Summary
Hi, we are Mechatronics Engineers who are folks of Ivmech and this is Ivport, the first Raspberry Pi (also Raspberry Pi B+ and ODROID-W compatible) Camera Module multiplexer designed to connect more than one camera to Raspberry Pi.

We have finished designing a hardware camera multiplexer for the Raspberry Pi. It has 1 CSI connectors for the input and 4 CSI connectors for outputs to the camera modules with using flex cables. Also it has stacking headers for the GPIO connection and self stacking up to 4 Ivport.

What we need & What you get

Ivport is a real and functioning product already. The PCB has been prototyped and works great. It can switch camera input even while video is streaming over RTSP.  But in order to manufacture these for a reasonable price, we need your help to place a large enough order to get a volume discount. Besides minimum order quantities there are fixed tooling costs associated with building up a new PCB assembly that I need help with.

There are some different videos while switching view source between 4 different raspberry pi cameras with using IVPort module. Bottom right corner video shows switching camera input while capturing video.

There are 4 cameras which are connected to Raspberry Pi via IVPort module.

By pledging your support for Ivport, we can can order enough units to keep costs low and we'll be able to cover the one-time tooling charges associated with assembling a new circuit board.

The Impact

Multiplex the number of usable camera module on Raspberry Pi from 1 to 4 with using one Ivport. It can multiplex from 1 to 16 with using 4 Ivport with stack.

Multiplexing can be controlled by 3 pins for 4 camera modules, 5 pins for 8 camera modules and 9 pins for 16 camera modules with using GPIO and external script library that written by Python.

Connectors: 15 Pin FFC CSI
Pinout: RaspberryPi CSI Connector Camera Pinouts
Protocol: MIPI

Propagation Delay between input and output: 0.5 ns

Switching Time from one channel to other channel: 50 ns (it can increase with depending to GPIO delay)

Risk & Challenges

Raspberry Pi GPU is not open sourced therefore camera input will be supposed as only one camera is connected. It will be hard to implement more than one camera support into library. But it is worth the effort.