Using VC MIPI IMX290 with ADI SerDes Hardware

[HamzaBeder1]

Hello,

The following is my platform information:

• Device: NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit
• JetPack Version: R35.3.1
• Kernel: 5.10.104-tegra
• Camera: VC MIPI IMX290 monochrome

I am using the Analog Devices SerDes hardware that is linked here. The SerDes hardware has been confirmed to be working when following the steps in the tutorial and using the Raspberry Pi IMX219 module.

If I connect the VC module directly to the Jetson, I am able to stream video. However, when connecting the sensor and Jetson to the SerDes hardware, I run into issues. The following image shows my hardware setup:

The following are the steps I took:

1. Downloaded GMSL GUI from here

2. Configured the MAX96717 CFG levels to be

   • CFG0 = 2
   • CFG1 = 5

3. Loaded the following .cpp file provided by Analog Devices that configured the registers of the MAX96717 and MAX96724. I did this by connecting to the USB port on the MAX96717 board and going to File -> Load (.cpp) file in the GMSL GUI

/*
# Name: HAkbar
# Date: 3/10/2026
# Version: 1.6.1
#
# I2C Address(0x), Register Address(0x), Register Value(0x), Read Modify Write(0x)
#
# THIS DATA FILE, AND ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN,
# IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
# THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
# PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
# IN NO EVENT SHALL ANALOG DEVICES, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
# DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
# TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE DATA FILE,
# THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN, OR ITS USE FOR ANY PURPOSE.
# BEFORE USING THIS DATA FILE IN ANY APPLICATION FOR PRODUCTION OR DEPLOYMENT,
# THE CUSTOMER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR TESTING AND VERIFYING
# THE CONTENT OF THIS DATA FILE IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR PRODUCTS AND SYSTEM(S).
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
#            _____ _____  
#      /\   |  __ \_   _| 
#     /  \  | |  | || |   
#    / /\ \ | |  | || |   
#   / ____ \| |__| || |_  
#  /_/    \_\_____/_____| 
#
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
# This script is validated on: 
# MAX96717
# MAX96724
# Please refer to the Errata sheet for each device.
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
//  
// CSIConfigurationTool
//  
// GMSL-A / Serializer: MAX96717 (Tunnel Mode) / Mode: 1x4 / Device Address: 0x80 / Multiple-VC Case: Single VC / Pipe Sharing: Separate Pipes
// PipeZ:
// Input Stream: VC0 RAW10 PortB (D-PHY)

// Deserializer: MAX96724 / Mode: 2 (1x4) / Device Address: 0x4E
// Pipe0:
// GMSL-A Input Stream: VC0 RAW10 PortB - Output Stream: VC0 RAW10 PortB (D-PHY)

