The ZM 0.3 Megapixel serial JPEG still camera module is a remarkable choice. It's compact, consumes low power, and operates stably. Powered by a 5.0V DC supply, it uses UART to transfer JPEG images at speeds up to 115200bps. Equipped with the advanced OmniVision OV7725 VGA color sensor JPEG CODEC, it supports different resolutions. With down sampling, clamping, and windowing circuits for VGA and QVGA, it doesn't need external DRAM. The OmniVision CMOS VGA color sensor makes it a low - power unit. Since it uses the RS232 interface, an RS232 - TTL converter for Arduino is required to work with standard Arduino. Note that its interface uses the RS232 protocol. This camera is great for various applications such as embedded systems for imaging acquisition and control, security and control systems, remote or public monitoring, object detection and recognition, and robot/industrial control, vehicle, and medical systems. Specifications include a 5V power supply, 80 - 100mA current consumption, RS232 communication interface, VGA/QVGA/160x120 resolution, support for capturing JPEG from the serial port, a default serial port baud rate of 115200, and a size of 1.51x1.51x1.26' (38.35x38.35x32mm). The wiring for the included cable is: red wire for +5v, black wire for GND, green wire for RS232 RX line, and yellow wire for RS232 TX line. Documents provided are the 0.3M pixel datasheet, test software pro, test software lite, software(pro) operation guide, sample image, and Wiki/tutorial. The shipping list contains one 0.3M pixel serial JPEG camera module and one 4 - wire cable.
Using this camera module is easy. First, connect the camera to your Arduino using the included 4 - wire cable. Make sure to match the wires correctly: red to +5v, black to GND, green to RS232 RX line, and yellow to RS232 TX line. Since it uses the RS232 interface, you'll need an RS232 - TTL converter for Arduino. Once connected, you can power it up with a 5.0V DC supply. The camera is ready to capture JPEG images. You can use the test software provided to start testing. When using it, keep in mind that the default baud rate of the serial port is 115200. If you face any connection issues, double - check the wiring and the converter. For maintenance, keep the camera in a dry and clean place. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture. The camera is designed to be stable, but if you encounter any problems, refer to the 0.3M pixel datasheet or the software(pro) operation guide for solutions.
