datasheets, what makes the MSP-based microcontroller "more compatible" with a camera compared to my own TM4C123 microcontroller? An example project is this one: www.instructables.com/.../

    Thank you for your time.
  • 0 in reply to Amit Ashara
    Prodigy 60 points

    Thank you Amit for your quick response. Do you have any camera modules that you would recommend? Would the OV 7670 camera that has the FIFO included be of any possibility? I noticed this camera module being very popular amongst embedded system projects. I also found your past posts where you speak about using the uCAM-II module but on a TM4C129 microcontroller. I am not concerned about picture/video quality for now so ~3fps would be perfectly fine. 

    Also, I did come across some projects that were able to implement cameras with an MSP430G2211 along with a few other MSP-based microcontrollers. Comparing both datasheets, any reason why the TM4C123GXL wouldn't be able to execute a project such as this one? http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-Motion-Detection-Wildlife-Camera/?ALLSTEPS

    Thank you very much for your advice.

  • 0 in reply to Michael Garcia
    Guru 11940 points

    Michael Garcia said:
    I am not concerned about picture/video quality for now so ~3fps would be perfectly fine. 

    Besides of the interface, you need to take memory sizes into consideration. You don't have "unlimited" RAM, like in a  PC environment, so dealing with pictures can become tricky. Restrain yourself to smaller, directly manageable sizes would be advisable.

  • 0 in reply to Michael Garcia
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello Michal

    There is no reason why the camera mentioned in the post may not work with a TM4C123x device. I can only suggest try....