Arducam ToF camera adds depth sensing to Raspberry Pi for $30 (Crowdfunding)

Arducam has launched of Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera module for Raspberry Pi that enables depth sensing by capturing 3D data (at 240×180 resolution) at a distance of up to 4 meters.

Arducam has launched several cameras for Raspberry Pi boards over the years, more recently the Arducam Pi HawkEye 64MP camera, but the Arducam ToF camera is quite different, as while it still connects to the MIPI CSI connector of the SBC, it is used to measure distances and depth and display 3D data.

Arducam ToF camera specifications:

• Compatibility – Any Raspberry Pi board with a MIPI CSI connector
• Effective number of pixels – 240×180
• Frame Rate
  • Up to 120 fps (sensor)
  • Up to 30 fps (when processed by a Raspberry Pi using 4-phases RAW frames)
• Sensor size – 1/6-inch
• Modulation Frequency – 75MHz/37.5MHz
• Viewing Angle – 70° Diagonal
• Light Source – 940nm VCSEL illuminator
• Output Formats
  • 4-phases RAW Frame
  • Depth Frame
  • Grayscale Amplitude Frame
• Host interface – 2-lane MIPI CSI
• Range
  • Far Mode – Up to 4 meters
  • Near mode – Up to 2 meters
• Dimensions – 38 x 38 mm

The solution allows you to capture and display a representation of 3D data in a way similar to thermal cameras, except in this case, for depth sensing instead of temperatures. Arducam provides a TOF SDK with C, C++, and Python sample code available on Github, while the SDK documentation can be found on the Arducam website.

I’m not sure which sensor they use, as some of the specifications are similar to the ones for STMicro ToF sensors, the 240×180 “number of effective pixels” should not be possible. So it’s more likely a ToF sensor from JointMicro, a variation of their JM152A iToF sensor [Update: I was told the solution is based on a Sony ToF sensor]. The resolution is not high enough for use as a 3D scanner, but it can be integrated into various robotics projects. Watch the video below for a few demos.

Arducam has launched its ToF camera on Kickstarter with a $3,000 funding goal that has been surpassed within a few hours. Rewards start at $30 for the camera, flat cable, and a 2-pin power cable that needs to be connected to the 5V and GND pin on the Raspberry Pi GPIO header. There are also two range expansion kits with a $44 kit with a CSI to HDMI and HDMI to CSI adapters and a $80 LAN kit to expand the range even further through an Ethernet (Cat 5) cable. Shipping adds $6 to $7 and is only available to North America, some European countries, Australia, as well as Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore in Asia. Backers should expect to get their perks shipped by November 2022.

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