Raspberry Pi Multiple Camera Solutions: Adapters, Multiplexers, and Projects

The Raspberry Pi multi-camera adapter module is designed to connect more than one camera to a single CSI camera port on the Raspberry Pi board. Each adapter board can connect up to 4 cameras and the user can stack up to 4 adapter boards, which means up to 16 cameras on a single Raspberry Pi board.

Please note that this Raspberry Pi multi-camera adapter board is a nascent product which may have some stability issues and limitations because of the cable’s signal integrity and RPi’s closed source video core libraries, so use it at your own risk.

Application

• IoT cameras
• Robot cameras
• Wildlife cameras
• 3D scanner

Features

• Accommodate 4 Raspberry Pi cameras on a multi-camera adapter board
• Stackable and maxim cascade 4 adapter boards
• 3 GPIOs required for multiplexing on one adapter board, 5 GPIOs for two adapter board, 9 GPIOs for four adapter board
• All camera ports are FFC (flexible flat cable) connectors
• DIP switches for easy stack up configuration
• Support Raspberry Pi A/B/B+ and Pi 2.

Pin Configuration

DIP switches are used here to easily stack up configuration. When only one multi-camera adapter board is used, the switches 1and 5 should be switched to ON position. If two multi-camera adapter boards are used, the downside board should be switched 1 and 5 to ON and upside board should be switched 2 and 6 to ON position, and if 3 or 4 multi-camera adapter boards are used together each board layer should be configured as Table 1 shown.

Table 1 Pin Configuration

Operations

For proper operation, only one camera should be enabled at a time. In case of only one multi-camera adapter board is used, driving Pin12 HIGH and driving Pin11, Pin7 to LOW to enable camera A on the adapter board. Enable camera B, C, and D, please refer the Table 2 for camera selection configuration. To disable all cameras on one adapter board, Enable 1 and Enable 2 signals should be toggled HIGH. Care should be taken so that it is not allowed to drive Enable 1 and Enable 2 LOW at the same time. When connecting more than two multi-camera adapter boards, only one of the cameras can be enabled by enabling the desired camera on one adapter board and disable all the cameras on the rest of adapter boards.

Table 2 Camera Selection Configuration

(X: don’t care)

Software Demonstration

Before using it, required dependency python-rpi.gpio have to be installed with

sudo apt-get install python-rpi.gpio

the command from the Terminal. Then run the following code for a quick demo.

import RPi.GPIO as gp
import os

gp.setwarnings(False)
gp.setmode(gp.BOARD)

gp.setup(7, gp.OUT)
gp.setup(11, gp.OUT)
gp.setup(12, gp.OUT)

gp.setup(15, gp.OUT)
gp.setup(16, gp.OUT)
gp.setup(21, gp.OUT)
gp.setup(22, gp.OUT)

gp.output(11, True)
gp.output(12, True)
gp.output(15, True)
gp.output(16, True)
gp.output(21, True)
gp.output(22, True)

def main():
    gp.output(7, False)
    gp.output(11, False)
    gp.output(12, True)
    capture(1)

    gp.output(7, True)
    gp.output(11, False)
    gp.output(12, True)
    capture(2)

    gp.output(7, False)
    gp.output(11, True)
    gp.output(12, False)
    capture(3)

    gp.output(7, True)
    gp.output(11, True)
    gp.output(12, False)
    capture(4)

def capture(cam):
    cmd = "raspistill -o capture_%d.jpg" % cam
    os.system(cmd)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

    gp.output(7, False)
    gp.output(11, False)
    gp.output(12, True)

Due to normal camera operations, users can still use raspistill or raspivid command to take photos or videos. By controlling the GPIOs according to Table 1 and Table 2 configuration, users can take photos or videos by switching between different cameras. Have fun!

Further Reading

Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3: An In-Depth Look

Posted: January 16, 2023

Raspberry Pi’s new camera module v3 is finally out. It’s got a fairly competent sensor, the long-awaited autofocus, and also comes at pretty unbeatable prices, just like its predecessors. However, is it as perfect as Read more…

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Wanna Use Synchronized Dual Camera for Raspberry Pi 4 or Stereo Camera HAT for Pi 3B+/3? Arducam Makes Them All Come True

Posted: September 16, 2019

Preface Standard Raspberry Pi, like the Pi 4, only offers a single CSI camera connector, but people would love multiple cameras for 3D applications. Arducam has figured out a way to connect the sync two Read more…

58 comments

Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3: An In-Depth Look

Posted: January 16, 2023

Raspberry Pi’s new camera module v3 is finally out. It’s got a fairly competent sensor, the long-awaited autofocus, and also comes at pretty unbeatable prices, just like its predecessors. However, is it as perfect as Read more…

24 comments

A Quad-Camera System with The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3/3+

Posted: January 6, 2020

The Difference Between A Compute Module and A Raspberry Pi Most of us are familiar with the standard Raspberry Pi models, such as the Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 3B+, 4. Aside from these models for Read more…

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