0x04,0x4E,0x04,0x0B,0x00, // BACKTOP : BACKTOP12 | CSI_OUT_EN (CSI_OUT_EN): CSI output disabled
// Link Initialization for Deserializer
0x04,0x4E,0x00,0x06,0xF1, // DEV : REG6 | (Default) LINK_EN_A (LINK_EN_A): Enabled | LINK_EN_B (LINK_EN_B): Disabled | LINK_EN_C (LINK_EN_C): Disabled | LINK_EN_D (LINK_EN_D): Disabled
0x04,0x4E,0x00,0x03,0xFE, // DEV : REG3 | (Default) DIS_REM_CC_A (GMSL Link A I2C Port 0): Enabled | DIS_REM_CC_B (GMSL Link B I2C Port 0): Disabled | DIS_REM_CC_C (GMSL Link C I2C Port 0): Disabled | DIS_REM_CC_D (GMSL Link D I2C Port 0): Disabled
0x00,0x01, // Warning: The actual recommended delay is 5 usec.
// Video Transmit Configuration for Serializer(s)
0x04,0x80,0x00,0x02,0x03, // DEV : REG2 | VID_TX_EN_Z (VID_TX_EN_Z): Disabled
//  
// INSTRUCTIONS FOR GMSL-A SERIALIZER MAX96717
//  
// MIPI D-PHY Configuration
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x30,0x00, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX0 | (Default) RSVD (Port Configuration): 1x4
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x83,0x80, // MIPI_RX_EXT : EXT11 | (Default) Tun_Mode (Tunnel Mode): Enabled
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x31,0x10, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX1 | ctrl1_num_lanes (Port B - Lane Count): 2
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x32,0xE0, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX2 | (Default) phy1_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY1 D0): Lane 2 | (Default) phy1_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY1 D1): Lane 3
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x33,0x04, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX3 | (Default) phy2_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY2 D0): Lane 0 | (Default) phy2_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY2 D1): Lane 1
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x34,0x00, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX4 | (Default) phy1_pol_map (Polarity - PHY1 Lane 0): Normal | (Default) phy1_pol_map (Polarity - PHY1 Lane 1): Normal
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x35,0x00, // MIPI_RX : MIPI_RX5 | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Lane 0): Normal | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Lane 1): Normal | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Clock Lane): Normal
// Controller to Pipe Mapping Configuration
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x08,0x64, // FRONTTOP : FRONTTOP_0 | (Default) RSVD (CLK_SELZ): Port B | (Default) START_PORTB (START_PORTB): Enabled
0x04,0x80,0x03,0x11,0x40, // FRONTTOP : FRONTTOP_9 | (Default) START_PORTBZ (START_PORTBZ): Start Video
// Pipe Configuration
0x04,0x80,0x00,0x5B,0x00, // CFGV__VIDEO_Z : TX3 | TX_STR_SEL (TX_STR_SEL Pipe Z): 0x0
//  
// INSTRUCTIONS FOR DESERIALIZER MAX96724
//  
// Video Pipes And Routing Configuration
0x04,0x4E,0x00,0xF0,0x60, // VIDEO_PIPE_SEL : VIDEO_PIPE_SEL_0 | (Default) VIDEO_PIPE_SEL_0 (Pipe 0 GMSL2 PHY): A | VIDEO_PIPE_SEL_0 (Pipe 0 Input Pipe): X
0x04,0x4E,0x00,0xF4,0x01, // VIDEO_PIPE_SEL : VIDEO_PIPE_EN | (Default) VIDEO_PIPE_EN (Video Pipe 0): Enabled | VIDEO_PIPE_EN (Video Pipe 1): Disabled | VIDEO_PIPE_EN (Video Pipe 2): Disabled | VIDEO_PIPE_EN (Video Pipe 3): Disabled | STREAM_SEL_ALL (Stream Select All): Disabled
// MIPI D-PHY Configuration
0x04,0x4E,0x08,0xA0,0x04, // MIPI_PHY : MIPI_PHY0 | (Default) phy_4x2 (Port Configuration): 2 (1x4)
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x8A,0x50, // MIPI_TX__2 : MIPI_TX10 | CSI2_LANE_CNT (Port B - Lane Count): 2
0x04,0x4E,0x08,0xA4,0xE4, // MIPI_PHY : MIPI_PHY4 | (Default) phy2_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY2 D0): Lane 0 | (Default) phy2_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY2 D1): Lane 1 | (Default) phy3_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY3 D0): Lane 2 | (Default) phy3_lane_map (Lane Map - PHY3 D1): Lane 3
0x04,0x4E,0x08,0xA6,0x00, // MIPI_PHY : MIPI_PHY6 | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Lane 0): Normal | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Lane 1): Normal | (Default) phy3_pol_map (Polarity - PHY3 Lane 0): Normal | (Default) phy3_pol_map (Polarity - PHY3 Lane 1): Normal | (Default) phy2_pol_map (Polarity - PHY2 Clock Lane): Normal
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x83,0x07, // MIPI_TX__2 : MIPI_TX3 | DESKEW_INIT (Controller 2 Auto Initial Deskew): Disabled
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x84,0x01, // MIPI_TX__2 : MIPI_TX4 | DESKEW_PER (Controller 2 Periodic Deskew): Disabled
0x04,0x4E,0x1E,0x00,0xF4, //  (config_soft_rst_n - PHY2): 0x0
// This is to set predefined (coarse) CSI output frequency
// CSI Phy 2 is 1000 Mbps/lane.
0x04,0x4E,0x1E,0x00,0xF4, // (Default) 
0x04,0x4E,0x04,0x1B,0x2A,
0x04,0x4E,0x1E,0x00,0xF5, //  | (Default)  (config_soft_rst_n - PHY2): 0x1
0x04,0x4E,0x08,0xA2,0xC4, // MIPI_PHY : MIPI_PHY2 | phy_Stdby_n (phy_Stdby_0): Put PHY0 in standby mode | phy_Stdby_n (phy_Stdby_1): Put PHY1 in standby mode
// Tunnel Mode Configuration
0x04,0x4E,0x08,0xCA,0xE6, // MIPI_PHY : MIPI_CTRL_SEL | MIPI_CTRL_SEL_0 (MIPI Controller Pipe 0): 0x2
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x39,0x20, // MIPI_TX__0 : MIPI_TX57 | TUN_DEST (Tunneling Destination Pipe 0): 0x2
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x36,0x09, // MIPI_TX__0 : MIPI_TX54 | TUN_EN (Pipe 0 Tunnel Mode): Enabled
0x04,0x4E,0x09,0x39,0x60, // MIPI_TX__0 : MIPI_TX57 | DIS_AUTO_TUN_DET (Pipe 0 Disable Auto Tunnel Detection): Enabled
0x04,0x4E,0x04,0x0B,0x02, // BACKTOP : BACKTOP12 | CSI_OUT_EN (CSI_OUT_EN): CSI output enabled
// Video Transmit Configuration for Serializer(s)
0x04,0x80,0x00,0x02,0x43, // DEV : REG2 | VID_TX_EN_Z (VID_TX_EN_Z): Enabled

