THEIA-CAM™ | THSCU101

How to Set Up THSCU101 with Android Device

Introduction

Irony is that people have been interested in high performance cameras by using smartphones with desiring for more than their smartphones do. Thanks to USB 3.x and Type-C connector, the USB data rate is no longer the bottle neck. Neither is hardware with THine Solutions THEIA-CAM™ THSCU101 (13MP PDAF USB Camera).

In this page, you will see how easy it is to hook up the THSCU101 with an Android device.

Hardware Overview

An Android Device

As long as the device has Type-C connector, it should work. We have tested with several Android Smartphones as well as Android Tablets.

THine Solutions THEIA-CAM™ THSCU101

The THSCU101 is available at Digi-Key. The USB cable included to the THSCU101 package is from USB Micro-B to Type A to start with your PC. To connect the THSCU101 to an Android device with USB Type C connector, a USB 3.0 Micro-B to Type-C USB cable is needed. We tested and confirmed this cable works.

Updating THSCU101 firmware before testing is highly recommended. For detailed process to check the current version and to replace with the latest version, follow the instruction.

Software Overview

Android Apps

We recommend to download as many camera viewer apps as possible, because due to the complication of software structure, there is no perfect app that works in any environment (i.e., OS version, running apps, device architecture, etc.). We have tested and confirmed following apps should work with the THSCU101.

Once you get everything and get it connected, let’s give it 4K PDAF camera video!

Get Started

Connect THSCU101 to Android Device

Don’t forget to remove the protection film on the camera module before use!

Using a USB 3.0 Micro-B to Type C USB cable, connect your THSCU101 to you Android Device.

Launch an App

Depending on the protocol of the App you use, it should show the streaming once everything is set. The recommended App “USB Camera Pro” shows the images automatically.



What’s Next - Want to Tweak the Image Quality?

We are confident and proud of the Image Quality of the THEIA-CAM™ THSCU101. With Imatest criteria, the THSCU101 does perform better than iPhone 12 in most areas. However, different application requires different specs. If you need to change THEIA-CAM™’s configuration, there are several options listed below.

UVC (USB Video Class) Configuration

Under years of close partnership with Cypress Semiconductor, an Infineon company, we have whole bunch of configuration set for the THSCU101 using UVC (USB Video Class) commands through Cypress’ CX3. For example, THine Solutions Camera Extension Controller for Windows enables you to tweak each parameter so you can maximize the performance of the THEIA-CAM™ design.

CDK (Camera Development Kit) tool to develop your own ISP firmware

From driving a CMOS image sensor, processing standard image such as Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance, and then Image Quality tuning in multiple different light conditions, to unit-to-unit Image Quality calibration against CMOS image sensor modules, an Image Signal Processor (ISP) covers everything that is related to image/video that Application Processor takes as the camera image output. Because the process, structure, and the firmware to execute all the computing, ISP’s process design is typically so closed and confidential that you cannot touch. THine’s ISP is the exception.

THine has developed a took set CDK (Camera Development Kit), that enables you to do the ISP firmware development for all the essential functions according to your own program requirements, with easy-to-use Graphical User Interface.

If CDK overview is found cover your program requirements, contact us and request for technical support. According to your application and requirements, we will tailor our support along with CDK took kit.


Related Pages

Product Overview | THSCU101 13MP PDAF UVC Camera | THine Solutions, Inc.

Image Quality Report | THSCU101 Image Quality Report | THine Solutions, Inc.

Whitepaper | Design Trend for Embedded Vision Systems that Include High Performance Cameras | Katsumi Kuwayama | THine Solutions, Inc.

Blog | Upgrade to PDAF for Best Auto-Focus Experience! | Tak Iizuka | THine Solutions, Inc.

Product Overview | THEIA-CAM - 13MP PDAF UVC Camera Reference Design Kit (RDK) | Cypress Semiconductor Corp.