Connecting Arducam with ESP8266

lozi_dani · Joined: 22 Jan 2016 Posts: 40

Hi everyone!

This topic is about something that I didn't found here in the forum, and I don't now if someone has tried this. So any help will be much appreciated.

What I want to do?

I want to connect one of the cameras of Arducam (link: http://www.arducam.com/camera-modules/), with the ESP8266 module to transfer via WiFi the images of the camera.

What I want to know (if someone can help me hehe)?

This cameras are nice to take images from the environment, that's the reason why I want to use it, and I saw a post on their website where they talk about the connections of this cameras with this WiFi module (link: http://www.arducam.com/arducam-supports-esp8266-arduino-board-wifi-websocket-camera-demo/).

But the problem remains in the way both are connected. They connect, obviousl, their camera with their ESP8266 arduino board.

I want to connect this camera with this module, but not with an arduino board, but with a PIC18F4550 and using CCS instead of their functions.

Someone knows if this is possible? Or i'm obligated to connect both components throught their arduino board?

Components that i'm using:

PIC18F4550
ESP8266 module
One of that Arduino cameras
20MHz crystal

I hope you can understand the question. If not, let me know and i will try to explain it in another way.

Thanks a lot! Any help would be so good!!

temtronic · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:01 am

hmmm.....
One of that Arduino cameras

First place to start is WHICH camera ? Not all are created equal and you WILL need the correct datasheets !

2nd, the 18F4550 isn't a good choice of PIC, esp. if you're going to use the onboard USB peripheral.

3rd, google for a couple of days and see if ANYONE has done what you want. even using another micro, it'll give you insight into what's involved.

4th, power supply... I'm betting the camera is 3 volt....so use a 3 volt PIC ('L')

Jay

lozi_dani · Joined: 22 Jan 2016 Posts: 40

Thanks correspondents for that quick response!

First of all, I want to do this because it is one of the parts which form part of my final project.
I have done some projects with this PIC, like programming an ultrasonic sensor o programming some motors.
My professor recommends me this pic because of is able to connect via usb with the PC, and is versatile to do a lot of things with it. What you think about?

The camera I'm thinking to use is OV7670, it is simple and has good documentation through Internet, but I didn't found info about the connection of this camera with that wifi module and my pic.

Maybe it could be a problem, or more difficult to do this with the PIC18F4550, but it is possible? If it is, I want to try it, because all the others components I have programmed were did it using this pic and I wish to put all together in the same pic, referring to the 2nd advice you gave me.

I will google more to find something similar at the same time I'm asking in this forum, I know that here people are so good using CCS, and maybe mixing what I'm goggling and the help I could receive here I could find the answer!

So do you think that it is possible, with the correct connections, achieve this in a protoboard with this pic? Or the only way to connect this is through an Arduino board?

Thanks a lot!!

temtronic · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:26 am

re:

asmallri · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 1635 Location: Perth, Australia

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19552

Thing to understand is that the PIC architecture does not really 'suit' things with a large memory 'footprint' (like pictures). Some things are doable, but going to be a huge amount of work. If your project is going to involve tens of thousands of units, then it is possible that the investment to handle this with a PIC, may be worthwhile, but for any 'smaller run', it is going to be enormously easier to use chips which are better suited, and have code already written.
Asmallri's solution is the way to go.

It's like full VGA displays (or better), where it is vastly faster and easier to use a processor that allows the display memory to be directly mapped into the processor address space.

It's similar to asking if you can drive a nail with a screwdriver. You may be able to do something, but it is a lot easier to use a hammer!...