I checked the wiring and re-seated the cable, see Attachment A, B and C. The male ends seem to fit securely in the female sockets and both ends of the cable are locked in the sockets. I ran the following prompt with the results shown:
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ libcamera-hello
bash: libcamera-hello: command not found
After going crazy checking to find what is missing I found that that command has been replaced, I think, with rpicam-hello. While that did not solve my problem, maybe the results (see Appendix D) can shed some light on the situation. I am not sure what conclusions I can draw from the output except that there may be a problem with the cable or sensor. I can’t see how there could be a problem with the cable, I did not kink it and the contacts seem to be OK. Where is the sensor? How can I diagnose the problem?
I replaced the FPC cable and checked that it was installed and seated correctly and then ran pi@raspberrypi:~ $ rpicam-hello with the following results:
[0:07:33.786412140] [1960] INFO Camera camera_manager.cpp:340 libcamera v0.6.0+rpt20251202
[0:07:33.848726825] [1963] INFO IPAProxy ipa_proxy.cpp:180 Using tuning file /usr/share/libcamera/ipa/rpi/vc4/ov5647.json
[0:07:33.862901992] [1963] INFO Camera camera_manager.cpp:223 Adding camera ‘/base/soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36’ for pipeline handler rpi/vc4
[0:07:33.863085690] [1963] INFO RPI vc4.cpp:445 Registered camera /base/soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36 to Unicam device /dev/media2 and ISP device /dev/media0
[0:07:33.863181315] [1963] INFO RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1111 Using configuration file ‘/usr/share/libcamera/pipeline/rpi/vc4/rpi_apps.yaml’
Made X/EGL preview window
Mode selection for 1296:972:12:P
SGBRG10_CSI2P,640x480/0 - Score: 3296
SGBRG10_CSI2P,1296x972/0 - Score: 1000
SGBRG10_CSI2P,1920x1080/0 - Score: 1349.67
SGBRG10_CSI2P,2592x1944/0 - Score: 1567
Stream configuration adjusted
[0:07:34.813987695] [1960] INFO Camera camera.cpp:1215 configuring streams: (0) 1296x972-YUV420/sYCC (1) 1296x972-SGBRG10_CSI2P/RAW
[0:07:34.814753477] [1963] INFO RPI vc4.cpp:620 Sensor: /base/soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36 - Selected sensor format: 1296x972-SGBRG10_1X10/RAW - Selected unicam format: 1296x972-pGAA/RAW
[0:07:35.961699491] [1963] WARN V4L2 v4l2_videodevice.cpp:2100 /dev/video0[10:cap]: Dequeue timer of 1000000.00us has expired!
[0:07:35.961862980] [1963] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1350 Camera frontend has timed out!
[0:07:35.961884387] [1963] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1351 Please check that your camera sensor connector is attached securely.
Some of the above repeats.
Is this the correct software for a Raspberry 3+?
If it is how can I check the camera sensor? Where is the camera sensor?
Based on the logs, the system has successfully detected the OV5647 camera sensor, and rpicam-hello is the correct test program for using the camera on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. Therefore, this issue is not likely related to software or system version.
The error shown in the logs typically indicates that the Raspberry Pi can recognize the camera chip, but does not receive image data when starting the video stream. This is generally a hardware connection issue. Common causes include:
The camera ribbon cable is not fully inserted into the connector
The ribbon cable is inserted in the wrong orientation
The ribbon cable is damaged
The camera module itself is faulty
If you have confirmed that all connections are correct, then the camera module may be defective.
Its not easy to be sure but judging by the angle of the black cable clamp in photo 2, the cable is not fully secured at the left hand side of the csi connector at the rpi end
I know from previous posts this rpi has had several rewires done. So, i would strongly suggest checking for bent pins in the csi connector before forcing it home
Installed a new camera cable and checked that it was reseated properly, I believe it is. I made sure that it was squarely inserted as far as it would go and that the black holder was firmly seated. The camera still doesn’t work but the error refers to the camera sensor, not the camera - see the following. Where is the camera sensor located and how is it cabled? I can’t find anything on the web.
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ rpicam-hello
[0:17:46.988220360] [1514] INFO Camera camera_manager.cpp:340 libcamera v0.6.0+rpt20251202
[0:17:47.040219092] [1517] INFO IPAProxy ipa_proxy.cpp:180 Using tuning file /usr/share/libcamera/ipa/rpi/vc4/ov5647.json
[0:17:47.052529257] [1517] INFO Camera camera_manager.cpp:223 Adding camera /soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36’ for pipeline handler rpi/vc4
[0:17:47.052677642] [1517] INFO RPI vc4.cpp:445 Registered camera /base/soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36 to Unicam device /dev/media3 and ISP device /dev/media0
[0:17:47.052771236] [1517] INFO RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1111 Using configuration file ‘/usr/share/libcamera/pipeline/rpi/vc4/rpi_apps.yaml’
Made X/EGL preview window
Mode selection for 1296:972:12:P
SGBRG10_CSI2P,640x480/0 - Score: 3296
SGBRG10_CSI2P,1296x972/0 - Score: 1000
SGBRG10_CSI2P,1920x1080/0 - Score: 1349.67
SGBRG10_CSI2P,2592x1944/0 - Score: 1567
Stream configuration adjusted
[0:17:48.837544396] [1514] INFO Camera camera.cpp:1215 configuring streams: (0) 1296x972-YUV420/sYCC (1) 1296x972-SGBRG10_CSI2P/RAW
[0:17:48.840452211] [1517] INFO RPI vc4.cpp:620 Sensor: /base/soc/i2c0mux/i2c@1/ov5647@36 - Selected sensor format: 1296x972-SGBRG10_1X10/RAW - Selected unicam format: 1296x972-pGAA/RAW
[0:17:49.976043014] [1517] WARN V4L2 v4l2_videodevice.cpp:2100 /dev/video0[10:cap]: Dequeue timer of 1000000.00us has expired!
