What we need for functionality
- ESP32-S3-EYE 2.2 board with OV2640 camera module here
- Supported camera modules here
- How to flash binary files to board from Linux/MAC/Windows here
- How to compile software in the Arduino IDE here
- How to reset the configuration to factory settings here
- Status LED here
- Schematic main board is here
- FLASH LED issue here
- Power supply here
- External temperature sensor DHT22/DHT11 here
- Potential issue here
Basic information:
- On the board missing LED for flash
- Option connecting external FLASH LED
- Micro SD card slot
- Internal WiFi antenna
- no additional HW is needed for programming
- 8MB FLASH and 8MB external PSRAM
- Excellent WiFi signal
- 1.27mm Pitch 2x5Pin Double Row Female Pin Header external LCD connector
This is a more expensive version with a more powerful ESP32-S3 processor. The board is sold with an OV2640 camera module. No additional hardware is required for programming. The ESP32-S3 processor is programmed via the processor's USB interface.
The board is officially sold with an OV2640 camera module with 66.5° field of view.
These are currently known or tested camera modules:
| Camera chip | FOV | Resolution | Tested | Works | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV2640 | 66.5° | 2MP | Yes | Yes | Recommended. Standard camera module |
| OV2640 | 120° | 2MP | Yes | Yes | Recommended |
| OV2640 | 160° | 2MP | Yes | Yes | Recommended |
| OV2640IR | 160° | 2MP | Yes | Yes |
For uploading the firmware, it's important to use this configuration of addresses and files:
ZIP file with build binary files: esp32-s3-eye-22.zip
- address 0x0 - ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bootloader.bin
- address 0x8000 - ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.partitions.bin
- address 0x10000 - ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bin
It is important to download the correct binary files! Each type of camera has its own ZIP archive with files for uploading the firmware.
You must use the console to upload the firmware on the MAC or Linux platform. First, ensure you have installed esptool for Python. You can find it on the manufacturer's website, ESPRESSIF, here.
And command for FLASH FW is here, where /dev/ttya0 is your serial interface for communication with the ESP32-cam board. This is the command for the first flash FW to MCU.
./esptool --chip esp32s3 -p /dev/ttya0 -b 921600 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash --erase-all --flash_mode dio --flash_size 8MB --flash_freq 80m 0x0 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bootloader.bin 0x8000 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.partitions.bin 0x10000 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bin
This command contains the parameter --erase-all, which erases the entire flash in the MCU. So, for just updating the firmware, it is necessary to remove the parameter --erase-all; otherwise, the MCU configuration will also be deleted. The basic command list can be found here
Here is the command for updating the firmware in the MCU without erasing the MCU configuration
./esptool --chip esp32s3 -p /dev/ttya0 -b 921600 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size 8MB --flash_freq 80m 0x0 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bootloader.bin 0x8000 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.partitions.bin 0x10000 ESP32_PrusaConnectCam.ino.bin
Launching the esptool application may be different in different operating systems
The driver should be installed automatically by Windows. SW for FW flash (Flash Download Tools) is here
In the first step, you need to open the application flash download tool, and select MCU version
Then, select the communication port. It's necessary to erase the FLASH using the ERASE button before the first firmware flash.
Before erasing the FLASH memory, it is necessary to switch the board to bootloader mode. Hold down the BOOT button (red arrow), press the RESET button (green arrow), wait for 1 second, and release the BOOT button. Then, you can erase the FLASH memory using the ERASE button. After a successful erase, the status will change to FINISH.
Then is possible upload FW to MCU. It is necessary again switch the board to bootloader mode. Hold down the BOOT button (red arrow), press the RESET button (green arrow), wait for 1 second, and release the BOOT button. Then, you can erase the FLASH memory using the ERASE button.
Board configuration in the Arduino IDE 2.3.2
- Tools -> Board -> ESP32 Arduino -> ESP32S3 Dev Module
- Tools -> USB CDC on BOOT -> Enabled
- Tools -> CPU Frequency -> 240MHz (WiFi/BT)
- Tools -> Core debug level -> None
- Tools -> USB DFU on BOOT -> Disable
- Tools -> Erase all Flash Before Sketch Upload -> Disable (first flash, new board = enable. otherwise = disable)
- Tools -> Events Run On -> Core 0
- Tools -> Flash Mode -> DIO 80MHz
- Tools -> Flash Size -> 8MB
- Tools -> Jtag Adapter -> Disable
- Tools -> Arduino Runs On -> Core 0
- Tools -> USB Firmware MSC On Boot -> Disable
- Tools -> Partition scheme -> Minimal SPIFFS (1.9MB APP with OTA/190KB SPIFFS)
- Tools -> PSRAM -> OPI PSRAM
- Tools -> Upload Mode -> USB-OTG CDC (TinyUSB)
- Tools -> Upload Speed -> 921600
- Tools -> USB Mode -> Hardware CDC and JTAG
- Tools -> Zigbee mode -> Disable
When flashing the firmware to a new, empty ESP32-S3-EYE 2.2 device for the first time, it is necessary to use the 'Erase' function.
This can be found under Tools -> Erase all Flash Before Sketch Upload -> Enable.
After the initial firmware upload to the MCU, it's necessary to disable this option. If you do not disable this option, your camera configuration will continue to be erased from the flash memory after uploading new firmware from the Arduino IDE.
It is necessary to enable support for the correct board version in the file mcu_cfg.h after line 16.
To reset the settings to factory defaults, follow these instructions:
- Push and hold UP+ button
- Plug in the power supply.
- Wait for 10 seconds.
- After 10 seconds, the STATUS LED will start flashing.
- PULL UP+ button (but don't disconnect the power supply).
- The STATUS LED will stop flashing, and the MCU will automatically reboot.
- Now the MCU is in the factory settings.
On the board, there is a status LED that provides a visual indicator of the module's current status through blinking at defined intervals.
Upon module activation, the LED illuminates. After processor initialization, the LED exhibits different blinking intervals based on the current mode of the module
- Service AP Mode only: The LED blinks every 400 ms, indicating the module's availability in service AP mode.
- Connecting to WiFi AP: While connecting to a WiFi Access Point, the LED blinks at intervals of 800 ms.
- Connected to WiFi Network: Upon successful connection to a WiFi network, the LED blinks at intervals of 4000 ms, signaling a stable connection.
- Problematic State: If an issue or error occurs, the LED accelerates its blinking to every 100 ms.
The approximate boot time of the device is 15-20 seconds.
The scheme is available here in PDF format
The board does not have an LED that could serve as a camera flash. However, there is an option to use PIN 48, which is typically used to turn on the backlight of the LCD display, as a camera flash. The image shows 3 arrows:
- Green, PIN48
- RED, VCC 3.3V
- BLUE, GND
The device requires a 5V power supply, with a maximum current consumption of 2A. Power is supplied via a micro USB connector when using the original programmer.
Below you will find the wiring diagram for the DHT22 or DHT11 sensor.
| Camera board | DHT22/DHT11 |
|---|---|
| 3.3V (red) | VCC |
| GND (blue) | GND |
| IO46 (green) | Data |
- I tried using an LCD screen with WHITE color as a flash, but the light from the LCD screen is not strong enough for illumination.