Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
DESIGNED BY ENGINEERS
working for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Raspberry Pi
Camera Module is the most compact way of adding the ability to record still images and
video to your project. Designed to connect to the
Camera Serial Interface (CSI)
of the Raspberry
Pi, the Camera Module measures just 25 mm on its longest edge and weighs just 3 grammes
(see Figure 15-1).
Figure 15-1:
The Raspberry Pi
Camera Module,
pictured without
its ribbon cable
Since its release, the Camera Module has found a place in projects ranging from simple home
security systems to more complex computer vision experiments that track a user's face or hand
gestures. The module has even reached near-space, as the result of photography projects that
tether a Raspberry Pi to a weather balloon and release it to gather high-altitude images.
The camera module is built around a five-megapixel sensor of a type commonly used in
smartphones, located behind a fixed-focus lens. The module works in tandem with the
Raspberry Pi's graphics processor to ensure that high-resolution video and stills can be cap-
tured smoothly without overloading the Pi's main processor or requiring too much memory.
Why Use the Camera Module?
If you have no need to capture images or video, you don't need the Camera Module. It's an
optional extra, and the Pi works just fine without one. It's also possible to add vision to your
Pi using alternative products, such as webcams, that connect to a free USB port.