4. Powered on SerDes hardware and the Jetson

All hardware devices are visible on the I2C bus, and the kernel is still using 0x1A (IMX290):

bsbrl@nvidia:~$ sudo i2cdetect -r -y 10
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:          -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- UU -- -- -- -- --
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 27 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40: 40 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
bsbrl@nvidia:~$

Despite this vc_mod_setup fails to probe the sensor, and the video node does not get created.

bsbrl@nvidia:~$ sudo dmesg | grep vc_mipi
[    0.002341] DTS File Name: /home/hamza/repo4/vc_mipi_nvidia/build/Xavier_35.3.1/Linux_for_Tegra/source/public/kernel/kernel-5.10/arch/arm64/boot/dts/../../../../../../hardware/nvidia/platform/t23x/p3768/kernel-dts/tegra234-p3767-0003-p3768-0000-a0.dts
[    7.083541] vc_mipi 9-001a: vc_probe(): Probing UNIVERSAL VC MIPI Driver (v0.19.1)
[    9.506325] vc_mipi 9-001a: vc_mod_setup(): Unable to get module I2C client for address 0x10
[    9.515009] vc_mipi 9-001a: vc_probe(): Error in vc_core_init!
[    9.526774] vc_mipi 10-001a: vc_probe(): Probing UNIVERSAL VC MIPI Driver (v0.19.1)
[   11.935018] vc_mipi 10-001a: vc_mod_setup(): Unable to get module I2C client for address 0x10
[   11.943782] vc_mipi 10-001a: vc_probe(): Error in vc_core_init!
bsbrl@nvidia:~$

I was wondering what steps I should take to resolve this and if it is possible to get this module to work with the ADI SerDes hardware.

Thank you for your time. Let me know if you require additional details.

[HamzaBeder1]

Hello,

I noticed that the VC modules have a controller chip that is used to control the SMPS:

When I check the I2C bus when connecting the the VC module directly, I see a device with address 0x10. I am assuming that this is the controller chip:

bsbrl@nvidia:~$ sudo i2cdetect -r -y 10
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:          -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
10: 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- UU -- -- -- -- --
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
bsbrl@nvidia:~$

However, when I check the bus when connecting to the SerDes hardware, I do not see that chip. I am assuming that this is the reason why the sensor cannot be probed, but I am not sure why the controller does not show up on the bus when using the SerDes hardware:

bsbrl@nvidia:~$ sudo i2cdetect -r -y 10
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:          -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- UU -- -- -- -- --
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 27 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40: 40 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
bsbrl@nvidia:~$

I was wondering what steps I should take to resolve this issue.

Thanks for your help.