WSAL16740 – Camera Scheduler/en

Documentation notice: This technical documentation was independently rewritten from an archived supplier source. Check technical details and commands against the product version and manufacturer documentation before use.

Summary

The Camera Scheduler allows a Raspberry Pi to connect two cameras through one FPC connection. Switching between the cameras is controlled via GPIO.

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WSAL16740 – Raspberry Pi Camera Scheduler, One Cable for Two Cameras

Technical overview

Supported: two 8MP IMX219 cameras (the encryption chip on one camera must be removed) or two 5MP OV5647 cameras.
Not supported: mixing one 8MP IMX219 and one 5MP OV5647 camera.
FPC/CSI connector locations vary by model: Pi 2B/3B/3B+ between LAN and HDMI; Pi 4 between HDMI1 and audio jack; Pi Zero beside the power port.
When inserting the FPC cable, orient the silver metal side toward the HDMI interface. Release the black buckle, align and seat the cable firmly, then close the buckle.
The camera interface is disabled by default. Enable it with “sudo raspi-config” under Interfacing Options → Camera → Yes, then reboot with “sudo reboot”.
Test commands: still capture with “sudo raspistill -o image-01.jpg”; 10-second H.264 clip with “sudo raspivid -o video-01.h264 -t 10000”.
Manual switching: solder a wire to the pad on the FPC cable; pulling the pad down connects it to GND to switch cameras.
Python-based automatic switching: connect the wire to a GPIO pin (example: PIN 37). The demo scripts automatically alternate cameras every 5 seconds for photos saved to /home/pi/Pictures, or record 10-second videos every 15 seconds saved to /home/pi/Videos.

Commands and examples – verify before use:

sudo raspi-config
sudo reboot
sudo raspistill -o image-01.jpg
sudo raspivid -o video-01.h264 -t 10000
cd /boot/Camera-Scheduler/
sudo python switch-photo.py
sudo python switch-video.py

Notes and version constraints

The exact GPIO assignment (PIN 37 in the example) depends on hardware revision and should be verified before use.
Removing the encryption chip from one IMX219 camera requires soldering and may affect warranty – confirm before proceeding.
Demo scripts assume they are located at /boot/Camera-Scheduler; if stored elsewhere, paths must be adjusted.
Mixed configurations of IMX219 and OV5647 are not supported – only identical sensor types work reliably.
If camera switching fails, check the soldered wire connection first.
No information about compatibility with newer Pi models (e.g., Pi 5) or current firmware versions; human confirmation required.

Source and revision record

Camera Scheduler - Waveshare Wiki
Source revision: 78051
Captured: 2026-08-31T03:49:45+00:00
SHA-256: 55a9579d3d189d2acb77c817a6135248372201bb3471c62e92d9ef7463b78d9f