Hardware Setup
This guide covers the initial hardware setup and connections for your Silight AI Camera SBC board.
Hardware Requirements
Essential Components
| Component | Specification | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Silight AI Camera SBC Board | Silight AI Camera eval board | 1 |
| IMX678 Sensor Module | Camera sensor with cable | 1 |
| Debug Board | UART/USB interface | 1 |
| USB-UART Cable | FT232/CP2102/ch340 | 1 |
| Power Supply | 12V, 1A recommended | 1 |
| SD Card | 16GB+, Class 10 | 1 |
| Ethernet Cable | Cat5e or better | 1 |
Board Layout
Silight AI Camera SBC - Front View (Top Side)
Front IO Connectors
| Connector | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CSI-0 | MIPI CSI-2 4-lane | Camera interface 0 (near Type-C connector) |
| CSI-1 | MIPI CSI-2 4-lane | Camera interface 1 (near power jack) |
| SD Card | MicroSD slot | Boot/storage (supports SD 6.0, SDR104) |
| USB 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0 Type-A | Host ports (up to 10 Gbps) |
| Ethernet | RJ45 1000M | Gigabit Ethernet with RGMII |
| Power | DC barrel jack | 12V/1A input (center positive) |
| Type-C | USB Type-C | Power / Data / Debug access |
| GPIO | 32-pin header | Expansion IO header |
| UART | 3-pin debug header | Serial console (TX/RX/GND) |
Silight AI Camera SBC - Back View (Bottom Side)
Back IO Connectors
| Connector | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mic | Microphone connector | Audio input interface |
| SIM | Micro SIM card slot | For 4G/LTE cellular module |
| LCD | FPC connector | MIPI DSI display interface |
| M.2 | M.2 Key slot | Expansion for WiFi/4G/SSD modules |
Debug Board
The debug board provides USB-to-UART conversion for serial console access. Connect the 3-pin header to the SBC board's UART header:
| Pin | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | GND |
| 2 | TX |
| 3 | RX |
Connection Steps
Step 1: Connect Debug Board
- Locate the debug header on the SBC board
- Connect the debug board to the header
- Connect USB cable from debug board to your PC
:::caution Pin Alignment Ensure correct pin alignment. Incorrect connection may damage the board. :::
Step 2: Verify Serial Port
The board boots from flash by default. On your Linux PC, check for the serial device:
ls /dev/ttyUSB*
Expected output:
/dev/ttyUSB0
:::tip Device Number The device number may vary (USB0, USB1, etc.). Note the correct device for later use. :::
Step 3: Connect Ethernet
Connect Ethernet cable between SBC and your network/router.
Step 4: Insert SD Card
Insert the flashed SD card into the SD card slot.
:::warning SD Card Orientation Insert with contacts facing down. Do not force if resistant. :::
LED Indicators
| LED | Color | Function |
|---|---|---|
| PWR | Red | Power status |
| SYS | Yellow | System status |
| ETH | Green | Ethernet link |
Power Requirements
| Parameter | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 12.0V | 12.0V ±5% |
| Current | 1.0A | 2.0A |
| Power | 12W | 24W |
:::tip Power Supply Quality Use a high-quality power supply. Insufficient power can cause unstable operation or boot failures. :::
Pre-Flight Checklist
- Debug board connected
- USB cable connected to PC
- Serial port detected (/dev/ttyUSB*)
- Power supply connected
- Power LED illuminated
- Ethernet connected (optional)
- SD card inserted (for normal boot)
Troubleshooting
Serial port not detected
# Check USB devices
lsusb
# Check kernel messages
dmesg | grep -i usb
# Install drivers if needed
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Board not powering on
- Verify power supply is 12V
- Check polarity of power jack
- Try different power supply
- Check for short circuits
Debug board not responding
- Verify correct pin alignment
- Try different USB port
- Check USB cable integrity
Next Steps
Proceed to Run Your First Demo to get started with object detection.
For firmware flashing instructions, see Flashing Failures.