MIPI CSI-2 is one of the most popular interfaces used in cameras, drones, IoT devices, face and object recognition security systems and infotainment. But for more heavy-duty industrial equipment operating in the field, where cameras cannot be mounted directly on the processing unit, MIPI CSI-2 is not an option, as it doesn’t allow devices to be connected to it at a distance longer than a few dozen centimeters.
The open source SDI-to-MIPI bridge built as part of an thesis project at Antmicro, allows SDI-based systems to harness the capabilities of the most popular embedded AI platforms, which mostly support MIPI CSI. It also overcomes the issue of short distances at which MIPI CSI-2 devices can be connected to the system, as it enables the use of a coaxial cable to achieve much longer connections. The bridge is compatible with a range of Antmicro’s open hardware boards, including the Jetson Orin Baseboard.