[0:17:49.976455983] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1350 Camera frontend has timed out!
[0:17:49.976518015] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1351 Please check that your camera sensor connector is attached securely.
[0:17:49.976564421] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1352 Alternatively, try another cable and/or sensor.
ERROR: Device timeout detected, attempting a restart!!!
[0:17:51.077016451] [1517] WARN V4L2 v4l2_videodevice.cpp:2100 /dev/video0[10:cap]: Dequeue timer of 1000000.00us has expired!
[0:17:51.077137962] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1350 Camera frontend has timed out!
[0:17:51.077159889] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1351 Please check that your camera sensor connector is attached securely.
[0:17:51.077179993] [1517] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1352 Alternatively, try another cable and/or sensor.
Is there a way to diagnose the specifics, I don’t want to spend another $20 if I don’t need to? The error refers to the camera sensor connector. Where is that? How is it connected?
The sensor is inside the camera head assembly, the black part you can see with the lens at the front of pidogs nose.
The “camera sensor connector’” is the gold fpc cable, also visible on the dogs nose, which connects this camera head assembly (lens assembly) to the green main camera circuit board, carrying data, power, and ground. This is the cable being referred to in this instance.
Ive annotated an image below to show you the camera sensor location.
I did check the connections on the ffc cable and they look fine to me. I can’t imagine how the cable on the camera chip got damaged. I just plugged the white cable into the slot making sure that it went way in and was secure. Then I seated it and clamped in .
Please contact service@sunfounder.com and provide your original order number and address information, and we will send you a replacement camera module.
When I purchased my PiDog from Amazon on 8/15/25 there was no suggestion that I would have to be skilled with Linux to get this to work. I believe I assembled it correctly, at least all the servos work when I use the software to check them out. I had some problems downloading and installing the software due to documentation problems and my lack of understanding,
My current problem is getting the camera to work, when I run rpicam-hello I get the following error messages:
[0:02:01.315732957] [1501] WARN V4L2 v4l2_videodevice.cpp:2100 /dev/video0[10:cap]: Dequeue timer of 1000000.00us has expired!
[0:02:01.315855509] [1501] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1350 Camera frontend has timed out!
[0:02:01.315877592] [1501] ERROR RPI pipeline_base.cpp:1351 Please check that your camera sensor connector is attached securely.
I have replaced the cable and checked the female sockets to make sure that there is nothing that cam interfere with the connections. The cables are firmly secured in the sockets. I have no idea how where the camera sensor is and how to check that the connection is attached securely.
How can I tell if problem is with the camera or with the hat? Could the hat not be sending the correct signal to the camera or is the camera not receiving it?
This looks like a hardware connection issue. Please take a photo of the front of the camera module, as well as photos showing both ends of the FPC connection, and send them to us.
The orientation of your FPC cable at both ends is correct.
However, it seems you haven’t fully pressed down the black connector on the CSI interface, which may be causing an unstable connection.
Please check if there is any debris inside the CSI connector. Then, press the black connector all the way down. After that, run rpicam-hello to see if the camera module is detected.
The error still indicates a physical connection issue. In the photos you previously sent us, the FFC connector on the Raspberry Pi side was not fully seated.
Although you mentioned that you have reinserted it several times, we have not yet seen a photo showing that connection properly locked.
Please send us a photo of that connector fully locked in place, so we can completely rule out this possibility.
It is precisely these two photos of yours that make us suspect the cable might not be properly locked. As you can see, the gap on the outer side is noticeably larger.
Please press it down firmly as shown in the image, lock the cable in place, and then restart to try again
I mentioned this same connector concern on April 7th, see my post above. Im aware that this camera problem has been present for several months now, and the cables have been inserted and removed multiple times. I’m still concerned as to the possibility of a bent csi pin, as I mentioned previously or debris in the socket as mentioned by Sunfounder.
Please check the integrity of that socket before forcing the clamp home to avoid possible irreversible damage.
Summary
@224 has already swapped the cable. So this should now be ok
Sunfounder have already kindly offered to replace the camera module on April 14th. So this should also be ok
The cable orientation is now correct according to the photos provided.
The robot hat is not required for the camera to work. So its not the robot hat.
That only leaves the rpi3 and its connectors as the remaining possible issue.
